.

!!!! Thanks to Everyone!
Your hard work made this one of our best Musters.!!!!

Comments on today's events:

I learned that our friend, Marty Sampson, from the California Consolidated Drum Band brought her UMBRELLA all the way from Chico, California to have handy at our muster. She really got hosed a couple of times right here on this Flag Lot. So, I am certain we owe it to this umbrella, that the rains defied all forecasts and gave us a beautiful day for our Muster. .

All of our guests really put on some exceptional performances and it was quite obvious they were having a great time..

Carla, there is no way I can thank you enough for all you did in accommodating the Tittabawasee Valley Fife & Drum Corps. And what a performance they gave us.! I got a video of their entire show as well as the Connecticut Valley Field Music.. Both of these videos are pretty long so I am going to have to figure out a way to get a link on line.

Congratulations to our new members who took the step forward to the drum head and picked up their dollars! That step will, in time, lead you to friendships all over this country and abroad as you attend other muster within the fife & drum community. If you experienced the jam session on the field after the formal presentations were over, you saw fifers and drummers from a lot of corps out there playing traditional tunes together. The best definition I have ever heard of what is happening out there is the title of a poem ... "An Ancient Muster is a gathering thing". I can honestly tell you that except for three people on this planet, the best friends I have, I met on muster fields in my 73 years. I wish you the same good fortune.

. I have a ton of photos and some video which I will get online as soon as possible ... NOT, tonight!

Thanks again.

Bob

Last Update .......July 26, 2010, at 11:45 P.M. local time in Hampton, Ct. Please note: This page is updated on an almost DAILY basis so check back often for the latest. Photographs on this site.. As any frequent visitor to our web sites knows, I am quite fond of posting photos and videos of our recent events. The thought has crossed my mind, just recently, that possibly some of you may not be comfortble with your photos being posted here. So, If you ever see a photo (or Video) here, that you would rather NOT share with the rest of us, please let me know & I will remove it immediately. To Opt OUT: Click here Dues, Dues, Dues, Dues Just a reminder ...the 2010 Dues are due. $15 for an individual, and $20 for a family. This is a real bargain if you are more than one person... Please try to bring your dues in to one of the practices this month. Get another family member to join up. Learn to play a fife, a drum, a Musket , or a cannon! Free lessons !!! (If you joined during the last quarter of 2009, your dues are covered for the 2010 season.) You can now navigate our Web Site Quickly. Just use these handy links to the areas you want to view. Official Schedule After Action Reports Photo Gallery Our Videos Our Stress Test Executive Board Notes How Many Days Till ... Where and When to See the Nathan Hale Ancient Fifes & Drums Corps Performing For the convenience of our members and associates, this site also lists our internal events such as meetings, practices., etc. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE ..I need to be informed of any changes in a TIMELY MANNER. If I get NADA for input, NADA is what this site is going to be worth in terms of values to our membership, Our Official Schedule Plan your trip Local Radar Detailed Forecast Color Code Parades & Performances are in Blue Meetings are in Bright Red Practices are in Black Comments are in Green Sunday,August 1, Practice 6:30... Sunday, August 8, Executive Committee Meeting.. 5:00 P.M. Sharp Sunday,August 8, Practice 6:30... Sunday,August 15, Practice 6:30... Sunday,August 15, Practice 6:30... August 28, Westbrook Muster, Parade steps off at 11 A.M. Sunday,August 29, Practice 6:30... Sunday,September 5, Practice 6:30... Saturday, September 11, 2010 Drummer's Call, Olde Sturbriidge Village... All day event with set-up Start 9:30 A.M. Sunday, September 12, Executive Committee Meeting.. 5:00 P.M. Sharp Sunday,September 12, Practice 6:30... Sunday,September 19, Practice 6:30... Wednesday, Sept 22, 4:00 P.M. ...Nathan Hale Homestead.. This is a commemoration of Nathan Hale's Execution. Last head count the following were committed to performing: Ed, Bob, Carla,Patti & Mark . All others are welcome who might be able to make it... Sunday,September 26, Practice 6:30... Saturday &Sunday,October 2 & 3, Jonathun Trumbull Tercentennial Encampment, Lebanon Green. Details will follow.. Sunday, October 10, Executive Committee Meeting.. 5:00 P.M. Sharp Sunday,October 10, Practice 6:30... Sunday,October 17, Practice 6:30... Sunday,October 24, Practice 6:30... Sunday,October 31, Practice 6:30... Sunday,November 7, CT. Veteran's Day Parade ...Arrive by 12:00 NOON NO Practice ... Sunday, November 14, Executive Committee Meeting..5:00 P.M. Sharp Sunday,November 14, Practice 6:30... Sunday, November 21 Special Annual Meeting with the Trustees & Membership Sunday,December 5, Practice 6:30... Sunday, December 12, Executive Committee Meeting.. Sunday,October 12, Practice 6:30... Return to Top Of Page See something wrong? Have something that should be added? NOW? Then, Contact Bob Castillo RIGHT NOW / RIGHT HERE!

