Chapel band enhances UTA experience Published July 20, 2015 By Senior Airman Daniel Phelps 94th Airlift Wing Public Affairs DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga. -- Harmonious melodies pour out of Heritage Hall early Sunday morning as Citizen Airmen sing out hymns accompanied by the rhythm of an acoustic guitar, beats of the electric drum set and resonation of the keys. “The band is a fairly new thing; they haven’t always been here,” said Chaplain (Maj.) Olga Westfall, 94th Airlift Wing chaplain. “We are so fortunate to have the band, it adds so much to the worship experience.”The chapel band is comprised of Westfall, Carol Pope, Lt. Col. Chad Gibson, Master Sgt. James Branch, Tech. Sgt. Ben Hayes, Staff Sgt. Lindsey Black and Senior Airman Jamie Link. With the exception of Westfall, Link and Pope who are part of the chaplain’s office, the rest are members of the public affairs office.The band was originally just Westfall and Pope.“We are always open to bringing in more people,” Westfall added.This team has been spun up for the past year and a half, said Link. “Gibson was the heavy hitter for this -- he joined and everyone else came into place,” Link explained.Gibson said his interest was sparked while worshipping in the chapel before it moved to the Clay National Guard side of the base.“I felt led to be part of the service,” he said. “So I asked Chaplain Westfall if I could help in any way –singing or playing – and she said yes. It really took off from there.”Once they started playing, there were others to volunteer their time playing on other instruments to fill out the band, Gibson continued.Link, a former Tops in Blue member, described Gibson as integral to the success of the band.“He does this everywhere and has a vast experience with this sort of thing,” she explained.Gibson, another former Tops in Blue member, said he’s been singing in church since he was three years old.“Music has been a constant part of my life,” he said. “My brother Bryan and I sang in gospel quartet in churches growing up and I was very active in show choirs in high school. At Florida State, I sang with the glee club and sang the national anthem for every FSU college sport except for football, and for the Washington Nationals, Houston Astros and several hockey teams.”Today, Gibson is also an Elvis Tribute Artist at Hard Rock Café and at the Dallas (Georgia) Theater. Unfortunately for the team, he recently transferred to a new base.“We’re kind of bummed about it,” Link said. “He has been our heavy hitter.”The chaplain assistant said Gibson’ musical experience helped them out tremendously when it came to putting the music together last minute. “Usually we rehearse on Saturdays at the end of the drill day, but couldn’t always make it work,” she described. “Sometimes we’d have to throw it all together 15 minutes before the service. Gibson has been doing this so long that he brought it all together.”Though there will be a giant hole to fill, the chapel band is always looking to bring in new people, Link said. “It doesn’t matter what your talent is, we will find a way to use it,” she said.
