Berlin Fife and Drum Corps

The Berlin Fife and Drum Corps is the oldest such organization in America. It began in 1782 when young George Johnson returned to Berlin after the Revolutionary War, where he had served as a fifer. Through his efforts the Berlin Corps was organized, consisting of Veterans and new recruits.

In 1887 The Sons Of Union Veterans held an encampment in Berlin, and as a result the Fife and Drum Corps became better organized. It became their custom to place an American flag on each military Veteran's grave in the Allegheny region. They played at area burial grounds, and to this day the Corps plays for the Memorial Day Services at Mt. Lebanon Cemetery in Northampton Township, and at the I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Berlin, where founder George Johnson is buried.

Over the last 100 years, the group has participated in many parades. During the 1890's Corps marched in such places as Washington D.C., Detroit, Pittsburgh, Springfield, Columbus, Grand Rapids, Indianapolis, Chicago, Atlantic City, and Buffalo. Recently they have played the PA Governor's Inaugural Parade, the PA State Capitol Centennial Parade, several Flight 93 Crash Site events, and several Pittsburgh Steelers games.

At one time, the Civil War Veterans who accompanied the group in the local Memorial Day parade included two of Berlin's citizens, Henry Garey and J. Platt Philson, who were Confederate Veterans.

The Berlin Fife and Drum Corps is an organization that has been loyally maintained and is a source of pride of Berlin and all of Somerset County. Let us hope that for many decades to come the citizens will continue to line the streets to see these fine musicians march by, and that future generations will raise the cry - "Here comes Berlin!"