Received word that good friend and honored USARD member, Gerd Sommer has died on January 13, 2021.
Gerd Sommer born in 1928 founder of the Hanaford’s Fife & Drum Corps and was one of only two living students of J. Burns Moore. He attended Hamilton Elementary School from 1934 to 40 and was taught there by J. Burns Moore. He was in Jr. Nautical Cadets Marching Band from 1938 to 1940, attended the Nicholas Jr. High School from 1940 to 1943 and in school band there as well. He attended and performed in the band of the A.B. Davis High school from 1943 to 1945, and in the Mt. Vernon Boys Concert Band from 1938 to 1943, the American Legion Anthony T. Fava Post # 1768 (where he was first introduced to fife and drum) from 1940 to 1942, The V.F.W. Post 596 of Mt. Vernon N.Y. from 1943 to 1960, and the John Glovers Marblehead Marines from 1966 to 1968. As the founder of the Hanaford’s Volunteers Fife and Drum Corps of Underhill Vermont in 1975, he was active while there from 1975 to 2012.
Gerd was honored with a lifetime achievement award at the 2016 USARD annual convention. Below is the video of the presentation by Gerd’s recently passed friend, Bill White: