history of the corps: 2000s
In 2000, the Corps began playing on new one piece, 10 hole Cooperman fifes. This helped minimize tuning difficulties and fifes falling apart. The Corps traveled to Washington DC on tour and performed at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Mt. Vernon and in Virginia. The Corps performed for the Old Guard, received a standing ovation from the members and served as VIP guests of the Old Guard in their weekly Tattoo. The Corps totaled 45 members and had 45 performances, including the opening of The Patriot, a movie about the Revolutionary War.
In 2001, the Corps performed at Fort York, Bennington Monument, Washington’s Headquarters, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum and (finally) at the Statue of Liberty.
2002 included a rare visit to the Deep River Ancient Fife & Drum Muster in Deep River, CT. The Corps was chosen as one of the feature corps for the Friday evening performance.
Early in 2005, PFDC assisted the host Corps, the D3 Fife & Drum Corps, in the annual Freezer Jam. The Plymouth Corps planned and executed the meals for the event. For the 2005 tour, plans were made to visit the National Muster at Ft. Ticonderoga, NY. PFDC was one of over 35 corps that attended this great event. During the annual tour, the Corps also performed at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Washington’s Crossing State Park, Princeton Battlefields State Park, Dorney Amusement Park in Allentown, PA, Ft. Ligonier in Lingonier, PA, and Valley Forge National Park. During the 2005 season, Lindsay Natiw, a senior fifer was accepted into the United States Army’s Old Guard Fife & Drum Corps. Lindsay did her basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO in late 2005 and is now stationed at Ft. Myer, VA with Melissa Dyer, a 1998 graduate of the PFDC.
In 2006, the Corps celebrated its 35th season by hosting a reunion event in July. Many past members joined in with the current corps for jam sessions, food and fellowship. During the 2006 season, the Corps was, again, re-united with Lindsay and Melissa when they visited the Old Guard Fife & Drum Corps at Ft. Myer, VA. Other stops included Arlington National Cemetery, the Jefferson Memorial and many other venues.
Tour 2007 found the Corps back at the Deep River Ancient Muster. Tour 2007 began with a performance at the Bennington National Monument in Bennington VT. Next up on the schedule were performances at Lexington Green and on the Old North Bridge in Concord, MA. After a well attended performance in downtown Boston at Faniel Hall, the Corps hopped on the ferry across the harbor to the USS Constitution. Waiting out the rain in the Constitution Museum, it looked bad for the feature performance of tour. Just in time, the clouds gave way and the Corps gave a moving performance on the dock in front of Old Ironsides. Afterwards, a new Betsy Ross flag was raised and lowered on board. This has become the Corps primary U.S. Flag used in all parades and performances. Following free day in Boston, the Corps headed south to Deep River Connecticut. Following the parade through town, PFDC performed a standing ovation-worth performance at the ball park. The Corps finished the trip with a morning performance and tour of the Fife and Drum Museum in Ivoryton, CT.
Some of the more memorable performances of 2007 included: Detroit International Fireworks on the Riverfront, the 1st annual River Raisin International Muster and parade, a super Walmart grand opening, and the Dream Cruise in Ferndale.
The Corps travelled to North and South Carolina for Tour 2008. The Corps performed at the Old Salem Museum and Gardens, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The Corps also went to Historic Brattonsville, a living history and Revolutionary War battlefield site in York County, South Carolina. Although the weather was very hot, the Corps made appearances at Rock Hill City Hall, Imo YMCA, and the Historic Camden Revolutionary War site, located in Camden, South Carolina. Rounding out the busy performance schedule this Tour were trips to the Village at Sandhill, North Augusta Living History Park in South Carolina, Fort Moultrie National Park, Charles Pinckney National Park, and the USS Yorktown.
In 2009, the Corps went north, landing in Ontario/Quebec for Tour 2009. This Tour featured performances at many historical sites, including Fort Wellington, Cornwall, Fort Lennox, City of Chamblee Summer Festival, Mont Tremblant, Fort Henry, Ottawa Parliament Hill, Tomb of the Unknowns, the Canadian Mint and the Canadian War Museum.