Much like the soldiers who fought in the fledgling Continental Army in the early days of the Revolutionary War, members of the Glacier Fife and Drum Corps are a committed, if not ragtag, group of volunteers who have the preservation of the United States at the forefront of their minds.

On a drizzly June morning in the courtyard of Snappy’s — their chosen base from which to uphold the historic tradition of fifing and drumming — the musicians are outfitted in sharp red coats with gleaming brass buttons, the distinctive black tricorn hats of the Revolutionary era and mismatched khaki pants. They’re an unlikely crew of retirees and homeschool moms and friends of friends recruited to the cause.  

The shrill notes of the fife, a crude wooden flute common to the period, and the rumble of snare drums echo throughout the courtyard as the corps plays a stirring rendition of "Yankee Doodle.” Their fearless general, 12-year-old Basil Ethington, is a little offbeat as he stomps along to the tune, his blue uniform jacket falling to his ankles, but he is nevertheless enthusiastic to lead his band to victory against the British.  

Glacier Fife and Drum Corps was established less than a year ago by retired history teachers Pamela Roberts and Steve Armstrong. The group, which carries on the spirit of the military musicians of the American Revolution, performs at ceremonies, parades and schools to bring the history of America’s founding to life. 

In the days of the revolution, the Continental Army recruited teenagers to serve as musicians. They played a crucial role in communicating orders from generals to the hundreds or thousands of soldiers scattered across a battlefield. Through the rattle of the drums and the shrill whistle of the fifes, they translated as many as 17 commands that woke soldiers at dawn, coordinated armies during battle and punctuated every aspect of military life during the war. 

Today, volunteer fife and drum corps groups are ubiquitous in the states of the Northeast but practically non-existent in Montana, not surprising given the state is more than 2,000 miles from the locus of the Revolution. As the 13 colonies engaged in a long-shot battle for independence from Great Britain, Montana was more than a century away from statehood, loosely under the control of the Spanish Empire and inhabited only by Native Americans. 

Despite being so far removed geographically from the origins of the United States, it was Roberts’ lifelong dream to march with a fife and drum corps. With the excitement of the nation’s rapidly approaching 250th anniversary, she was determined to make it a reality. This was easier said than done considering Montana’s last fife and drum corps mustered out more than 30 years ago. 

When an opportunity arose last year, Roberts memorized “Yankee Doodle” on the fife and jumped on a plane to march with a corps based out of California. She was hooked.  

“The director told me about a gathering of fifers and drummers in Connecticut called Deep River. And so two weeks later, I flew to Deep River, and I was enmeshed in the fife and drum world, and I saw 40 different corps marching and I just saw what community they had, and I thought I'd really love that for our town,” Roberts said. 

Back in the Flathead Valley, Roberts connected with Armstrong. Despite some initial fits and starts, they raised a committed group in time for a Veterans Day performance at the Montana Veterans’ Home.  

Many of the group’s members do not have a musical background but are passionate about American history and were eager to join a community focused on sharing that history with their neighbors. The group has been connected to the larger fife and drum community — the jackets the group wears are authentic U.S. Army Old Guard uniforms donated by the Living History Education Foundation of New York State. Roberts described the jackets as invaluable and said they cannot be purchased. 

Onlookers often wonder why the fife and drum corps members don red jackets when the colors of the Continental Army were blue. The reasoning stems from the nature of close quarters warfare in the 18th century, said Roberts.  

A firing musket only reached about 50 yards, and the war was primarily won or lost with the bayonet. The red jackets were meant to distinguish the unarmed teenage musicians from the rest of the army, alerting the British not to fire on them.  

While Glacier Fife and Drum Corps won’t see battle any time soon, “the uniforms give us a credibility that we haven’t yet earned, but we’re working hard to do that,” Roberts said.  

After their first outing at the Veterans’ Home, the invitations just kept coming. They performed in Helena for Montana’s celebration of America’s 250th anniversary in June and are marching in parades around the Flathead Valley this summer. They’re slated to play for a September naturalization ceremony in Glacier National Park, and, as the only fife and drum corps in the Mountain West, invitations have trickled in from as far away as Wyoming.  

For the Glacier Fife and Drum Corps members, many of whom are retired teachers, their favorite performances are in area schools. There they’re able to make the stories of America’s founding come alive for students. 

“Those schools on the East Coast get to go and see those historical places, whereas here we don't have that opportunity,” Roberts said. “I think that’s what make this organization really unique, is we’re showing local students what life was like back then.” 

While students in Montana schools may never see Valley Forge with their own eyes or walk the Freedom Trail in Boston, Glacier Fife and Drum Corps hope to make that history a little more tangible, in the same way it is for those who get to stand on the same ground where George Washington and Thomas Jefferson once walked.  

“Who wants to hear the shot heard ’round the world?” Armstrong often asks at the start of a presentation with a twinkle in his eye. He strikes his snare drum without waiting for a respond — sending students jumping with a sharp boom.  

The corps marches and plays their music, much to the excitement and sometimes confusion of the students who wonder if a band of pirates has invaded their school (the tricorn hats are a bit confusing, Armstrong said). They serve the students hardtack so they can get a literal taste of what life was like for the starving Continental Army and conclude every school presentation by singing “Happy Birthday” to America. 

“We want them to understand that this July Fourth is unlike any other they will ever see,” said Roberts.  

Glacier Fife and Drum Corps has so far performed in 13 schools, and they’ve already been invited to give presentations in many more next year.  

Roberts said the corps is looking for volunteers. No music experience is necessary — just a passion for American history. She hopes that the group will still be fifing and drumming come 2037 for the 250th anniversary of the United States Constitution.  

For more information, contact Pamela Roberts at 406-885-7179. 

Reporter Elsa Ericksen can be reached at 406-758-4459 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.

    Members of the Glacier Fife and Drum Corps practice outside of Snappy's in Evergreen on Thursday, June 4. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    USA buttons on the uniforms of the Glacier Fife and Drum Corps members on Thursday, June 4. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    Members of the Glacier Fife and Drum Corps practice outside of Snappy's in Evergreen on Thursday, June 4. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    Members of the Glacier Fife and Drum Corps practice outside of Snappy's in Evergreen on Thursday, June 4. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    Members of the Glacier Fife and Drum Corps on Thursday, June 4. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider