Musician and Army Air Forces officer. He received international recognition as an American jazz bandleader, arranger, and trombonist in the 1930s and 1940s. Born Alton Glen "Glenn" Miller (he changed the spelling of Glen to Glenn during high school) in Clarinda, Iowa, the family soon moved to Grant City, Missouri, where he went to grade school. While working for the town bandsman, he was given a trombone and learned to play proficiently enough to perform in the town band. The Miller family moved again, this time to Fort Morgan, Colorado, where he went to high school, excelling in sports. However, his interest was in dance band music. He skipped his graduation while his mother accepted his diploma while he went to Laramie, Wyoming to play in a band concert. He was headed for a career as a professional musician. There were numerous band opportunities, as the Big Band era was in full swing. He played with several area groups until landing in Boulder, Colorado playing with the Holly Moyer Orchestra which financed his two years at the University of Colorado at Boulder. He left college to work full-time playing and arranging music which led him to the Ben Pollack Orchestra. He roomed with another rising star, clarinetist Benny Goodman. Finally, in 1937, Glenn organized his own band. After a couple of years of trying times, the band was on its way with a booking at the Glen Island Casino, in New Rochelle, New York. Frequent radio broadcasts led to a nationwide following culminating in a series sponsored by Chesterfield cigarettes. Glenn Miller and His Orchestra was soon the most popular big band in America. Starting with the band theme song, "Moonlight Serenade," many Glenn Miller tunes became popular such as "In the Mood," "Tuxedo Junction," "I'll Never Smile Again," "Pennsylvania Six-Five Thousand," (AKA: Pennsylvania 6-5000) and "Chattanooga Choo Choo." The band appeared in two movies, "Sun Valley Serenade," and "Orchestra Wives." In 1942, at the height of his career, he joined the Army to serve in World War II. Too old to be drafted, he persuaded the Army to accept him. The United States Navy had turned him down. For the Army (Air Corps) or Army Air Forces (as it was called) he served in the role of organizing a military band to entertain the troops. Glenn became part of the Army Specialists Corps with the rank of Captain. After his tour of duty at Maxwell and Fort Meade, he transferred to Yale University for a couple of years. For the next year and a half, besides arranging music, he created and directed his own 50-member orchestra, and raised millions of dollars at war bond drives. He hired professional musicians from excellent orchestras and bands across the U.S., and formed an orchestra with a large string section added to a big band. Still wanting to do more, Glenn arranged for overseas duty. Arriving in London, the Glenn Miller Army Air Forces Orchestra was extremely busy. In one month, they played at 35 different bases and did 40 radio broadcasts. On a foggy day, on December 15, 1944, he flew with pilot Flight Officer John R. S. Morgan, U.S. Army Air Forces (35th Repair Squadron, 35th Air Depot Group), and Lieutenant Colonel Norman F. Baessell, U.S. Army Air Forces (Headquarters Squadron, VIII Air Service Command) in a single-engine C-64 Norseman aircraft from England headed to Paris, France. He was to set up arrangements for his band's arrival in Paris and a Christmas program. Investigations point to the icing up of the plane's wings causing the plane to drop into the English Channel. Army flights were canceled that day, one day before the Battle of the Bulge, but the pilot took off anyway. After the disappearance of Major Glenn Miller, the orchestra/band did the planned Christmas concert in Paris and continued to play in Europe until after the war. Their last concert before it was disbanded was in November 1945 at a National Press Club dinner for President Harry Truman in Washington, DC, where General Eisenhower and General Arnold thanked the band for a job well done. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal and has a memorial headstone/cenotaph at Arlington National Cemetery (MH-464-A). His name is etched as Alton Glenn Miller, U.S. Army (Air Corps), Major, MIA and there is a trombone and the words Bronze Star Medal on the reverse. There is a fan-placed, shiny, black monument with his picture etched on it at Grove Street Cemetery, New Haven, Connecticut, near Yale University. He is also remembered on the Tablets of the Missing at Cambridge American Military Cemetery and Memorial in Cambridge, England. He is honored with a memorial at the Corn Exchange, Bedford, Bedfordshire, a wartime base of the Major Glenn Miller Army Air Forces Orchestra in England, situated close to Twinwood Farm Airfield in Bedfordshire where the Norseman departed on its fateful journey. He is honored with a large boulder cenotaph in the front yard of the house where he was born in Clarinda, Iowa, and where the Glenn Miller Birthplace Society holds the Glenn Miller Music Festival every June. "The Glenn Miller Story" was filmed by Universal Studios in 1953 with Jimmy Stewart and June Allyson portraying Glenn and Helen Miller. The entire organization is honored at Arlington National Cemetery near his memorial headstone on Wilson Drive with a tree with a black granite marker that reads, "Dedicated to the Major Glenn Miller Army Air Forces Orchestra / In Service from 20 March 1943 to 15 January 1946 / An American Holly on 15 December 1994. It bears the images of a trombone and the Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF), and the Army Air Forces (AAF) insignia. It was dedicated on the 50th anniversary of his death.
