Carrie Smith writes: “All signs pointed to Philip Espe joining the Marines. The 34-year-old comes from a long line of military family members. But he also had a calling in music. Espe studied clarinet performance, earned a master’s of music in orchestral conducting, and directed community and youth orchestras. Then, in 2022, shortly after receiving his MLIS, Espe’s career came full circle when he joined the United States Marine Band as a librarian and historian. This year, the band celebrates its 225th anniversary.”