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RinggoldCelebrates 100years of theNational ParkService164th Annual Spring ConcertBy Jim Seidel, musical director

In 1916, during the presidency of WoodrowWilson, the United States National Park

Service was born. Its purpose was to protectand promote the beautiful areas of this greatnation. On April 17, 2016, at the ScottishRite Cathedral in Wyomissing, the RinggoldBand will honor many of our national parksand historic sites along with the men andwomen who have served and are serving asnational park rangers.

Ringgold is so fortunate to have as amember Ms. Jill Haley, who has writtenmany selections through a National Artsgrant to create music from select NationalParks. You can read more about this later inthis newsletter. Our staff arranger, TomShade, has arranged four selections of Jill’smusic for the concert band. Along with hermusic is a wonderful video presentation ofthe beautiful sites which was the spark ofinspiration for her music.

In addition to Jill’s wonderful music theband will feature music and correspondingvideo with scenes from the Grand Canyon toFerde Grofe’s Grand Canyon Suite; Yosem-ite National Park’s history of the Firefall toan original composition of the same name byRoland Barrettt; and finally, a dramatic Al-fred Reed composition in honor of MountRushmore.

Of course there are many more musicalsurprises including the presentation of our2016 Ringgold Band Young Artist AwardScholarship to three deserving young musi-cians from the Berks County area.

The Ringgold Band has been playingfor audiences for 164 years, and this concertmay be the first to feature extensive videowith the band’s music. Music has the powerto move the human spirit and enrich all ofour lives. So we hope to see you on Sunday,April 17. You won’t be disappointed!

This Spring Anniversary concert wasfunded in part through a grant from BerksArts Council and the Wyomissing Founda-tion and supported in part by the Pennsylva-nia Council on the Arts, a state agencyfunded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylva-nia and the National Endowment for theArts, a federal agency.

www.ringgoldband.com

The Ringgold Band of Reading, PA

Ringgold Band NewsSpring, 2016

James S. Seidel

Contents - Ringgold Celebrates 100 years of

the National Park Service

Page 2 - President’s Corner - Heard Around the Band Hall

Page 3 - Member Spotlight - Ms. Jill Haley

Page 4 - John Philip Sousa Memorial

Band: a fitting tribute

Page 5 - Why are we the “Ringgold” Band

of Reading, PA?

Page 6-8 - Who was Samuel B. Ringgold?

Page 9 - In Tune With Youth

Page 10- Ringgold Band’s AssociateMember Programs

Ringgold Band164th AnniversarySpring Concert

Sunday, April 17, 20163:00 p.m.

Scottish Rite CathedralWest Reading, PA

$15 per person

Tickets will be available fromband members, by mail usingthe ticket order form on page 8,or at the box office on the day ofthe concert.

Ringgold Band News Spring, 2016

Heard Around theBand Hall...

SEVERAL RINGGOLD ANDNEW HORIZONS MEMBERSPLAY FOR SALVATION AR-MY KETTLE RINGER AT CA-BELAS:

This past December 17th on a coldwinter evening, Bob Anthony and

Tim Simmons, tuba, and Don Schilkeand Dewey Freeman, euphonium,played Christmas Carols while KarenFreeman rang the bell for the SalvationArmy Kettle in front of Cabelas. Thetuba/euphonium carol renditions wereenjoyed by the Cabelas patrons andmay have "guilted a few" into donatingsince they were right at the entrance!We have been asked to come backagain this year (2016) and if they havethe portable tree stands set up at theentrance, (and we are allowed and cando so safely!), Don & I might have toclimb up them for an "antiphonal Eu-phonium" effect. Safety first though,since we always practice "safe brass"when we play!"

Could it really be that ANY trumpetsection could EVER be "Just too damnloud!"; as was reportedly said by a mu-sician reputed to be a trumpet playerhimself?

President’s Cornerby Cindy Miller-Aungst, Band President

As we prepare for our 164th Anniversary Concert, Iam curious to know what draws you, our audi-

ence, to our concerts. To be quite honest it took meseveral years of prodding before I became a member ofthe band because I was under the impression that theRinggold Band played mostly marches. Now after 26years of being a part of the band, I am hard pressed tocome up with my favorite part of being a member ofthe Ringgold Band.

Could it be the summer church picnics that offer thefollowing delights?

- Connecting with friends and followers at St. Michael’s, Hill, Brickerville, Allegh-enyville, Hains Churches

- Sampling the delicious home cooked food- Performing in beautiful band shells built years ago for these events- Enjoying playing music under summer starlit skies- Providing a slice of “Americana” to Berks County audiences- Picking a “secret spot” for cake walks

Could it be our Fall Dinner or Spring Anniversary concerts?- Having the opportunity to work with well-know composers, conductors and solo-

ists from across the country- Performing works that require a larger band and more concentrated rehearsal than

is possible during our summer season- Providing an opportunity for young talented musicians to solo with the band- Collaborating with other Berks County musical groups for unique performance op-

portunities

Could it be our outreach programs where we work with middle school band students, highschool band students, and senior citizens?

