As part of our Military Voices of Storycorps initiative, we hear Air Force Fighters and Mark Green who met as a trumpeters in a military group and now celebrate 45 years of marriage.
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Scott Simon, host:
It is time for the Military Voices of Storycorps initiative – register and share the stories of service members and their families. Today, a love story that started in a military group. Since the revolutionary war, American military groups have entertained troops that were deployed far from their home to play during the funeral for the veterans who have fallen and walk to celebrate after the battle. Air Force veterans, Linda and Mark Green, came to Storycorps to remember how they joined the group at the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or Norad. They were trumpeters, and that marked the start of their musical career and their romance.
Mark Green: When I was in high school, thought my parents, you have to go to university. But when I was in class, everything I did was sleeping. My group director told me, why not enter the Air Force group?
Linda Green: I had a lot of difficulty finding a trumpet teacher who would accept a student. In the 1970s, there were not many female trumpeters.
M GREEN: The girls had to be on a flute, clarinet.
L Green: And so I also had to be better to compete with the boys. But finally, I was the first female trumpet of the Norad Band.
M GREEN: Yeah.
Mr. Green: When our first sergeant told us that you come, he gathered all the guys and he said, there will be no juron. There will be no mistreatment. There will be no lack of respect for this young person.
(LAUGH)
L Green: Well, you have the use of your p and Q, let me tell you.
M GREEN: We were very good and everyone loved you.
L Green: I remember, we stole in C-130, which was horrible because they had no toilet. They had a hole in the side of the plane for men, because the planes are built for men, end. So there were, like three women in the whole band. And we learned that we had to get these large giant cups at 7/11 because they …
M GREEN: I didn’t know that.
L green: … were long flights. Yeah.
(LAUGH)
M GREEN: How did you notic for the first time as someone you would like to know?
L Green: I looked at it on the line, and I saw these hazel eyes, and I thought, (vocalizing) it is really cute (laughs). But I heard you play solo, and your trumpet sound won me over.
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M GREEN: I was very shy. I had never had any regular girlfriend before. I had just been 20 years old. And we were playing a concert in a high school in Denver, and I saw you look at me. I looked in your hazel eyes, and I thought, wow.
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M GREEN: It was a just moment engraved in my brain like the day our daughter was born. I think I finally asked you the next day, and I said: I had an agreement for you.
L green: yeah.
M GREEN: I didn’t have a good opening line.
L Green: No, you didn’t do it.
M GREEN: I didn’t have collection lines.
(LAUGH)
Mr. Green: But the first time we kissed, I knew I was going to marry you. I have been happy for over 45 years since.
L Green: I know, because it happened very quickly.
M GREEN: He has. And there are many beautiful years to come for us.
L green: yeah.
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Simon: Mark and Linda Green for Storycorps in Anchorage, Alaska. And the music you just heard was interpreted by the Norad Band. This interview was recorded in partnership with Alaska Public Media and is archived at the US Library of Congress.
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