Local veterans and community members were treated to the Veteran’s Day of a lifetime last week when New Orleans’ own Victory Belles performed at the Columbia Theatre. The night after their performance at the Super Dome for the Saints and Cowboys game, Hannah Rachal, Meggie George and Christina Perez, widely known as the Victory Belles, made a stop in Hammond for their tour Monday, Nov. 11 at 7:30 p.m. for Veteran’s Day. The trio is known for their association with the National World War II Museum in New Orleans.
The Victory Belles began as a single trio in 2009 by the current director, Victoria Reed, in New Orleans. Since then, the organization grew to 16 Belles based in New Orleans and New York. With their passion to tribute veterans, plus sheer talent, the Victory Belles quickly became recognized and appreciated in the historical and musical communities.
Since Reed’s organization was created, they have unofficially adopted to be the mascot for the National World War II Museum and have been performing weekly in the Stage Door Canteen for about four years. Out of the now 16 Belles, Rachal, George and Perez all have been born musicians.
“My dad is an opera singer, my mother is a music teacher, so I was just always into music,” said soprano Meggie George, who was born in Germany. “I was always involved with music since I was a little girl. My mother would drag me to rehearsals, so I would sing since I was already there.”
“I sang in the church choir since I was two years and started getting into musical theater when I was around four or five,” said the trio’s mezzo-soprano, Hannah Rachal. “I came to New Orleans last year and auditioned for the Victory Belles, just because I just love the era, the music, the dresses and the hairstyles. I wanted to be a part of that. It’s really just a continuation of what I loved when I was a kid.”
“I started playing piano when I was seven, and that was my thing. I went to school at Loyola in New Orleans for music therapy,” said alto Perez. “I never wanted to perform, but all roads led to performance after I graduated. I had my own band. We made an album of all original music.”
The Victory Belles also performed at the Super Dome the night before their performance at the Columbia Theatre. The game featured a massive tribute card stunt, thanking the active military and veterans for their service, as well as a reuniting of a young female Marine with her family in the stands.
“[Performing at the Super Dome] was very touching and very representative of what we do at the museum, thanking our military and veteran through the entertainment of the era,” said Perez. “If that is my last time on national television, I’d still be totally happy.”
Along with the Victory Belles’ performance, the Hammond High JROTC greeted the audience in the lobby and the Color Guard performed prior to the show, as well as a World War II veteran who led the pledge of allegiance. Several locals, fans of the Victory Belles and veterans celebrated the men and women of the military at the performance. Opening with “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy”, as performed by the Andrews Sisters, Rachal, George and Perez sang classic music from the 40s, as well as several songs performed for troops by more recent artists and patriotic anthems and ballads. The acts consisted of upbeat and celebratory tunes in close three-part harmony with a flirtatious mix of humor and audience interaction.   
The Victory Belles perform weekly at the Stage Door Canteen and can perform for events. More information on the Victory Belles and performance dates can be found on www.victorybelles.org.