- Playing among very young musicians and showing them that playing an instrumentcan be a lifelong pursuit

- Mentoring and performing with high school students- Working with college and university teachers and students to provide amazing mu-

sical performances- Watching, helping, and conducting our New Horizons Band and experiencing so

much joy in making music together

Could it be the feeling of making music with a group that has become a second family?- Laughing together with members when something doesn’t always go as planned- Welcoming new members who were former students- Performing alongside of people who were mentors and are now colleagues

I really can’t decide. Being involved with the Ringgold Band has enriched my life more thanI can put into words. We hope that we are doing the same for you. Please let us know what itis you enjoy about what we do – look for a brief survey in our concert program. We want tokeep this band going for another 164 years.


Jill Haley, Oboe, English horn

Jill became a member of the Ringgold Band in 2015 after a long hiatusfrom playing with a concert band. She has spent most of her professional

life as an oboist/English horn player with orchestras and as an improvisingsoloist in chamber groups. Jill graduated from Clarence High School in New York State, whichis a school known for its outstanding music program. Many of the studentsinvolved in the Clarence music programs studied privately, and eachstudent was required to work individually with a tuning machine for a setamount of time to be allowed to remain in the program. The band alsotraveled extensively including a trip to the International Youth OrchestraFestival in Scotland and England. While attending this festival, Jill audi-tioned for the International Youth Orchestra and was invited to play theEnglish horn on Berlioz’s “Symphony Fantastique” at Royal Albert MusicHall in London. Jill then attended SUNY at Fredonia for two years before transferringto Temple University in Philadelphia. During her years at Temple, shestudied oboe with Steven Hewitt, the associate 1st oboist of the Philadel-phia Orchestra and earned a degree in Music Therapy. Upon graduatingfrom Temple she worked in a mental health program as a music therapist,taught private music lessons in the evening, and began writing and impro-vising music with other musicians. She started out playing with KevinRoth, a dulcimer player and folk singer, who was seeking a solo windinstrumentalist who could improvise. She began to weave simple melodiclines around his playing and singing, and they played concerts nationallyand recorded together for over 20 years. Around the same time Jill was playing with Kevin Roth she formeda trio, ONE ALTERNATIVE, with two guitarists from Temple. Theguitarists had duet music to which Jill added oboe and English horn lines.ONE ALTERNATIVE is still together recording and performing after 30years. An interesting note about the arc of this group is that their 1st

recording, “Greenlawn,” was recorded on vinyl, the next six as CDs, andtheir newest project in the works will return to vinyl. Jill was performing at the Philadelphia Guitar Society with ONEALTERNATIVE when guitarist, David Cullen, called the president of thisgroup to ask if he knew of an oboist that improvised. This led not only toa musical collaboration but a 30-year marriage and three children! Davidintroduced Jill to Will Ackerman, the founder of Windham Hill Records,when he was looking for someone to play simple melodic lines over hisguitar music. Jill and David ended up touring and recording with Will forover 20 years, and Jill continues to frequently record at Will’s studio as aguest artist on recordings he is producing. While working with other artists at Will’s studio Jill began to thinkabout creating her own musical project. She de-cided to tie this in with her interest in the NationalParks which resulted in the release of her 1st solorecording, “Glacier Soundscapes.” After releas-ing this album, many people expressed an interestto see the places that inspired the music, so Jillreleased a 2nd CD, “Zion and Bryce CanyonSoundscapes,” which included a photo booklet ofthe places that inspired the music. She also beganto present concerts with video about the NationalParks. While recording her 2nd CD, her engineerand producer, Corin Nelsen, suggested she applyto be an Artist in Residence at a National Park. This would be a perfectopportunity for her to meld her love of the National Parks with her music.Mesa Verde National Park offered Jill her 1st residency in 2013 and shelived in the park for two weeks while writing music. After this residencyshe released, “Mesa Verde Soundscapes,” which received much interna-tional airplay and won the “Best Piano Album with Instrumentation” in

2015 from Zone Music Reporter which is an organization that tracksairplay of instrumental music. Her National Park music is heard onPandora and Sirius/XM radio as well as many public radio shows. In 2015, Jill was invited to be an Artist in Residence at BadlandsNational Park. While living in this park she also visited local schools andpresented a program on writing music about the sounds and images atBadlands. 2016 is the 100th anniversary of the formation of the National ParkService. Jill is releasing “National Park Soundscapes,” which is a collec-tion of pieces about 12 National Parks. She will be presenting concerts ofthis music at National Parks and many venues throughout Berks County.While this has been an important part of her life, Jill is also the mother ofDana, Graham, and Risa Cullen who are all pursing music degrees atUniversities. She also maintains a private music studio, is the musicdirector of choirs at St Paul’s UCC in Fleetwood, is a member of the YorkSymphony Orchestra, and substitute teaches in the Exeter School Districtwhere she is also the piano accompanist for Exeter’s annual high schoolmusical. “Tom Shade, the music arranger for Ringgold Band, has done anarrangement of four of Jill’s pieces for solo English horn and oboe withband. “National Park Soundscapes Suite” will be premiered at theRinggold Band 164th Anniversary Concert on April 17 at the Scottish RiteCathedral. Video of the images that inspired the music will be shownduring the performance of this piece.”

