Music Lead Delia Baker on the Path to Serving Her Country
A talented musician at Portage Central High School in Portage, Michigan, Delia Baker was unclear what she wanted to do after graduating High School. That was until one day her percussion instructor invited her to check out the 126th Army Band of the Michigan National Guard. When Delia sat in on some of the band’s rehearsals, she instantly fell in love and considered joining as a post-graduate career.
The 126th Army Band of the Michigan National Guard, the Governor’s Own as of 2013, has been entertaining the citizens of Michigan for more than 50 years. The band is assigned to the Michigan National Guard Headquarters in Lansing, Michigan, and is stationed at the Grand Valley Armory in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
The tradition of military music in the Michigan National Guard dates back to colonial militia units at Michigan’s frontier forts. Colonial regiments stationed at Ft. Detroit, Ft. Mackinac, and Ft. Michilimackinac were all employed as drummers, fifers, or buglers as signal musicians as early as the 18th century.
Delia enlisted when she was 17 with the support of her parents. In July 2002, she left for boot camp and band in Fort Jackson, South Carolina. After boot camp, she moved back to the National Guard Armory located in Wyoming, Michigan, where she spent the next eight years with the National Guard band; six years of drilling, then two years of in-active ready reserve.
“Since 9/11 when you enlist as a musician you have to be crossed trained with a field skill. I chose to be trained as a combat medic, which allowed me to volunteer for deployment in December 2004,” said Delia.
Delia deployed to Iraq where she was stationed at Camp Dogwood and worked in the medical facility. There she took care of injured soldiers and prepared them to be sent back to the states for further medical care.
With volunteer deployments shorter than regular deployments, Delia returned home in six months. In 2005, one of our nation’s most catastrophic weather events took place – Hurricane Katrina. Delia was deployed with the Michigan National Guard to the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans where she provided medical treatment to civilians and helped prepare them to be moved safely out of the devastated region to relatives living in Michigan.
Once back in Grand Rapids, Michigan, one of Delia’s favorite things to do was to perform an outdoor concert at the veteran’s hospital for their patients in the nursing care facility or recovery area.
“Older gentlemen would get up and do the Charleston and share their war stories,” said Delia. “It was a wonderful experience to see how military music would take them on a trip down memory lane, even if it was not best of times, they seemed to enjoy the experience,” added Delia.
How Delia’s Military Experience Has Impacted Her Role at CORT
Delia’s military service has taught her the importance of working in a team-oriented environment. “I have worked places where there is no camaraderie,” said Delia. “Each person at CORT has a certain role in the business, but I love that we can all work together to come up with a solution for our customers.”
Delia also credits her National Guard training classes for helping her develop her leadership skills.
“I loved everything about my military experience, except the running.” I learned very quickly that Drill Sergeants have to break you before they make you. It was an amazingly fun experience. I really enjoyed the tactical component behind military operations, and I still miss it today.”
Delia comes from a family of military veterans. In fact, her grandfather Baker was a Chaplain for more than 30 years and served in the Michigan, Kansas, Wisconsin, and Illinois National Guard. They both served the same detachment for the 126th Infantry.