The $75,000 Cello: One Reason Military Bands Hit a Sour Note

U.S. military bands will be out in force this July 4 holiday weekend. Their blaring trumpets, booming drums and trilling piccolos will get many American hearts a-pounding and toes a-tapping. No one would expect to see a rare $75,000 18th Century Italian cello among the brass and drums. But that's just what the Air Force Band wants to do.

Sure, the Air Force loves to fly its so-called 5th-generation fighters like the F-22 and F-35.