Last night I finished my last shift at the local library. I fly to Virginia Beach tomorrow. I'm remembering that antsy feeling from the Navy, when you've signed out at the quarterdeck, picked up your leave papers, but still have to wait overnight for your flight.
I should be packing, but I'm blogging, looking for news of the defense budget, answering emails.
And thinking about the year since the last NMA reunion.
I've lost a dear shipmate. First among my regrets is that I didn't work harder to convince him to join our organization and come to a reunion. Woulda, shoulda, coulda.
Another shipmate suffered a serious health challenge early this year, but seems to be coming out the other end of the tunnel with all his running lights on.
These things point out to me the value of my membership in the Navy Musicians Association. For a few days, I am reminded of some of the best years of my life. And I get to share those memories with the same people who made those years so good. I've made new friends, too, men and women I never saw in crackerjacks.
We are not immortal. But we're still growing, I think, and that's what makes our reunions meaningful. They're as much about today as they are about long-gone Unit Band 54.
It's a funny thing; you see your old friend Bill or Jack or Dave in the hotel lobby and rush to greet him. As you give him a hug, you're saying, "You look great--I haven't seen you since that Med cruise," but in your mind, you're thinking, "My god, he looks like hell."
As the two of you get to talking, you see occasional flashes of your youthful buddy in this old man's face. You promise to meet again later in the lounge, or the restaurant or registration room.
And when you do, you see him across the room and instantly think, "Damn--he hasn't changed a bit."
Enough. Time to pack. This in-between antsy feeling is killing me.
Frank Mullen's very unofficial source of poop, skinny and bitching for present and former U.S. Navy Musicians.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Friend of Navy music recommended for CNO
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has recommended ADM Jonathan Greenert for nomination as the next Chief of Naval Operations.
ADM Greenert is a friend to Navy music. In 2009, as he was finishing his duties as Commander of U.S. Fleet Forces and preparing to take the position of Vice-CNO, he was our guest at the Navy Musicians Association reunion.
ADM Greenert is a friend to Navy music. In 2009, as he was finishing his duties as Commander of U.S. Fleet Forces and preparing to take the position of Vice-CNO, he was our guest at the Navy Musicians Association reunion.
The Daily Poop - Sat., 18JUN11
NO JO
Sadly, my wife will not be coming to the reunion this year.
Nurses' work schedules are notoriously iffy. We'd hope that she'd be able to come at least for a few days, like she did last year. Alas, it is not to be.
I'll just have to soldier on without her.
WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF THE HOTEL
If you're coming to Virginia Beach without a car, there are a number of conveniences within hoofing-it distance of the Holiday Inn.
This is not to knock the hotel's restaurant. Ashley's is a fine dining spot, and you'll find NMA members dining there whether or not we're gathered for music and fun. But there are other nearby options for eatining and picking up various neccessities:
Within a hop, skip and a jump:
- Denny's
- 7-11.
- Ruby Tuesday.
- Rite Aid Pharmacy
- Subway Sandwiches
- Arrowhead Plaza Shopping Center
Friday, June 17, 2011
The Daily Poop II - Fri., 17JUN11
The Senate Armed Services Committee has released the summary of its final markup session yesterday. There is no mention of cuts to military bands.
This doesn't mean cuts, perhaps severe cuts, weren't included. While waiting for detail information, I'm trying to put a positive interpretation on the fact the military band cutbacks are not mentioned. The best I can do is this: "Gee, you'd think that if they'd made severe cuts in funding for military bands, they'd be headlining it in 72-point Times New Roman, so I guess..."
Actually, I don't guess anything. There's too much to weigh. Yes, the House version of the military budget contained a multi-million dollar cut in military band funding, but the entire sum wouldn't have bought a wheel-bearing for an F-35. Well, you know what I mean.
We'll see.
This doesn't mean cuts, perhaps severe cuts, weren't included. While waiting for detail information, I'm trying to put a positive interpretation on the fact the military band cutbacks are not mentioned. The best I can do is this: "Gee, you'd think that if they'd made severe cuts in funding for military bands, they'd be headlining it in 72-point Times New Roman, so I guess..."
Actually, I don't guess anything. There's too much to weigh. Yes, the House version of the military budget contained a multi-million dollar cut in military band funding, but the entire sum wouldn't have bought a wheel-bearing for an F-35. Well, you know what I mean.
We'll see.