After Action Report ... 2009 Annual Meeting and End-of -Year-Feel-Good Party WOW! Right on the heels of the very successful Connecticut Veteran's Day Parade in Hartford, last Saturday ... We just held one of the best Annual Meetings in recent memory, and we held it in our own Headquarters Building! Our Executive Committee submitted all of their Annual Reports to our re-established Board of Governors/Trustees. Following the Pledge of Allegiance to our Flag, retiring, long-time Board Member, Mr. John Lacek turned over the financial records and documents to their new Treasurer, Ms. Heather Carl of the North Coventry Fire Department. Present also were Mr. Frank Libby of the Coventry Volunteer Fire Association and Mr. David Dutka of the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church of Coventry. I am planning to set up a link to a separate site where I will post the written Annual Reports in my possession, and perhaps the verbal reports from the Secretary's minutes of the meeting. It was a very moving meeting ending with Three rousing Cheers to our recently departed, Gene Wilson. We shook the rafters with that one! Overall ... The meeting was very positive, upbeat and focused on the road ahead. The afternoon was then topped off with a catered buffet featuring some reallly great food! For anyone who missed it ... Here is the After-Action Report from the Veteran's Day Parade. Quoting the news clipping above from the Sunday, Hartford Courant, November 15 ,,, "More than 4,000 marchers marched in Sunday's 10th annual "Connecticut Veterans Day Parade" and an estimated 45,000 spectators cheered them on. The event is the largest veterans parade in New England and is one of the largest salutes to veterans in the entire U.S. " And guess what, folks? Best Fife And Drum Corps Award went to the Nathan Hale Ancient Fifes & Drums.!!!!! We received a very impressive trophy to add to our collection from years past. We will have it on display at our annual meeting this coming Sunday. Thanks to all for a terrific job at this parade. We did have some serious competition for this award. Other fife & drum units in the parade included the huge and always impressive Mattatuck Drum Corps, The Connecticut Valley Field Music, The champion junior corps, Windsor Junior Ancient Fife & Drum Corps, Westbrook Drum Corps.,, etc. Stay tuned! Bob Castillo

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OUR 2009 VIDEOS!!

Please Note: These videos take about two ticks and one tock longer than forever to load onto your machine ...but they are well worth the time. I am sorry they do take so long, but, I had nothing to do with the design of the internet... or your PC for that matter.. You can download the individual clips by right-clicking and choosing to "Save Target As ..." to some place on your own hard drive. By doing so, you can avoid the annoying interruptions that occur while downloading and playing on the fly while online.

2009 Annual Meeting, November 22, 2009

This video shows the Headquarters Building and the setup for the Annual Meeting.

Here we are, just before the meeting.

Worcester Columbus Day Parade October 11, 2009

Parade staging area. Carla with some news. (I think) ... She would not tell me..?
Informal Group of Nathan Hale Corps Members

Mark & Dan ...Close-ups

Rebecca crashed ... !! Again ????
What is going on here?

General fun and games before the start of parade. I like the fieretruck "bench"

Sudbury Muster & Colonial Faire, Septmber 25, 2009

Sudbury Muster and Colonial Faire
Informal Group of Nathan Hale Corps Members

Sudbury Muster and Colonial Faire
Rebecca crashed ... !! trashed ????
What is going on here?

Mark showing the same symptoms as Rebecca!
What was in that cider?????

Sudbury Muster & Colonial Faire
September 25, 2009
Kentish Guards Entering to Champlain Quick Step

Sudbury Muster & Colonial Faire
September 25, 2009
Kentish Guards, Performance

Sudbury Muster & Colonial Faire
September 25, 2009
Kentish Guards Exit playing Pleasures of Spa

Sudbury Muster & Colonial Faire
September 25, 2009
Grand Replubic and Cap

Sudbury Muster & Colonial Faire
September 25, 2009
Grand Replubic Finale & Exit

Sudbury Muster & Colonial Faire
September 25, 2009
Scanning the Scene

Drummer's Call at Old Sturbridge Village, Septmber 13, 2009

Sturbridge Village Martial Musicians

Blackstone Valley Martial Musicians

Gabby working the water pump detail.

Our Fire Tender and scenes around our encampment

Peter Emerick, short clip at start of presentation

Peter Emerick, ""The Story of Fife & Drum in New England from the American Revolution to the Present".
(This clip REALLY takes a while to load but it is well worth it.)

Battles, 2009 Encampment, Nathan Hale Homestead

The Morning Battle

The Afternoon Battle

Muster 2009 at the Nathan Hale Homestead

Corps ... All Entering the Field

Nathan Hale Ancient Fifes & Drums ... Opening the Muster

Nathan Hale 2009 Stand Piece, Alumni Medley, Marquis of Granby Entrance

Marquis of Granby Jr. Ancient Fyfe & Drum Corps, Windsor JR Ancient F&DC Entrance

Windsor Stand Piece

The rest of Windsor F&DC Performance

Colchester Continentals,CT Valley Field Music, Sailing Masters of 1812

Westbrook Drum Corps, Milford Volunteers, Col. John Chester Jr. Ancient F&DC
And the Grtand Finale with formation f the Circle of Friendship

The Grand Jolification A.K.A. The Jam Session

Westbrook 2009 Muster

Geese Eaters from Basel Switzerland playing first Medley

Geese Eaters from Basel Switzerland playing second Medley

Geese Eaters from Basel Switzerland playing third Medley

The Ancient Mariners Friday Night Tattoo 2009

The Old Guard, U.S.Army 3rd Infantry. Saturday 2009 Performance

Miscellaneous Clips

F-Troop, Deep River Ancient Muster 2009, Clip #1

The "Troop", Playing York Fusiliers.

