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FALL FESTIVAL 2014
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The pride of Plymouth
Fife & Drum Corps will entertain and sell roasted almonds
There will be a 30-minute trip back in time beginning at
noon Saturday during the Plymouth Fall Festival when the
Plymouth Fife and Drum Corps performs at the band shell
inKelloggPark.
The internationally renowned group comprises youths
12-18 from Plymouth, Canton Township and surrounding
areas who perform authentic Revolutionary-era music
dressed in replica uniforms of the time. The Fife and Drum
Corps is a self-supporting non-profit organization and mem-
bers hope the enticing aroma of freshly-roasted almonds
wafting from their booth on Main Street next to Kellogg
Parkwill tempt Fall Festival patrons to support their organi-
zation by purchasing the treats. The group does not receive
funding from the school system or the government and the
roasted almond sales help subsidize operating costs and
corps activities.
Recently, with horns honking and familymembers cheer-
ing, the corps musicians triumphantly returned home from
a 10-day tour of the state of Virginia, the educational tour
destination of the group this year. Representing Plymouth,
they perform at historically significant sites from the
RevolutionaryWar andnational landmarks.
“The tour brings history to life for our members. They
learn so much about American history. It's as if they are a
part of it.” said Corps President Sue Momano. This is espe-
cially true this year, as the Plymouth Fife and Drum Corps
took part in a re-enactment of the famous debate at St.
John's Episcopal Church in Richmond, VA where Patrick
Henry ignited the Revolutionary War with his “Give me lib-
erty or giveme death!” speech.
The organization not only provides a preeminent educa-
tion in music, members have the added benefit of learning
American history first-hand. Membership in the corps helps
transform teens into an elite performance group and teach-
es leadership skills, Momano said.
Four of the 12 scheduled performances on the tour this
year took place at the homes of United States presidents.
The Plymouth Fife and Drum Corps performed at George
Washington's Mt. Vernon, Thomas Jefferson's Monticello,
JamesMadison'sMontpelier and 9thU.S. President,William
Henry Harrison's Berkeley Plantation, which is also the
ancestral home of his grandson, 23rd President Benjamin
Harrison.
The group also performedwith three of the premiere fife
and drum corps in the nation, including The United States
Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, escort to the
President, and participated in a wreath laying ceremony at
ArlingtonNational Cemetery.
ThePlymouthFife andDrumCorps performs 40-50 times
throughout the summer at parades and festivals across
Michigan. The participation of the group is dependent on
transportation of their equipment, drums and uniforms in
their “drum truck” which accompanies the musicians on
parade routes and tour.
The group is now inneed of a new truckwhichwill deter-
mine their ability to continue to perform. A crowd funding
website has been set up to help support their efforts to
acquire a new truck, sorely needed new uniforms, instru-
ments and equipment. The group members hope the site
http://www.gofundme.com/Please-Help-PFDC will go viral
and elicit donations.
“With even the smallest donation of $1, their goal could
be reached in amatter of weeks,” noted Publicity Chairman
LisaLiGreci.
Members of the Plymouth Fife and Drum Corps will again
be selling tantalizing roasted almonds at a booth on Main
Street during the weekend.
Members of the Plymouth Fife and Drum Corps marched
down Main Street during the Fall Festival last year. The
group will perform this year at noon Saturday.