FARGO — At Bonanzaville's Veteran Appreciation night on Thursday, May 25, Em Laskey and her flute joined her Red River Valley Veterans Concert Band in preparation for a night of memorable music.
One of the first songs was the theme from the TV show "Hogan's Heroes."
Em Laskey's story in this band started close to 45 years ago, when no women were allowed to play.
"(It was) a little scary at first," Laskey said. "Some were happy to see me, some were not."
Laskey and her flute broke the rules, as well as barriers.
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"I like to do that," she laughed. "I was the first one in the Elks band, the Legion band, and the first one in the Shrine Circus band."
Decades later, she keeps up with them all. And why not? She's only 92.
Laskey still plays in two bands in town. It's in her blood.
"I just love to play music, no matter what it is. I love to be with the people, it's like a vacation. Every time I go to rehearsal, it is something special," Laskey said.
You can catch EM Laskey playing an impressive "Stars and Stripes" when the Red River Valley Veterans Concert Band plays at the Fargo VA Health Care System at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 1.
The band is also performing at three venues on Memorial Day in Fargo-Moorhead:
- Fargo Riverside at 11 a.m.
- Moorhead Legion at Noon.
- Fargo National Cemetery at 2:30 p.m.
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