Topeka native Brett Criqui's friend, Col. Paul M. Kelly, is among those laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery's Section 60, which is reserved for military personnel who died fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Criqui, now retired from the military as a colonel, was still serving when he traveled in 2007 to a Delaware Air Force base to receive the body of Kelly, 45, who had been among 12 soldiers killed in a helicopter crash in Iraq.
"It was devastating," he told The Capital-Journal on Monday. "His casket was one of 26 on that airplane."
The presence of his friend at Arlington Cemetery was among reasons Criqui says he found it especially meaningful when he got to appear on stage in full dress uniform in 2017 with the rock band Kansas at a Pennsylvania concert as it performed “Section 60,” an instrumental tribute it created to the honored dead who are buried there.
"It was really good to have the opportunity to represent the military and those who have died to protect our freedoms," he said. "It made me feel special."
Band Kansas is known for supporting military members
Kansas, formed in 1973 in Topeka, is a progressive rock band known for the sophistication and creativity it has shown for more than 50 years in which it has soldmore than 15 million records.
The band is also known for the support it shows to those who have served —and those who continue to serve — in our nation's military, Criqui said.
The band announced last week on its Facebook page that for a limited and unspecified period of time, it would donate all its revenue from the sale of its band apparel to the Arlington, Virginia-based Honor Flight Network, which arranges flights to enable veterans to visit monuments and memorials dedicated to their service and sacrifice.
Kansas released the instrumental "Section 60" in 2016 as part of its album, "The Prelude Implicit."
Criqui's service includes deployments to Iraq, Bosnia
Criqui graduated in 1985 from Shawnee Heights High School, then earned a degree from Kansas State University. He served in the military —at times part-time and at times full-time, including with the Army —from December 1986 until he retired with the rank of colonel on Sept. 1, 2021.
Criqui has been deployed to Iraq and Bosnia but not to Afghanistan, he said.
Criqui said he was an Active Guard Reserve National Guard officer stationed in 2017 at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, when a fellow officer was given a chance to appear on stage with Kansas as it played "Section 60" during a concert at Reading, Pennsylvania.
The band — when it plays that song — has current or former service members appear on stage in the spotlight during “Section 60” at its concerts, with a different person joining them each time, he said.
The officer who was going to join the band at Reading subsequently realized he "wouldn't be able to do it," Criqui recalled.
He said he volunteered enthusiastically to take his place.
Each band member thanked Criqui for his service
The concert took place Dec. 16, 2017.
Criqui said he and his wife, Anita Criqui — a 1982 Shawnee Heights High School graduate whose maiden name was Sanderson — received backstage passes and got to hang out with the band.
"They were interested to know I was from Topeka," he said.
Criqui and the band members identified some mutual friends they had in Topeka, he added.
Each band member thanked Criqui for his military service, he said.
As a colonel, Criqui was probably the highest-ranking officer to have appeared on stage with Kansas at that point, he learned from the band's drummer and manager, Phil Ehart.
Criqui thought, 'I'm having an out-of-body experience'
Criqui said he remained dressed in civilian clothes as he and his wife watched the first part of the concert from the front row.
About halfway through, Criqui said, he was taken backstage, where he changed into his full dress uniform.
Criqui then watched the band play until it came time for him to walk out into the spotlight, he said.
He recalled thinking at that time, "I'm having an out-of-body experience."
"The audience just went crazy," he said, calling that "just another indicator that the American public is fully supportive of our military and the sacrifices they've made, especially in the recent conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq."
Criqui said he felt greatly honored to stand in the spotlight, holding an American flag, representing the military and being a symbol for those who had fallen in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"It was fantastic," he said. "I had a great time."
Band Kansas is coming to Topeka Oct. 3 and 4
Criqui said he retired at Fort Rucker, Alabama. He and his wife live in Enterprise, Alabama.
The band Kansas is currently performing a concert tour celebrating its 50th anniversary.
It plans to appear Oct. 3 and 4 in Topeka.
Kansas hasn't been playing "Section 60" at its recent concerts, according to set lists for those performances available online.
Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.
