Sad To Hear

[Chuck Jackson]

The BRAC Committee (Base Realignment folks who choose what Army Bases stay open or are shut down) has decided to close both Ft. McPherson, GA and Ft. Monroe, VA. I spent a good portion of my Army career playing in bands at both Posts, fabulous bands BTW. Ground Forces Command and its band are moving to Pope AFB near Ft. Bragg and TRADOC will be moving into new digs at Ft. Eustis. Both Ft. Mac and Ft. Monroe are beautiful posts, throwbacks to an era when officers played Polo. I have fond memories of playing at the Gazebo at Fort Monroe (situated on the bay) and playing on the beautiful Parade Grounds at Ft. Mac. Time marches on. I have to wonder what is going to happen to the prime real estate both sit on. If any one else was stationed at either place, I would like to hear your memories.

Chuck"wistful"Jackson

[SRanney]

I have to wonder what is going to happen to the prime real estate both sit on.

My guess would be that the golf course at Ft. Mac will remain a golf course. Perhaps the rest of that campus will be converted into university use: GA Tech, Spellman, and Clarke-Atlanta are all nearby.

[Chuck Jackson]

My guess would be that the golf course at Ft. Mac will remain a golf course. Perhaps the rest of that campus will be converted into university use: GA Tech, Spellman, and Clarke-Atlanta are all nearby.

I thought as much as well. I think both posts are on the National Register of Historic Places. I wonder if that precludes using either of them for commercial purposes. Fort Monroe's Band Hall was inside the Moat as are a number of historic buildings. I hope that portion will remain a museum. The rest of the Post outside of the moat is a mixture of really nice older buildings and crappy Mid 20th Century Army Post buildings. Officers Row and the CSM's residence looks out over Hampton Roads. I'm guessing developers are drooling in excess at the thought of all that water-front property possibly coming on the market.

Ft. Mc is a gem. The homes and barracks surrounding the Parade Field (the old Polo Ground) as stunning. I played the Golf Course quite a bit. It is the BEST military golf course I have had the pleasure of playing.

What saddens me the most is that the Continental Army Band will no longer give their Thursday night concerts during the summer at the Historic Gazebo. I can't count the times I played there. Nothing quite as awe-inspiring as playing a March while an Aircraft Carrier comes in. A beautiful setting for some great music.

Chuck

[jtuba]

Chuck, the 77th season of Music Under the Stars will be at the gazebo, even though we will be at Eustis by that time. Don't know what the plans are for 2012.

[Chuck Jackson]

Chuck, the 77th season of Music Under the Stars will be at the gazebo, even though we will be at Eustis by that time. Don't know what the plans are for 2012.

That's GREAT news. Don Wilmot told me your new digs at Eustis are very nice. Good luck to you and all the TUSCAB folks.

[Mitchell Spray]

Chuck, I share your sentiments over the closing of these posts. My time at Ft Monroe will always be a fond memory. I have heard rumblings that the area inside the moat will continue to be sort of a National park and the other portions will be sold off to developers. Admittedly, I am not close by and have not heard the latest version.

[tbn.al]

As a local, I'm sure going to miss those wonderful community concerts. I'll be kicking myself for the ones I missed, but I won't miss any more. Ground Forces is a great band.

[tbn.al]

Just got back from picking up my tickets for the 25th annual Ground Forces Band Christmas Concert. It may very well be the last one I'll get to attend.

[chhite]

As military ceremonies go, they're often long and the speakers have no idea how to captivate an audience and the band is seeking the "happy place" that will make it go a little faster. The Nabisco (or Nestle) factory across the street from Ft. Mac would be pumping out the cookies and the smell would waft across the parade field. Ahhh...nothing makes a tuba player forget about the task at hand like food...unless the task is eating, of course.

My four and a half years there hold lots of fond memories of tours, playing good music with the finest tuba/euph section of which I've ever been a part, and getting to work in a place that seemed out of place when compared to what's a couple of miles up the road. It will be another sad chapter when Mac and Monroe cease to house Army bands and they follow greats like Presidio, Sheridan, Devens, Hamilton, and others into past-tense.

A final alumni/reunion is scheduled for Ft. Mac in late April before the band's move north. I think it's been posted somewhere else but check Facebook for more details or contact Don Wilmot.

[Evil Ronnie]

In December of 1971, I was a private E-2 trombonist in what was then called The U.S. Continental Army Band at Ft. Monroe. There were five of us in the section, and since no one played bass, I decided to make the switch. I enjoyed my almost year and a half in that very fine band, which I believe was about 70 strong at that time. We had a very fine drum major (as well as percussionist), MSG Tom Jeffries, and many very good players. The Fifth Army Band near Chicago had just been de-activated and we got a number of very good players from that unit. We had about eight or ten herald trumpet players (soprano and tenor) who often marched in front of the bones.

I got me a Bach 50B2 and a Schilke 60 mouthpiece, and frequently drove up to northern Virginia for lessons with Bob Kraft, who at that time played bass with The National Symphony Orchestra. In spring of '73, both The Army Band (ceremonial band) and The Army Field Band (concert band) had bass bone openings, and I auditioned for both bands over a two day period. I actually had my choice of jobs and chose to become a member of the Field Band, where I played for the next six years. In '79, I left the army to pursue a culinary career.

Two very fine bands. After almost thirty years away from playing, I picked the horn back up four years ago and joined The Northshore Concert Band here in Chicago. Unfortunately, my new job requires me to work more evenings than previously, and I had to drop out of the NCB.

I look back fondly at my time in the CONARC band. My 1.5 years of playing there got me ready to be able to move up the road to Ft. Meade.

Good times...