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Emeritus Herivel
Lt. Colonel Emeritus Richard “Dick” Herivel was a bandmaster throughout his officership. An anecdote from Major Fred Clarke is that Herivel was so much more of a bandsman than an officer that he wore his colonel's crest on a bandsman hat.
| Lt. Colonel Dick Herivel | |
|---|---|
| Rank | Lt. Colonel |
| Relations | Lt. Colonel Beverly Herivel (wife) |
First Salvation Army Thanksgiving Band Concert in the United States Performed By the Detroit Citadel - Dearborn Heights Citadel Band
This is an account of the first Thanksgiving Band Concert performed by the Detroit Citadel - Dearborn Heights Citadel Band in 1920. Actually it was the first Salvation Army Thanksgiving Band Concert performed in the United States and the band has performed one every year since. The band performed its 93rd consecutive Thanksgiving Concert this year (2013). Bandmaster Emeritus Dick Herivel conceived the idea when he was the bandmaster in 1920. Bandmaster Emeritus Dick Herivel was the bandmaster of this band for a total of more than 37 years. Following are some excerpts from an interview with Bandmaster Emeritus Dick Herivel conducted in January 1971. These are his own words.
“Thanksgiving Day; a time for family get-togethers, with turkey and all the trimmings, also lazing around and getting fat. Fifty years ago in my younger days with a slim waistline, I had what some might call a brain wave. I began to think, there must be something else to do besides lazing around on Thanksgiving night. The idea for a festival gradually formed in my mind. This I thought would finish off a perfect day. Meeting with the band board, we discussed it very seriously and I remember (I) ran into some opposition, which I thought had a point. Would people want to come out at night for a festival? We argued this for quite a time, then, finally settled that it would be worth a trial. That is how our first Thanksgiving Festival came about in 1920.
“The following year more people attended, and the attendance gradually grew from year to year. All this happened in the old building at Michigan Avenue and Second. I could tell many stories. What wonderful memories! After a few years it was a full house. 'The Lord was with us, so who could be against us.' I must not forget the support the Songsters gave us through those years. They added to the program. Unfortunately we do not have any programs of those early years. They were run off on a typewriter or mimeograph machine. We were not blessed with a John Deadman of Community Press who prints such beautiful programs today.
“Through the years the band with their bandmasters have kept up the tradition with much success. It meant a lot of hard work and time, and none has worked harder than Bandmaster Hanny Orchard. In the early days it was a delight to hear his soprano cornet part coming through good and clear. I could go on and on, but to the older men in the band in regards to service and to the very youngest that has helped to make those festivals a success, I take my hat off to all of you.”