What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
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8 WHAT'S UP! OCTOBER 20-26, 2019 FEATURE BECCA MARTIN-BROWN NWA Democrat-Gazette H istory repeats itself if we do not remember," Janice Martin says. "We must remember that freedom is earned, not necessarily given, and can be taken away. We must be on guard and protect this at all costs!" When audiences in Branson see Martin on stage in her cirque show at the Starlite Theater, what they see is a slender, almost delicate, woman with long blonde hair and a sweet, heart- shaped face. But it doesn't take long to realize there's more to her than beauty. She's a world-renowned violinist, first and foremost, but she can also play her instrument hanging upside down in an aerial demonstration of strength and skill. Aspects of that strength, skill — and determination — were nurtured by three years in the U.S. Army, stationed in the nation's capital. Martin laughs when she recounts the story of how a Juilliard student without any military influence in her family wound up enlisting. She had just begun to realize that she'd soon have to get a job that would allow her to repay her somewhat overwhelming student loans, she recalls, so when she saw a sign that said "Student Loan Repayment," she stopped to look — only to find it was an Army recruiting center. She walked on, laughing, then turned around and went in. The soldier on duty had a good laugh, too, when she asked if there were violins in the Army. "I'll go look," she remembers him saying. "He came back kind of white-faced and said, 'Not only do we have violins, but there's a job opening. Auditions are next week.'" And that's how Martin became a violinist in Pershing's Own, the U.S. Army Band. Six months later, finished with school, she was assigned to basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. — where, she says, she learned to shoot an M-16 and went through the gas chamber, just like everybody else. "G.I. Janice," she jokes. "Afterwards, I was stationed at Fort Myer in Washington, D.C., and performed in the Army Strolling Strings and Army Band," she explains. "We performed in places like the White House and State Department; I had to have a White House security clearance. I also toured a little bit at conventions with the Army Special Brass Quintet. "I was surprised at how much I loved the military life," she adds. "I loved being part of a family. I loved the regiment of everything, and I loved that I still had freedom to do creative things within my job. I loved that people loved our music, and it felt like we really contributed to others." Her time in the service also changed her life, she says, "in many profound ways." "I had only been around artists and musicians, and they tend to have a very different political viewpoint! I see many sides now of issues and understand more deeply why issues are difficult. I feel like I am more disciplined and have a greater appreciation for what veterans have gone through to make the lives of Americans better. I appreciate our country so much more deeply than just having read our history — I feel like I rubbed shoulders with men and women who made history. I have deeper respect and work harder to demonstrate my pride in America. Violinist, veteran joins community in saying thanks Located at the entrance to the College of the Ozarks, the Missouri Vietnam Veterans Memorial bears the names of more than 1,400 Missourians who served and died in the Vietnam War. Courtesy Photo