As he leaned against his conductor's stand, Col. Arnald D. Gabriel wiped a tear from his eye. The 91 year old World War II veteran, who was part of the U.S. Army's 29 th Infantry Division talked about how his parents came to America from Italy many years ago.

Their patriotism, he said, is what makes the Fourth of July so important to him. " I do this as an honor to my mom and dad," Gabriel said. "[They] really loved this country." So it was only fitting that on Saturday night Gabriel led The Grand Band of the Potomac's performance at the "Salute to America" celebration at Appomattox County High School.

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Source: http://www.newsadvance.com/