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Circa 1912. Mount Gretna, Pennsylvania. "National Guard camp. Field music band from Trenton, N.J." National Photo Company glass negative. View full size.
The Old Soldier of this bunch keeps to himself on the left. He could have seen the end days of the Indian Wars and declares he is the real soldier by wearing a sharpshooter badge. 1912 was the beginning of the new headgear and two of the band are wearing their hats in the Army's new "Montana peak" style (3rd and 7th from the left) while the others have run free in the individualistic slouch hat style. Mongo wins the prize for the best headgear.
What about the guy with the polka dot necktie!
Sixth from left looks like a young Ronald Reagan.
There's Goober in his first band, standing just right of the drum.
They were out standing in their field.
the hats, or the guys wearing them. The different styles of creasing is amazing. I would really like to hear what they might have sounded like. Another great image from the past.
A little Sousa if you please, say "Stars and Sripes Forever"?
"Mongo the enforcer," behind the back row, ensures that every spectator applauds heartily.
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