| Don Hubbard August 15, 1943 - December 18, 2003 |
"He was an icon in the reenacting world, and will be sorely missed. I first met him at 135th Antietam, and will always remember his kindness and
patience with the young drummers. He was a teacher, historian, and human being of the first order... Don and others began taking charge of music
at events. Offering properly trained buglers and field music Corps to Generals. Today bugle calls and field music at Parade and for camp duty is an
integral part of nearly ALL reenactments... I would hope that the "Don Hubbard School of Field Music" be reconvened every year at Ft. Delaware. A
living memorial to his efforts. And that all field music corps have one memorial trooping of the colors...where a special order is read by the colonel,
and then the infantry line is passed by the field musics. One more time, with flags flying, drums beating, fifes shrieking, and trumpets blaring. Three
Cheers for Don, may he rest in eternal peace forever."
"I first met Don in 1990 when he was running a musicians group in Ellicott City. Our paths continued to cross until this year's McDowell when he
gave me a ride from Dulles airport to the event. In that drive in immortal 'supply wagon' I learned more about all things QM and music than in the
previous 14 years in the hobby. I also learned about BBQ ribs, another of Don's areas of expertise, as we stopped at a rib shack I had driven past
many times without stopping. I will stop there from now on out and think of him... It takes strong personalities to change things in this hobby, and
Don was responsible for a generation of young musicians doing it right. He is also responsible for a much greater appreciation of the QM and CoS
impressions and their importance. He was always generous with his time and help... normally unsolicited but often badly needed... We are all much
better for having known him. I can just imagine St. Peter looking through the list of things he needs done in heaven... and trying to figure what to
have Don start on first. Betya the bugle section improves up there!"
"It was my pleasure to work with Don on a number of MediaMagic movie shoots, and I also crossed paths with him at a number of major Eastern
events. It is said that in any body of men there are three groups -- the 'doers,' the 'complainers' and the 'troops.' Don was definitely a 'doer,' always
looking for ways to help and going above and beyond the simple call of duty. And I don't think I ever heard him complain."
"I will be there. I think I'll even polish my brass, as Col. Hubbard pointed out I was in need of the last time I was at Ft. Delaware. My son, Joseph,
and I will particularly miss him. Don always went way out of his way to encourage each of us in bugling and reenacting, and always treated us as
special friends. I suspect that Don did that with everyone, but he nevertheless made us feel that we were high in his friendship. We always looked
forward to seeing Don at reenactments, and had a lot of fun with him about that faithful old mule that Don rode."
"The 'hobby' and the world has lost a good friend. Don's heart was as big as New York City and he truly cared about all of us. He will be missed but
never forgotten. Old soldiers never truly die as long as they are remembered. They just go TDY for a time and we will rejoin them in a better place."
"It is hard to put in words what he meant to musicians and those who strived to be one."
"Don was the type of person who had a high standard for authenticity in reenacting & film work. As a result, he would get quite frustrated with
change that he, at times, was unsuccessful in facilitating. Even so, he was never heard to say an unkind word about anybody. I really liked and
admired him a lot."
"Please add to the lists of credits of Don Hubbard as becoming a first year member and still in my book a member in Good Standing with Historical
Entertainment, formally Historical Extras. I just got Don's 2004 application three weeks ago. He will be sorely missed by his fellow members as he
has been in at least ten productions with us since our beginning in 2001. His legacy WILL live on in us and we all know it will be a sad year without
him on the field. We offer our greatest condolences to the family at this time of grief."
"Drop your pack and stand easy, Marine. It's the last liberty gig."
patience with the young drummers. He was a teacher, historian, and human being of the first order... Don and others began taking charge of music
at events. Offering properly trained buglers and field music Corps to Generals. Today bugle calls and field music at Parade and for camp duty is an
integral part of nearly ALL reenactments... I would hope that the "Don Hubbard School of Field Music" be reconvened every year at Ft. Delaware. A
living memorial to his efforts. And that all field music corps have one memorial trooping of the colors...where a special order is read by the colonel,
and then the infantry line is passed by the field musics. One more time, with flags flying, drums beating, fifes shrieking, and trumpets blaring. Three
Cheers for Don, may he rest in eternal peace forever."
