THE MARINES LANDED AT UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA @ GREENSBORO
Call it an experience of a lifetime if you wish – some of us
will not be around the next time the Marine Band comes to our town. Not to fear, everyone over-flowing UNCG
Auditorium on Saturday evening October 29, enjoyed patriotic music sufficient
to last a lifetime.
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| STANDING IN LINE IS MARINE CORPS-COMPULSORY |
These Marine musicians, made me wish I had worn gloves to
protect my clapping hands. That’s says a
lot – I customarily clap three claps and move on.
Coined “The President’s Own,” by President Thomas Jefferson,
the Marine Band toured the Southeast for the entire month of October –
Greensboro was their next to last performance of this year’s tour.
Their music should have been good – they’ve been performing
since 1798, when they were established by an Act of Congress. Not out of disrespect, but they have played
more for Presidents than for Congress – every President except George
Washington has heard the band play.
Some Presidents have been more closely involved with the
Marine Band than others. President
Warren G. Harding played trombone with the band; then-Governor Bill Clinton
played saxophone with the band during the 1991 Governor’s Dinner at the White
House; President George W. Bush conducted the band in a performance of The
Stars and Stripes Forever, in 2008.
President Lincoln took the band along for his speech at
Gettysburg.
Even after his death, President Kennedy was closely
connected to the Marine Band – the Marines led his funeral procession. He once proclaimed, “The only force that
cannot be transferred from Washington, D.C., without my permission, are members
of the Marine Band.”
The question could be asked – did John Philip Sousa make the
Marine Band famous, or did the band make Sousa famous? The answers would be, “Yes.”
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| HARRY THETFORD, MARION SMITH, NAT REED MARINES ALL |
Actually, Sousa was following in his father’s footprints. Antonio Sousa played trombone with the Band
1854-1879. His son, John Philip was
schooled in the Marine Barracks and originally served in the band 1872-1875. Another son, George joined the band at age 16
and performed for 30 years.
John Philip Sousa came back as the 17th Director of the
Marine Band 1880-1892. His tenure of
leadership brought to the band an unprecedented level of excellence. Famous Sousa hits, such as Semper Fidelis,
Washington Post, and Stars and Stripes Forever established him regally as “The
March King,” as compared to his contemporary, Johann Strauss, Jr., known as
“The Waltz King.”
During my four-year Marine Corps career, I spent more time
on mess duty than trying out for the band.
Consequently, seatmates had to clue me in on some of the musical
numbers.
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| MARINE BAND ON THE GROUND @ UNCG |
I reciprocated by explaining the Marine Corps ranks listed
in the program – they were not typos after all.
“GySgt” and “MGySgt” represent gunnery sergeant and master gunnery sergeant
in Marine Corps-speak. Those ranks
weren’t around in my day. They would
have been respected at about the levels of today’s brigadier general and major
general. On the other hand, I could have
gotten along with the beautiful and demure concert moderator/vocalist, GySgt
Sara Sheffield.
It must be mentioned, this was the first time in history
that more Marines stood up during the service medley than any other branch of
service. The sixty Marines in the Band
certainly helped our cause.
Kudos to Dr. John R. Locke, UNCG Director of Bands, for
sponsoring the Marine Band’s appearance in Greensboro. Host sites are required to jump through many
hoops – of both logistics and political correctness – it was “mission
completed” for Locke and his UNCG team. Kudos
to the Band for inviting Dr. Locke to guest conduct a number.
Accommodations for “16 wardrobe trunks,” was one of the
hoops. They must have been high tech
wardrobe trunks -- some musicians warmed up in civilian clothes until 7:25, but
had their spiffy uniforms on by show time, 7:30.
Kudos to the band also for recognizing Lieutenant Colonel
Jim Hayes, USMC (Retired), a Greensboro businessman. Hayes reflected on his time with the Band,
“Being assigned to Marine Barracks, Washington, DC was a tremendous honor, but
to be selected as executive officer for the Band made that tour very special to
me.” During his 22-year career with the
Marines, Hayes also served as infantry officer with the 1st, 2nd,
3rd, and 4th Marine Divisions.
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The Marine Band is the nation’s oldest continuously active
professional musical organization.
“Happy Birthday,” wasn’t on their program at UNCG, but the 241st
birthday of the Marine Corps comes up on November 10, 2016.
Happy birthday, Marines – we were honored to have you perform
in our town.
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