Puerto Rico 2023
NOVEMBER 3 – 5 , 2023 – Puerto Rico , a vibrant island in the heart of the Caribbean , is renowned for its rich cultural heritage , lively music scene , and warm hospitality . It was an immense privilege for the New York Staff Band to be guests at the PRVI Divisional Family Gathering – an event that saw the great people of this division coming together for the first time since the COVID pandemic , with the band serving as part of the larger worship music team involved throughout the weekend .
The band arrived in San Juan to beautiful sunny skies , and nice yet humid breeze ! The family gathering was held at the Hilton Garden Inn hotel in San Juan so the local soldiers and families could enjoy the amenities and convenience of being close to the meeting rooms .
Friday nights opening meeting featured a worship set with Territorial Music Department members , Victor Morales ( guitar ) and Simon Morton ( bass ) joining forces with some of the local worship musicians before a warm welcome from Divisional Leaders , Majors Juan and Lydia Mercado . This set up the bands major
work for the night ‘ Creation ’ which has been impactful everywhere it has been presented so far . This time was special , as the script was translated into Spanish and presented beautifully by Major Lydia Mercado .
Saturday morning allowed the band to enjoy a leisurely breakfast and a few members had a nice walk on the beach before heading over to the impressive T-Mobil Center – an outdoor venue with restaurants , staging and gigantic video screens everywhere you looked … even covering the entire ceiling . It was a perfect venue to once again present ‘ Creation ’ even though this was the first time presenting it in an open-air setting . Many people passing by stopped and engaged with the band and were drawn in by the music and visual presentations . Several strangers were seen with
6 NYSB BULLETIN FALL 2024
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