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Coast Guard Band Tunes Up for Inaugural
By Petty Officer 1st Class John Gaffney
U. S. Coast Guard
January 06, 2005

WASHINGTON - With its holiday performances now behind it, The United States Coast Guard Band has begun preparations for its next major venue, the 55th Presidential Inaugural in Washington, D.C.

While performing at the inaugural is a big deal for band members, it's nothing new for them as the band has performed at every inauguration since Herbert Hoover took the oath of office.

Chief Musician Daniel Lukens of Kensington, Conn., will be performing in his eighth inaugural on Jan. 20 and is looking forward to the event.

"I like a lot of excitement and I will be around an important event. I hope the weather is unseasonably mild for the parade," he said.

Other band members echoed Lukens' sentiments about the weather.

Chief Musician Marjorie Sturm of Memphis, Tenn., remembers bitterly cold weather during her four previous inaugural parades vividly.

"I never really look forward to them because of the extreme cold before and during the parades," she said. "However, I love being able to look back afterward and know I was there."

While harsh winter weather during the inaugural parade can make marching unpleasant, band members all enjoy playing indoors at inaugural balls and galas.

"The highlight is usually performing at one of the balls following the parade. You get to meet a lot of famous people and finally see the president up close," said Senior Chief Musician Mark Weaver of New Bern, N.C.

While portions of the inaugural experience may be arduous for the musicians, they are keenly aware of the role the inaugural plays in perpetuating democracy in the United States.

"I believe inaugurals are among the most significant events of our democratic system," said Chief Musician Andrew Grenci of Washington, Pa. "They represent the government's lawful and peaceful assent to the people's choice. It is thrilling for me to participate in showing honor to a new or returning president."

Band members recognize they represent all members of the Coast Guard - active, reserve, civilian and auxiliary, when they perform during the inaugural.

"I feel a tremendous amount of pride in representing the Coast Guard for a special ceremony like a presidential inaugural event," said Master Chief Musician Cheryl Six of Littleton, Colo. Six recently passed a career milestone, having now played 1,000 concert performances of the piccolo solo from John Philip Sousa's "Stars and Stripes Forever."

Sousa, incidentally, played an important role in the founding of the band in 1925 along with Lt. Charles Benter, leader of the United States Navy Band and Dr. Walter Damrosh, conductor of the New York Philharmonic.

In its early years, the band was small and primarily served the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn., where it is stationed. Now, however, the band is one of the most renowned military bands in the world and travels to perform in some of the most prestigious auditoriums in the United States including the Lincoln Center and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. In November, the band returned to New York's famed Carnegie Hall to perform a joint concert with the New York Pops.

Perhaps the band's most historic performances came in 1989, when it became the first U.S. military band to perform in the former Soviet Union with appearances in Leningrad and the surrounding area.

Band members count presidential inaugurals, bitter weather notwithstanding, as some of their most cherished experiences.

"My most vivid memory is standing as part of a joint services brass choir at the Lincoln Memorial during the first Clinton inauguration," said Sturm. As we were playing Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Man," I remember being extremely touched, moved, and emotionally overwhelmed by the tens of thousands of people packed on the mall, stretching as far as the Capitol. It was an amazing experience."

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