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Friday, November 11, 2022
Veteran's Day Parade, Stuart
JROTC Parade Information
Every Ft. Pierce JROTC Fife & Drum member is invited to march with the Treasure Coast Fife and Drum Corps at the upcoming Veteran's Day parade. But don't sign up until you are certain that you can commit to it.
First, read the paragraph below. Nothing has changed. Place the address of the Wells Fargo Bank into your GPS or contacts or parents contacts if they are driving you to Stuart. Sometimes the Sheriff closes off roads leading to Wells Fargo but if you arrive by 8:30, you should be good. Also, telling a Sheriff that you are IN the parade usually gets you through.
Our Corps will provide the tri-cornered hats for you to wear. We have 6-7 checkered shirts. Black slacks and black shoes or sneakers are preferred.
Let your parents know about the parade now, not the day before! Print the map and stick it on your refrigerator.
November 11, 2021
Veteran's Day Parade, Stuart
Parade Route and Meet-up Location - CLICK THE MAP
On November 11th, Fort Pierce Central High School JROTC Fife and Drum Corps will help fill the ranks of our own Treasure Coast Fife and Drum Corps as we march to honor the Revolutionary War veterans of our great nation - those who were the first to secure our liberty and independence - as well as all subsequent veterans who have continued to preserve our freedom and democracy. (Details below map)
Details
Arrive with as good a rough looking or homespun colonial or farmer shirt as you can find but please don’t spend any money on a shirt. Tri-corner hats will be distributed in the Wells Fargo parking lot. Then the very few shirts we were able to obtain will be distributed to some of you.
We will use the practice area next to the parking lot to set up our formation: drum major in the lead, color guard, fifers, snares, bass.
Fifers and drummers who know the tunes will be positioned at the outer columns, less experienced in the center.
Less experienced fifers can pretend to play. Less experienced drummers can play the street beat only.
We will have up to 4 flags for a color guard and so there will be a spot for everyone.
A lead TCF&D fifer will call the songs.
Generally we like to play the street beat twice and, during the second time, call a song which results in a roll off.
March 2020
Fort Pierce Central High School JROTC Spring Awards Ceremony
As you may know, Georgianna and I have been teaching fife and drum to the newly formed Fort Pierce Central High School JROTC Fife &Drum Corps. We can attest that the young cadets are a great combination of respectful and fast learning young people.
The U.S. Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, JROTC, is much more than a military career preparatory organization. It is “… one of the largest character development and citizenship programs in the world”.
In March of this year, the two of us were invited to attend the Fort Pierce Central High School JROTC Spring Awards Ceremony. Unfortunately Georgianna had come down ill and so I attended, representing both of us.
By my estimate, there were well over 100 cadets in attendance, our students among them. Each one received individual recognition from Lt. Colonel Matthew Saxton, SFC Jerry Lawson and Cadet leaders. Some received additional awards and commendations.
As the ceremony continued, certain non-cadet awards were presented, including one for Georgianna and one for me. I was called to the stage and we were honored for our efforts to help the JROTC fife and drum corps get up and running. Our plaques are shown here and Georgianna and I are both humbled and honored by this gesture. Thank you Colonel! Thank you Cadets!
February 22, 2020
DAR Luncheon
George Washington’s Birthday
On Saturday, the Treasure Coast Fife & Drum Corps had the privilege of performing for the Halpatiokee Chapter of the DAR at their luncheon in honor of George Washington’s birthday. The event was held at the prestigious Mariner Sands Country Club. Seven of us (Georgianna, Martha, Jackie, Nathan, Kristie, Linda and myself, Bill) played a variety of tunes including Welcome Here Again and Battle Hymn of the Republic. We also played the National Anthem and My Country Tis of Thee while the guests sang along. Before marching off, we gave an enthusiastic trio of huzzahs to the guests!
Georgianna and I addressed the DAR members with words developed by Kristie describing our organization. Georgianna described how we are available to play at events and how we are seeking new members whom we would teach to fife, drum or participate in our color guard. We later sold 5 fifes… possibly a new member will be the result.
Our group was then invited to enjoy a delightful meal along with the many guests. The cost for two of these places was donated by the DAR and 4 of the places were donated by DAR member Mickie Cook.
Following a memorable dessert, we listened to an interesting presentation about Washington’s winter at Valley Forge given by Andrew Salisbury.
