Posted on 04/12/2018 4:41:59 AM PDT by SandRat
TOMBSTONE — When the United States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps visited the area last week, the musicians transported audiences back in time.
The 12-soldier traveling team is out of Fort Myer, Virginia, which is now part of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall. The group stayed at Fort Huachuca on April 5, where it performed before audiences on the military installation, as well as at Buena and Tombstone high schools.
“We are active-duty Army musicians,” said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Jeremiah Keillor, commander. “We’re attached to the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, and are the only unit of its kind in the armed forces.”
The musicians wore uniforms patterned after those worn by soldiers of George Washington’s Continental Army, circa 1784. They wore bright red coats, black tricorn hats, white wigs, waistcoats and colonial-style coveralls.
The drum major is distinguished from the other musicians by his headgear, a light-infantry cap covered with bear fur. The tricorn cap worn by the musicians is iconic to the Revolutionary War Period.
“We are the official escort to the president, and have participated in every inauguration since President Kennedy’s in 1960,” Keillor said. “We also perform for foreign dignitaries, take care of all funerals at Arlington Cemetery, and average about 500 performances every year.”
While the Corps consists of 69 members, the unit’s traveling size ranges between 12 and 22. The musicians use 10-hole fifes, handmade rope-tensioned drums, and single-valve bugles, which the unit demonstrated as part of the performance.
In Tombstone, the musicians performed on the high school football field before students, faculty and members of the public.
They talked to the crowd about the corps’ history, its role in the military, and the style of uniforms worn at that time.
“Military musicians of the period wore the reverse colors of the regiments they were assigned with,” one of the musicians explained. “The regiment wore blue uniforms with red trim, so uniforms worn by members of the Corps are red with blue trim.” powered by
The group performed drills and traditional military bugle calls used to announce certain scheduled events throughout the day, to include Reveille, a mealtime call and Retreat or “Taps” at day’s end.
They also demonstrated a drumline used as a battle feature and marching tunes.
Many Tombstone locals attended the event in period costumes, and enjoyed talking to the musicians after the performance.
Palominas resident Donnie Davis and his wife Priscilla were in Tombstone for the performance.
“I lived in Yorktown, Virginia, while serving in the Coast Guard, and I got to see them quite frequently while I was there,” Davis said. “I think they’re phenomenal. These guys train 365 days a year.
“t seems like and they always do a very precise, fabulous presentation.”
Tombstone High School coach Mike Hayhurst also praised the performance.
“They were fantastic, and I really appreciate the fact they came to our little school to perform for us. For them to come all the way from Washington D.C. and include Tombstone in their schedule is an honor.”
Ninth-grade student Jessica Bowser said she likes history, so the presentation was particularly interesting for her.
“I thought it was interesting to see how the instruments they played helped them communicate on the battlefield in the colonial days,” she said. “I enjoyed hearing their historic presentation and watching the drills. It was very educational.”
Since its inception, the Corps has entertained millions of people throughout the U.S., and has served as a goodwill ambassador in several foreign countries.
am I paying for this ?
They are active duty military. Part of the unit that stands guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
You bet you pay for it. A lot of others paid with their lives but I feel its a worthwhile expenditure of appropriated military funds.
Personally I would rather attend a performance by the Old Guard than go watch the Blue Angels are Thunderbirds.
https://www.youtube.com/user/ArmyFifeAndDrum
I’d much rather pay for this than Mexican abortions.
This kind of stuff elevates our culture and increases unity.
Mexican abortions, not so much.
involuntary extractions above 7% of GDP are tyrannical as per our founding fathers.
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