Salvation Army Band playing free Palmer concert

A national band is coming to Palmer next week, spreading the joy of music with the message of God.

The Salvation Army Band from Santa Clara, Calif., is presenting a free concert on Sunday, Sept. 1 at 6 p.m. at the Highway Church of God on Arctic Street in Palmer.

The concert is open to everyone and anyone who wants to come, organizers said.

"They are touring all over, and they are going to march in the Alaska State Fair parade," said Janet Kincaid, a board member of the local Salvation Army. "It should be a wonderful event for the Valley."

The Salvation Army Band is a 30-piece brass band that plays numerous styles of music.

Throughout the world, Salvation Army bands are known for their uplifting concerts, while spreading the mission of God. In England alone, there are a number of Salvation Army bands that play free concerts on a regular basis.

In America, there aren't as many bands, but they still play free concerts around the country.

The Salvation Army is first and foremost a church -- despite its many social programs that are more widely known about in America.

Salvation Army volunteers ring bells at Christmas, but for many, that is the only exposure they have to the programs offered by the Salvation Army, and that doesn't begin to describe the work of the Salvation Army Corps.

Locally, the Mat-Su Corps of the Salvation Army provides emergency housing for those in need, operates two food bank programs at the downtown Palmer location and provides numerous other social services to people.

Recently, the building got a facelift, thanks to a nine-man volunteer team from the Tustin Ranch Salvation Army in California.

At the Palmer location, a church welcomes anyone who wants to worship, regardless of their religion.

The Salvation Army Band, as well as all of the other Salvation Army programs, are funded through donations from the community.