The Camp Band?
By Pati Egan
In the early 1960s and 1970s the Belleville Diocese had an extensive grade school band program. As an example, the East St. Louis Deanery used its grade school band as a feeder system for the Assumption High School Band. Camp Ondessonk decided to take advantage of this and create a band to play at inspection.
Sometimes staff and CITs did the drumming. This original bass drum now has a happy home as an artifact in the Archives Room. I remember that I got to play the drums my first week as a camper. An announcement was made that those who wanted to try out should remain in the (Original) Dining Hall after dinner. We had to show that we could hold the drumsticks correctly & do something else that I don’t remember.
Some program donated red and gold band uniform jackets, black pants, and some instruments. I have heard that the East St. Louis Assumption Grade School Band donated the uniforms and instruments. I don’t think they came from Assumption High School; East St. Louis Grade School Band was still active. I have also heard that these uniforms came from Mater Dei. There is a Mater Dei in Breese, Ill., and Evansville, Ind. The uniforms are the colors of Mater Dei in Evansville.
The campers were to play the Star-Spangled Banner, the drummers played as the campers walked in and when staff inspected the units, and as the campers left the Parade Ground. They also did a drum roll while waiting for the cannon to fire. I believe a staff member always played the bugle. “To the Colors” (sometimes this is listed “To the Color”) is a difficult tune to play.
The campers who participated in the band received a Band Arrowhead. The band had a rather short lifespan. Those who earned this arrowhead have a unique award that not too many earned.
The Camp Band had a short lifespan. By the mid-1970s staff took over the drum duties. The bugle call was played over the Public Address System when a bugler could not be found among the staff. The Office Manager and the Riflery Instructor would have to listen closely for the command “Staff about face – hand salute.” The Riflery Instructor would light an announcer bomb that would go off over Central. The office manager would hit the play button on the tape recorder to begin the bugle call.
The Camp Band met its demise most likely due to a few factors. Band instruments are delicate, the cost to maintain them was probably prohibitive. Many elementary schools dropped band in the late 1970s.
Camp now usually has at least one person who can play a trumpet. “To the Colors” is now played live while the flags are lowered. Inspection is a long tradition at Camp. It teaches the campers proper flag etiquette. For 60+ years the drummers have called the campers to inspection. The red and gold uniforms are gone, but the spirit lives on!
If you’re curious what the bugle call “To the Colors” sounds like, here is a link. Perhaps you’re just campsick for Inspection.
Click here to learn more about Camp Ondessonk’s Mission and History.
