On June 10th, 2006 the Fifes and Drums of York Town departed on the maiden voyage from their new headquarters to participate in the Flag Day Celebration at the National Museum of American History. The Corps' turn-out was massive and nearly busted the bus at the seams.

The first event of the day was the Flag Raising on Constitution Avenue. Led by Sergeant Christian Allen, this event was frought with peril and rapidly changing plans as the Corps discovered that the official flag raiser was stuck in traffic somewhere in Maryland.

Well, the show must go on...

In record time, the Corps produced a semi-competent, substitute flag raiser and sent him into the breach. If you look closely, in at least one of these pictures you can see the shock and horror in Mr. Akers eyes when he realizes that he has mounted the flag upside down.

Note: Everything worked out fine in the end. Mr. Akers was able to turn the flag over and get it up the pole just as the Corps finished the National Anthem --- Francis Scott Key would have been proud.

Having performed at Flag Day for the past five years, our Corps members are well accustomed to delivering their stage show in Flag Hall. The Corps took the stage three times under Sergeants Lacey Boyle, Stuart Vaughn and Lauren Sturdy to deliver an entertaining program of music and history for the visitors to the museum.

No matter how many shows we conduct during the course of a day, there is always time for fun. Our performers and chaperones spent their off-stage time relaxing and enjoying all of the opportunities that the Smithsonian Institution had to offer.

At the end of the day, our Smithsonian Liason, Megan Smith, stopped by the Green Room to congratulate the Corps on another great Flag Day and to invite them to return to next year's events.

Of all the maginificent things that are on display at the Smithsonian Institution, one of the most remarkable is the tyranosaurus head that is on display in the Natural History Museum. On this excursion several of our recruit and Junior Corps members joined Mr. Akers in his annual pilgrimage to stick his head in the "mouth of the beast".

Editorial Note:

Now, those of you who are without sin can cast the first stone... but every youngster that I consulted was in total agreement that, "if they didn't want us to stick our heads in that thing's mouth then they'd move it farther back."

Unusually cool and refreshing weather ruled the day, and our Corps members enjoyed an evening dinner on the varanda of a Washington, D.C. restaurant before returning home.

In an impromptu stop on the return home, the Corps made a visit to the Iwo Jima Memorial.