NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. — It’s been nearly 75 years since the start of the Battle of the Bulge in World War II.
Fred Faulkner of New Port Richey was there. At 94, he is remembering it in a special way: his love of music.
- Fred Faulkner, 94, fought in the Battle of the Bulge 75 years ago
- Faulkner's composition, "The Ardennes March," now a staple of the Richey Concert Band
- More Good News stories
“My mother started me on the piano when I was seven years old. I have played continuously, except for that time in Europe,” Faulkner said.
Barely 18, he gave up music to enlist in the United States Army.
He arrived in Europe just at the start of one of the bloodiest conflicts of World War II: The Battle of the Bulge.
“It was 40 days. The average temperature was between 5 and 15 degrees below zero,” Faulkner said. “The conditions were bad. But there’s nothing you can imagine like seeing a dead American solider.”
Once he returned, playing music helped him heal. Most recently, he turned to writing music.
He wrote his first ever piece, “The Ardennes March,” as a tribute to those lost at the Battle of the Bulge. The Ardennes is the name of the forest the battle took place in.
Arranging for a full band
He partnered with Richey Concert Band Director Henry Fletcher to arrange the music for a full band.
“Writing it really affected me even though I wasn’t there,” Fletcher said. “When he first heard it, he had a few tears. It made me feel good that I got it right. I’m very proud of the piece.”
The march is now staple of the Richey Concert Band, which holds concert once a month from November to March each year.
The piece features several different parts, including an emotional playing of "Taps."
“People like to hear it,” Fletcher said. “They stand up and applaud and go crazy every time. They understand what he is trying to represent. We all do. In my eyes, he’s a hero.”
Conducting the piece for concerts is none other than Fred himself.
“It’s such a joy that a little effort on my part enabled something like this to take place, to help memorialize what these boys did,” Faulkner said.
For full disclosure, I’m a member of the band. It’s an honor to play under Faulkner for the Ardennes March he wrote.
The band will be playing the march at its annual holiday concert, which is on Sunday Dec. 1st at 2:30 p.m. at River Ridge High School in New Port Richey.