The West Point Band is the U.S. Army's oldest active-duty band and the oldest unit at the United States Military Academy.
An act of Congress issued on March 16, 1802 directed that a corps of engineers be established and stationed at West Point which would constitute a Military Academy. This act formed the Regiment of Artillerist which included four military musicians, the first officially assigned musicians to the United States Military Academy. The band as a unit received its official authorization from the Department of War on June 16, 1817.
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