The U.S. Air Force Band’s Airmen of Note have spent 75 years preserving America’s jazz tradition while serving as ambassadors for the Air Force.
America’s 250th and Jazz Fest Meet at the National Veterans Resource Center
As the nation prepares to commemorate its 250th anniversary, Íø±¬ÃÅ will welcome the U.S. Air Force Band’s to a one-of-a-kind venue built around one of America’s enduring traditions: service.
The Airmen of Note will perform a free concert on Thursday, July 9, at the (NVRC), opening the 40th . Presented by Íø±¬ÃÅ and Syracuse Jazz Fest in association with the (OVMA), the performance brings one of the nation’s premier military jazz ensembles to a campus with more than a century of military-connected history.
Few venues are better suited for the occasion than the NVRC. Opened in 2020, the center serves as a hub for veteran and military-connected programs at the University and a gathering place for leaders from higher education, government, industry and the nonprofit sector working to advance opportunities for veterans and military families.
Named for U.S. Navy veteran Daniel D’Aniello ’68 and his wife, Gayle, the building reflects the couple’s commitment to veterans and military families. Their $20 million gift, announced in 2018 and among the largest in University history, helped make construction of the center possible. Today the building houses the (IVMF), OVMA and the University’s programs.
The NVRC was built as a place of support, commemoration and celebration for the military-connected community. The Floyd Ben Schwartzwalder Hall of Honor traces the University’s military history from World War I to the present, including Col. Eileen Collins ’78, H’01, the first woman to pilot and command a space shuttle. Built to Universal Design standards and LEED certified, the NVRC is a welcoming space to visitors of every ability.
“There are few places where America’s veteran and military story is as visible and as active as it is here,” says U.S. Army Colonel (Ret.) Ron Novack, the OVMA’s executive director. “Every day, this building brings together student veterans, ROTC cadets, military families and community members. Hosting the Airmen of Note during our nation’s 250th anniversary celebration and kicking off the 2026 Syracuse Jazz Fest is a powerful reminder that service remains an important part of the American story, and of Íø±¬ÃÅ’s story.”
The Airmen of Note bring a history that fits naturally within those walls. Established in 1950 to continue the legacy of Maj. Glenn Miller and the Army Air Forces bands of World War II, the ensemble has spent 75 years preserving America’s jazz tradition while serving as ambassadors for the Air Force.
The timing of the event gives the evening added significance. Jazz is one of America’s defining art forms, carried around the world by generations of musicians, including those in uniform. As the nation marks its 250th anniversary, a performance by a military ensemble inside a center dedicated to veterans and military families offers a fitting tribute to service, sacrifice and community.
The event also reflects Íø±¬ÃÅ’s , a legacy that spans more than a century and continues today through programs, services and support for veterans and military families on campus and across the country.
The Airmen of Note concert begins at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 9, in the in the NVRC, located at 101 Waverly Ave. Veterans and community members are encouraged to reserve tickets in advance, with priority seating available for veterans. Free parking will be available in the University Avenue Garage, located at 1101 E. Adams St.
Jazz Fest 40 , with performances taking place throughout Central New York, including Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards in LaFayette, New York.
