Veterans Day in Colonial Williamsburg

Colonial Williamsburg

Restored City

Duty, honor, country. These are the watchwords taken to heart by some of our nation's bravest and most selfless heroes: members of our nation's armed forces. For all they have sacrificed, with valor, selflessness and unwavering strength, Colonial Williamsburg honors our nation's veterans and active duty service members during November 11-13, 2005.

The Veterans weekend will feature military encampments, re-enactments, Colonial Williamsburg groups and local veteran's associations. Some highlights of A Service to America Weekend include:

• Military Encampments. See a French & Indian War Camp, Cavalry units, a Rhode Island Regiment and a military hospital.
• Parades. Festive and spirited daily military parades are scheduled.
• Drums and Fifes. Performances by the historical Drums and Fifes band, which portrays the significance of music during the early American military and provides lively, patriotic tunes for attendees.

In addition to this special weekend celebrating our military's outstanding contributions, the Williamsburg area is full of historical and military sites that played major roles in the birth of our country. Visit the three corners of the "historic triangle:" the Jamestown Settlement, a re-creation of daily life in 1600s Virginia; Yorktown Victory Center, featuring a Continental Army encampment on the site of the decisive battle of Yorktown which won our independence from Great Britain; and Colonial Williamsburg, a living history experience with 500 historic colonial buildings and a myriad of historic interpreters and museums.

Fifes and Drums: Historical Background.

In early American military encampments, boys and young men were trained to work among the soldiers and provide service by playing music for various purposes. These young musicians marched into the fray with their regiments, and fifes and drums were the traditional instruments used for 18^th century infantry signals: they relayed commanders' orders to soldiers in camp and on the battlefield and also provided music for marching (both a rhythm to keep step to, and spirited tunes to uplift and inspire battle-weary soldiers). The fife was chosen for its shrill sound which carries well across the battlefield. The snare drums were made of ash shells and hoops, calfskin heads and gut snares, and were played with wooden mallets or sticks.

Today's Fife and Drum Corps. is made up of boys and girls ages 10-18, who dress in replicas of the original regimental costumes that were approved by the Virginia General Assembly in 1778. They play all the favorite military tunes as well as patriotic music and lively compositions.