The Daily Poop - Fri., 17JUN11
Been hearin' from a few of us who can't come to the reunion this year. I'll miss you, OJ, Everett, Frank, John. But in answer to your questions, yes, I'll be live blogging the NMA reunion again this year. These sappy little instalments of The Daily Poop will end on Sunday, when I'll fly out of Moline International (HaHa) Airport. Monday, I'll begin the warm-up from Virginia Beach.
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Last year I flew to San Antonio with just one piece of carry-on luggage. I'm trying to remember how I got everything in there.
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Lee Hudson. A seed stuck between your teeth. Chalk on a blackboard. Need I say more?
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Last year I flew to San Antonio with just one piece of carry-on luggage. I'm trying to remember how I got everything in there.
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Lee Hudson. A seed stuck between your teeth. Chalk on a blackboard. Need I say more?
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Excellence: all in a day's work for Navy bands
Published
June 16, 2011
Rock Island Argus
Moline Dispatch
One afternoon in late December of 1975, a trombone player pounded on my barracks door.
"Liberty is cancelled!" he hollered. "Jump in your working uniform and get to rehearsal: we're doing Bob Hope's Christmas show tonight!"
This was news to me. As a Navy Musician, I checked the band's schedule daily. When I went to sleep, I always knew whether the next day would bring a few military ceremonies, public concerts or perhaps the beginning of a cruise.
When the rest of Navy Band San Francisco and I stumbled into our rehearsal hall, we learned what had happened. A glitch in Bob Hope's travel plans had given the legendary entertainer an unscheduled evening off. Instead of complaining, he'd called the nearest military band and said, like they did in those old movies:
"Let's put on a show."
Not many people would have had the nerve to make such a request. But we were a military band, and Bob Hope was, well, Bob Hope. For him, "Support Our Troops" wasn't a bumper sticker; it was a way of life. He got what he wanted, and what he wanted was to perform that night for the injured veterans at the Oak Knoll Naval Hospital.
So, while Mr. Hope caught up on his sleep, his manager raced to the Naval base with the musical arrangements for the show. We didn't have time to rehearse everything, so we played only the hardest pieces, trusting experience and training to get us through the performance.
It worked. Bob Hope's show—the jokes he'd been telling for 30 years and the music we'd rehearsed for 30 seconds--was a welcome holiday gift for that audience of wounded warriors; you could tell by the glistening tears in their eyes as they sang along with "White Christmas" in their wheelchairs and gurneys.
The Vietnam War was over and congress was cutting the budget for military bands. Fortunately, my band had survived the financial trimming. Over the years, I've often wondered: what sort of Christmas would those vets have had if congressional cutbacks had eliminated my Navy band? I can just imagine Bob Hope's manager trying to hire a civilian band:
"I need an 18-piece group to play old-time swing music, current pop hits, patriotic songs and Christmas carols. The music is of professional-level difficulty, but the band will have to play most of it without any preparation because they'll only have a half-hour rehearsal, starting in 45 minutes. The show begins in three hours. Can you do it?"For a civilian band, an impossible request; for a military band, a typical day's work.
The National Defense Authorization Act for 2012, now awaiting action by the Senate, would crush the budget for military bands to fragments. I hope enough senators know what their forebears knew when the Vietnam War ended: military bands are not frills. They are an integral part of our Armed Forces. Military music is a force multiplier that raises morale, lends dignity to ceremonial occasions and boosts crucial public support for the Services.
This is Navy Week in the Quad Cities. Among other events, Navy Band Great Lakes is in town to perform jazz, pop, rock and good old patriotic band music. Check them out at the fairgrounds, the air show or the park. You'll see the Navy's bands are still earning their keep.
Certainly, in hard times we have to tighten up our military budget. But ask any sailor: there's a big difference between trimming your sails and chopping down the mast.
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Copyright 2011 Frank Mullen III
The Daily Poop - Thurs., 16JUN11
Advance registration figures show that this year's NMA reunion could be a big one. I've been guessing that, despite the economy, this might be the case. Economics is about making choices, and it looks like a lot of us have chosen to spend time with our shipmates. This is terrific.
And the reunion is shaping into a terrific event, too. NMA President Terry Chesson says it's official: we'll have a Saturday evening visit from the ceremonial unit of the U.S. Fleet Forces Band. Call them CINCLANT, call them Fleet Forces, they're excellent. Better than excellent; I'd say that if they went head to head in competition with the NMA Concert Band, the issue would be in doubt...