Please visit www.jillhaley.com to get information about upcoming con-certs or hear additional music. Her National Park recordings areavailable at Amazon.com, Zeswitz music store and at the April 17 Ring-gold Band concert.

Member Spotlight

Jill at Badlands National Park, South Dakota


John Philip SousaMemorial Band;A fitting tributeBy Wendy Holt Schmehl

Most Sousa fans know that John Philip Sousa wasthe conductor of the United States Marine Band

and his own world-famous Sousa Band; but, did youknow that he also conducted bands in the UnitedStates Navy? Sousa provided a valuable service to his countryduring World War I as a Lieutenant in the US NavalReserve. During his two-year tenure with the Navy,Sousa organized the band corps at the Great LakesNaval Training Center and formed a large band toperform at special events. The band, which at timesnumbered 350 players, was known as the “Jackie”band. The “Jackies” marched in parades, and per-formed at rallies during World War I. Sousa and his“Jackie” band traveled by train on US tours and raisedmillions of dollars for the war effort. Sousa, who wasin his early 60s at that time, marched in parades withhis much younger Navy recruits. What a thrill it musthave been to see and hear Sousa and his 350-pieceband marching in a parade while playing the NationalEmblem, Semper Fidelis, or the Washington Post. After Sousa died in Reading on March 6, 1932,there were several organizations, in addition to theRinggold Band, that sought to memorialize the MarchKing on the anniversary of his death. One of theseorganizations was the Reading Naval Association. H.Augustus Meyer, who was a member of the Associa-tion, originated the idea of forming a boys’ band as amemorial to Sousa. The first John Philip Sousa Me-morial Band was supported by the Reading NavalAssociation and was governed by naval regulations.The band was to serve as an outlet for school boyswho wished to improve their musical proficiency. Theband was also intended to serve as a training groundfor the Ringgold and other municipal bands in BerksCounty at that time. Mr. Meyer, who became theconductor of the new band, began his musical careerin Reading as a paid soloist with various vocal groups.In addition to his leadership of the Sousa MemorialBand, he was also a co-founder of the Reading Phil-harmonic Orchestra and served as its first conductor. On March 6, 1933, the first anniversary of Sou-sa’s death, the Naval Association paid tribute to Sousa

with a morning radio broadcast. There was no men-tion of a concert when the radio broadcast by theNaval Association was publicized on that date in1933. Sources differ as to the year when the firstMemorial Band concert was held. The most probabledate was March 6, 1934 at Southern Junior HighSchool. The band was also known during its earlyyears as the Reading Naval Band. The memorial concert was presented in Marchevery year. Sousa’s daughters, Priscillla, and HelenSousa Abert, attended some of the early concerts. Inaddition to the annual memorial concert in Marchevery year, the Sousa Memorial Band also playedconcerts at veterans’ hospitals and other institutions,like the Wernersville State Hospital and the BerksCounty Prison. During the Christmas season, concertswere broadcast on WEEU. The group was disbandedduring World War II because 75% of its members hadbeen called to serve in the armed forces. The John Philip Sousa Memorial band was re-organized in 1948 and presented its first post-warmemorial concert on March 6, 1949. In addition toconcerts at veterans’ hospitals, the band now playedannual concerts for V-J day with the first one beingheld in City Park in August 1948. A fall or (annual)concert was added to the band’s performances in 1950. During the 25 years that the band existed, therehearsal locations changed. After the affiliation withthe Nautical Boys Club ended in 1936, the band re-hearsed at the State Armory and finally at the SlovakHome Association on S. 6th Street in Reading. Theformer Slovak Home at 214-216 S. 6th Street is nowthe location for the Mt. Zion Church of God in Christ. The membership of the band was expanded inthe 1950s to include girls and people of all ages. Thisprovided a wonderful opportunity for anyone who wasinterested in playing “good music.” As Mr. Meyerexplained in the introduction to a 1958 concert pro-gram – “We study good music, and the assimilation of(individual) instruments with those of the ensemble.The rehearsals are systematic and thorough. You willreceive the satisfaction of your widening of musicalknowledge and the production of better music. It willcost you nothing but your attendance and interest.” Music composed by Sousa was featured whenthe 25th anniversary concert was presented on March6, 1957. Three of Sousa’s suites, including “LookingUpward” and “Dwellers of the Western World” wereplayed in addition to marches like the Liberty Bell andSemper Fidelis. Individuals who played in Mr. Meyer’s bandremember him as a dedicated man who was passionate

and, at times, very emotional about classical music.With his flowing white hair, he resembled FrederickFennell. (Philharmonic Orchestra members probablythought he looked like Toscanini.) When playing gotto be a bit ragged, he would rap his baton on the standand tell the musicians to play “zusammen, zusam-men,” i.e., together. The strangest happening at re-hearsals occurred when the individual playersachieved the ensemble sound that he wanted. Hewould turn around and walk away from the conduc-tor’s stand. Members of the band would sit in silencewondering what kind of terrible mistake was madethat caused him to walk away. When he returned tothe conductor’s podium, he praised us for our accom-plishments. After a while, we realized that it was agood sign when he stopped conducting and walkedaway. Fortunately, he never did this during a concertperformance. Although the John Philip Sousa Band is no longerplaying, Mr. Meyer’s desire to commemorate Sousa inthe city of Reading is continued by The RinggoldBand. There are several members of Ringgold todaywho played with Mr. Meyer’s band. One of thenumbers we will play at our Spring Concert this yearis the Finale from Dvorak’s New World Symphony.A current member of Ringgold remembers this num-ber as the one which caused Mr. Meyer to become soemotional that he left the room during rehearsal.

