Bailey: Millington is the infirmary for injured Navy instruments
Navy band repair technician Noreen Garza takes apart a Euphonium wind instrument on Wednesday, May 22, 2024 at the Millington Naval Base. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)
Clay Bailey
Clay Bailey, a lifelong Memphian, has worked as a reporter in the city four decades. He concentrated on suburban coverage for the bulk of his career, except for a stint as sports editor of The Daily Memphian when it launched in September 2018. He now is suburban editor and also serves as a freelance sports writer for The Associated Press.
Who would have thought if a U.S. Navy musician needed their instrument repaired that the clarinet clinic was in Millington?
Whether it’s an obsolete oboe out of Okinawa or a fractured flute from France, the damaged instrument makes its way to the Naval complex in Millington where a pair of repairers – Noreen Garza and Chris Humphrey – work their expertise to get the sound back in tune and the instrument back in shape.
Columnist Geoff Calkins outlined the work of Garza and Humphrey earlier this week, telling their tales of how they got into the line of work with the Navy. As is normally the case, Calkins highlighted their talent in an entertaining way that got deeper into the story than just saying the pair is out in Millington.
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