"In 1936, a group of American Legion Band members left the Legion Band and began to rehearse at the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 358 home. This group, which included Vincent Chiorgno and George White, approached the F.O.E. for band sponsorship. Aerie 358 agreed to provide uniforms, music, and rehearsal space for the group if the group would perform at Eagles functions in return."

"...This Memorial Day (1944) marked the end of an old tradition for the band, the bass drum boy, and marked the beginning of a new tradition as well, the Eagles Band bass drum on wheels. Changing times were reflected in the article which appeared on page one of the Berkshire Eagle on Tuesday, May 23, 1944:

'Time was when military bands could write their own tickets on selecting a boy to help carry the big bass drum for parades, but in preparing for Memorial Day, the Eagles Band couldn't find a youngster for the job. Solution: a bicycle wheel rigging so that drummer can push the instrument right up the street without the help of anyone.' "

"August 6, 1945 marked the beginning of the Atomic Age with the bombing of Hiroshima. On August 10, Japan offered surrender, and members of the Eagles and the new A. F. M. bands brought their instruments to their employment, waiting for the signal of VJ Day...the celebration of the end of World War II. On August 14, 20,000 people jammed the streets of Pittsfield for the parade in which the Eagles and A.F.M. bands, and the Moose Drum Corps participated."

VE Day 1945 – Band members were told to bring their instruments to work and wait for word that the war was over. When it came, they hit the streets in an impromptu parade.

"Pete Vittone announced his switch from his famed seventy-five pound tuba to a five pound tuba, stating that he was 'taking it a little easier' this Memorial Day. The band attended the state F.O.E. convention in Nantasket and won first prize of $100. Band members remember the overnight convention gigs dearly, particularly the Nantasket convention at which some members of the band formed an impromptu dance band, much to the merriment of the conventioneers."

"The public events in the city of Pittsfield in 1961 centered around the celebration of the Pittsfield Bicentennial...On September 1, the Eagles Band paid a concert tribute to John Philip Sousa. On September 3, the Eagles Band, along with a Bicentennial Chorus, performed for dignitaries and townspeople in Re-dedication Day ceremonies held at Park Square. Finally, 30,000 people turned out for the Labor Day Bicentennial Parade on September 4, the largest parade in Pittsfield's 200-year history."

"In August, a curfew was imposed on Park Square from one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise in order to discourage slumbering hippies. This curfew, coupled with new traffic patterns around the park, effectively discouraged evening band concerts in Park Square for the time. The Eagles Band continued to perform at places such as Pontoosuc Lake and Springside Gardens..."

"By 1973, the band was rather habituated to practicing in a third floor room in the First Street F.O.E. home. It was a stuffy, hot room where sounds reverberated for seconds after notes had actually ended. The band was moved from one floor and one room to another as the Aerie needed its rooms. When the Ladies Auxiliary moved their meetings into the rehearsal room on rehearsal nights, the Eagles Band approached the American Legion for sponsorship. Two days before the July 4th parade, the Eagles Band became the American Legion Eagles Band until the Aerie could offer adequate rehearsal facilities...The band was to remain under the auspices of the American Legion until 1975, when the new function room in the basement of the Aerie was offered to the band for rehearsals, and the Eagles Band returned to its nest."