When we play the Finale onApril 17th, some of us in theband will be thinking about Mr.Meyer. If you are inspired bythe music, please do not leavethe auditorium. That would notbe a fitting tribute to Jim Seidel,Gus Meyer, or – Dvorak.

Sources consulted for this articleincluded: Marching Along by J.P. Sousa; Musical Berks andBeyond by Cedric Elmer andWes Fisher; Reading Eagle; andcorrespondence from Allan Has-brouck. If you have additionalinformation to share about H.Augustus Meyer or his SousaMemorial Band, please contactme through the Ringgold Bandweb site.

John Philip Sousa Memorial Band November 6, 1957. Current members of the Ringgold Band on this picture include Brian Holt,Garrett Hyneman, and Wendy Holt Schmehl

Why are we the“Ringgold” Bandof Reading, PA?By Bill Sanders, assistant librarian

Why are we the “Ringgold” Band ofReading, PA? Why did the

founding members not name the bandafter the city, or a geographic feature, afire department, a civic association, afraternal, religious or other organization?Actually, the name of the Band waschanged a year after its establishment todenote the Band’s affiliation with thelocal militia organization, the RinggoldLight Artillery Regiment, of Reading,PA.

Today’s Ringgold Band of Reading,Pennsylvania, was first organized as aperforming organization in 1852, callingitself: ‘The Independent American BrassBand of Reading, Berks County, Pennsyl-vania’. Some key members of the Inde-pendent American Brass Band joined thelocal militia, the “Ringgold” Light Artil-lery Regiment of Reading. The Regimentoften hired the Independent AmericanBrass Band to perform at regimentalfunctions. In 1853, the IndependentAmerican Brass Band changed its nameto “Ringgold Cornet Band”, as memberswere enrolled in the Light Artillery Reg-iment.

On May 4, 1861, the Band (initiallyjust Leader and bugler, John A. Hook)hurriedly answered Lincoln’s call to joinwith the militia as the Ringgold LightArtillery Regiment departed Reading.The regiment arrived in Washington,D.C. on May 16th where they were quar-tered in the House of Representativeschamber of the U.S. Capitol. The fivePennsylvania volunteer militia regiments(collectively the 25th Pennsylvania Mili-tia), were dispatched to defend Washing-ton, D.C. from imminent Confederateattack at the outbreak of the Civil War.Thus, they became widely heralded as“The First Defenders”.

The Ringgold Band may rightly becredited as “The Band of the First De-fenders,” since of the five companies of“First Defenders”, none but the RinggoldLight Artillery had a band. The regimen-tal band leader (bugler John A. Hook)and the nucleus of the 25th Militia Band,(as many as 16 musicians according tomultiple sources), were Ringgold bands-men.

Later during the Civil War, most reg-

imental bands were ordered to disband.Some members of the Ringgold LightArtillery Band, (which became the regi-mental band for the 25th Regiment ofPennsylvania Volunteers) enlisted as mu-sicians in the Regimental Band of the88th Regiment. At home, the RinggoldCornet Band was legally incorporated onSeptember 16, 1865, after struggling toexist in Reading while members servedas musicians in the military.

Perhaps the “Ringgold Cornet Band”incorporated itself as a means to obtainclear and unambiguous title to the valued“Ringgold” name. At the time, therewere several competing bands in Read-ing claiming to be the “Ringgold Band”or the “Old Ringgold Band”. These du-eling bands were comprised of variousRinggold Band musician/veterans re-turned from service in regimental bandsand local Ringgold Band musicians whohad not joined the military. The name“Ringgold” had come to be associatedwith high-quality band music in andaround Reading, and thus was a desirable“brand” name for bands seeking jobs.

Reading Times, OCT. 5, 1868:Caution and Notice,Whereas, A Charter incorporat-ing the Ringgold Cornet Band ofReading has been granted to theoriginal Ringgold Band, wehereby caution all bands or mu-sical organizations against theuse of the name of the RinggoldCornet Band of Reading, hereaf-ter, under penalty of law.P.S.- The services of the originalRinggold Cornet Band can besecured by applying to the Com-mittee on engagements, who arealone authorized to enter intoagreements.

W.C. ERMENTROUTWILLIAM BALER,Com. On Engagements,H.C.L. CRECELIUS,President.

