Vol 6 No 1 Page 1 ISSN 0091-7176 The Ancient Times Published by The Company oi Fifers & Drummers, Inc. VOL. VI No. 1 DECEMBER 1978 HOME IN INDIANA JAPANESE EMISSARIES TO "ANCIENT LAND" By BOB PARMELEE On Friday, September 29, COMPANY Sutler Leo Brennan and his noble aide George Bernard boarded a plane in Hartford, Ct. bound for Lafayette, In­ diana. The purpose was to set up THE COMPANY Store and be official am­ bassadors at the "Feast of the Hunter's Moon. " In doing so, they set a milestone for THE COMPANY. This was the furthest west we had ever sent representatives. Official COMPANY participation was the culmination of several years of effort by the Tippecanoe FDC. The decision to attend was made at the 1978 Deep River _. Ancient Muster at which time the Sutler _ met with "Tip" director Bill Baugh for RIGHTOFl<' TIIEPLANE: Japan Mariners MlwaWatanabe,Yuiw JUST BEFORE THE MUSTER: Mlwa, Nick, COMPANY Pres. Mo final confirmation. From the stories still Tachlkawa and Nick Bushta relax at the home of COMPANY Schoos, Yuko, Muster Aid Chairman Scott Green!treet, A. told by our dynamic duo, it was a decision Counsel Bill Gallagher, ,een at right, Anci~t Mariner George Mariners Babe Kelly and Neil O'Brien face Into the bright Sot1th well made. Bernard is on lhe left and Navy Chief Don Bettner. is In front. Glastonbury sun for this study in Intercontinental Drum Corps relationships, at Nayaug's September 11, Ancient Must~ ·. out you'd trip into one." After one sho.rt walk they came upon the FIFERS RY BALF-W llY "Voyageurs." These were the French­ Canadians who had paddled down the ABOUND TIE Wf!HLD Wabash river, as had their forefathers, in order to be part of the festival. At night, 8y CARL A. BALElSTRACCI JR. gathered around the fires, they filled the air with tall-stories and music. While there The first time that J was told about a George Bernard became hungry, a chronic Japanese Mariner's,Fife and Drum Corps failing, and was handed a plate of meat. it was like hearing another bad Italian After enjoying the snack, and inquiring joke. I smilecl :, .1use it was just another what it was, he was told "smoked turkey version of t'~ t,., .d story. It wasn't until and skunk." months late;ext ti.· I became aware of the Sunday morning, after roughing-it in a truthfulnes, banme tale. motel, an "incredible" breakfast was Last ~de rrr our corps, the Ancient forthcoming at the home of Tippecanoe Marine,,e tp'tlre privileged to play host, for organizer Jim Smith. Then off for another a short ,pie, to C.W.O. Jim Kidd U.S.N. day at the Feast. who V..tij on le v · · estimated at 45,000-;nd "The Store" did a A BLENDING OF CULTURES meni. berMj ot"ri;; j";p;n·Mari~c;r~hChis thriving business. Later, during a brief Japanese Fifer Miwa Watanabe, dons a presence eased all doubt. Lancraft-Indian headdress, at the Nayaug Sutler Leo Brennan representing THE Jui!, Leo and George were introduced to On Sept. 16, of this year, Connecticut's Muster, for a traditional American por­ Ancient Mariners broke long standing COMl>ANY'S interests at Indiana's ' CONTINUED ON PAGE SEVEN trait. FEAST OF THE HUNTER'S MOON. tradttion, for in their front ranks; at the Attired in the traditional garb of an 18th Guilford Fair Day parade; marched two century tradesman, his "Store" was well TAUNTON BIGBLIGBTS AUTHENTIC SfflE young ladies; Yuko Tachikawa and Miwa received by the feast's participants and From every aspect, the Liberty and Union Day Parade and the Muster which Watanabe along with Nick Bushta ... visitors alike. followed in Taunton, Mass. on October 22nd was an impressive gathering. On an ideal ttll'ee fifers from half-way around the Indian Summer afternoon with a perfect backdrop of Fall foliage, some 61 military -'Orld. They, together with their The Feast itself began with Reville at chaperon" Chief Petty Officer Don 7:30 am and opening ceremonies, (for the and fife and drum corps units assembled from all over New england plus New York. Bettner, ( their champion fund-raiser), had The especially noticeable attribute of this day was the truly authentic atmosphere public), at 10 am Saturday. The weather that prevailed ... in the style of music, the uniforms and the gathering of so many traveled to the United States as the first was ominous, but the crowd was en­ "militia" units. A crowd of some 3,000 viewed the parade through town and an Fife and Drum Corps emissaries from thusiastic. An area newspaper estimated 700 turned out to enjoy the Muster at the Taunton High School Field House. Japan. Housed by Bill Gallagher, George proclaimed, "Opening Day Crowd The parade was marked by color and some absolutely beautiful