I mentioned the Crossmen, like all the other Corps, has a chuck wagon in a large semi-trailer. Their sister Corps, the Cadets, and the top Corps have chuck wagons that are mind boggling and far surpass the majority of the Corps.
Contained inside is a walk-in refrigerator that runs 24/7 off a diesel refer generator, three large wash sinks, grill, two ovens, microwave, a twenty cup coffee maker, two food prep counters, a grill, three double gas burner units and various storage shelves (see pics). Out of this chuck wagon one hundred and fifty servings are prepared four times a day.
Food is placed outside upon two series of tables and the Corps serves itself. Every meal has PB&J (Peanut Butter and Jelly) table for those who do not have a hankering for what is served or if they still want more to eat. Once a Corps member has picked up their food s/he will find a place to sit down to eat outside. Some will sit on the grass, others just on the pavement of the parking lot. If it rains, the EPL crew helps move the serving tables and food into the school.
Food preparation is coordinated by a paid cook, Donna, who has two daughters in the Corps and who herself was a member. Volunteers and other staff members help with the serving and some preparation. One has to have a certain personality to cook for so many in such a fluid environment. Donna certainly has that personality and will do anything she can to help support the members.
The photo on Part II showed Josh running. He is not running for food, but for water. Each Corps member has their own self supplied one gallon water jug. At meals they load it with ice and water. Every so often, the leaders yell for a five minute water break.
Every member is assigned an EPL task. Josh is on the crew that sets up and takes down the three tier scaffolding used by the directors. There are crews for the drum major stands, packing the instruments in the trailer, chuck wagon set up and take down, painting of the three fields, etc. From the moment of the last field practice ends the whole Corps is on the buses in about seventy-five minutes. It is an amazing process to watch.
Each of the four buses is assigned to carry a section of the Corps, the guards, the leadership, the drum line and the horn line. As the horn line is so large, they spill onto the other three buses. Every member is assigned to a particular seat on a bus. This keeps attendance and head counting simple. Having assigned seating allows members to store personal items in their bin overhead and on the windows. As you can see from the one pic, some members have suction cups holders and pictures mounted on the window. Josh had us get us some suction cup holders and hooks (see pic).
The Elizabeth and Westminster shows indicate that significant rough spots remain. Consistency is lacking and high number of rookies is having its affect. The age of the Corps and its lack of vet depth is showing. They Corps has sixty rookies from Texas alone. Over half of the Corps is marching for the first year. Though this is not the Crossman’s first year, given the move to Texas and over half the Corps being rookies, functionally the Corps is having some of the issues common to new Corps.
The horn line still is not getting the lines straight which is clearly evident on the Company Front and Company Reverse, which are two difficult moves and when not done correctly clearly shows. As the Corps is less experienced than the top eight or so Corps, their sound is not as bold and deep as the Corps that have only a few rookies. The top Corps have few under the age of nineteen as most of their members come with experience gained in other Corps like the Crossmen.
The Crossmen’s show is a difficult and demanding show. Their scores could increase dramatically if they can refine their presentation and get consistency. Allentown will be the big test and will help define how they will finish at the end of the year. Last year they finished 14th and are hoping to make the finals, which at this point is not beyond reach but would be a challenge.
Josh continues to be in fine spirits. He is enjoying his summer and experience. He has learned a great deal about drilling and marching technique. He is also learning how to keep playing while breathing as well as projecting of sound. His biggest complaint is that each morning he awakens stiff and sore. Once through morning stretches the kinks and soreness start to go away.
The evening Josh flies back to Fairfax is the same day the Oakton marching band goes to Orkney Springs for a week. After doing laundry and repacking he will be traveling up early Monday morning. Most students find the week to be demanding and exhausting. The other day when he commented upon the Crossmen schedule and we mentioned going right to Orkney Josh laughed that the Orkney schedule will seem like a vacation.
Contained inside is a walk-in refrigerator that runs 24/7 off a diesel refer generator, three large wash sinks, grill, two ovens, microwave, a twenty cup coffee maker, two food prep counters, a grill, three double gas burner units and various storage shelves (see pics). Out of this chuck wagon one hundred and fifty servings are prepared four times a day.
Food is placed outside upon two series of tables and the Corps serves itself. Every meal has PB&J (Peanut Butter and Jelly) table for those who do not have a hankering for what is served or if they still want more to eat. Once a Corps member has picked up their food s/he will find a place to sit down to eat outside. Some will sit on the grass, others just on the pavement of the parking lot. If it rains, the EPL crew helps move the serving tables and food into the school.
Food preparation is coordinated by a paid cook, Donna, who has two daughters in the Corps and who herself was a member. Volunteers and other staff members help with the serving and some preparation. One has to have a certain personality to cook for so many in such a fluid environment. Donna certainly has that personality and will do anything she can to help support the members.
The photo on Part II showed Josh running. He is not running for food, but for water. Each Corps member has their own self supplied one gallon water jug. At meals they load it with ice and water. Every so often, the leaders yell for a five minute water break.
Every member is assigned an EPL task. Josh is on the crew that sets up and takes down the three tier scaffolding used by the directors. There are crews for the drum major stands, packing the instruments in the trailer, chuck wagon set up and take down, painting of the three fields, etc. From the moment of the last field practice ends the whole Corps is on the buses in about seventy-five minutes. It is an amazing process to watch.
Each of the four buses is assigned to carry a section of the Corps, the guards, the leadership, the drum line and the horn line. As the horn line is so large, they spill onto the other three buses. Every member is assigned to a particular seat on a bus. This keeps attendance and head counting simple. Having assigned seating allows members to store personal items in their bin overhead and on the windows. As you can see from the one pic, some members have suction cups holders and pictures mounted on the window. Josh had us get us some suction cup holders and hooks (see pic).
The Elizabeth and Westminster shows indicate that significant rough spots remain. Consistency is lacking and high number of rookies is having its affect. The age of the Corps and its lack of vet depth is showing. They Corps has sixty rookies from Texas alone. Over half of the Corps is marching for the first year. Though this is not the Crossman’s first year, given the move to Texas and over half the Corps being rookies, functionally the Corps is having some of the issues common to new Corps.
The horn line still is not getting the lines straight which is clearly evident on the Company Front and Company Reverse, which are two difficult moves and when not done correctly clearly shows. As the Corps is less experienced than the top eight or so Corps, their sound is not as bold and deep as the Corps that have only a few rookies. The top Corps have few under the age of nineteen as most of their members come with experience gained in other Corps like the Crossmen.
The Crossmen’s show is a difficult and demanding show. Their scores could increase dramatically if they can refine their presentation and get consistency. Allentown will be the big test and will help define how they will finish at the end of the year. Last year they finished 14th and are hoping to make the finals, which at this point is not beyond reach but would be a challenge.
Josh continues to be in fine spirits. He is enjoying his summer and experience. He has learned a great deal about drilling and marching technique. He is also learning how to keep playing while breathing as well as projecting of sound. His biggest complaint is that each morning he awakens stiff and sore. Once through morning stretches the kinks and soreness start to go away.
The evening Josh flies back to Fairfax is the same day the Oakton marching band goes to Orkney Springs for a week. After doing laundry and repacking he will be traveling up early Monday morning. Most students find the week to be demanding and exhausting. The other day when he commented upon the Crossmen schedule and we mentioned going right to Orkney Josh laughed that the Orkney schedule will seem like a vacation.
1 comment:
you're introducing us to a whole other world :)
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