A Brief History of the Band
The Waltham American
Legion Band was founded in 1946 by Dorothy (Dot) Slamin Hill and her husband
Joseph F. Hill, for whom the Waltham Legion Post is named.
Following her husband's
death, Dot became the director of the band and served in that position until
her retirement in 1996. A champion baton-twirler in her
high school days, Dot performed at the front of the band throughout her fifty
years of service. She and "her" band were famous throughout
Massachusetts, New England, and most of the 50 states, including Hawaii.
Foreign travels for the band have included Ireland, England,
and a famous parade through Red Square in Moscow with Dot at the helm.
Dot passed away in September of 2004.
