Westbrook to hold 57th Annual Drum Corps Parade/Muster Saturday, August 27th.

Here are some photos (courtesy of E. Robitaille) taken of Saint Mary School Fife & Drum Corps as they participated along with 54 other fife & drum corps groups at the distinguished Deep River Ancient Muster & Parade on July 16th where they celebrated 240 years of American fife & drum. (To view more photos look for DRAM 2016 photos/videos https://www.facebook.com/DeepRiverAncientMuster/ also some photos posted on https://www.facebook.com/SMSBranford .) Senator Richard Blumenthal (from left to right) is seen in the photos marching in the parade alongside First Selectman Angus McDonald, and State Representative Phil Miller (both wore pink in honor of First Selectman Dick Smith of Deep River, who passed away in March).

The earliest recorded gathering in Deep River was of a Field Day on May 13, 1879, when musicians came together to honor the history of the fife and drum in America’s Revolutionary War militia service. During the Revolutionary War, this music was instrumental in sounding commands to the troops, keeping the troops together as they marched, signaling battlefield maneuvers, and regulating camp life.

Saint Mary School Fife & Drum Corps and over 40 fife & drum corps from across the United States will participate in the 57th Annual Westbrook Drum Corps Muster on Saturday, August 27th. The parade begins at 11am, followed by the on stand performances of over 40 corps. The parade line up will be on Brookside Ave, and the parade will travel out to Boston Post Road and end at Ted Lane Field, where the muster will occur. For more information: http://westbrookdrumcorps.org