This Web Site has been serving the Fife & Drum Community Since January 29, 1996 .
......... Bob has been serving the Fife and Drum Community since the Early 1960's.......

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Thomas R, Riemer ... R.I.P. my friend Tuesday, March 19, 2013 Tommy being Tommy, at Old Sturbridge Village Drummer's Call, September 10, 2011 Thomas Riemer, 63 of Clinton born in Bristol, CT on September 26, 1949, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 19 at Gladeview Rehab Center in Old Saybrook. Tom had been in poor health for several years, but continued to have a positive spirit and to be a friend to all who needed one right to the end. Tom was a life-long student of history, with a special interest in The Civil War. Tom, along with his cousin and close friend, Mark Riemer, spent years studying clothing, black powder, weapons and accoutrements, fabric etc., so they were as authentic as possible in their representation and the perpetuation of living history. Tom was a camp commander of Alden Skinner Camp # 45 located at the GAR Hall in Rockville, CT from 1988 to 1993. He did much in helping develop Camp # 45 in becoming one of the most active ones to date. Tom's life-long love of music lead him down many various avenues of expression, including drumming and singing in rock bands, minstrel music and rudimental bass drumming which he excelled at. He leaves behind many life-long friends, including his Connecticut Yanks, Fife and Drum Corps, "brothers and sisters", as well as the many entertaining stories he used to tell. Tom leaves behind his beloved wife, JoAnn (Brodeur) Riemer, two daughters, Elizabeth and Erin Heald and his grandson, Lindsey and granddaughter Olivia, both whom he adored. He also leaves a brother, Fredrick Riemer and a sister Kathy Riemer along with his devoted niece, Shannon Tardiff, whom was alongside him at the time of Tom's passing. Tom was predeceased by his parents, Carleton Riemer and Marguarite Donahue Riemer. Tom lived his life well, straight and true and he will not be forgotten. A memorial service/celebration for Tom will be held on Sat. April 6th at 1pm and the Eulogy will be at 3pm. This will be held at the Riemer home, 21 Elmwood Way, Clinton, CT 06413. In lieu of flowers, Tom would like any donations be made to The Company of Fifers and Drummers, "Kids Camp" fund, c/o The Company of Fifers and Drummers, PO Box 277, Ivoryton, CT 06442-0227 I wish to express my deepest condolences to JoAnn and the rest of my friends in the Buxton Corps. Tommy was one of my dearest friends. I will play back the video I made of the little "story" he told us during the Drummer's Call last fall in Old Strubridge Village ... ..... .... many, many, times in remembrance of a happier day. Bob Castillo

VIDEOS!! From Way back when!!!

The following videos are through the courtesy of George Carteris.

1990 From the Fairfield Memorial Day "gazebo" concert. This one is the Chanteymen singing.

1990, Fairfield Memorial Day,

1994 Deep River Ancient Muster. It’s The Ancient Mariners' on-stand performance of UnionJack. It was dedicated to Norm Ott who you’ll clearly see in the video along with several other Mariners now on the Oar.

1994,Ancient Mariners Deep River w/ Norm Ott

1955 This recording is of St. Anselm's Drum Corps from the Bronx, NY. from the original reel-to-reel tape. George was told the tape recording was made in the school gym. Pierce Gardener gave George the tape in 1994 and he had it transferred to a cassette tape. This recording is of the fife line playing "2nd Connecticut" and "Pride of the Bronx".

1955 St. Anselm's Drum Corps from the Bronx, NY

1955 This is a SECOND recording is of St. Anselm's Drum Corps from the Bronx, NY. from the original reel-to-reel tape. George was told the tape recording was made in the school gym. Pierce Gardener gave George the tape in 1994 and he had it transferred to a cassette tape. This recording is of the fife line playing "Old Comrads"

1955 St. Anselm's Drum Corps from the Bronx, NY Video #2

Wanna See me 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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Summer Fun Show
I will run these slideshows from now on.
Use the "BACK" & "NEXT" buttons to navigate.
Content WILL change throughout the year, so check back often!
They may or may NOT be "muted" whenever I have a death notice posted.

