Brigadier General Gracus K. Dunn clearly loves his country, as demonstrated by his lifetime of service to the United States Army.
He also clearly loves music, as demonstrated by his Bachelor of Arts degree in music from Arkansas Tech University.
On the 10th anniversary of the most devastating terrorist attacks in U.S. history, he had an opportunity to combine those passions in a most meaningful way.
Dunn (photographed) was invited by the Buffalo Grove Symphonic Band (Ill.) to serve as a surprise guest conductor on a performance of “Stars and Stripes Forever” during a ceremony commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States.
The event was held at Buffalo Grove High School. Dunn serves as commanding officer for the 85th U.S. Army Reserve Support Command in nearby Arlington Heights, Ill.
The Village of Buffalo Grove Committee invited Dunn to serve as guest speaker at the 9/11 commemorative event, but he received a bonus when Howard Green, conductor of the Buffalo Grove Symphonic Band, handed him his baton and asked him to conduct the group.
Dunn is a 1982 graduate of Arkansas Tech. He was a member of the Band of Distinction during his days as a student in Russellville.
Since beginning his military career, Dunn has served the United States abroad in Somalia, Panama, Egypt, Honduras, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kuwait.
He has also been stationed in Germany and he has commanded U.S. troops in both the United States and Korea.
Dunn has served in the National Military Command Center as the assistant to the director of Operations-J3 for Reserve Operations, Joint Chiefs of Staff, at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.
His awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Army Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation and Achievement Medals, Army Commendation and Achievement Medals, Air Force Achievement Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary and Service Medals, Korean National Defense Medal, Globar War on Terrorism Service Medal, NATO Medal, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award and the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Army Staff Badges.
Special thanks to Anthony Taylor of the 85th Support Command Public Affairs Office in Arlington Heights, Ill., for providing the photo and information for this article.
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