This clip and the next one give a pretty good example of "What the heck is an F-Troop? " Answer: members of all different corps who have just marched the parade with their own units, running back to the beginning of the parade route and now massed together playing "traditional tunes".

F-Troop, Deep River Ancient Muster, 2009, Clip #2

The "Troop", Playing Sailor's Hornpipe.

Christmas in Coventry, CT Parade, 2007

MIlford,Ct Parade, June 2008, Clip #1

MIlford,Ct Parade, June 2008, Clip #2

If you got this far looking at the videos, AND ... you are really, really bored, you might want to view these little clips of me (Bob Castillo) drumming ! LongMarch. ... In this first clip, I play The Long March or Open Beating Number 4 from the Massachusetts Collection, followed by Open Beating Number 3 and Open Beating Number 2. HalfTime ... In this second clip, I play the following: The Connecticut Half-Time, An Irish Lilt, (original composition), The Rudimenter by Earl Sturtze, The Downfall of Paris (with a horse-fly attack!), The Army 2/4 with the fillers, Crazy Army 2/4 with the fillers by Ed Lemley, Billy Budd by Eddie Classey, Some original stuff ripped off the top of my head on the fly, The Happy Fifer by Eddie Classie, and Ol'Dan Tucker (all THREE parts)..

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STRESS For the Good of the Corps I would like for each member of The Nathan Hale Ancient Fifes & Drums to take this little test to determine if YOU might be getting stressed out. I am not sure exactly how it works, but this is amazingly accurate. Read the full description before looking at the picture. The picture below has 2 identical dolphins in it. It was used in a case study on stress levels at St. Mary's Hospital. Look at both dolphins jumping out of the water. The dolphins are identical. A closely monitored, scientific study revealed that, in spite of the fact that the dolphins are identical, a person under stress would find differences in the two dolphins. The more differences a person finds between the dolphins, the more stress that person is experiencing. Look at the photograph and if you find more than two differences you may want to take a vacation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway..

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From our Executive Officers ..... Quartermaster ... Carla Kennedy The Executive Board is in the process of creating a "Fixed Asset Inventory" for the Corps, and everyone's help is needed. If you can, please complete and sign one form per person and indicate what Corps uniform pieces, equipment, and property you have in your possession. If you find you have anything "extra" please feel free to bring it to the We attempted to get this information in during the Encampment Weekend, but we probably had too much on the burners at that time. Please get this done as soon as possible. Additional copies of this form may be obtained from Carla at any practice, in case you did not get a copy in your e mail.. Once you have turned in your form, your name will be checked off acknowledging receipt of the inventory you possess. Not only will this information inform the Executive Board as to what we have left in our possession, it will assist us in identifying uniform needs and making decisions to replace and distribute equipment as needed. The music is ready for our 2010 Stand Piece! Some new stuff in there. SOme easy ... some of it is going to take a little more effort. Come to practice and get your copies. I decided to put this out now, rather than wait until mid winter. PLEASE, make your comments, desires or interests known to me.. (Bob Castillo at CtConnection01@aol.com) Thanks. Return to Top Of Page

I HAVE TO ASK ... Maybe, there is someone out there in the Nathan Hale extended family reading these words , who just might have a hidden (or repressed) passion for announcing stuff for the corps at some of our events. I am not suggestiing any of you quit your day jobs to do this, but if you think you might like to help us out in this way, PLEASE, make your desires or interests known to me.. (Bob Castillo at CtConnection01@aol.com)

If you have an interest in joining us, arranging for an appearance at your event, or simply desire more information, feel free to write to: Nathan Hale Ancient Fifes And Drums, P.O.Box 1776, Coventry, Ct. 06238.....
or... Contact Bob Castillo by e mail

Feel free to visit our WEB SITE

It is my solemn duty to inform you that there are now

Days to endure before
The 2010 Deep River Ancient Muster !
July 17, 2010

AND ..................

Days to endure before
The 2010 Nathan Hale Ancient Fife & Drum Muster !
July 24, 2010
AND ..................

Days to endure before
The 2010 Westbrook Muster !
August 28, 2010

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The Tune "Yankee Doodle" was digitized for us by Mr. Kerby Lovallo, and is from our own CD ...

MUSIC OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

This wonderful CD is available online at the Liberty Bell Museum, Gift Shop While you are there, make sure to look over the rest of this very unique store.

Page Created and Maintained by Bob Castillo