John Phillips Sousa Tribute and Historical Cemetery Walk - Nov. 6
The United States Marine Band will honor its most famous leader, American march composer, John Phillips Sousa, in a memorial morning concert at Congressional Cemetery. This free concert will pay tribute on the 152nd anniversary of his birth.
The U.S. Marine Band was formed by Act of Congress during the presidency of John Adams in 1798 and has performed for every Presidential Inauguration since Thomas Jefferson’s.
Sousa took over the as the 17th leader of the U.S. Marine Band in 1880. During his years as bandleader, he embarked on the first of many national tours where they introduced the nation to the numerous patriotic and now famous marches he composed. Some of his most notable marches include The Stars And Stripes Forever, Semper Fidelis (the Marine Corps Hymn) and The Washington Post, which ironically he was paid only $35 for writing, while the music publisher made a small fortune.
Besides his noteworthy musical talents, Sousa also wrote five novels and was considered a champion-caliber horseman and a world-class trap shooter.
The site of the concert, Congressional Cemetery, has been in existence since 1807. Eighty Members of Congress (19 Senators and 71 Representatives) are laid to rest plus another 120 Members have memorials in the cemetery.
Their graves are marked by unique sandstone cenotaphs (or empty graves). Additionally, soldiers from the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Mexican and U.S. Civil Wars along with Indian chiefs, diplomats and other noteworthy and common people are laid to rest at Congressional.
Some of the more famous people buried at Congressional, include:
- Elbridge Gerry - Declaration of Independence signer
- J. Edgar Hoover - First Director of the FBI
- John Phillips Sousa - composer
- Mathew Brady - Civil War Photojournalist – The portrait of Lincoln on the $5 bill was taken from one of his photos.
- Belva Lockwood - Female Presidential candidate who was nominated in 1884 by the National Equal Rights Party. She received 4,000 votes, all from men because at that time, women could not vote.
- Push-ma-ta-ha - Choctaw Indian Chief
- Dr. William Thornton - Designer of the U.S. Capitol
- Anne Royall - Congressional reporter who was reportedly such an aggressive reporter, that Members of Congress crossed the street just to avoid her questions.
- Able Upshur - Secretary of State who was killed during a Presidential VIP Potomac River cruise on the USS Princeton when one of the ship’s guns exploded.
Admission is free. Self-guided walks are encouraged. Look for walking tour maps in the mail box, just inside the mail gate.
Congressional Cemetery
1801 E Street, SE, Washington, DC, 20003
Date
Monday, November 6, 10:00 a.m. The band may start a bit later.
Hours
Cemetery hours daily 10:00 a.m. until dusk.
Parking
Free public parking is available on the E St and Potomac Ave side of the cemetery.
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