Scout House Recognizes Members With Up To 25 Years Of Service

Members of the Preston Scout House Band organization were recognized at the annual Christmas banquet on December 8, for years of service ranging from five to 25 years of continuous involvement, dating back to 1993 and the formation of the Heritage Drill Team, which performs indoor floor shows with members wearing the vintage uniform of the 1950s and 1960s including tight black shorts, knee socks, short sleeved burgundy tunic, white gauntlets and black Aussie hat.

The four charter members of the Drill Team who received 25-year plaques from board of directors vice president Ray Hallman are Dan Heatherington, Mike O’Callahan, Gary Tones and Mike Young. All four are also 20-year members of Preston Scout House Alumni Band, formed in 1998, and all marched in the original band in the 1950s and 1960s.

Charter members of the Heritage Drill Team with 25 years of service are (from left) Dan Heatherington, Gary Tones and Mike O’Callahan. Picture by Linda Carrigan

Charter members of the alumni band who received lapel pins honoring 20 years of service are John Haines, George McHugh and Bob Schaus. All three also marched in the original band in the 1950s and 1960s. Band members Roberta Ellington and Larry Jutzi received five-year pins.

Mike Young (left) with Scout House vice president Ray Hallman is a charter member of the Scout House Drill Team. His years of service extend beyond 25 years to previous involvement with the planning and formation of the Great Alliance of Seniors (GAS). Picture by Linda Carrigan

Four members of Preston Scout House Cadets drum and bugle corps who received five-year pins are Andrew Ross, Michael Ross, Daniel Doucette and Kyla Joyce.

Scout House vice president Ray Hallman presented three charter members of Scout House Alumni Band with pins recognizing 20 years of service. They are John Haines, George McHugh and Bob Schaus. Picture by Linda Carrigan

Five members of Magic of Scout House competitive winter guard, undefeated North East Color Guard Circuit champions, winning every contest since the first outing in 2015, received their pins during an interlude in an all-day rehearsal December 15. They are: Danielle Beckingham, Michelle Beckingham, Annette Burgess, Dana Hughes and Emily Kowalczyk.

The year 2018 marked the 80th anniversary of the founding of Preston Scout House Band in 1938 by 1st Preston Scout Troop leader Wilf Blum. The bugle band was added to the troop’s other activities to help create more interest in Boy Scouts. By the early 1950s, Preston Scout House Bugle Band had become one of the most popular, innovative drum and bugle corps in North America, travelling from Minnesota and Wisconsin in the Midwest through Ontario, Quebec and on to the Atlantic seaboard states. Scout House Band won more than 80 major awards before disbanding in 1967. Alumni Band activities began again in 1998.

Preston Scout House Band, Inc. is a non-profit corporation with registered charity status able to issue tax receipts to donors, incorporated under the Corporations Act of the Province of Ontario on November 29, 1956. The multi-unit organization offers individuals the opportunity to “Arrange the soundtrack of your life” in marching arts activities starting at age 8 and continuing throughout life.

These units are: Preston Scout House Cadets award winning drum and bugle corps for young men and women up to age 21; Preston Scout House Band, which has earned more than 50 awards, certificates and plaques since forming in the fall of 1998; Silver Leaves Brass, an award winning ensemble that performs year round in concerts, parades, business and community events; Magic of Scout House competitive winter guard, winner of four consecutive North East Color Guard Circuit championships since first competing in 2015; Heritage Drill Team, with members wearing tight black shorts, knee socks, short sleeved burgundy tunics, white gauntlets and Aussie hats as in the 1950 and ‘60s.

For more information about Preston Scout House Band Inc. activities, contact telephone (519) 653-3376, email prestonscouthouseband [dot] adm [at] sympatico [dot] ca or visit the website at: scouthouseband.com