[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 137 (Monday, September 17, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1887]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATIONS TO BERLIN FIFE AND DRUM CORPS ON 225 YEARS OF SERVICE

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                           HON. BILL SHUSTER

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 17, 2007

  Mr. SHUSTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Berlin 
Fife and Drum Corps on reaching its 225th year of service. The Berlin 
Fife and Drum Corps is the oldest continuous Fife and Drum Corps in the 
nation.
  Better known to veterans as ``The Frosty Suns of Thunder,'' the Corps 
is a band from Berlin, Pennsylvania that performs for military support 
groups and participates in various parades. They play traditional 
martial music dating back to the Revolutionary War, and more recently 
have added military medleys to their performances.
  The Berlin Fife and Drum Corps was founded by George Johnson, who 
joined the Revolutionary Army in 1777 and served as a fifer for 3 
years, and later returned to Berlin, afterwards forming the Corps. The 
Berlin Fife and Drum Corps were expert musicians who invigorated their 
audiences and were often greeted with enthusiastic cries of ``Here 
comes Berlin!''
  In addition to performing in parades, the Corps decorated American 
flags and placed them on the graves of war veterans in the Allegheny 
region. In 1887 they began the tradition of playing at memorial 
services at the Mount Lebanon Cemetery and the Berlin I.O.O.F. 
Cemetery. This tradition is carried on today.
  Membership in the Berlin Fife and Drum Corps is a long and celebrated 
tradition in Berlin. Several members have proudly served for over 40 
years. The Berlin Fife and Drum Corps is a striking example of 
patriotism and is a source of pride for the Allegheny region. I, along 
with members of the Berlin community, would like to thank the Corps for 
their service and enthusiasm, and congratulate them on continuing this 
tradition for 225 years.

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