Musician and Army Air Forces officer. He received international recognition as an American jazz bandleader, arranger, and trombonist in the 1930s and 1940s. Born Alton Glen "Glenn" Miller (he changed the spelling of Glen to Glenn during high school) in Clarinda, Iowa, the family soon moved to Grant City, Missouri, where he went to grade school. While working for the town bandsman, he was given a trombone and learned to play proficiently enough to perform in the town band. The Miller family moved again, this time to Fort Morgan, Colorado, where he went to high school, excelling in sports. However, his interest was in dance band music. He skipped his graduation while his mother accepted his diploma while he went to Laramie, Wyoming to play in a band concert. He was headed for a career as a professional musician. There were numerous band opportunities, as the Big Band era was in full swing. He played with several area groups until landing in Boulder, Colorado playing with the Holly Moyer Orchestra which financed his two years at the University of Colorado at Boulder. He left college to work full-time playing and arranging music which led him to the Ben Pollack Orchestra. He roomed with another rising star, clarinetist Benny Goodman. Finally, in 1937, Glenn organized his own band. After a couple of years of trying times, the band was on its way with a booking at the Glen Island Casino, in New Rochelle, New York. Frequent radio broadcasts led to a nationwide following culminating in a series sponsored by Chesterfield cigarettes. Glenn Miller and His Orchestra was soon the most popular big band in America. Starting with the band theme song, "Moonlight Serenade," many Glenn Miller tunes became popular such as "In the Mood," "Tuxedo Junction," "I'll Never Smile Again," "Pennsylvania Six-Five Thousand," (AKA: Pennsylvania 6-5000) and "Chattanooga Choo Choo." The band appeared in two movies, "Sun Valley Serenade," and "Orchestra Wives." In 1942, at the height of his career, he joined the Army to serve in World War II. Too old to be drafted, he persuaded the Army to accept him. The United States Navy had turned him down. For the Army (Air Corps) or Army Air Forces (as it was called) he served in the role of organizing a military band to entertain the troops. Glenn became part of the Army Specialists Corps with the rank of Captain. After his tour of duty at Maxwell and Fort Meade, he transferred to Yale University for a couple of years. For the next year and a half, besides arranging music, he created and directed his own 50-member orchestra, and raised millions of dollars at war bond drives. He hired professional musicians from excellent orchestras and bands across the U.S., and formed an orchestra with a large string section added to a big band. Still wanting to do more, Glenn arranged for overseas duty. Arriving in London, the Glenn Miller Army Air Forces Orchestra was extremely busy. In one month, they played at 35 different bases and did 40 radio broadcasts. On a foggy day, on December 15, 1944, he flew with pilot Flight Officer John R. S. Morgan, U.S. Army Air Forces (35th Repair Squadron, 35th Air Depot Group), and Lieutenant Colonel Norman F. Baessell, U.S. Army Air Forces (Headquarters Squadron, VIII Air Service Command) in a single-engine C-64 Norseman aircraft from England headed to Paris, France. He was to set up arrangements for his band's arrival in Paris and a Christmas program. Investigations point to the icing up of the plane's wings causing the plane to drop into the English Channel. Army flights were canceled that day, one day before the Battle of the Bulge, but the pilot took off anyway. After the disappearance of Major Glenn Miller, the orchestra/band did the planned Christmas concert in Paris and continued to play in Europe until after the war. Their last concert before it was disbanded was in November 1945 at a National Press Club dinner for President Harry Truman in Washington, DC, where General Eisenhower and General Arnold thanked the band for a job well done. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal and has a memorial headstone/cenotaph at Arlington National Cemetery (MH-464-A). His name is etched as Alton Glenn Miller, U.S. Army (Air Corps), Major, MIA and there is a trombone and the words Bronze Star Medal on the reverse. There is a fan-placed, shiny, black monument with his picture etched on it at Grove Street Cemetery, New Haven, Connecticut, near Yale University. He is also remembered on the Tablets of the Missing at Cambridge American Military Cemetery and Memorial in Cambridge, England. He is honored with a memorial at the Corn Exchange, Bedford, Bedfordshire, a wartime base of the Major Glenn Miller Army Air Forces Orchestra in England, situated close to Twinwood Farm Airfield in Bedfordshire where the Norseman departed on its fateful journey. He is honored with a large boulder cenotaph in the front yard of the house where he was born in Clarinda, Iowa, and where the Glenn Miller Birthplace Society holds the Glenn Miller Music Festival every June. "The Glenn Miller Story" was filmed by Universal Studios in 1953 with Jimmy Stewart and June Allyson portraying Glenn and Helen Miller. The entire organization is honored at Arlington National Cemetery near his memorial headstone on Wilson Drive with a tree with a black granite marker that reads, "Dedicated to the Major Glenn Miller Army Air Forces Orchestra / In Service from 20 March 1943 to 15 January 1946 / An American Holly on 15 December 1994. It bears the images of a trombone and the Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF), and the Army Air Forces (AAF) insignia. It was dedicated on the 50th anniversary of his death.
