[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 102 (Thursday, July 11, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S7785]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                  RETIREMENT OF COL. JOHN R. BOURGEOIS

 Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I am pleased to recognize the 
dedication, public service, and patriotism that has personified the 
career of Col. John R. Bourgeois, U.S. Marine Corps. Colonel Bourgeois 
will be retiring on July 11, after nearly 40 years in the Marine Corps 
and after 17 years as director of the U.S. Marine Band. On July 11, 
which marks the 198th birthday of the Marine Band, he will conduct his 
final concert as director of ``The President's Own'' at a change of 
command ceremony at Constitution Hall.
  Colonel Bourgeois entered the Marine Corps in 1956 and after his 
recruit training was stationed in San Francisco as principal French 
hornist with the Department of the Pacific Marine Band. In 1958, he 
joined the U.S. Marine Band here in Washington, both as a French 
hornist and as an arranger.
  He became the U.S. Marine Band operations chief in 1968; assistant 
director in 1974; and director in 1979. John Bourgeois was promoted to 
the rank of colonel in June 1983.
  Col. John Bourgeois's career has spanned nine Presidential 
administrations, and he has regularly conducted both the Marine Band 
and the Marine Chamber Orchestra at the Executive Mansion. He has also 
selected the musical program and directed the band at the U.S. Capitol 
for four Presidential inaugurations.
  As the 25th director of the Marine Band, Colonel Bourgeois has held 
the traditional post of music director of Washington's prestigious 
Gridiron Club, and composed the ``Gridiron Centennial'' march to honor 
the club's centenary in 1985. He is also the producer of the annual 
satirical productions of the Military Order of the Carabao, a 
distinguished organization of past and present members of our armed 
services who served in the Far East.
  In recognition of his outstanding contributions to bands and band 
music, both in the United States and abroad, Colonel Bourgeois has been 
awarded the Medal of Sudler Order of Merit, and the Star of the Sudler 
Order of Merit from the John Phillip Sousa Foundation. He has also 
received the Phi Mu Alpha National Citation for service and dedication 
to music and country.
  Colonel Bourgeois is president of the National Band Association and 
of the John Phillip Sousa Foundation. He is the past president of the 
American Bandmasters Association and the American vice president of the 
International Military Music Society. He is also a member of 
Washington's celebrated Alfalfa Club.
  Under the colonel's leadership the Marine Band presented its first 
overseas performances in history, visiting the Netherlands, Ireland, 
Norway, England, and, in 1990, performing an historic 18 day concert 
tour of the former Soviet Union.
  A Louisianan by birth, I am proud to say that John Bourgeois is a 
Virginian by choice. He resides for much of the year at his home in the 
beautiful Shenandoah area of Little Washington.
  John Bourgeois is a man of great musical achievement and outstanding 
intellectual qualities. I am honored to call attention to his 
distinguished career and to wish him well in retirement.

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