Music to rev us up with General Larry Shellito

St. Paul, Minn. — Major General Larry Shellito is the Adjutant General of the Minnesota National Guard - at least until Halloween, when he plans to retire from a long career in the armed services.

Music has played an important role in his life from the time as a little boy when he attended "Fantasia" and never forgot that early enchantment with Mickey and the dancing brooms accompanied by Paul Dukas' "The Sorcerer's Apprentice."

Later, he took up percussion and found he was forever drawn to music with a good beat. While serving in Vietnam, Shellito listened to an all-classical radio station each night while writing reports. He found the nature of the beat encouraged him to write in time, almost as a conductor leads an orchestra.

For solace and comfort, he loves the conjuring up of memories from good times drinking wine and dancing on a Danube Cruise by listeing to any waltz by Johann Strauss.

Although he does say if stranded on a desert island, he would need his entire collection of the great works of classical music on a 10-CD set (and with good speakers!)

Guests

• General Larry Shellito: With a career spanning 37 years, Major General Shellito enlisted in the active-duty Army and went to Vietnam as a Mobile Advisory Team Senior Advisor. His awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, and Bronze Star among many others. General Shellito was instrumental in establishing the state's "Beyond the Yellow Ribbon" initiative, which is now the foundation of a national program to reintegrate National Guard and Reserve military service members following deployments.