With performances planned across Europe for the 60th anniversary of V-E Day, you’d think the upcoming week for military musicians in Europe would be extraordinarily busy.

But for the U.S. Air Forces in Europe bands, it won’t be terribly unusual, said Maj. Scott Guidry, USAFE band commander. His musicians play “well over 400 commitments per year.”

Of course, that’s not one band, but may be combinations ranging from one or two people, to a 50-piece ensemble, Guidry said.

Whether it’s a memorial or a celebration, music sets the mood. So it follows that Army, Air Force and Navy bands will be in great demand for 60th anniversary events marking the end of World War II in Europe.

Musicians with USAFE, Naval Forces Europe, U.S. Army Europe, the 1st Armored Division, V Corps and other organizations will be playing from Rome to the edge of Siberia’s Ural Mountains in Ekaterinburg. They will be joined by more U.S. servicemembers, who will serve as color guards, honor guards, crews for flyovers and guest speakers.

Events begin Monday at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial in Nettuno, Italy, and culminate May 9 in Moscow. Leaders from 10 nations, including President Bush and Germany’s Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, are expected in Moscow.

Bush also is scheduled to attend ceremonies at the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten on May 8, according to the World War II 60th Anniversary Commemoration Committee, which is involved in the promotion of several events.

The USAFE marching band will march in a Victory Day parade in Wageningen, Netherlands, on Thursday, Guidry said.

It will then load up for a 10-hour bus trip to Orleans, France, for a Saturday celebration. From there, it will be off to Belgium for a V-E Day performance May 8 in Momignies, Belgium.

“That involves some travel!” Guidry said.

USAFE’s 13-piece jazz band, Check Six, will do “extensive driving … across a lot of nothing” during a weeklong tour of Siberia to honor U.S. and Russian soldiers who died in World War II, he said.

It sounds like a logistical challenge, but it’s “no more complicated than normal,” Guidry said.

Choosing the appropriate music is not too difficult, either, according to the band leader.

For a parade, Guidry said, the band needs march music: “The National Emblem,” a march by E.E. Bagley; “The Saint Louis Blues” by W.C. Handy; or the ever-popular “Washington Post Blues” by John Phillip Sousa.

For a sit-down concert, his musicians often include music from the host nation “to make that connection with their audience,” he said.

For celebrations of the end of World War II, it’s got to be Glenn Miller, Guidry said. Miller’s classic “In the Mood” and other music got countless people — Americans and Europeans — through the war.

Miller, an Army Air Corps major, died in 1944 when his plane went down in the English Channel.

“His music speaks to the liberation,” Guidry said. “Nothing speaks of freedom and liberation to people around Europe like Glenn Miller’s music.”

V-E Day celebrations

Following is a summary of some of the events planned across Europe for the 60th anniversary of V-E Day:

Nettuno, Italy, Monday: Adm. Michael Mullen, commander of Naval Forces Europe, will speak at an 11 a.m. memorial ceremony at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial. The 6th Fleet will provide an honor guard, and U.S. Navy Europe and Southern Europe Task Force will provide color guards. The NAVEUR band will perform, and a Marine firing party will be present.

Wageninen, Netherlands, Thursday: Ceremony marks surrender of German forces in the Netherlands. U.S. Air Forces in Europe marching band will play, the 21st Theater Support Group will provide an honor platoon and the 29th Support Group will provide a color guard.

Bussum, Netherlands, Thursday through May 8: Bussum Bridgehead 2005, billed as Europe’s largest V-E Day re-enactment event, is expecting 500 re-enactors from the United States and Europe, with their vehicles and equipment.

Plzen, Czech Republic, Thursday through Saturday: The V Corps Band presents a concert at the Opera House, 7 p.m. Thursday. Friday is the commemoration of the liberation of Plzen by the U.S. 16th Armored Division and 2nd Infantry Division, including the unveiling of a statue of Gen. George Patton. Wreath-laying at the 2nd ID monument at 3 p.m.; wreath-laying at 16th AD monument at 4:55 p.m.; wreath-laying at “Thank You, America” monument at 5 p.m.; open-air concert at 6 p.m. with V Corps Band. There will be a flyover by USAFE aircraft during the “Thank You, America” ceremony. Saturday, parade at 11 a.m.

Prague, Czech Republic, May 8-9: V Corps providing band, color guard and honor platoon. Parade at 10 a.m. and concert at Old Town Square on May 8. Concert at Rudolfinium Concert Hall at 7:30 p.m. May 9.

Reims, France, Saturday through May 9: Three days of events in town where surrender was signed on May 7, 1945. Among them is 11 a.m. Saturday ceremony at the Place de la Republique, which will include a review of troops and military parade followed by the official ceremony at the Place de l’Hotel with French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin.

Vianden, Luxembourg, Saturday: The 1st Armored Division band will perform and the 80th Area Support Group will provide a color guard.

Duxford, England, Saturday and May 8: Imperial War Museum-Duxford will exhibit World War II aircraft, such as the Spitfire fighter and B-17 bombers, along with modern military aircraft during its anniversary air show.

Margraten, Netherlands, May 8: President Bush scheduled to attend ceremonies at Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial. The NAVEUR band will play, and there will be a NAVEUR honor platoon and flyover, plus a Marine firing party.

Momignies, Belgium, May 8: The USAFE marching band will perform.

Moscow, Saturday through May 9: Leaders of 10 nations, including President Bush, are scheduled to attend. U.S. Army Europe will provide band and color guard.Ceremonies begin at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Great Patriotic War Memorial in Victory Park. On May 8, a wreath-laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.; and a grand finale concert is scheduled for 6 p.m. On May 9, a military parade is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Tverskaya Boulevard, ending at Moscow city hall; at 5 p.m. a concert is planned inside the Kremlin walls.

— Stars and Stripes