Michael Embrey: Dedicated to making a difference

By Lauren Jones, Honor Flight Chicago Veteran Interview Volunteer

“I’m extremely impressed with the entire organization,” said Michael Embrey after participating in Honor Flight Chicago’s mission to Washington, D.C., on August 28, 2024. “It was well organized and well disciplined,” he emphasized.

As a musician and producer of large-scale events, Michael has a unique appreciation for the program—from the number of volunteers on hand to the tiny details like the various colored lanyards that each mean something different. “It was hard for me as a producer to step back and let someone tell me what to do. But I went along with the game and was so impressed with everything – it was so well scripted. I don’t think the average Veteran understands just how much work it takes to get this done. But I do.”

Michael, a member of the premier USAF Band/Drum & Bugle Corps from 1967 to 1971, had the honor of playing TAPS at the World War II Memorial during the Honor Flight tour. He has performed this act at more than 1,500 military funerals over the past 60 years. This includes being invited to play TAPS at the American Cemetery in Normandy, France, in 2016, which he describes “without a doubt” as the most humbling experience in his adult life.

Michael has a deep commitment to honoring veterans and serving the community. He is so grateful that Honor Flight helps Vietnam-era veterans finally get the welcome home they deserve. “One of the most powerful statements in the English language is ‘thank you’,” he explains. “Despite that, many of our nation’s older military veterans never got that simple acknowledgment when they returned home from service. Some waited more than 60 years to hear those two words. Thank you.”

Natural born talent

At age 6, Michael’s family moved from Texas to the Ozarks in southern Missouri, where his dad opened a truck stop. One day, a trucker who didn’t have money to pay for the diesel gas he needed came through. Michael’s dad agreed to accept an old beat-up trumpet for the gas. He gave it to Michael, who immediately liked it and started teaching himself how to play. He laughs, remembering how he would play the trumpet in his backyard to signal to his buddies that he wanted to go out and play.

Using his self-taught skills, he auditioned for the junior high band a few years later and got in. At 13, he was called to the principal’s office, which was “not unusual,” according to Michael, but there was a man in uniform there. “I said to myself, ‘Oh, I’m too young to go into the military,’ but the principal introduced him as the manager from the local VFW. He asked if I could play TAPS at military funerals—there were a lot of World War I veterans dying. I wasn’t too interested at that age to participate, but the commander said I’d get $2, and the principal said I’d get the day off school, so of course I did it!”

At 16, Michael’s family moved to Mount Prospect, Ill. His sister married an Army musician who realized Michael had talent. So, he took him to audition for a civilian drum and bugle core called the Cavaliers. Michael, not fully appreciating his natural talent at the time, got the role of lead bugler, which gave him solid experience. He also started his junior year at Mount Prospect High School. He auditioned for the high school band and got first chair trumpet. The band director, Dr. Ed Voltz, stated that he had perfect pitch and was very articulate in his playing.

Meanwhile, the football coach also saw that Michael was a letterman as a sophomore at his previous school. He approached him on the first day to ask him to try out for the team. Dr. Voltz knew this would be a conflict and asked Michael two questions: 1) Can the football coach promise you a scholarship? and 2) How many girls are on the football team?

“Needless to say, I stayed in the band for my junior and senior years. I got a trumpet scholarship to the University of Illinois, but after two years, I was running out of money. So, I mistakenly dropped out of university to take gen ed courses at a community college, which was more affordable. I didn’t know at the time that going from a university to a community college would cause me to lose my educational deferment. So, I soon got a letter from Uncle Sam stating I was now eligible for the draft.”

A military career grounded in music

Once he realized he was being drafted, Michael followed the lead of a few friends and auditioned for the Air Force military band. They didn’t have an opening then, so he started basic training at a temporary base in Amarillo, Texas. He served as an accountant at a secondary base for several months before being pulled for the band. He then went to the USAF Academy in Colorado Springs, where he served for the next 3-1/2 years.

He was assigned as a musician/arranger specialist for the premiere USAF Drum & Bugle Corps. This was a dual role as a musical support element for the USAF Academy and musical entertainment for the US Air Force, including national and local parades, retirement ceremonies, concerts, and special events.

“When you audition for a premiere music group for any military branch, you have to pass the audition and then pass top security clearance,” he explained. We were always close or near political dignitaries and high-ranking military people.” Michael’s group performed for President Richard Nixon’s inauguration in January 1969.

Michael describes the commitment as “A great assignment, but we had no life. We were always touring, and it wasn’t a normal schedule.” Given the turmoil in the US during the time of his service, the band was also not always met with open arms. “We had chicken bones and beer cans thrown at us for being in the military, but being a professional unit, we always completed our program and didn’t get in any confrontations. If it got bad, we would need to call local police, but that didn’t happen much.”

For his service, Michael received the National Defense Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Outstanding Unit Citation (with Oak Leaf), Outstanding Presidential Merit Award, and the Marksmanship Medal.

Honoring the military through civilian life

When Michael exited the military, he used the GI Bill to return to community college. He remembers that there was no welcome home or acknowledgment of his service, so he returned to civilian life and tried to move on. However, one day, sitting in a psychology class, the teacher asked a question of the class: “How do people get rewarded in life?”. He remembers a woman raising her hand to say, “Well, the Army gives out medals for killing people.”  

