Coe memorabilia and memories are always turning up in the archives. Recently a folder containing alumni recollections from the 1933 band trip to Washington D.C., to participate in the inauguration parade for President Franklin D. Roosevelt, showed up. In 1933 Coe had an all-male military band that had attended its first inaugural parade in 1929 when it represented Iowa in honor of Herbert Hoover’s home state. The last president the band marched for was John F. Kennedy in 1961. Stanley Vesely, the band director who started the inaugural tradition, retired in 1960 returning to help with the trip in 1961. When the college’s president asked the new director if he intended to take the band to the next inauguration he declined. He thought he’d take them to Europe instead.
Back in 1933, the band took two buses from Cedar Rapids to Washington D.C. giving concerts along the way. With only minor troubles (one bus had a flat tire in the Alleghenies, and the other’s breaks went out that same day) the band arrived in Washington D.C. to their accommodations for the next 2 days: a long hall-like foyer with 50 some folding army cots lined up and ready for them. After a day of touring the capital the band got some rest in preparation for the big day. They were ready to march at 9:30 a.m., despite the early start it was almost dark before the last band marched passed the grandstand in what was the longest inaugural parade ever held.
The next night the band gave a concert in a small park in downtown Washington in which they were saved by a drummer from the US Marine band. During the last number, which featured the bass drum and cymbals, Coe's drummer fainted. Standing nearby was a US Marine band drummer who jumped up on stage and took up where the passed out drummer left off, thereby saving the piece and the day. The band was especially thankful the next day when they were informed they had been awarded first place over all the bands that had performed during the inauguration. After receiving their award and a special tour of the white house they got back on the buses to make their return trip to Cedar Rapids.
Fredrick B. Lehman ’35, whose accounts are told here, doesn’t remember much of significance happening on the way back, except for a stop in Indiana. The band made their way through a girl’s dormitory (he doesn’t recount why) which had an open atrium at the center. Each level had multiple residents hanging over the sides and whistling at the band as they walked through. Being whistled at by a bunch of girls was a first for at least one of the band members and a memorable conclusion to an exciting trip.
No comments:
Post a Comment