Treasure Coast Fife & Drum Corps is grateful to the ladies of the DAR for inviting us to perform. Particular thanks is owed to DAR Regent Lynne Jensen, co-chairs Mona Salisbury and Donna Dubois, photographer and donor Mickie Cook, liaison Jackie Jette and “Amy”, our volunteer videographer.
February 29, 2020
Amazing Americans
March 17th - A Special Day in Boston
Everyone knows that March 17th is for the wearing of the green and for the raising of a pint. But for those of us in the Treasure Coast Fife & Drum Corps (tcfifedrum.org), a group dedicated to commemorating the history & patriotism of our country's early quest for liberty, March 17, 1776 is the date that the British army was outmaneuvered by George Washington.
April 19th, 1775, was the day that British soldiers fired on their countrymen at Lexington and at Concord. By the end of the day, colonial militia had surrounded the city of Boston.
For 11 months, the situation was a standoff between the two sides. Finally, Washington devised a plan of attack that required near superhuman resolve and strength. He decided to build a fortified wall bristling with cannons on a hill that overlooked Boston and its harbor, filled with British ships. The problem was that Washington had neither cannons nor a wall. Plus, the hilltop was clearly visible to the British. This meant that the fortification had to be built in complete secrecy!
With near superhuman effort, a Patriot bookseller named Henry Knox traveled to Fort Ticonderoga in New York and, in the middle of winter, confiscated 60 tons of cannons, mortars and other similar weapons. Knox used oxen and sleds to drag the armaments 300 miles through the the Berkshire hills and woods to Boston. Some cannons weighed as much as 5,000 pounds! And several times, cannon weight caused them to break through the ice of frozen rivers and had to be painstakingly dragged out.
Working feverishly and silently throughout a couple of March nights, the Continental army assembled pre-manufactured walls along Dorchester Heights and lined the battlement with cannons aimed down at the city and the harbor.
At dawn, when British General Howe looked up at the fortress that had sprung up overnight he realized he had been outfoxed and beaten by the Patriots. On March 17, 1776, 125 British ships carrying soldiers and Loyalists, sailed out of Boston harbor, never to return. In Boston, March 17th is Evacuation Day, an official holiday, that commemorates the amazing determination of the amazing Americans of the day!
February 1, 2020
DAR Krueger House Presentation
On Saturday February 1, 2020, our friends that comprise the Halpatiokee Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution placed an historic marker at Stuart’s Krueger Home, also known as the Burn Brae Plantation.
The daughters, via Regent Lynne Jensen, invited us, the Treasure Coast Fife & Drum Corps, to participate at the presentation. Fifers Martha Oestreich and Jacqueline Jette along with color guard Kristie Breithaupt provide music and colonial sparkle to the event.
January 20, 2020
Martin Luther King Parade, Stuart
On January 20, 2020 Treasure last Fife & Drum Corps members Georgianna, Martha, Kristie and Bill participated, for our first time, in the Stuart MLK Parade. The parade was organized by AACES, African American Citizens of East Stuart and Stuart Parades.
January 2020
Fort Pierce Central High School JROTC
In September, 2019, TCF&D was invited to help the Junior ROTC program at Fort Pierce Central High School re-establish their fife & drum corps. Beginning on November 18th, myself, Georgianna and my son Brian traveled to the school twice a month to get them started. They started with little to no experience with the instruments. The attached photos and videos were taken in January.
This is the week before the Martin Luther Kind Day parade.
After only 5 formal practice sessions, here is the link to the final product, the Martin Luther King parade on January 20, 2020. Outstanding accomplishment by these dedicated young people! Huzzah Cobras!!
https://www.facebook.com/fpcobrajrotc/videos/1279839022201490/
January 2020
Pawtuxet Rangers Challenge Coin
Before moving to Florida, I was a member of the Pawtuxet Rangers, Rhode Island Militia. The Rangers were chartered by the Colony of Rhode Island in 1774 and they participated in several actions of our war for independence from Great Britain.
In January 2020, the leader of the Rangers, Colonel Ronald Barnes, sent a gift to me and the Treasure Coast Fife and Drum Corps. The Colonel writes, “Great job of keeping the tradition alive in Florida!”
The gift is a challenge coin, a hefty object that is part of military tradition in the years following World War II. While the coin can be used in some cases that involve the the decision of which member buys a round of drinks, it is primarily used as a symbol of camaraderie with one’s group.
