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Could you have served in 1776? You still can

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Contributed by: Kirk Stewart on 2/27/2006

In 1776 men and women were signing up to do their part in establishing a new nation. Many Coloradoans descended from these patriots and can relive and honor their ancestor's times and service today.

The 1st Regiment of the Northern Colorado Fife and Drum Corps (NCFD) is recruiting musicians, color guard members, and fusiliers for their Revolutionary War-era unit.

The NCFD has members along the front range from Boulder to Ft. Collins and participates in community parades, heritage days, frontier events and ceremonies throughout the year. The biggest events are Fourth of July ceremonies in Loveland, Ft. the D.A. Russell Days in Cheyenne and the Frontier Rendezvous in Colorado. The NCFD was also the top non-school musical unit at the 2004 Colorado State Fair.
"Right now, we are looking for musicians to expand our group for the main summer activities. It is a great opportunity for high school and college players to keep their hands into music during the summer and have fun with something a bit different,” said David Wood, the group’s musical director. Wood is also a professional French Horn player for the Greeley and Cheyenne Symphonies.

“If you have any musical experience, particularly drums or woodwinds, we can get you far enough along to play with us this summer.”

If you believe you might be in the less-experienced category, but would enjoy participating in a marching musical group, you could follow the example of Kirk Stewart. Kirk took up playing an instrument later in life to get his mind off of work and try something new. He originally learned bagpipes with local Scottish pipe bands but has since converted over to become one of the unit’s main fifers.

“It takes some time to practice, but here’s a case where stubbornness can actually be a substitute for talent,” he said. “My fingers and musical brain will never be as fast as those who learn at a younger age, but I can be a solid fifer for the NCFD.”

The NCFD dresses in the style of a Revolutionary War “volunteer” unit. This means very little clothing matches other than being period style. Old-style shirts, neck frocks, and knickers style pants are the norm. The only mandatory item is a Tri-corner (or Tricorn) hat which can be mail ordered for $20 to $35. A few members sport a Pennsylvania frontier rifleman’s hunting frock coat.

“Other than that, most of our uniforms come from the local second hand store,” Stewart said.

“We are a marching unit with a full color guard. This includes black powder rifle fusiliers as escorts for the colors and band,” said the unit's president, Dave Lesure. “That makes us unique in Colorado. Marching and presentation are important. We are able to provide rifle salutes and full ceremonial presentations as well as the music. At events like the Ft. D.A. Russell days and the Boy Scout encampment in Frederick, we teach the younger folks about the Revolutionary War period history and let them relive a bit of it by firing a black powder rifle or mortar. It’s a different kind of kick.”

The NCFD also attends frontier, mountain man, and black powder events.

So, are you willing to find out if you, or your sons or daughters could have filled the shoes of some of our ancestors? Would you enjoy participating in a historical musical and re-enactment group? The Northern Colorado Fife and Drum Corps meets the first Tuesday of each month in Loveland for business and will be starting this season’s musical practices soon. Contact the President, Dave Lesure at 970-663-6339 for more information. Interested musicians may contact David Wood at 720-635-3926 for fife and drum details.

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Joel Hunt

Cody , WY

Joel Hunt has posted 945 stories and 97 comments since joining on 9/14/2005. Joel Hunt's average story rating is 4.52.

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