Today, the Ringgold Band is the onlymodern day band to have continuousservice as a regimental band before, dur-ing and after Civil War. Other bands canclaim continuous service from Civil Warregimental bands, but not continuous ser-vice before, during and after the war. So, the “Ringgold” name has nowpersisted across three centuries, with the“Ringgold Band” brand remaining syn-onymous with quality concert band mu-sic. The “Ringgold” Band name itselflogically derived from its founder’s ser-vice and affiliation with the “Ringgold”Light Artillery Regiment of Reading, PA. Reading’s local militia artillery regi-ment, which might otherwise have beendeemed the “Reading” Light ArtilleryRegiment, was instead named the “Ring-gold” Light Artillery Regiment to honorMajor Samuel B. Ringgold, AmericanHero.



Who was SamuelB. Ringgold?Samuel B. Ringgold was born in 1796, the

son of a U.S. Congressman from Maryland.Ringgold graduated near the top of his classfrom the U.S. Military Academy in 1818 andwas commissioned as a second lieutenant ofartillery. Only two years later, he was assignedto the Army Headquarters staff of General Win-field Scott.

Ringgold studied European military tac-tics. He is credited with inventing the “Ring-gold” military saddle and, most importantly,with re-writing the U.S. Army’s artillery manu-al. His primary innovation was the tactical useof artillery to directly support infantry actionsvia “flying artillery”; artillery pieces that couldquickly be moved about on the battlefield. Hismanual of “instructions for Field Artillery” wasadopted by the Army in 1845. Called “TheFather of Modern Artillery”, he was awardedthe rank of Major in recognition of his innova-tions.

Ringgold was assigned to lead an artillerybattalion in General Zachary Taylor’s army ofoccupation in Texas. On May 4, 1846, Taylor’sAmerican Army of 2,300 troops engaged Gen-eral Mariano Arista’s Mexican Army, a force ofabout 3,200 soldiers. The engagement becameknown as “The Battle of Palo Alto”.

Palo Alto was the first major engagementof the two-year long Mexican-American War.It was fought about five miles outside what isnow Brownsville, Texas on a low-lying coastalprairie along the Matamoros-to-Point Isabel

Road. The war radically changed the map ofNorth America, expanding the territory of theUnited States at the expense of Mexico.

Because the Mexican Army was deployedin a line of battle stretching a mile wide, Gener-al Taylor decided he could not launch a bayonetcharge. Instead Taylor decided to engage theenemy using his eight artillery pieces, relyingon Ringgold’s “Flying Artillery” tactics. TheAmerican’s artillery corps also included 18pound siege guns originally intended for instal-lation at Fort Texas, which caused heavy casu-alties in the Mexican lines. The heavy, slowMexican artillery could not match Americanartillery maneuvers in the thick brush of thebattlefield. When General Arista ordered caval-ry charges, the American Army was able to

rapidly relocate its light “flying” artillery piecesto repel them.

Unfortunately, Captain Ringgold was se-verely wounded by Mexican artillery fire whichmangled both his legs. Despite his grievouswounds and painful suffering, Ringgold refusedto be evacuated from the battlefield. He sur-vived for three more days, during which time hedebriefed the battle for the benefit of futurearmy leaders. Samuel Ringgold died from hiswounds at Port Isabel, Texas, on May 11, 1846,reportedly being the first American officer ca-sualty of the Mexican-American War.

Ringgold became an American Hero; withtestimonials, honors, and praise pouring forth.

THE SUN, Baltimore, MD;Monday, December 21. 1846

Our Privilege.- The Remains of the Gallant Dead.

“…. Our city has at this moment within her arms-hushed on her bosom, the restored remains of oneof her most gallant sons. There are those who mournhis loss, under the near and afflicting relation ofkindred ties. They forgo the luxury of a selfish woe,and yield these honored relics to public obsequies,and it is our privilege to unite in this testimonial todeparted worth. But a few months since, the gallantRinggold went forth at the head of a most efficientarm of the service- an efficiency which was the fruitof his own perseverance and skill. All who knew himfelt that our country’s flag, our city’s honor, were safein his hands. In the first encounter with the enemy,in the midst of brilliant success and energetic toil,serving in the thickest of the fight, he fell; he wasborne from the field and in forty-eight hours, amidstthe flush and glow of victory, his spirit fled. He livedto make his last farewells, and calmly realize thatwith his ebbing life his “occupation’s gone.” Our cityhas summoned from a soldier’s grave the “briefremains,” to give them sepulture in their native dust.It is our privilege to join the rites; to aid the pageantof honor; to treasure his memory in our hearts; to liftthe “storied urn” and monumental marble in com-memoration of his gallantry and fame, and as theevidence of our sincere regard.”

THE SUN. Baltimore, MD;Tuesday, May 26, 1846

Interesting Proceedings in Baltimore County Court-

“…Major Ringgold was a citizen of Baltimore, knownto us all, to some of us intimately, and by whomsoev-er and wheresoever known recognized as a gentle-man of the highest honor, and of the kindliest feelingsof which humanity is susceptible. He is gone, but thefame his brilliant conduct won, will, henceforth, con-stitute a part of the pride and history of his country”.

