A celebration of Andrew Johnson and the U.S. Constitution in story and music was held Wednesday night with a stirring performance by the 113th U.S. Army Band at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center.

An estimated crowd of 800 attended the family-oriented event to mark the Johnson bicentennial and 221st anniversary of the Constitution of which Johnson was a staunch supporter.

The 113th U.S. Army Band, the "Dragoons," from Fort Knox, Ky., was established in 1840 and was the same unit that performed at the inaugural parade of President Abraham Lincoln and Vice President Johnson.

The story of Johnson's rise from "ordinary circumstances" to the nation's leader was told by Chris Small, founder of the Lincoln Project and a Lincoln reenactor.

Small told how Johnson was able to place himself in the right places at the right times and align himself with the right associates to "advance him far beyond his own ambitions."

Small recalled Johnson's work as a tailor and how his tailor shop was a popular site for political discussions.

He also told how Johnson learned to read from his wife, Eliza McCardle Johnson.

As Small recalled Johnson's advancement through all the political offices from Greeneville Alderman to President, a large screen above the NPAC stage showed photos, documents and illustrations related to Johnson's career.

Small spoke about Johnson's fight to keep Tennessee from seceding from the Union and his push to abolish slavery.

The Army Band performed a medley of several Civil War-era songs, from "Camptown Races" and "Dixie" to "The Yellow Rose of Texas" and the "Battle Hymn of the Republic."

The medley, along with several other performances by the band, was followed by a standing ovation from the crowd.

The band, under the direction of Chief Warrant Officer Jeremiah Keillor, performed the National Anthem as 50 American flags were paraded into the NPAC. The crowd also recited the pledge of allegiance.

For the first time in Greeneville since Johnson's death, "Webster's Funeral March" was performed by the band.

Special guests for the celebration were three students from Andrew Johnson Elementary School in Kingsport.

Fifth-graders Hannah Burgess, Hannah Emery and Reece Emery read the Preamble to the Constitution in unison and took turns reading the 10 Amendments of the Bill of Rights.

Following an intermission, the event turned to a concert with performances by the 113th Jazz Band, the 113th Men's Quartet and the 113th Concert Band.

The concert featured several World War II-era songs and patriotic selections, including the finale, "Stars and Stripes Forever."

The "Hymn to the Fallen," from the movie "Saving Private Ryan," was played as a tribute to the men and women how gave their lives for their country.

As the band played theme songs from each of the military branches, Keillor asked members of those branches and their family members and close friends to stand. They also recognized emergency personnel as they performed "This Is My Country."

The 113th U.S. Army band includes a total of 39 members and performs more than 320 concerts a year," Keillor said.

State Rep. Eddie Yokley, D-11th of Greene County, read a proclamation from Gov. Phil Bredesen, proclaiming Sept. 17 as Andrew Johnson Day in Tennessee.

David Vela, regional director of the Southeast Region of the National Park Service, thanked Lizzie Watts, superintendent of the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site, and her staff for their work.

He noted that the National Park Service has 24 sites that are related to the Constitution.

Small thanked several organizations for making the event possible: The Museums of Tusculum College, Tusculum College, the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area, the Andrew Johnson Bicentennial Committee, the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site, the Bartlett-Patterson Corporation, the Andrew Johnson Heritage Association, the Niswonger Foundation and the NPAC.