Milford chronicle., 1931-08-21
THE UNITED STATES MARINE BAND
GOES BACK TO WASHINGTONHS DAY

When the United States Marine
Band takes its place in the various
celebrations of the Two Hundredth
Anniversary of the Birth of George
Washington next year scheduled for
the Capital City, that worldfamOus
appropriate touch of history to each
occasion. For, according to the Uni
ted States George Washington BIZ
centennial Commission, the Marine
Band traces its beginnings to q
drum-and-fife corps formed in 1875,
at the beginning of George Wash
ington's own national career. Ever
since its formal establishment by
Congress in 1898, the Marine Band
has furnished the music for every
President of the United States at Of
fetal functions in the White House
and on other state occasions. 1t
thus early earned for itself the
proud distinction ever since accord
ed it as The Presidents Own" AS
its national fame has grown it has
since been adopted by the country
as "The Peoples Own"
Few Americans are aware of the
romantic and picturesque history of
the Marine Band, great as its repu-
tation has grown. It might well be
said that the celebrated painting,
1.-The Spirit of '76," familiar to every
one in America, is really a picture
of the original United States Marine
1Nl,VO11uh n1 ho 10 ply do of
the Revolution, from Valley Forge
to Yorktown, these bands" of fifers
and drunmers did heroic work in
maintaining the moral of George
Washington's tattered army. That
ancient tradition the Marine Band
has followed through every succeed
ing war, including this last one.
In 1775 the Continental Congress
provided marines for Revolutionary
warships and the frigates of the ma
tiOn had their marine bands to
quicken the spirits of their crews.
But it was not until 1898 that the
Congress of the United. States pass
ed the act specifically authorizing
the body of musicians that became
the present United States Marine
Band. That act established an or
ganization consisting of "a drum
major, a fife major, and 80 drums
and fifes." For two years the head
quarters of the mand remained in
Philadelphia, then the national cap
ital, until Washington was made the
Federal city.
When Washington was made the
Federal City in 1900, the Marines,
already known as 1.-The Presidents
own" went with the National Gov
ernment. It's members still were
soldiers on military duty, with mu-
sic merely their avOcation, but Pres
ident John Adams gave new mean
ing to 1.-The Presidents own" by or
ders to have the Marine Band ap-
rear at all official functions The
first of these was the Presidents
New Year reception in 1901, a GUS
tom followed by every succeeding
President of the United States.
President Thomas Jefferson, him
self. musician and lover of music,
so encouraged the Marine Band that
be may be called its Godfather.
Since Jefferson's day it has played
at every Presidential Inauguration.
In those early days, too, began the
regular Open-air public concerts in
Washington which continue to this
day. Then the government offices
closed at 8 o'clock and Pennsylvania
Avenue took on the gayety of boul-
ward. 1t was the habit of the COM
to gather about the west
steps of the capitol to hear the
Marine Band, before the regular af-
ternoOn tea at home.
When President Jefferson took the
band to his heart, the organization
began its long history of appear |
ances at every important White
House function. Jefferson, then a |
widower, called upon the wife of his |
of States, James Madison,
to preside as hostess, and thus the |
Marine Band added the immortal |
Dolly Madison to its list of disting-
uished official patrons and patron
esses. She instantly saw the posi-
bilities of the Marine Bands gay
music and still gayer uniforms and
1t constantly. Indeed the
of Dolly Madison's enter
was always graced by the
Marine Band, and drew visitors from
the wilds of Kentucky and from cit
les as far as New Orleans.
In 1872 the Marine Band began it's
record of inspiration
to military service 1t gave the mu-
sical program when President Mon
roe welcomed Lafayette at the great
celebration of 1924. During the Civil
War its work was heroic. The City
Of Washington itself was then torn
with divided opinions on the issue
Of the war, and the Marine Band
marvels in maintain
ing public moral and in heartening
President Lincoln.
One of the high-lights of its en-