FORT DRUM — Tchaikovsky's "1812" overture is known for its climactic ending, in which cannons blast and chimes ring out. And the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, with the help of a little gun power from Fort Drum, makes it part of the finale of its Thompson Park show every year.

Tonight will be no different, as four Howitzer cannons, fired by members of the 2nd Platoon, Alpha Battery, 4th Battalion, 25th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, join the symphony for the ending note.

Tonight's festivities at the park begin at 7 with a Yellow Ribbon Rally and a performance by the Northern Blend Chorus. The symphony, conducted by Daniel Hege, performs at 8 p.m. The annual fireworks display begins at dusk.

Eighteen soldiers will be on call tonight to fire the four cannons. These soldiers have spent time over the past two weeks rehearsing for the event and are looking forward to performing for a crowd instead of for an infantry unit under fire.

"It's exciting because I've never done anything like this for the public," said Pvt. Patrick C. Bowen, who will take part in the long-standing tradition for the first time tonight. "It's slightly different because our configuration is more ceremonial and there are a lot more precautions when we fire live."

The Howitzer is a cannon that fires a 105 mm round and is used to support the infantry during combat. A live round can travel up to 12 miles, but the 2nd Platoon tonight will be using wax rounds, which do nothing more than create a large cloud of smoke and a loud bang.

"It won't be too loud," said Sgt. Patrick R. Cornell, who will be on the second gun from the right. "Because it's for the show, it won't be cover-your-ears loud. If you hear that loud bang on Fort Drum, it's usually coming from us."

Typically it would take six soldiers to fire the cannon, but because they aren't using live rounds and it's for the show, only four will be manning each gun. During the majority of the performance, the soldiers will stand at attention and wait for their cue to fire the cannons.

Before the show tonight, the platoon also will have a live-fire practice at the park. Sgt. Cornell expects that they will fire at least 20 to 25 total rounds before the performance.

The cannons will be to the right of the symphony at the bottom of the hill and will face away from the crowd, which usually is concentrated at the top of the hill. The platoon will perform a shot sequence that will go down the line of four cannons and the night will end with a fireworks show — but the firework pops and bangs will be nothing compared with the power of the Howitzer.