GLENN MILLER March 1, 1904 - Dec. 15, 1944 What he did for the United States with music can not be equaled anyplace in the world. He gave his life in World War II. God bless you Glenn.
Gravesite Details
This FOWLER plot includes markers for Christine M. Fowler, her parents, Beverly J. Fowler and Arthur W. Fowler, Jr. and musician Glenn Miller.
Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/115058559/glenn-miller: accessed
), memorial page for MAJ Glenn Miller (1 Mar 1904–15 Dec 1944), Find a Grave Memorial ID 115058559, citing Eastlawn Cemetery, Lake Orion,
Oakland County,
Michigan,
USA;
Maintained by Find a Grave.
Add Photos for MAJ Glenn Miller
Fulfill Photo Request for MAJ Glenn Miller
Photo Request Fulfilled
Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request
There is an open photo request for this memorial
Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request?
Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s).
Oops, something didn't work. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again.
Make sure that the file is a photo. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced.
All photos uploaded successfully, click on the <b>Done button</b> to see the photos in the gallery.
General photo guidelines:
Photos larger than 8.0 MB will be optimized and reduced.
Each contributor can upload a maximum of 5 photos for a memorial.
A memorial can have a maximum of 20 photos from all contributors.
The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional 10 photos (for a total of 30 on the memorial).
Include gps location with grave photos where possible.
No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments.)
This memorial already has a grave photo. Please indicate why you think it needs another.
There is no plot information for this memorial. Your photo request is more likely to be fulfilled if you contact the cemetery to get the plot information and include it with your request.
You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial.
Memorial Photos
This is a carousel with slides. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel.
Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried.
Show Map
If the memorial includes GPS coordinates, simply click 'Show Map' to view the gravesite location within the cemetery. If no GPS coordinates are available, you can contribute by adding them if you know the precise location.
Photos
For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab.
Photos Tab
All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer.
Flowers
Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button.
Family Members
Family members linked to this person will appear here.
Related searches
Use the links under See more… to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc.
Sponsor This Memorial
Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option.
Share
Share this memorial using social media sites or email.
Save to
Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print.
Edit or Suggest Edit
Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager.
Have Feedback
Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you.
You may not upload any more photos to this memorial
"Unsupported file type"
Uploading...
Waiting...
Success
Failed
This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has photos
This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded photos to this memorial
This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has photos
This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded photos to this memorial
Invalid File Type
Uploading 1 Photo
Uploading 2 Photos
1 Photo Uploaded
2 Photos Uploaded
Added by
GREAT NEWS! There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery.
Sorry! There are no volunteers for this cemetery. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request.
Enter numeric value
Enter memorial Id
Year should not be greater than current year
Invalid memorial
Duplicate entry for memorial
You have chosen this person to be their own family member.
Reported!
This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates.
0% Complete
Saved
Sign in or Register
Sign in to Find a Grave
Sign-in to link to existing account
There is a problem with your email/password.
There is a problem with your email/password.
There is a problem with your email/password.
We encountered an unknown problem. Please wait a few minutes and try again. If the problem persists contact Find a Grave.
We’ve updated the security on the site. Please reset your password.
Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. Please contact Find a Grave at [email protected] if you need help resetting your password.
This account has been disabled. If you have questions, please contact [email protected]
This account has been disabled. If you have questions, please contact [email protected]
Email not found
Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person.
Sign in to your existing Find a Grave account. You’ll only have to do this once—after your accounts are connected, you can sign in using your Ancestry sign in or your Find a Grave sign in.
We found an existing Find a Grave account associated with your email address. Sign in below with your Find a Grave credentials to link your Ancestry account. After your accounts are connected you can sign in using either account.
Please enter your email to sign in.
Please enter your password to sign in.
Please enter your email and password to sign in.
There is a problem with your email/password.
A system error has occurred. Please try again later.
A password reset email has been sent to EmailID. If you don't see an email, please check your spam folder.
We encountered an unknown problem. Please wait a few minutes and try again. If the problem persists contact Find a Grave.
Password Reset
Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code.
Registration Options
Welcome to Find a Grave
Create your free account by choosing an option below.
or
Ancestry account link
To create your account, Ancestry will share your name and email address with Find a Grave. To continue choose an option below.
or
If you already have a Find a Grave account, please sign in to link to Ancestry®.
New Member Registration
Email is mandatory
Email and Password are mandatory
This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. Resend Activation Email
Your password is not strong enough
Invalid Email
You must agree to Terms and Conditions
Account already exists
Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox
Internal Server error occurred
If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map
You must select an email preference
We have sent you an activation email
Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters.
We just emailed an activation code to
Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account.
cemeteries found in will be saved to your photo volunteer list.
cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list.
cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list.
Within 5 miles of your location.
Within 5 kilometers of your location.
0 cemeteries found in .
0 cemeteries found.
Add a cemetery to fulfill photo requests
You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below.
Search above to list available cemeteries.
Getting location…
Loading...
Loading...
No cemeteries found
Find a Grave Video Tutorials
Default Language
Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [email protected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. Thanks for your help!
Preferred Language
We have set your language to based on information from your browser.