The blogger is back to try to redeem his very thin blog of the last couple of days.
Going back to Sunday (if I can remember, there's so much happening so quickly here), the boys returned from Fort Myer where they sang the Anthem, and they then all went in their groups for sight-seeing in Washington, despite the wind chill. I believe they visited the space museum (I think that's what it is called) and other places of interest. Nearly half of the boys were allowed up to the top of the Lincoln Memorial obelisk, thanks to Mr Reidy (parent of Kyle) who has influence in high places (no pun intended).
We then all met in Clyde's restaurant where the boys had a sumptuous repast and then sang for their supper on the staircase before 500 diners, whose silence while they listened was deafening. Cheers all round and then back to the Marines for lights out and an early start.
Monday morning was an early reveille (truly a trumpet wake up over the speaker system) to get us to the Mall in the darkness at 7am to participate in CBS' Early Show. It was cold, cold, cold with a stiff breeze from the Capitol, but the guys held up admirably and sang very spiritedly a couple of their songs. Ms Clark played gallantly on an electronic keyboard while I conducted and then we changed places for the second piece. Hope you all saw your chaps holding themselves proud in front of 4.5 million viewers. Nothing like an exciting start to the week.
Breakfast on the bus and coffee and drinks at McD's led to a two hour rehearsal with the girls at the beautiful facilities of the Marines Corps Band (they treated us SO well, too, just like the Marines over at Fort Myer.)
Onwards we went to the Capitol, where, after security checks, we assumed our position on the bleachers directly above the Inauguration site. The sound system was checked over and over and the guys and girls sang with gusto! After all of the final chords, the sound echoed and echoed down the Mall and beyond for what seemed more than 10 or 15 seconds. Quite an experience.
Back to barracks for dinner tonight and lights out at 8:30pm. We are all up at 4am for the day to remember. We sing at 9:50am EST. we know you will be watching.
After the ceremony, we will be heading to the airport and home, arriving about 9:30, SF time.
Thanks to all for reading, to Geoff Quinn and many others for the photographs (see link at right) and to you all for your enthusiasm!
Over and out!
Ian
Monday, January 19, 2009
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Day 1 (contd)
A quick update....
Sunday morning was very moving. Fort McHenry where the words for the Star Spangled Banner were written at the Battle of Baltimore. The guide had the boys unfurl and hold a flag 30 feet by 30 feet and sing the anthem in the crisp cold air.
Lots of tears around.
Later today the boys are sight-seeing in groups in Washington then dinner at a lovely restaurant has been arranged.
Evening could see the workout with our Marine friends. They have been SO accommodating, they have posted a 24 hour guard over our facility so there is no question about the boys security.
Monday at 6:30am heading for Madison Street for CBS Early Show appearance about 8am EST (a new gig, just fixed up) then rehearsing with the Girls chorus 10-noon at the Marine Band facility then on to the Capitol for our sound check for TV and jumbotrons at 1pm
More later........
Ian
Sunday morning was very moving. Fort McHenry where the words for the Star Spangled Banner were written at the Battle of Baltimore. The guide had the boys unfurl and hold a flag 30 feet by 30 feet and sing the anthem in the crisp cold air.
Lots of tears around.
Later today the boys are sight-seeing in groups in Washington then dinner at a lovely restaurant has been arranged.
Evening could see the workout with our Marine friends. They have been SO accommodating, they have posted a 24 hour guard over our facility so there is no question about the boys security.
Monday at 6:30am heading for Madison Street for CBS Early Show appearance about 8am EST (a new gig, just fixed up) then rehearsing with the Girls chorus 10-noon at the Marine Band facility then on to the Capitol for our sound check for TV and jumbotrons at 1pm
More later........
Ian
Day 1
What a day of roving the nation's capital! We were everywhere. We had video shoots in front of the Capitol, the Library of Congress and at Arlington Cemetery. This evening half the boys sang at the Library of Congress for a Dianne Feinstein event while the other half went to a bowling alley in Fort Myer, where we are staying.
You should see the size of the gymnasium where there are 50 or so cots laid out in the huge space. It's warm, comfortable and the food in the Mess Hall is very good.
The Marines want to give the boys a physical work out. Boys are in two minds about this.
Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut..........it's FREEZING cold here!!!!
Thank goodness for the warm clothes and scarves and hats. They are ALL wearing them to keep warm.
Everyone is fine, all arrived safely and so far no problems.
Just a short blog, I'm exhausted.
Tomorrow we're heading south to Baltimore to video us singing the national anthem outdoors (that's where the words were written, I'm told.)
More tomorrow if I can find time in this schedule.
Anyway, thanks for reading.
You should see the size of the gymnasium where there are 50 or so cots laid out in the huge space. It's warm, comfortable and the food in the Mess Hall is very good.
The Marines want to give the boys a physical work out. Boys are in two minds about this.
Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut..........it's FREEZING cold here!!!!
Thank goodness for the warm clothes and scarves and hats. They are ALL wearing them to keep warm.
Everyone is fine, all arrived safely and so far no problems.
Just a short blog, I'm exhausted.
Tomorrow we're heading south to Baltimore to video us singing the national anthem outdoors (that's where the words were written, I'm told.)
More tomorrow if I can find time in this schedule.
Anyway, thanks for reading.
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