July 6, 2021 – On July 4th, CEMEX’s Balcones plant presented the 36th Infantry Division Band at the Brauntex Performing Arts Theatre in New Braunfels, Texas. The 36th Infantry Division Band was first formed on Apr. 1, 1937, in New Braunfels, as an element of the historic 36th Infantry Division, Texas Army National Guard. The band, along with the entire 36 Infantry Division, was federally activated for WWII, becoming the first American Division to touch European soil during the invasion of Italy. After serving in Europe for the remainder of WWII, the unit was deactivated from federal service on Feb. 15, 1946, later to be reorganized in 1947. The location of the “Lone Star” band changed on June 1, 1968, from New Braunfels to Camp Mabry in Austin, Texas, at which time the 36th Infantry Division Band and the 49th Armored Division Band were combined to become the 236th Army Band, Texas Army National Guard. In 1973 with the reactivation of the 49th Armored Division, the band was reflagged as the 49th Armored Division Band, continuing to build on its tradition of excellence with high visibility tours in Italy, Australia, Bosnia and the Czech Republic. In the summer of 2004, the 49th Armored Division was deactivated, as the unit returned to its original designation as the 36th Infantry Division Band, Texas Army National Guard. The 36th Infantry Division Band’s most recent honors include the awarding of the prestigious COL Howard Citation for Military Concert Bands in 2008, 2012, and 2015 by the John Phillip Sousa Foundation. Since returning from Basra, Iraq in 2011 in support of Operation New Dawn, the “Lone Star Band” and its citizen soldiers continue to be the most visible public element of the Texas Military Forces, representing The Texas Army National Guard in both military and civilian events across the great state of Texas.