Continued on page 7


Who was Samuel B.Ringgold? (Continued from page 6)

THE SUN. Baltimore, MD;Tuesday, May 26, 1846

Major Ringgold –

“In Baltimore, the death of Major Ringgold is morethan a national calamity, and in Baltimore, while thenation rejoices, the people mourn. It was a costlyvictory that could be purchased only by the sheddingof his blood- he who was one of us, familiar to us,known to us all, whose manly form and gallant bear-ing, yet remain upon the retina of the eye untouchedby death- Ah! It was a shining mark indeed! …”

“The following remarks from the Philadelphia NorthAmerican, evidently penned by one intimate with thecareer of our noble-hearted man we transcribe andadopt from that paper:

Major Ringgold.- The death of this accomplishedofficer is a heavy loss to the country. He had beenentrusted with the revision of the system of tactics forour army, and devoted much time and study to im-proving upon the English and French systems. Hiscorps was as fine a one as any service could boast.He leaves unfinished, we think, a work which he waspreparing on the utility and practicability of the flyingartillery arm in our service. Major R’s constitutionwas much impaired by his campaigns in Florida, butpassionately attached to the profession of arms, hestill remained in the army and died a martyr to hiscountry.

His death has stricken thousands of hearts that gushunder the blow, which feelings no ordinary publiccalamity could have excited. He was generallyknown and appreciated in this city as the Bayard ofthe age- the star of the war; and his career waswatched with anxious eyes and hearts. That it wouldbe glorious no onedoubted; but whothought that an orb sobright would sink so ear-ly? The soul of chivalryand honor, accom-plished as a soldier, loftyas a patriot, beloved asa man, it demands anagonizing struggle toreconcile us to such asacrifice. And yet it is anoble one. In the flash ofhis fame he has died, ashe lived- for his country.The offering was doubt-less a glad one. He de-sired no brighter fatethan such a death; hecould leave no richer

heritage than such an example. While we feel as ifdestiny had robbed the future of the fame which sucha nature must have won, we dare not repine that hiscareer has been closed, in its morning, with thissunburst of glory. His memory will be gratefullycherished so long as honor has a votary, freedom ahero, or his country a name.”

The fourth stanza of the official state song ofMaryland, “Maryland My Maryland” (set to thetune “O’ Tannenbaum”) contains a reference toRinggold’s heroism:

Come! 'tis the red dawn of the day, Maryland!Come with thy panoplied array, Maryland!With Ringgold's spirit for the fray,With Watson's blood at Monterey,With fearless Lowe and dashing May,Maryland! My Maryland!

A ship: The US Army Mine Planter (USAMP)Major Samuel Ringgold, built in 1904, wasnamed in his honor.

His portrait hangs in the National Portrait Gal-lery in Washington, D.C.

Cities, counties, parks, schools, etc. werenamed in his honor, including:· Ringgold, Georgia (Catoosa Countyseat)· Ringgold, Louisiana· Ringgold, Virginia· Ringgold Township, Pennsylvania· Ringgold County, Iowa· New Ringgold, Pennsylvania· The Ringgold Civic Park in Browns-ville, Texas as well as Ringgold Street at theUniversity of Texas at Brownsville.· Fort Ringgold, constructed after the Mexi-can War in 1848 to protect the Mexican border,was named after him. It is located in Rio GrandeCity, Texas. The Fort is currently the home of

Ringgold Elementary and Ringgold MiddleSchool.· Ringgold Fire Company, Pulaski, NewYork.

AND; when a new “Light (Flying) ArtilleryRegiment was established in Reading Pennsyl-vania, it was named the “Ringgold Light Artil-lery Regiment of Reading, PA”, in his honor.

In 1932, when the RinggoldBand engaged John Philip Sousato conduct its 80th AnniversaryConcert; the Band also hired pia-nist Miss Margaret Ringgold,Tulsa, OK, to perform her com-position “Dawn of Love”, withthe band. Quoting from the pro-gram:

“Miss Ringgold is a direct de-scendant of major Samuel Ring-gold of Mexican War fame,Commander of the RinggoldLight Artillery, from which thisBand received its name.”

John Philip Sousa and Eugene Z. Weidner


RBYAA2016 Ringgold Band YoungArtist Award WinnersFirst Place

Eric Zhunio started euphonium in the 4th grade. It wasn't until 8th grade that he auditioned for his firstfestival. His first audition was for Music Educators of Berks County (MEBC) Jr. County Band. Eric says,

“My first festival really opened my eyes and ignited my passion for music.” The following year at Jr. CountyBand, he ranked 1st chair and continued to maintain a 1st place rank in Sr. County Band all the way to his senioryear. He participated in PMEA District 10 Band and Region V Band his sophomore year of high school.Afterwards, he finally got a private teacher, Mr. Brumbach, to take him under his tutelage and make him into abetter musician. That following year, Eric participated in Sr. County, District, and Region Band, as well asadvanced into All State Concert Band. Making states as a junior, he was eligible to audition for NationalAssociation for Music Education (Nafme) All National Concert Band. With the help of Mr. Brumbach, his banddirector, Mr. Cooper, and his friend, Samantha Borkhoche, he sent an audition tape and found out months laterthat he was accepted into the All National Concert Band and ranked 3rd overall in the nation. He participated inthe festival this past October in Nashville, Tennessee. This year, Eric participated in Sr. County, District, Region,and All State Concert Band again. His future plan upon graduation is to major in music education at TempleUniversity and share the same passion he has towards music with his future students.

