FOP and the
Peace Officers Memorial In Washington DC
Welcomes the

Singing Men of Note

It was the culmination of a week's long activities honoring police men and women who had been killed in the line of duty.  It would be the highlight of a 8 week journey which would culminate in the President's (Yes, George Bush's) front man asking us to sing our set of five songs a second and a third time.  But I digress....

The chorus' official activities would include a sound check on Saturday, and our performance on Sunday.  But the real work began several months prior to the memorial when Jim Bicek, a Cook County Sheriff's Officer sent an audition tape to the Fraternal Order Of Police (FOP).  They returned a letter (copy attached) which set in motion the Singing Men of Note's steps toward our nation's capital.  

Beside the National Anthem, Our director, Dick Johnson, decided we would sing five other songs, four of which we already had in our repertoire.  We began the process of polishing the known songs, every note must be right, every emotion must be in the right place, and the harmony and blend must be flawless.  Then came the new song... Battle Hymn of the Republic.  OH No!  A long song, and there were words and Brrruuummmss and all kinds of things to be learned.  Given the sheet music and a learning CD we all put large amounts of time in during the next week - and it paid off.  We sang it the following rehearsal and only the polishing was left. We met each week for 8 weeks straight between 10pm and 11pm to perfect our songs. 

We arrived at Ronald Reagan Airport and went directly to the hotel shuttle pickup area.  We called to our hotel to let them know we were waiting for the bus and all they could say is that the shuttle was meant for individual customers and not groups.  WELL!  We were individuals as well as part of a group.  After 40 minutes of waiting and seeing shuttle after shuttle go by, the Best Western Pentagon shuttle arrived - it only held 10ish people.  We were about 30 and were not gonna be waiting another hour and a half, so we caught the local shuttle and for about 4 bucks each arrived at the hotel in plenty of time for lunch. After checking into the Worst Western we hopped across the street to the local Chinese restaurant.  Ahhh, good food and service with a smile.  We sang a few songs, ate lots of different Chinese dishes and were set for the day.  So now it is on to our nations capital for the practice round...  By the way, you can click on any picture to bring up a larger display of that picture.

At 1:00 pm Saturday, we boarded the tour bus Jim had arranged for us to get around on.  It took us to the foot of the capital building.  We took a few pictures... we were really awed that we were there.  Then went up to the stage.  It was a smaller stage, fitting just the 24, make that 23 of us, next to the main stage.  Here is a picture of the relationship between the two stages.
	It was 2:00 - time to test the mics.  Bob Tuohy, the chorus' former director was selected to lead us in the absence of Dick Johnson.  We sang through the set of songs planned for the memorial ceremony and found that the mics would pick up the noise of a person crossing their legs on a chair.  We sure would have liked to take those puppies home for the chorus.  Bob went through placing the chorus members in order to get a proper part balance and worked getting quartets centered on each mic.  The sound could be heard 1/2 mile down the capital mall.  When the mic test was complete, the chorus move toward the capital for a VIP tour of the facilities.  But as we moved toward the building....

The bus dropped us off at the local Hilton hotel which had a 50's style diner.  Though Jim had made arrangements for our dinner there, communications may have been lacking as the restaurant staff looked as if they were in shock and not prepared to service almost 50 people.  But we had patience, and the songs we sang put the staff at ease and we all made it through the meal.  We had a great time commiserating and just enjoying each other's company.

At the finish of dinner, Jim Bicek went into action one more time, convincing the Hilton to transport our chorus and its guests back to our Worst Western hotel.  When all individuals were returned to the hotel, we walked over to the Comfort Inn to the room which was reserved for us for that evening's practice.  We met for 45 minutes, going through each of the selections, with particular emphasis on the Battle Hymn.  We reviewed all of the security protocol we would have to follow on Sunday, which included bringing nothing metal on stage, not making any sudden moves and definitely no moves toward the main stage, and if you have to faint, faint backward!  We completed the evening's business on schedule and we retired to the room areas of the complex.

Now here is where I explain the "Worst Western" comments.  Beside the hotel management's refusal to provide the transportation to and from the airport, when we returned to our rooms we found that half the electricity in the rooms was not working - if you had it in the main room, you didn't have it in the bathroom area, and if you had it in the bathroom, you didn't have it in the sleeping area.  No electricity meant that there was no TV, or RF internet.  You probably think that was it... but Noooo!  As we awoke, we found that the lack of electricity meant that the hot water heaters were not working.  Taking a shower was like bathing in the local stream.  Brrrrrr!  Fortunately, the continental breakfast was brought in from other locations, or was items like cereal - not requiring electricity.

At about 11:00, the time we thought we might have to start performing a gaggle of geese took a flight path directly over the chorus stage.  One or more of these geese could not wait until they landed to expel its waist product.  Yep - right on the rented tuxedos and some of the heads of approximately 10 members of the chorus.  The bottles of water and the paper towels we had went immediately to work in removing the unexpected waste.  Within 10 minutes, most everything was back to normal.  

At 12:00 the dignitaries took the stage, color guard entered the seating area, and the families of the fallen peace officers began to file into their seats.  Three bagpiper units performed their processional songs and our chorus began our set.  America the Beautiful, God Bless America,  Battle Hymn of the Republic, Precious Lord and Traditional Blessing were the songs selected for the processional.

11:00 Filling the Mall	11:45 Stage filling with dignitaries	12:00 Color Guard leads in families
Families filling the seats	President Bush steps on stage	The Invocation is given
	All stand as the Singing Men of Note perform our National Anthem

The announcement of "The Singing Men of Note" as performing the National Anthem sent chills through the bodies of at least 23 individuals in Washington DC on this memorable day in May.  Comments from the audience included the words "Thrilling", "Solid" and "Inspiring" among others.  We knew that it had been the best we had ever sung and you could tell the pride in each chorus member by the tall stance and enlarged chests. 

President Bush then began shaking hands with the families of the fallen officers.  He wasn't about to miss one family as he went on and on.  And the crowd ate it up.  For over an hour and a half he shook hands, and talked to the families.  There were 5000 chairs and I would bet he shook 5000 hands.

And as he made his way through the crowd the bagpipers began to play.  Then we were approached by a presidential aid saying "can you guys sing some more songs?"  Bob's answer was... "We only prepared the five songs and the other songs we know (Up a Lazy River, Sunny Side of the Street, etc.) might not be appropriate for the occasion".  The presidents man said that singing the original 5 songs again would be fine... the President just wants some background music while he is shaking hands.  So we did as asked.  At this point Bob asked Bill Parks to direct one of the songs.  You would have to be from another planet not to want to direct for the President of the United States.

Bob Tuohy directing the chorus

The second set wasn't done more than 10 minutes when the chorus was asked to sing the same set one more time.  And we did, and this time Bob asked Lou Gonzalez to lead the Men of Note.  Louie, not being exactly shy directed the last 3 songs.

Bill Parks directs at our nations capital

After the third set, it was time to make our move to catch our flight back to Chicago.  The President continued shaking hands as the chorus made it's way back to the shuttles and the hotel.  We picked up our gear and caught whatever transportation we could back to the airport.  We had almost three hours waiting for the plane so we stopped to eat a little... and sing a lot.  We entertained right in the terminal, and the crowds gathered again.  People yelling "Over here, over here".  And when we were all seated on the plane, and the pilot made his announcements, he thanked the Singing Men of Note for the airport entertainment, as well as that at the capital.

Acknowledgement is good - for our chorus, and for our hobby.  It is even more rewarding to have our contact ask if we would like to be asked back next year... I can see we will need to double our appropriate repertoire.

Photos taken by Julie McKnight