Philadelphia Firemen’s Band
One of the best military bands in Philadelphia is that of the Philadelphia bureau of fire. Recruited entirely from members of the fire department, it has distinguished itself as a musical organization of the first rank. It is in constant demand for parades and ceremonies, but its activities along these lines are limited by the fact that all of its members are active employees of the Bureau, being firemen first and musicians only incidentally. On April 26, the Firemen’s Band led the annual parade of the department of public works. On Saturday, May 1, it will act as escort to Corporal John H. Castor Post, No. 249, Veterans of Foreign Wars, in its Drive for Membership Parade, which will be reviewed from the steps of the Union League by General Pershing. This post was named for a Philadelphia fireman who was killed in action in France. Corporal John H. Castor was one of the original members of the Firemen’s Band and was stationed with Engine No. 36, at Holmesburg. He was killed by a German shell in the Argonne Forest on September 28, 1918. On the eve of his departure for France, he was the recipient of a shaving set, the gift of his comrades in the Bureau, the presentation being made at a farewell reception by Chief Murphy. Corporal Castor was one of six Philadelphia firemen who were killed in action in FYance, and one of 470 members of the Bureau who served their country in the world war.
W. M. CROWE
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