Since Drummer’s Call started around noon, we walked through the lovely spring gardens of the Governor’s Palace.
As we neared the palace kitchen delicious aromas beckoned us to enter.
Governor’s Palace Kitchen
What a history lesson we got!
There was the Virginia ham, which was a colonial specialty of Virginia.
Humorously the dueling meats sat side by side…the beef cooked English style and the beef cooked French style to represent the rivalries between the two countries from days of yore.
We laughed, because it reminded us of my son’s Hundred Years War question to Lafayette last summer!
The cook explained that while the English roast their meat, the French braise their meat in wine.
After cleaning the crab, the cook planned to add some orange, wine,and a little nutmeg to it to create a filling.
While the hand-cranking the rotisserie slowly rotated the goose over the coals, a delicious aroma filled through the room.
Drummer’s Call
We arrived at the Capitol at the same time as the fife and drum corps.
Commissioned as colonel of the First Virginia Regiment at the onset of the American Revolution, Patrick Henry said a few words about Armed Forces Day.
Anticipation filled the air as the first drum corps unit took its place.
Leaving the capitol one by one, each corps unit played music and marched down the Duke of Gloucester Street to Market Square.
Colonial Williamsburg Junior Fife and Drum Corps
The Colonial Williamsburg Junior Fife and Drum Corps opened the event.
The youngest is about 10 and in their later teens they advance into the Senior Corps.
Colonial Williamsburg Alumni Fife and Drum Corps
The Colonial Williamsburg Alumni Fife and Drum Corps attracted a lot of attention!
This drum major is also the drum major for The Old Guard, which will be described next.
He was stupendous! He was the best drum major of the day!
Old Guard – US Army
This is The Old Guard, which dates to General Washington.
Serving in the present-day US Army, they perform for the president and dignitaries from around the world.
They even perform in San Antonio for Fiesta! They were incredible to watch.
More than one of them are alumni of the Colonial Williamsburg Fife and Drum Corps.
Colonial Williamsburg Senior Fife and Drum Corps
Finally, the Colonial Williamsburg Senior Fife and Drum Corps played. (see header photo)
They attracted a great deal of attention too, being a hometown favorite!
Since they were the last, the massively growing crowd followed them.
As we walked further down the Duke of Gloucester Street, more and more people followed.
After we arrived at Market Square, the Colonial Williamsburg Senior Drum and Fife Corps played the National Anthem, after which the cannon fired.
Midway through the corps’ presentations of music and marching, the Second Virginia Regiment came on the field to demonstrate musket firing.
Shopping for Lanterns
After watching Revolutionary City, we shopped at the Greenhow Store for a colonial lantern.
We were told (with a smile) that if we didn’t leave by 5pm, we’d become indentured servants for the next seven years.
They don’t realize that for me, that is no threat. It’s an invitation!
I ended up finding the perfect lanterns at one of the Williamsburg stores in Merchant Square.
My daughter will use one for our Becoming History presentation and afterwards the rest of the set will make nice decor in the foyer.
After eating delicious sandwiches from the Cheese Shop, we went to the Tattoo.
Drummer’s Call Tattoo
The Tattoo marked the end of the soldiers’ day.
Starting at the Governor’s Palace, each drum and fife corps unit marched down the Palace Green, then left onto the Duke of Gloucester Street to the Capital, with torchlight.
We were all getting fired up with the different tunes!
You just can’t help getting involved…
Our enthusiasm kept building…
The Colonial Williamsburg Senior Drum and Fife Corps were last and once again, we followed them, as if they were the Pied Piper of Hamlin.
It was so much fun, and the crowds were larger than earlier in the day.
Finally we reached the end, where cressets lit the night.
Then one of the drum majors led the drummers in some fast and furious beats. It was amazing to hear the different corps play in unison. I loved how the kids shared drums!
What a day! I hated to see it end.
Frog Chorus joins Drummer’s Call
After Drummer’s Call Tattoo we walked by the pond where we heard the deep bass of the bullfrogs in harmony with the higher croak of the smaller frogs. It was a cacophony!
We laughed and said they must want to participate in the Drummer’s Call.
For more photos check my Flickr set.
Comment from old blog location
Jennie May 29, 2009 at 7:09PM-Thanks so much for sharing in such detail, excitement and photography. Our family just booked reservations today to visit in August. We, too, used the electronic field trips this school year and are hungry to attend a physical field trip there. You are so blessed to be living so close to them. I enjoyed your story of Williamsburg. Thanks again for sharing.
