Liliana Byrd: Ms Veteran America 2022 - Full Bio

Staff Sergeant Liliana “Joie” Byrd grew up in Atlanta, Georgia where her passion for music became clear at a young age. While flute was her primary instrument, Joie was also a skilled pianist, guitarist, and conductor; leading her high school and college marching bands as the drum major of several hundred marching members. One of her most formative musical experiences was a visit from a military musician during her senior year of high school. At this point, Byrd decided she would pursue service through music as a hopeful future member of a military band.

After graduating high school, Joie earned a music scholarship to attend Jacksonville State University where she studied music education. Her undergraduate years were spent performing in various concert bands, flute choir, steel pan ensemble, and additionally marching tuba in the highly competitive Drum Corps International circuit. Each summer while at JSU, Joie taught middle and high school musicians around the southeast during their band camps and summer music programs. Upon entering her final semester at JSU, Byrd won an extremely competitive audition with the United States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps in Washington, D.C. SSG Byrd spent her first enlistment in the Army serving as a fife instrumentalist in this highly esteemed premier band of the Army. During these 4 years on active duty, SSG Byrd performed in over 230 missions and ceremonies including full honor reviews for the President, Secretary of Defense, Chief of Staff of the Army, and Sergeant Major of the Army. Despite the numerous high-profile missions for the Nation's highest ranking officials, SSG Byrd's favorite part of any performance was engaging with the excited and inquisitive young audience members to answer their questions after the shows.