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WTC
MEMORIAL PAGE

Images & reflections collected in the weeks after the attacks on the World Trade Center, NYC. Preserved here as a tribute to all who lost their lives that day and in honor of those who worked so hard trying to save more lives.

To visit this Memorial Section, CLICK HERE

ANNOUNCEMENTS !

End Announcements

Here are the
Current Weather Conditions
On the Muster Field
at Deep River, Connecticut

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

Days to endure before
The 2018 Deep River Ancient Muster !
July 21, 2018

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

Days to endure before
The 2017 Nathan Hale Ancient Fife & Drum Muster !
July 23, 2017
AND ..................

Days to endure before
The 2017 Westbrook Muster !
August 26, 2017

To find out what ELSE is happening while you are enduring, click HERE and check Schedule of Events.

Links to ~ Other Sites ~

Look up your friends and send them E-MAIL in
The Directory of Fifers & Drummers

The Poet's Corner

Original New Poem by Kevin Sullivan, reprinted from The Ancient Times, Vol 25 No. 1 &2

Check out the wares in the
VIRTUAL BAZAAR
of Fife and Drum Suppliers

		Drop in on our "Fife & Drum Music" CHAT Click HERE for DETAILS! Charlie Terzi, Moderator

	For our Veterans The Ragged Old Flag 'Twas the Night Before Christmas (USMC) Memorial Day A Soldier Died Today Reflections on the 4th of July

A very interesting editorial   THE UNITED STATES This, from a Canadian newspaper, is worth sharing: America: The Good Neighbor   Widespread but only partial news coverage was given recently to a remarkable editorial broadcast from Toronto by Gordon Sinclair, a Canadian television commentator. What follows is the full text of his trenchant remarks as printed in the Congressional Record: "This Canadian thinks it is time to speak up for the Americans as the most generous and possibly the least appreciated people on all the earth. Germany, Japan and, to a lesser extent, Britain and Italy were lifted out of the debris of war by the Americans who poured in billions of dollars and forgave other billions in debts. None of these countries is today paying even the interest on its remaining debts to the United States. When France was in danger of collapsing in 1956, it was the Americans who propped it up, and their reward was to be insulted and swindled on the streets of Paris. I was there. I saw it. When earthquakes hit distant cities, it is the United States that hurries in to help. This spring, 59 American communities were flattened by tornadoes. Nobody helped. The Marshall Plan and the Truman Policy pumped billions of dollars! into discouraged countries. Now newspapers in those countries are writing about the decadent, war mongering Americans. I'd like to see just one of those countries that is gloating over the erosion of the United States dollar build its own airplane. Does any other country in the world have a plane to equal the Boeing Jumbo Jet, the Lockheed Tri-Star, or the Douglas DC10? If so, why don't they fly them? Why do all the International lines except Russia fly American Planes? Why does no other land on earth even consider putting a man or woman on the moon? You talk about Japanese technocracy, and you get radios. You talk about German technocracy, and you get automobiles. You talk about American technocracy, and you find men on the moon -- not once, but several times - and safely home again.   You talk about scandals, and the Americans put theirs right in the store window for everybody to look at. Even their draft-dodgers are not pursued and hounded. They are here on our streets, and most of them, unless they are breaking Canadian laws, are getting American dollars from ma and pa at home to spend here. When the railways of France, Germany and India were breaking down through age, it was the Americans who rebuilt them. When the Pennsylvania Railroad and the New York Central went broke, nobody loaned them an old caboose. Both are still broke. I can name you 5000 times when the Americans raced to the help of other people in trouble. Can you name me even one time when someone else raced to the Americans in trouble? I don't think there was outside  help even during the San Francisco earthquake. Our neighbors have faced it alone, and I'm one Canadian who is damned tired of hearing them get kicked around. They will come out of this thing with  their flag high. And when they do, they are entitled to thumb their nose at the lands that are gloating over their present troubles. I hope Canada is not one of  those."   Stand proud, America! This is one of the best editorials that I have ever read regarding the United States. It is nice that one man realizes it. I only wish that the rest of the world would realize it. We are always blamed for everything and never even get a thank you for the things we do. I would hope that each of you would send this to as many people as you can and emphasize that they should send it to as many of their friends until this letter is sent to every person on the web. I am just a single American that has read this.