Second Place

Skylar Moyer, oboe. Skylar is a senior at Kutztown Area High School and participates in both the school’sband and jazz band. She has been studying oboe since the 4th grade and began taking lessons in the 6th grade.

She has placed at county, district, and region band and orchestra festivals and also plays with the ReadingSymphony Youth Orchestra outside of school. In her musical career, she has had the chance to play with theReading Pops Orchestra on two occasions, and enjoys playing a wide range of musical genres and a handful ofdifferent instruments. Skylar is also a member of Kutztown’s Tri-M Music Honor’s Society chapter. She hasbeen accepted in the Honors Program at Indiana University of PA, planning to major in music performance witha minor in Geology.

Third Place

Erica Kirn, clarinet. Erica has been involved in a variety of music related activities since fourth grade whenshe started clarinet. Some big achievements of hers are marching in the Rose Bowl Parade in 2015 with the

Cavalcade of Bands Tournament of Roses Marching Band, and finally making it to PMEA District in her senioryear. Erica also plays Saxophone in her school’s jazz band and is currently trying to learn the basics of flute.Erica plans on attending Kutztown University to major in Music Education with a focus in clarinet.

Ringgold Band . . .In Tune With Youth!

The Ringgold Band is committed to spreading the joy of music to young people and to encourage them to keepmusic in their lives.


Skylar Moyer

Eric Zhunio

Erica Kirn

Ringgold Band’s “AssociateMember” Programs

For the past several years, the Ringgold Band’s Executive Board has beenseeking more effective ways to generate support for the Band. Our old As-

sociate Membership program had floundered to the point at which we had amere handful of Associates. Therefore, the Associate Membership programwas put on hold until we could research and develop a better alternative. TheBoard sought to develop new programs that would appeal to more of our sup-porters in ways that would enable them to conveniently contribute to the Bandwhile offering meaningful and reasonable rewards for their generosity. Wealso sought to enable donors to take full advantage of the charitable giving pro-visions of the tax codes.* This spring, several new categories of support wereunveiled under the umbrella category of Associate Member:

- Legendary Bandmaster’s Clubs

- Monroe Althouse Society

- Ringgold Band Legacy Society

For donors wishing to receive direct benefits for their contributions (ratherthan take full tax credits), the Board established the “Ringgold Band Legend-ary Bandmaster’s Clubs”.

The Ringgold Band Legendary Bandmaster’s Club

Arthur Pryor Club (Charged to credit/debit card or auto-pay)$10 monthly 2 “Reserved Section” Spring Concert tickets

Edwin Franko Goldman Club 2 Spring Concert tickets$50 - $125

Karl King Club 2 Spring Concert tickets plus 2nd Dinner$126 - $250 Concert with purchase of one ticket

Henry Fillmore Club 4 Spring Concert tickets, 2 Dinner Concert$251 - $500 Tickets, Free CD or DVD

John Philip Sousa Club 4 Spring and 4 Dinner Concert tickets and$501- $1000 Free CD or DVD

The Band invested in technology enabling supporters (and merchandise-purchasers) to pay by credit or debit card as well as by PayPal (and of course,we’ll still accept payment in the old fashioned way by cash or check).

Also, the Board approved the establishment of the “Monroe Althouse So-ciety”, honoring our most-renowned former Bandmaster and Berks County’sMarch King, for persons wishing to contribute more to support and sustain theBand while taking full advantage of the tax codes.

The Monroe Althouse Society

Monroe Althouse Society members wish to do more to support the Band.They may donate any comfortable amount monthly (typically $20 or above)through an automatic charge to their credit or debit cards. Their regular chari-table donation provides the Band with reliable support, allows us more accu-rate budgeting, and sustains our music education and performance programs,helping to keep the Band in operation.

As monthly donors, members may use this program as a convenient, manage-able way to fulfill their yearly charitable giving goals instead of making lumpsum donations at the end of the year.*

~And/or~

Monroe Althouse Society members wishing to leave an even more substantialcontribution to sustain the Band may purchase a life insurance policy namingthe Ringgold Band, Inc. as beneficiary and owner of the policy. Members mayalso opt to transfer beneficiary and ownership of an existing life insurance poli-cy to the Band. The life insurance policy may be in any amount that is comfortable andaffordable for Society members. Members continue to make regular monthly,semi-annual, or annual life insurance premium payments during their lifetime.Upon the member’s death, the Band receives the full value of the policy.This program enables Society members potentially to contribute substantialamounts to the Band, while investing only the amount necessary to keep thepolicy in force and taking full advantage of the tax code. During the member’s lifetime, they may claim their donated premiumpayments as charitable deductions on their income tax returns.* This programis especially appealing to senior citizens who would like to leave a substantiallegacy of concert band music to future generations. Rewards for Monroe Althouse Society Members may appropriately matchor exceed comparable Legendary Bandmaster’s Club rewards, if so desired bythe member, depending on the member’s individual tax implications.*

Finally, the Board decided to publicize other charitable giving optionsavailable to Band supporters by establishing the Ringgold Band “LegacySociety”.