music. Par­ Bernard and Ed Olsen they were treated to Estimated At 25,000 Despite Clouds, ticularly impressive were the Taunton Colonial Minutemen, the Village Volunteers, a whirlwind tour which included Mystic Showers." the First Newmarket Militia of New Hampshire, the Green Mountain Regiment, Olde Seaport, Connecticut cook-outs and the To give those unfamiliar with this event Ripton F &D, the Marquis of Granby (who were i.1 magnificent form), the Concord Deep River Inn. an idea of its magnitude there is the story Minutemen, Ye Ancient Mariners of West Holyoke and, of course, the always en­ On Sunday Sept. 17 the "combined" of "Tip" fifer Denise Wilson, Denise a tertaining, Charles W. Dickerson Field Music up from New Rochelle, N. Y. This was Mariner Corps performed at the Nayaug college junior, spending the year studying one of the rare "militia" parades with many infantry and artillery units sandwiched Muster in South Glastonbury, Ct. In in France, is quoted in an Indiana paper as between the brilliant colors of the fife and drum corps. There was only Ancient music C.W.O. Bettner's own words, "Mustering saying ... "This is my one trip home all this day and it was a proud day for any veteran. at Nayaug with all the Ancients was a very year, but the Fife and Drum Corps needs The Muster was held indoors in the field house, as is traditional, and the acoustics impressive experience. There's nothing new members and a place to practice; so I were such that each musical corps was magnified in volume making for an especially like it in Japan as we are the only FD just had to be here." rousing performance. Company Sutler Leo Brennan and staff were bedecked in Corps and that is unfortunate. The func­ The Feast, held at Fort Quiatenon in handsome, fall colonial uniforms to add to the authentic atmosphere. The Muster tions we attend are in no way near as Lafayette, was sponsored by the Tip­ featured some very special music from the rhythmic performance of the Charles nostalgic nor as much fun as Nayaug. pecanoe Historical Association in Dickerson corps, and a most impressive exhibition by the Village Volunteers, to the Eighteen fifers, ten snares, five- basses, cooperation with the County Parks and slow step demonstration of Olde Ripton, the precision of the Marquis of Granby and color guard, boarding party and cannon Recreation Department. Held at ap­ the really enjoyable style of each corps that performed. Space does not allow for . it was a fun day for all." proximately the same time every year, mention of all units, but let itsuffice that this was a beautiful afternoon made possible Monday night, at a dinner reception for this was the 11th such gathering. In a by the performances of every unit in attendance. the visi(9rs at the "Wharf" in Madison, strange twist, the committee works in Ct., gifts were exchanged, dogs-noses conjunction with the Athletic Department flowed and there were many tears of of Purdue University for, in the words of sadness shed as the guests prepared for George Bernard, "Lafayette just cannot their return journey. Their visit was much handle the weekend traffic of a Purdue FIFERS TO THE FORE! too short but certainly pav~d the way for football game, and the Feast, at the same greater understanding and friendship. time." As Connecticut's Governor Ella Grasso The purpose of the affair was to show the said in her letter of welcome: public how an outpost in the Indiana "The Japanese Mariners deserve wilderness would celebrate the annual special praise for their dedication to arrival of the traders from French­ bringing our music and culture to their speaking Canada, the American settlers people. Through this enriching experience and the Indians. They do this as authen­ you have contributed to a greater un­ tically as possible. For example, at one derstanding between our nations and an campfire a woman might be making lye awareness of the history, the challenges soap in an iron kettle, while at another a and the culture of another land." blacksmith could be forging metal with a The Pacific visitors have extended an stone hammer. invitation to visit Japan for The Black During the day George and Leo did a Shop Festival. Whether or not we will be brisk business at "The Store," however, able to reciprocate in kind we all look after the Feast was closed to the public forward to 1980 when both the Swiss and they were shown around by members of Japanese Mariners have promised to join the Tiooecanoe I<'DC. This was their first us in Connecticut for a joint Anniversary indication of how large the Feast actually The massing ofthe Seiifor Ancients at the 93rd Conn.