Seriously, those of us who have witnessed their performance before will tell you they're the tops. And I think they enjoy the gig, too; it's not often a band plays for an audience that gives a standing ovation when they walk onthe bandstand.
Terry also confirms that the guest speaker on Saturday night will be the Commanding Officer of the School of Music, CDR Ralph Ingraham. I promise to listen politely, and I may even applaud. But if Ralph starts singing "New York, New York," I'm gonna grab the microphone and tell the entire room about the time he . . .
Whoops, I almost forgot: you gotta come to the reunion to hear the stories.
And the reunion is shaping into a terrific event, too. NMA President Terry Chesson says it's official: we'll have a Saturday evening visit from the ceremonial unit of the U.S. Fleet Forces Band. Call them CINCLANT, call them Fleet Forces, they're excellent. Better than excellent; I'd say that if they went head to head in competition with the NMA Concert Band, the issue would be in doubt...
Seriously, those of us who have witnessed their performance before will tell you they're the tops. And I think they enjoy the gig, too; it's not often a band plays for an audience that gives a standing ovation when they walk onthe bandstand.
Terry also confirms that the guest speaker on Saturday night will be the Commanding Officer of the School of Music, CDR Ralph Ingraham. I promise to listen politely, and I may even applaud. But if Ralph starts singing "New York, New York," I'm gonna grab the microphone and tell the entire room about the time he . . .
Whoops, I almost forgot: you gotta come to the reunion to hear the stories.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Preserve funding for military bands
Today, the National Defense Authorization Act for 2012--the military budget--comes out of subcommittees to the full Senate Armed Services Committee. We do not yet know how the Personnel Committee, in particular, handled the severe cuts to military band funding that the House of Representatives has proposed. I would not expect them to be screaming "Paaarty!" and throwing hundred-dollar bills around senate chambers.
Now, the full SASC will "mark-up,"i.e., finalize, the figures for presentation to the full Senate.
- - - - -
To: All members, Senate Armed Services Committee
All members, SASC Personnel Subcommittee
Subj: Preserve funding for military bands
Sent: Monday, 13JUN11
I urge you to reconsider the drastic budget cuts for military bands contained in the National Defense Authorization Act for 2012.
Our military bands are not frills. They are an integral part of our armed forces, force multipliers that boost morale, lend dignity to ceremonial occasions and drum up crucial public support for our Armed Services.
We ask so much of the American fighting man and woman, and get so much in return. They deserve the finest.
Sincerely,
Frank Mullen III,
Former Chief Musician,
United States Navy
Now, the full SASC will "mark-up,"i.e., finalize, the figures for presentation to the full Senate.
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To: All members, Senate Armed Services Committee
All members, SASC Personnel Subcommittee
Subj: Preserve funding for military bands
Sent: Monday, 13JUN11
I urge you to reconsider the drastic budget cuts for military bands contained in the National Defense Authorization Act for 2012.
Our military bands are not frills. They are an integral part of our armed forces, force multipliers that boost morale, lend dignity to ceremonial occasions and drum up crucial public support for our Armed Services.
We ask so much of the American fighting man and woman, and get so much in return. They deserve the finest.
Sincerely,
Frank Mullen III,
Former Chief Musician,
United States Navy
The Daily Poop - Wed., 15JUN11
What they're up to:
My old San Francisco shipmate, Bob Nolan spent time this week sending messages in support of funding for military bands to the Senate Armed Forces Committee.
My old San Francisco shipmate, Bob Nolan spent time this week sending messages in support of funding for military bands to the Senate Armed Forces Committee.
Frank Kemp is planning to attend the reunion in Orlando next year, or Virginia Beach in '13. Those west coast guys truly operate in a different time zone.
Lee Hudson is working on ways to make the reunion a miserable experience for me.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
The Daily Poop - Tues., 14JUN11
One week from today, Tuesday the 21st, the Early Birds will be roaming the hotel. I wouldn't be surprised if the evening ends with a little jamming in the lounge. It's happened before. In fact, I've been to five reunions, and every one of them has wound up with the backfield in motion before the starting whistle.
Yesterday, I wrote to all the members of the Senate Armed Forces Committee and Personnel Subcommittee, urging them to preserve funding for military bands. I'm not the only one who did this--I've heard from others.
If you wish to have input into this budget, The Personnel Committee is meeting today. They will propose a budget that the full committee will review tomorrow, Wednesday and, if necessary, Thursday. The time to write is last week, yesterday or right now.
