The first appearance of The Thirty-Third Illinois Volunteer Regiment Band took place at the David Davis Mansion’s Re-enactment of a Lincoln-Douglas Debate in 1995 with rented hats and shirts. Several players were recruited from the ranks of the Community Concert Band of which Gary Borling was a member. The band was particularly grateful to Dr. Minor Myers, President of Illinois Wesleyan University, for loaning some of his instrument collection to the group.
After band members assured Gary they were willing to continue playing these “contrary instruments”, the group performed at a beautiful little cemetery in the country near Gibson City. This event gathered several descendants of a Confederate Civil War veteran to honor his service.