Angry at this response, Michael immediately stood up to say: “That’s one of the stupidest things I’ve ever heard. I served four years in the military, have a chest full of ribbons, and haven’t killed anything other than a barfly.” The teacher quickly moved on, but Michael was later called to the President’s office. He thought he would be kicked out, but instead was asked to serve as the official veteran coordinator for the college. He accepted the role and served as a resource for veterans at the college. He was their primary advocate and pressured other groups around campus to treat the vets with more respect. Michael remembers that the role was humbling but also rewarding and refreshing.

After graduation, in the fall of 1974, Michael was appointed the Marching Band Director at Northern Illinois University (NIU), making him the nation’s youngest Band Director—he was 27. Michael created a new marching band organization for the university that was branded the ‘NIU Show Band’ and was the nation’s first Drum Corps-styled university band. “We were more theatrical than traditional,” he explained. “The kids loved being in the band because it was a lot of pageantry and color, which came from my military background.”

After his first fall season at NIU, Michael called the director of entertainment for the Chicago Bears and asked if the NIU Show Band could perform at halftime during the upcoming season. “I wanted to motivate the kids, and that fall of 1975, we were able to perform at a halftime show. It went really well. We had flags, rifles, twirlers, dancers, and more. I made sure it was a great production and not traditional. Two days later, I got a phone call from the director who said that the owner of the Bears, George Halas, would like to meet with me.

“So, on Thursday, I humbly walked into Halas’s office. That’s when he said, ‘Young man, we have received more phone calls from season ticket holders about how entertaining that was. We want you to come back every year’.” Michael stayed with NIU for 10 more years and spent the next 15 years working with the Bears on halftime shows. He has also produced special halftime events for Green Bay, Los Angeles, San Diego, and other NFL teams.

Michael currently owns a production company that produces shows all over the country and works with companies such as ABC/Disney. He also started an international travel company about 10 years ago that organizes experiential tours for groups. Think winemaking instead of wine tasting. He has visited 53 international countries and all 50 states.

In 2021, he got a phone call to see if he’d join the All-American Band Director Band. Their first performance was in January 2022 at the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena. He was the oldest of the 270 band directors and marched the 5-1/2 mile parade route. “I was laughing as the younger directors were sitting on the curb while I was still going. A body in motion stays in motion. A mind in motion stays in motion.” The band regrouped in 2023 and performed at the Macy’s Day Parade in New York City.

Be the person your dog thinks you are

Michael is dedicated to assisting veterans and promoting their welfare. He has significantly impacted veteran recognition, especially in his current hometown of DeKalb, which, with his help, was recognized in 2023 as the ‘State of Illinois Veteran City of the Year’ and the ‘National Veteran City of the Year.’ This work includes establishing four veteran memorials, the most recent being a DeKalb Veteran Memorial Mural that was dedicated in August 2024. He also started a Hometown Heroes banner program, which is up to 74 banners; the Sweets4Troops program that has donated more than 2,000 pounds of candy; and worked with the city to secure dedicated parking spaces at both public and private businesses for veterans. Near the downtown area, he worked to get each military branch flag hung by the American flag.

“Like many Vietnam veterans, I shied away from any veteran-related activities due to the disrespect for veterans coming out of the service during the Vietnam conflict. Around the age of 50, I realized Americans need to show respect for the Vietnam-era veterans, so I joined various veteran groups,” he explains.

Some recent awards Michael has received for his service include the 2021 Illinois ELKS Veteran Volunteer of the Year, 2021 DeKalb ELKS Flag Day honoree, 2022 40&8 National Veteran ‘Americanism Award Winner,’ 2023 40&8 State of Illinois Veteran of the Year, 2024 DAR State of Illinois Veteran of the Year, and the list goes on.

“DC Bestie”

One of the things Michael enjoyed most about his Honor Flight was the Guardian assigned to him. Karen Morgan is a USAF veteran who Michael describes as “an extremely compassionate person who cares about veterans and active-duty military members.” He continues, “She made me feel extremely comfortable throughout the day. I think I was the winner that I had her for a guardian. Sweet, pleasant, and had great stories to share”. Michael is sure he made a lifelong friend and ‘DC Bestie’.

When they arrived at Midway Airport after the busy day, Michael said he was so energized by the greeting. “The runway was lit up with flashing lights from police cars and fire trucks; our plane was honored with water cannons saluting our return. As we departed the plane, we were greeted by some high-ranking military and Chicago dignitaries.

“Leading the group through the airport was a bagpipe band. Over 1,000 greeters welcomed us, including some people who really surprised me. One of my former students – now a Major in the U.S. Army came to greet me – I was blown away. I had other former band students and DeKalb business leaders who also came to the airport to greet me and say ‘thank you’.” 

He continues, “The greeters included young and old, other veterans, first responders, school students, a high school choir and a brass community band from Frankfort, Illinois. These greeters were verbally yelling thank you, shaking our hands and passing out flowers and mini-American flags. It was extremely emotional for every veteran, and for many brought a tear of joy for finally being honored. 

“The walk through the terminal was the Welcome Home Parade we never got.” 

Thank you for your service, Michael! We are so glad you enjoyed your well-earned and much-deserved Honor Flight experience!