"I first met Don in 1990 when he was running a musicians group in Ellicott City. Our paths continued to cross until this year's McDowell when he
gave me a ride from Dulles airport to the event. In that drive in immortal 'supply wagon' I learned more about all things QM and music than in the
previous 14 years in the hobby. I also learned about BBQ ribs, another of Don's areas of expertise, as we stopped at a rib shack I had driven past
many times without stopping. I will stop there from now on out and think of him... It takes strong personalities to change things in this hobby, and
Don was responsible for a generation of young musicians doing it right. He is also responsible for a much greater appreciation of the QM and CoS
impressions and their importance. He was always generous with his time and help... normally unsolicited but often badly needed... We are all much
better for having known him. I can just imagine St. Peter looking through the list of things he needs done in heaven... and trying to figure what to
have Don start on first. Betya the bugle section improves up there!"
"It was my pleasure to work with Don on a number of MediaMagic movie shoots, and I also crossed paths with him at a number of major Eastern
events. It is said that in any body of men there are three groups -- the 'doers,' the 'complainers' and the 'troops.' Don was definitely a 'doer,' always
looking for ways to help and going above and beyond the simple call of duty. And I don't think I ever heard him complain."
"I will be there. I think I'll even polish my brass, as Col. Hubbard pointed out I was in need of the last time I was at Ft. Delaware. My son, Joseph,
and I will particularly miss him. Don always went way out of his way to encourage each of us in bugling and reenacting, and always treated us as
special friends. I suspect that Don did that with everyone, but he nevertheless made us feel that we were high in his friendship. We always looked
forward to seeing Don at reenactments, and had a lot of fun with him about that faithful old mule that Don rode."
"The 'hobby' and the world has lost a good friend. Don's heart was as big as New York City and he truly cared about all of us. He will be missed but
never forgotten. Old soldiers never truly die as long as they are remembered. They just go TDY for a time and we will rejoin them in a better place."
"It is hard to put in words what he meant to musicians and those who strived to be one."
"Don was the type of person who had a high standard for authenticity in reenacting & film work. As a result, he would get quite frustrated with
change that he, at times, was unsuccessful in facilitating. Even so, he was never heard to say an unkind word about anybody. I really liked and
admired him a lot."
"Please add to the lists of credits of Don Hubbard as becoming a first year member and still in my book a member in Good Standing with Historical
Entertainment, formally Historical Extras. I just got Don's 2004 application three weeks ago. He will be sorely missed by his fellow members as he
has been in at least ten productions with us since our beginning in 2001. His legacy WILL live on in us and we all know it will be a sad year without
him on the field. We offer our greatest condolences to the family at this time of grief."
"Drop your pack and stand easy, Marine. It's the last liberty gig."
| "Who left this drum here?" |
| "Where can I get a hat like that?" |
| Firing by the drum |
| Don instructing buglers at the Eastern Field Music School, 2003 |
| Inspecting the formation of musicians |
| With staff officers |
| At Winchester |
"Behold, I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last Trump:
for the Trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
But thanks to God, Who giveth us the victory through Christ the Lord, Eternal, Living One. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast,
immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain."
1 Corinthians 15:51-52, 57-58
for the Trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
But thanks to God, Who giveth us the victory through Christ the Lord, Eternal, Living One. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast,
immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain."
1 Corinthians 15:51-52, 57-58
| Day is done, gone the sun, From the hills, from the lake, From the sky. All is well, safely rest, God is nigh. Go to sleep, peaceful sleep, May the soldier or sailor, God keep. On the land or the deep, Safe in sleep. Love, good night, Must thou go, When the day, And the night Need thee so? All is well. Speedeth all To their rest. Fades the light; And afar Goeth day, And the stars Shineth bright, Fare thee well; Day has gone, Night is on. Thanks and praise, For our days, Neath the sun, Neath the stars, Neath the sky, As we go, This we know, God is nigh. |
| Don in civilian clothes at Jari and Heather's wedding, September 2002 |