Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps is a unit of the United States Army which provides ceremonial performances. Members perform using musical instruments and wearing uniforms similar to those used by military musicians of the Continental Army during the American Revolution.
It is the only unit of its kind in the United States' armed forces, and is part of the 3rd U.S. Infantry ("The Old Guard"). The Fife and Drum Corps has been stationed at Fort Myer, Virginia since its founding in the early 1960's. Because members of the corps are classified under a protected Military Occupational Specialty (42-Sierra), there are men and women who have spent their entire military careers in the Fife and Drum Corps – a career track virtually unheard of elsewhere in The U.S. Army.
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[edit] Musicians
FDC members are traditionally recruited from the ranks of civilian fife and drum groups, mostly from the East Coast of the United States. On parade, FDC musicians wear uniforms that are historically accurate replicas of those worn by Continental Army musicians during the American Revolution. Continental Army musicians generally (but not always) wore red instead of blue in order to be seen through the smoke of battle. The uniform worn by FDC today is an accurate replica of the one worn in 1781, and consists of a black tricorn hat, a white wig, a cream colored waistcoat, colonial coveralls, and the red coat.
The 70-member Corps uses 10-hole fifes, handmade rope-tensioned drums and single-valve bugles. While traveling, the marching strength of the unit is normally 22 musicians, and the drum major and support personnel.
[edit] Drum major
The drum major of the unit is distinguished from the other musicians of the unit by two items: his/her headgear, the light-infantry Cap (rather than tricorn hat), and by his/her espontoon (which looks to be a spear) rather than the large heavy mace carried by most military drum majors. The espontoon is an 18th century weapon (and badge of office) that was carried by officers during the 18th century; today it is used by the drum major of The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps to issue silent commands to the unit while they are performing.
[edit] Performances
As an official representative of the U.S. Army, the Corps averages nearly 2,000 performances annually. The Corps has entertained millions of people in major parades, pageants and historical celebrations throughout the United States; and has served America as a goodwill ambassador as far away as Europe, Australia and Canada. Major sporting events the Corps has performed at include NCAA bowl games, NBA games, NFL games (including Super Bowls), the Kentucky Derby, the Indianapolis 500, and the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid NY.
In support of the President of the United States, the Corps performs at armed-forces arrival ceremonies for visiting dignitaries and heads of state at the White House, and has participated in every Presidential Inaugural Parade since President John F. Kennedy's in 1961 (as well as his funeral). Today both men and women are members of the unit.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Abbott James A., and Elaine M. Rice. Designing Camelot: The Kennedy White House Restoration. Van Nostrand Reinhold: 1998. ISBN 0-442-02532-7.
- Clinton, Hillary Rodham. An Invitation to the White House: At Home with History. Simon & Schuster: 2000. ISBN 0-684-85799-5.
- Garrett, Wendell. Our Changing White House. Northeastern University Press: 1995. ISBN 1-55553-222-5.
