2009 News
USNS Comfort's Band and Friguey Rock La Union
People from La Union received a rare treat: a concert that combined members of the Air Forces Band and Salvadoran rock band Friguey. The meeting of these experienced musicians took place at the central park of La Union as part of the Continuing Promise Mission 2009 carried out by the crew of the USNS Comfort.
With over 25 years of musical experience, the 17 members of the Air Forces Southern Band delivered a goodwill message in conjunction with the 8-member Salvadoran rock band Friguey.
Captain Cristina Moore-Urrutia from the band said that their work in the mission is to show the goodwill of the United States to all neighboring countries through music. “We are showing our neighbors our commitment to the region,” she added.
Friguey lead vocals Max Mendez highlighted that with this concert they were showing the good will and good nature of the relationship between El Salvador and the United States.
“We had great interaction and it shows we share the same language with music” said the band’s singer Tech Sgt. Keisha Gwin-Goodwin.
During USNS Comfort’s stay in El Salvador, the band has been playing for audiences that are awaiting treatment at the MEDRETEs and also brought their musical experience to different venues in the area.
Members of the band say that after their concerts they always go back to the ship with the satisfaction that audiences have reacted positively to their music.
The band is part of the over 600 crew members that are on this 4-month humanitarian mission that has taken them to Haiti, Dominican Republic, Antigua y Barbuda, Panama, Colombia, and El Salvador.