Legacy Society members desire to leave a substantial legacy to the RinggoldBand and the preservation of concert band music in America.

The Ringgold Band Legacy Society

Charitable Bequest:

Make an arrangement in your will or living trust to leave a planned gift (a per-centage or fixed amount) to the Ringgold Band. Existing wills can be modifiedusing a codicil.

Beneficiary Designations:

Name the Ringgold Band as a beneficiary (whole or partial) of your life insur-ance, IRA, pension plan, a bank account, or deferred annuity.

Gifts of Cash-Value (paid up) Life Insurance:

No-longer-needed paid up cash-value life insurance policies make a great tax-deductable gift to the Ringgold Band.

IRA Charitable Rollovers:

When mandatory withdrawals are required from your IRA or 401K; set up anautomatic donation of a portion of the required withdrawal directly to the Ring-gold Band. Exclude that amount from your gross income.

Gifts of Stocks, Bonds, and Mutual Funds:

Avoid capital gains tax on appreciated stocks, bonds, or mutual fund shares bymaking them a charitable donation to the Ringgold Band and realize an incometax credit instead.

Assistant Director Tom Shade has volunteered to manage all our “AssociateMembership” programs. Tom may be contacted at 484-529-0574 or throughthe Ringgold Band website: www.ringgoldband.com.

*All contributions to the Ringgold Band, Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation, are usedto defray annual operating costs of the Ringgold Band and/or to commission new concertband music from outstanding composers. Gifts are tax-deductible to the maximum extentallowed by law.


Ringgold Band News is publishedtwice a year for members andsupporters of the Ringgold Band,Inc.

Send comments and story ideasto:

Ringgold Band News3539-A Freemont St.

Laureldale, PA 19605.

Editor/Designer: Dave Myers

Contributors: James Seidel, Cin-dy Miller-Aungst, Wendy HoltSchmehl, William Sanders, JillHaley.

Spring, 2016

www.ringgoldband.com

James S. Seidel, DirectorThomas Shade, Assistant DirectorCindy Miller-Aungst, PresidentLewis Freeman, Vice PresidentAshley Babiarz, SecretaryTim Simmons, TreasurerMichael Gumpert, Bus. ManagerCathy Fronheiser, Librarian

William Sanders, Ass’t. LibrarianDoug Werner, Member-at-LargeGeorge Kubovcik, TrusteeRandy Ream, TrusteeKen Williams, TrusteePatricia Kline, Historian and Mem-ber-at-LargeJill Scheidt, Solicitor

Ringgold Band Officers

Our Mission...The objectives of the Band shall be to nurture band music as animportant art form; to provide an opportunity for professional mu-sicians as well as gifted younger musicians to develop their mu-sical skills in an artistic environment; to educate the members ofthe Band and the general public of the need to preserve the heri-tage, cultivate the contemporary, and promote the future of bandmusic; to encourage the members of the Band to accept respon-sibility for the improvement of the American way of life and thefellowship of humankind through music.

The Ringgold Band is a family of musicians who enjoy performing concertband music. We are dedicated to continuously advancing the skill of our mem-bers while providing high quality entertainment for audiences throughout theregion. We are committed to the education and development of young musi-cians in order to preserve our rich history and repertoire of concert band music. The band is funded by private and corporate donations and by a grant fromThe Reading Musical Foundation, of which the Ringgold Band isan affiliate. The band encourages the cultivation of music amongcommunity youth. High school and college-age musicians areinvited to rehearse with the band Monday evenings at 7:30 p.m.in our rehearsal hall at 3539-A Freemont St., Laureldale, PA19605. For more information about the band, visit our web-page at www.ringgoldband.com, or contact business manager,Mike Gumpert at [email protected].


Ringgold Band2016 Concert Schedule

For a current, up-to-date schedule of all 2016 performances go to our website atwww.ringgoldband.com, or click on this link (or copy and paste the link into your web brows-er.

http://www.ringgoldband.com/concert-schedule

Also, be sure to visit our podcast series on The People Chronicles website:

http://www.thepeoplechronicles.com/ringgold-band

h

Honoring the 100th anniversary ofThe National Park ServiceSoloist, Jill Haley, Oboe

Sunday, April 17, 2016 3:00 p.m.Scottish Rite Cathedral

310 S. 7th Ave.West Reading, PA 19611

TICKET ORDER FORMTickets are $15 per person. Please send me ____ tickets @ $15.00 each for atotal of $______________.

Enclose check payable to “RINGGOLD BAND, INC.”Fill out your name and address below. Mail this form along with a check payable to“RINGGOLD BAND, INC.” using the address label provided (just cut it out and tape it

MAILING LABEL

RINGGOLD BANDSPRING CONCERT TICKETSc/o Tim Simmons200 Ivy LaneDouglassville, PA 19518

PLEASE MAKE CHECK ORMONEY ORDER PAYABLE TO

“RINGGOLD BAND, INC.”

SHIP TO:

Name:__________________________________________

Address:________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

Phone:__________________________________________

Email:__________________________________________

o check box if you’d like to be added to our e-mail list.

spring2016 ringgold band newsletter v5€¦ · introduced jill to will ackerman, the founder of...

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