Instructions on how to quickly send an email are in the post below.
I'm gonna try reeeally hard this year to not do the this awful thing I do at the reunions. I get so excited about the Live-blog that, even before things have started happening, I take pictures and post them with descriptions of what's gonna happen. As in,
Yesterday, I wrote to all the members of the Senate Armed Forces Committee and Personnel Subcommittee, urging them to preserve funding for military bands. I'm not the only one who did this--I've heard from others.
If you wish to have input into this budget, The Personnel Committee is meeting today. They will propose a budget that the full committee will review tomorrow, Wednesday and, if necessary, Thursday. The time to write is last week, yesterday or right now.
Instructions on how to quickly send an email are in the post below.
I'm gonna try reeeally hard this year to not do the this awful thing I do at the reunions. I get so excited about the Live-blog that, even before things have started happening, I take pictures and post them with descriptions of what's gonna happen. As in,
- "Here's the bar. It's empty, but. boy, things will be jumping soon."
- "Hard to believe that this desolate lobby, shown here in a photo taken at 3AM when even the desk clerks are nodding out, will soon be a beehive of activity."
Monday, June 13, 2011
Want to keep military bands funded? You Must Act Now
The short version:
If you want to preserve military bands, write to the Personnel Subcommittee of the Senate Armed Forces Committee right now. Scroll down to the section "HOW." Do it now. Later is too late.
The fuller version:
The National Defense Authorization Act that will provide the budget for—or decimation of—military bands will be finalized in the Senate within days. Subcommittees of the Senate Armed Services Committee are going into "markup" for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This means changes to the military budget are being "marked up"; in other words, finalized.
Here's the schedule:
-- Subcommittees are in markup Tuesday, June 14 and early Wednesday, June 15. On that first day, the Personnel Committee is in markup. It has oversight of Morale, Welfare and Recreation services, so I'm guessing this is the subcommittee that will set the budget for military bands.
-- The full Senate Armed Forces Committee is in markup late Wednesday, June 15, and Thursday, June 16.
What this means: write now. Not later in the week. Now.
To whom? At this point, everyone on the full committee and Personnel Subcommittee, or any one of them.
Pick a senator from the list below. Find his or her name on this page ,click on his or her name, and you'll be given an online form. In the box, write a clear, short message. Like,
Now, send your message. Feel good about yourself for five seconds, then go back to this page again
. Pick another senator, and paste The Same Message from you clipboard. Send and repeat as needed.
- - - - - - - -
Subcommittee on Personnel – Meets Tuesday
Senator Webb --Chairman
Senator Graham -- Ranking Member
Senator Lieberman
Senator Akaka
Senator McCaskill
Senator Hagan
Senator Begich
Senator Blumenthal
Senator Chambliss
Senator Brown (Scott)
Senator Ayotte
Senator Collins
Senator Vitter
Full Committee—meets late Wednesday and Thursday
Carl Levin -- Chairman
John McCain--
Joseph I. Lieberman
Jack Reed
Daniel K. Akaka
Ben Nelson
Jim Webb
Claire McCaskill
Mark Udall
Kay R. Hagan
Mark Begich
Joe Manchin III
Jeanne Shaheen
Kirsten E. Gillibrand
Richard Blumenthal
James M. Inhofe
Jeff Sessions
Saxby Chambliss
Roger F. Wicker
Scott P. Brown
Rob Portman
Kelly Ayotte
Susan M. Collins
Lindsey Graham
John Cornyn
David Vitter
If you want to preserve military bands, write to the Personnel Subcommittee of the Senate Armed Forces Committee right now. Scroll down to the section "HOW." Do it now. Later is too late.
The fuller version:
The National Defense Authorization Act that will provide the budget for—or decimation of—military bands will be finalized in the Senate within days. Subcommittees of the Senate Armed Services Committee are going into "markup" for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This means changes to the military budget are being "marked up"; in other words, finalized.
Here's the schedule:
-- Subcommittees are in markup Tuesday, June 14 and early Wednesday, June 15. On that first day, the Personnel Committee is in markup. It has oversight of Morale, Welfare and Recreation services, so I'm guessing this is the subcommittee that will set the budget for military bands.
-- The full Senate Armed Forces Committee is in markup late Wednesday, June 15, and Thursday, June 16.
What this means: write now. Not later in the week. Now.
To whom? At this point, everyone on the full committee and Personnel Subcommittee, or any one of them.
HOW?
