Down Memory Lane

[Jim Woodall]

Apparently, military bands playing in the area goes back quite a time. From a relatives memory back in the day:

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John Philip Sousa grew up on what we called the Navy Yard. I remember well when he was the leader of the Marine Band; and the members of the Band used to walk from the Marine Barracks to the Capitol for their Wednesday evening concerts. Sousa walked with them. As he would pass the old home on Pennsylvania Avenue [JW: 323 Pennsylvania SE which was in the family from 1849 to 1934] and see my father sitting on the porch, this usual salutation took place - "Good evening, Captain" and "Good evening, Johnnie", for my father knew him from the time he was a little boy.

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The "Captain" was married to my 4th great aunt. His name was James Coleman (b. 1832, d. 1899). In a few newspaper articles at the time, he is indicated as the first to sign up for the Union in DC. The writer was born in 1875 and her mother lived in the house until 1934. James Coleman had worked at the Navy Yard as a blacksmith but post Civil War obtained a position as a jailer in the district jail where Charles Guiteau was kept and from which Guiteau was hung. James Coleman would walk Guiteau to the scaffold standing beside him as Guiteau died.

(08-22-2015 11:18 AM)Jim Garrett Wrote:  That video was shot at the Navy Memorial directly across Pennsylvania Ave from the National Archives. The military attracts very talented musicians. It's very tough to become a musician in the military and the pay is actually very good. I met a retired army and marine musician, a double dipper, who now volunteers his time playing taps at veteran's funerals. Veterans are dying at such a rate that the military can now only guarantee that taps will be played at their funeral, but do not guarantee that it will be a live bugler. Often it is a recording of Taps. God Bless Sgt Mark Elrod, USA & USMC retired for his service to his country and his continued service honoring his fellow former servicemen and servicewomen.