	Wanna see some Peectures????? Click Here

Hiedeee Hoooooo Downnnnn The Fifing Rabbit's Band has learned a new tune! STOMP HERE TO MEET THEM

And just for you people who happen to like CATS!, PRESS HERE.

And for those of you who HATE cats, Press HERE.

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An area dedicated to remembering.

Eddie Classey

This Photo was taken in Novemeber 1993 at my home.

My good friend, Ed Classey..pontificating

The Company Prayer This prayer was written for The Company in January, 1967 by Father Kenneth H. Kinner, Chaplain Emeritus. In addition to being respected for his devotion to his vocation, Fr. Kinner is also admired by his friends in the fife and drum world for his ability to play the snare drum. ALMIGHTY GOD, Father of freedom, Author of the blessings of liberty; we thank you for the great company of Ancient musicians who in their several generations have been instruments in the search for human dignity and messengers in the pursuit of happiness; we commend all who have marched before us into Your safe keeping, seeking for ourselves such wisdom and understanding as may strengthen us as citizens of a free society, inspiring in others a like desire by our music and example; we ask Your protection for fifers and drummers throughout the land and the hope of your Divine Providence for all men. Amen.

Here are a few of
"those who have marched before us".

Please click
on Highlighted/Underlined names
to view their personal page
maintained on this site as a permanent tribute.

Dan Malstrom

Dan Malstrom passed away peacefully Tuesday afternoon at 5:20 PM, July 7, 2009

Alfred "DUKE" Terreri

Passed away Sunday Morning, October 29, 2000
He did do much to give us "The Book(s)"

Freddi Bruder & Alfons Greider

Co-forgers of the Links between the Swiss & American Fife & Drums Corps!
These men passed from us within two weeks of each other! Freddi on March 29, 2003 and Alfons on April 13, 2003.

Dave Clark

Snare Drummer

Founder of the Westbrook Muster.
Dave died on Tuesday, October 12^th 1999

John E. "Jack" Hetzel

Founding Member
Bass Drummer
Nathan Hale Ancient Fifes & Drums,
died Monday, August 9^th 1999.

Truly, "A Man You Don't Meet Everyday."

Roger P. Clark"

Company of Fifers & Drummers, Past President, Drummer, Stony Creek Fife & Drum Corps, past member Deep River Drum Corps
died Saturday, December 21^st 2002.

A true friend to the Fife & Drum Community !

John B. "Jack" Foran

Former Major Commanding
Nathan Hale Ancient Fifes & Drums
died Saturday morning May 30th, 1998, from injuries sustained in a recent automobile accident.

Jack will be well remembered by all who knew him.

Charles J. Garrow Jr.

Bass Drummer
Founder & Past Commander of Col. Thomas Knowlton's Ct. Rangers, Charter Member Nathan Hale Ancient Fifes & Drums of Coventry, CT. And member of the Warehouse Point Fife & Drum Corps
Feb 29, 1924 - Feb 3, 2000

Jack Gorr

Nathan Hale Ancient Fifes & Drums
Snare Drummer
Written by Bob Castillo

Robert Whittlesey

Germantown Ancients
Drum Major
Written by Walt Rynkiewicz

Matthew Soltys

Olde Ripton Ancient Fife and Drum Corps.

Written by his long-time friend,
Wayne Hickman!

Bill Pace
Written for the Ancient Times
by Ed Olsen

Kenneth Lemley

Fast Hands, Great Heart!

Malcolm Hinckley

Our Photographer and Friend

A Tribute to Les Parks By Nick Attanasio

Mel Doxzon
Monumental City Ancient Fife & Drum Corps
Executive Committee Member

Pete Pohorence,President, Yorktown Fife & Drums

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