Notice the design of this particular coin. On the face is the symbol of the Rangers, the rampant lion and unicorn. (‘Rampant’ is a word that refers to an animal with raised hoofs that, in heraldry, signifies unrestrained fierceness). Between the animals is the anchor, the symbol for the coastal state of Rhode Island. Finally, in addition to 13 stars representing the colonies, there is the date, 1774, when the Rangers were chartered by the State of Rhode Island.
On the reverse side are the words Rhode Island Militia, militia indicating an official military organization. Seen also is the flag of Rhode Island with the anchor and the state’s motto, Hope. The other flag is the Continental Colors or Grand Union flag, first flown by John Paul Jones in December, 1775.
So, hats off from the Treasure Coast Fife & Drum Corps to the Pawtuxet Rangers! Huzzah!
December 13, 2019
DAR Christmas Luncheon
Regent Lynne Jensen and members of the Halpatiokee Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution invited TCF&D to their annual Christmas luncheon meeting. The luncheon took place at the Yacht and Country Club in Port Salerno.
Georgianna, Martha and I attended in uniform and with our instruments. Arriving a bit earlier than the fifers, I had time to meet some of the Regents, former Regents and some of the Daughters. I was also fortunate to listen to the portrayal of Washington’s Crossing the Delaware in the dark evening hours of December 25, 1776. (In the weeks before Christmas, Washington’s Continental army had been unceremoniously ousted from New York by the the British army. They were then chased by Cornwallis south through New Jersey, across the Delaware river and on into Pennsylvania. The Continentals were cold, weary and demoralized and the Army was shrinking at a high rate because of desertions and expiring enlistments. However, inspired by Washington, the Continentals crossed back into New Jersey on a dangerous but successful sneak attack on the enemy in Trenton, who was defeated on December 26th.)
The DAR speaker described this famous incident in relation to the world famous painting by Emanuel Leutze, pictured above. There are several interesting facts about the painting as well as some anomalies which she humorously described.
Following this presentation, the fifers and I formed a line and performed three tunes: Welcome Here Again, Road to Boston and, while not of the war for independence, the rousing song, Battle Hymn of the Republic. Our performance was very well received by the ladies. Thereafter I advanced to the podium to say thank you to the Daughters as well as to promote our corps by seeking members to play fife, drum or to simple march with us.
As we started to return to our seats, we were called back to the podium whereupon we were thanked by the Daughters and I was handed an envelope. It was not until I returned home that I discovered a note of appreciation plus an unexpected and very generous donation to our Corps. I called Lynne and I have sent a thank you note to the Daughters but I will use this opportunity to thank them yet again and to let them know that our small but growing group will always be grateful to the Halpatiokee ladies.
November 11, 2019
Official Debut!
Stuart Veteran’s Day Parade
In spite of various disruptions to our practice sessions these past weeks, members of the Treasure Coast Fife and Drum Corps turned out, proudly and with class, to march in the Stuart, Florida Veteran’s Day Parade. Each member made individual sacrifices on behalf of the group and I cannot thank them enough! Great job Georgianna, Martha, Dawn, Zoanne and Nathaniel!
To our surprise, the parade committee decided that we should form up in position number one, immediately behind the Grand Marshall’s vehicle and his color guard. To that end, we were shown to our spot. Just before the parade was to start, another committee person moved us back further. Not a problem because in the true Continental spirit, we know how to adapt at a moment's notice. Then, with only minutes before step off, the lead organizer moved us to the very front of the parade, in front of the Marshall and color guard!
We proceeded to perform well and the Treasure Coast Fife & Drum Corps made a favorable first impression for all!
May 27, 2019
Accidental Debut!
Today Georgianna and I attended the Stuart Memorial Day parade. Martha would have been with us but, unfortunately, she was taken ill the evening before. TCF&D Corps had not made application to be in the parade because we did not feel ready to march as a unit. Instead, the plan was to attend the parade staging area and make contact with various veteran's groups to both recruit members and seek events for us to participate in.
We came upon the Halpatiokee Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution who opened their arms to Georgianna and I and invited us to march at the head of their contingent. Thank you DAR!
Thanks also to the Sons of the American Revolution who, a short time later, made it known that we would be invited to some of their future events. Thank you SAR!
