The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps: 50 Years (1960-2010)

Per Scriptum E. Wesley - Mackinac Center Intern

As a former member of a local fife and drum corps here in Midland, Michigan, I have had the honor of performing at events alongside the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps; the official musical escort to the President of the United States. Fifing and drumming across America is more than just military music, it is a display of the values of early America set to music. I will always remember Mark Logsdon, drum major for the 1st Michigan Colonial Fife and Drum Corps, instructing us to play as though our survival depended on it. When I play, I attempt to breath into my fife the passions, hopes, and dreams of Americans who were willing to die in the American War for Independence. My instrument is a declaration of war on tyranny, and a herald of liberty. Fifers and drummers all over the country look to the Old Guard and Middlesex County Volunteers as the premier musical fife and drum corps in the world, even as Colonial Williamsburg Fife and Drum Corps has distinguished itself for historical pageantry. Formed in 1960, this year marks the 50th anniversary of the Old Guard, and with it, a new movement across the country to revive the military music of early America, of which I have been so fortunate to play a part. Watch this 11 and a half minute documentary and learn how a rag-tag idea turned into the official escort to the president of the United States, or alternatively go here for additional free music and video.

Sources:
Image of Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps from Wikipedia
http://www.army.mil/fifeanddrum/about.html
http://www.army.mil/fifeanddrum/50th.html
http://www.army.mil/fifeanddrum/video_history.html
http://www.army.mil/fifeanddrum/audio_video.html
http://1stmichigan.com/
http://www.mcvfifesanddrums.org/
http://www.history.org/history/fife&drum/about.cfm