Pick a senator from the list below. Find his or her name on this page ,click on his or her name, and you'll be given an online form. In the box, write a clear, short message. Like,
I urge you to maintain funding for military bands in the Defense Authorization Act. Here's why: XXXX. Thank you, signed, Your Name.(At this point, be smart and copy your message to your clipboard.)
Now, send your message. Feel good about yourself for five seconds, then go back to this page again
. Pick another senator, and paste The Same Message from you clipboard. Send and repeat as needed.
- - - - - - - -
Subcommittee on Personnel – Meets Tuesday
Senator Webb --Chairman
Senator Graham -- Ranking Member
Senator Lieberman
Senator Akaka
Senator McCaskill
Senator Hagan
Senator Begich
Senator Blumenthal
Senator Chambliss
Senator Brown (Scott)
Senator Ayotte
Senator Collins
Senator Vitter
Full Committee—meets late Wednesday and Thursday
Carl Levin -- Chairman
John McCain--
Joseph I. Lieberman
Jack Reed
Daniel K. Akaka
Ben Nelson
Jim Webb
Claire McCaskill
Mark Udall
Kay R. Hagan
Mark Begich
Joe Manchin III
Jeanne Shaheen
Kirsten E. Gillibrand
Richard Blumenthal
James M. Inhofe
Jeff Sessions
Saxby Chambliss
Roger F. Wicker
Scott P. Brown
Rob Portman
Kelly Ayotte
Susan M. Collins
Lindsey Graham
John Cornyn
David Vitter
The Daily Poop - Mon., 13JUN11
In one week, I'll be in Virginia Beach. I'm arriving a couple of days early, to get a head start on enjoying the brisk and invigorating air of Virginia Beach in late June. I'll be blogging from the hotel starting on Monday.
Speaking of which:
Recently I sent a message--"Live-blogging the Reunion"-- to every email address on the NMA roster . If you didn't get it, the NMA doesn't have your correct address. They can't email you. I can't email you. Long-lost shipmates who just found your name can't contact you.
Could be you forgot to tell the NMA you've changed your email address. Could be a problem with your email provider. Could be a transcription problem--the address you hastily scribbled on your registration form might not have been as clear as you thought, dear pR45trumpet12saz@intertechwebnet.com
Go to the NMA roster and click on your name. Is the address correct? If not, tell the webmaster.
- - - - - - - -
Speaking of which:
Recently I sent a message--"Live-blogging the Reunion"-- to every email address on the NMA roster . If you didn't get it, the NMA doesn't have your correct address. They can't email you. I can't email you. Long-lost shipmates who just found your name can't contact you.
Could be you forgot to tell the NMA you've changed your email address. Could be a problem with your email provider. Could be a transcription problem--the address you hastily scribbled on your registration form might not have been as clear as you thought, dear pR45trumpet12saz@intertechwebnet.com
Go to the NMA roster and click on your name. Is the address correct? If not, tell the webmaster.
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Sunday, June 12, 2011
The Daily Poop - Sun., 12JUN11
Whaddaya mean, you're not coming to the NMA reunion because you can get away for four or five day? You don't need to. Many of us come for ony part of the reunion.
Because of work and other obligations, some members don't arrive until Friday. That's okay--our major functions are on Friday and Saturday evenings. Conversely, some have to be back home on the weekend and arrive Tuesday or Wednesday for a few days of fun, friendship and music.
You don't have to do a full tour.
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While I love making new friends at each reunion, there's still a lot to be said for meeting up with old shipmates. This year, I'm particularly looking forward to seeing Dave Czohara--"C.Z."--who will be in Virginia Beach for his first reunion.
I haven't seen The Polish Prince in a quarter of a century, but I've been in contact with him through social networking. He seems to be a positive-thinking, upbeat people-person.
My, how we change.
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Because of work and other obligations, some members don't arrive until Friday. That's okay--our major functions are on Friday and Saturday evenings. Conversely, some have to be back home on the weekend and arrive Tuesday or Wednesday for a few days of fun, friendship and music.
You don't have to do a full tour.
- - - - - - - -
While I love making new friends at each reunion, there's still a lot to be said for meeting up with old shipmates. This year, I'm particularly looking forward to seeing Dave Czohara--"C.Z."--who will be in Virginia Beach for his first reunion.
I haven't seen The Polish Prince in a quarter of a century, but I've been in contact with him through social networking. He seems to be a positive-thinking, upbeat people-person.
My, how we change.
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