Plymouth Fife & Drum Corps Headed to Virginia for Annual Summer Tour

A news release:

The Plymouth Fife & Drum Corps (PFDC) from Plymouth, MI is bound for Virginia for their annual summer tour, August 3-13. PFDC has dubbed their 2014 tour, “The Presidential Tour.” Four of their eleven scheduled performances take place at the homes of United States Presidents; George Washington’s Mt. Vernon, Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, James Madison’s Montpelier and William Henry Harrison’s Berkeley Plantation.

They will also perform with three of the nation’s premiere fife and drum corps. They will march up the Duke of Gloucester Street with The Colonial Williamsburg Fife and Drum Corps and perform at the Colonial Historical National Park Visitors Center with The Fifes and Drums of York Town. PFDC has been invited to Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall in Arlington, VA were they will be treated to a private performance from the United States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, escort to the President. They in turn have the honor to perform for them and will then perform together. Following their performance they will participate in a wreath laying ceremony at The Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery.

It has been nearly a decade since PFDC spent their entire tour in the state of Virginia; however, the tour will officially kick off with a quick stop in Ligonier, PA to perform at Fort Ligonier and spend the night to rest up for the remaining drive to Virginia. Other notable performance sites are Kenmore House, home of George Washington’s sister, Betty and her husband Fielding Lewis, and St. John’s Episcopal Church where Patrick Henry ignited the Revolutionary War with his “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” speech.

PFDC Music Director, Jim Predhomme expressed, “We are extremely excited about this year’s tour as this will be the first time we’ve ever performed at Monticello and Montpelier.”

The program lasts 30 minutes. A brief meet and greet allowing spectators and children to try on their uniforms, play their instruments and hold the guard equipment follows all their performances and is alway a crowd pleaser. Their music spans the 17th to 20th centuries with an emphasis on music played during the Revolutionary War. They wear historically accurate replica uniforms of General George Washington’s Life Guard, giving extra meaning to the Mt. Vernon performance.

“Everyone at all the venues has been extremely helpful with planning this tour showing the true meaning of Southern hospitality. I think everyone in Virginia is in for a real treat. We’re looking forward to our return and a great turn out at all our performances.” stated PFDC Ways & Means Chairman, Lisa LiGreci.

Performances are free of charge however an admittance fee to the venue would apply. Please go the venue’s website for ticket information.

To help support The Plymouth Fife and Drum Corps, and get more information, please visit a GoFundMe online fundraiser

The performance schedule and locations are as follows:

Sunday, August 3, 2014

3:00 PM,

Fort Ligonier

200 South Market Street Ligonier, PA 15658

Monday, August 4, 2014

3:00 PM

Historic Kenmore Plantation

1201 Washington Ave. Fredericksburg, VA 22401

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

11:00 AM

Monticello

931 Thomas Jefferson Parkway Charlottesville, VA 22902

3:30 PM

Montpelier

11407 Constitution Hwy. Montpelier Station, VA 22957

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

12:15 PM

Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns

Arlington National Cemetery

Arlington, VA 22211

3:30 PM

Mt. Vernon

3200 Mt. Vernon Memorial Hwy.

Alexandria, VA 22121

Thursday, August 7, 2014

10:30 AM

Berkeley Plantation

12602 Harrison

Charles City, VA 23030

6:00 PM

St. John’s Episcopal Church

2401 E. Broad St.

Richmond, VA 23223

Saturday, August 9, 2014

1:00 PM

Colonial Williamsburg, Duke of Gloucester Street Parade

Colonial Williamsburg, VA 23185

Sunday, August 10, 2014

3:30 PM

Colonial National Historical Park Visitors Center

1000 Colonial Parkway Yorktown, Virginia 23690

5:00 PM

Waterfront Parade

Riverwalk Landing Waterfront Yorktown, VA 23690

About Plymouth Fife and Drum Corps:

The Plymouth Fife and Drum Corps is an all youth Corps made up of students ranging in age from 11 – 18 from Plymouth, MI and surrounding communities. Dedicated to the ancient art of fifing, drumming and color guard, these teens practice every Monday evening year round to prepare for the Corps’ performance season. Every weekend of their summer vacation is scheduled for 40-50 performances from April thru October throughout the states of Michigan, Ohio and into Canada. Near the end of the performance season, the Corps travels on a 10 day tour to perform at historical sites. For more information and to help support PFDC visit www.pfdc.us