The last two days of tour passed quickly in spite of the empty hours that had seemed to stretch endlessly between bus rides and concerts – so close and yet so far.
Thursday night the sponsors treated us to a lovely catered meal before the concert, refilling the tables at intermission. The concert was in a lovely old hall filled with columns, detailed woodwork, and a beautifully done ceiling. The stage extension had some mobility issues, but Charles and Karl managed to decrease the amount of movement with gaffer’s tape. Excellent stuff, gaffer’s tape; when the sole of my shoe decided to part ways with the upper during intermission, Sgt. Martins was able to put it back together with a little strategically placed gaffer’s tape – it held through the last concert.
The final concert was played on Halloween; we had an excellent crowd in spite of the holiday. Rich Heffler came to the edge of the stage and was swarmed by most of the clarinet section and those of us that knew him before his retirement. The crew was introduced after intermission; we can’t thank them enough for all they do for us.Following the concert, we had one last pizza party. It was time to say goodbye to tour, and to pay tribute to Gail on the last night of her last tour. She gave the first of what she said would be the “longest goodbye ever”, since she isn’t leaving for another seven months.
Saturday morning started early; buses departed for D.C. at 0800 for an expected arrival at the Annex around 1230. It was a quiet ride, most people sleeping, finishing movies, 
or listening to music during the first part of the ride. Once we hit commuting distance from the Annex, people began to stir, making phone calls and packing up the last minute odds and ends around them.As pulled through the Annex gate, we were greeted by beaming spouses and eager children with signs to welcome home Mommy or Daddy. We unloaded quickly, lines of people moving on and off the bus like ants, anxious to load vehicles and get home. The buses still needed to stop at Bolling everyone would be reunited. Goodbyes and hugs were given swiftly, anxious to get home and enjoy the rest of the weekend before reality and make-jobs set in on Monday morning.
Another Tour complete; it is now the differences will become obvious in comparing it to the old seven and a half week tours. November without a HomeGuard/Tour split – Birthday Balls and funerals shared equally, PTADs never before undertaken, a trip to Singapore for the Colonel and the Principal players. The White House Holiday Season is before us, and the Inaugural season heralds a new administration. The details of the immediate future are unknown, but time will march on with the Marine Band holding firmly to its place in History.
