Thunder in the Valley: The Tradition Marches On [Video]

Picture the quintessential quaint New England town on a day so perfect you’d think you were watching a sentimental Hollywood movie a la “It’s A Wonderful Life.” It was that kind of lucky day when the Moodus Drum & Fife Corps, along with 19 other excellent corps, stepped out to continue an 151-year-old tradition along route 151 in East Haddam.

We live in trying times, and traditions are comforting. Ancient music, costumes and customs bring comfort and joy to participant and spectator alike. Participating corps in this year’s Thunder in the Valley (2011) included The Moodus Drum & Fife Corps (hosts), as well as drum & fife corps from Westbrook, Old Saratoga, Deep River, Milford, Essex, Chester, Higganum-Haddam, Stony Creek, the Kentish Guards (Rhode Island), Adamsville – corps are even known to come from Switzerland. 

“This is the last muster of the year – the Moodus Corps. Every corps has their time of year. To tell the truth, I’d rather fight the cold than the 95-degree heat in these traditional woolen costumes,” stated Andrea Lotreck, one of the marching band moms, with wise observations.

She mentions that part of the tradition has become the delicious food served after the parade as a courtesy to the marching guests. “The favorites – which the muster meal always includes – are marinated roasted chicken over a wood fire, corn chowder, apple cinnamon donuts, cole slaw, and sometimes baked beans.” (Comfort food. Yum.)

“The Thunder in the Valley muster happens every third Saturday in October. The weather is always a problem – we never know what conditions we’ll be facing. But when the weather is great – especially on this historic property—how could it get any more quaint or or more quintessentially New England for a corps location?”

Indeed. Agreed!

Download the movie