Washington, D.C.

Longest-serving player in Marine Band dies

Charles Vincent Corrado, 64, the longest-serving musician in the U.S. Marine Band whose keyboard skills tickled 10 presidents, died June 26 at his home in Potomac, Md., next to his black baby grand piano and surrounded by photographs of his performances for world leaders.

Master Gunnery Sgt. Corrado died of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, less than a year after retiring as the longest active-duty enlisted man in the history of the Marine Corps. He had served 45 years, 41 of them at the White House.

“Charlie was very diplomatic, so he always said his favorite was whatever president was in office,” said Martha Corrado, his wife of 34 years. “But he really liked Kennedy and the Bush families.”

Survivors, besides his wife, include two children, Michael Corrado and Air Force physician Maj. Melissa Tyree.

Washington, D.C.

Bush salutes troops, economic recovery

Four months from Election Day, President Bush took credit for the rebounding economy and proclaimed the July 4 weekend as a time to thank the U.S. armed forces for standing strong around the world.

“In Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere, they are fighting terrorists that threaten America, and helping to build hopeful, democratic societies where the ideology of terrorism has no place,” Bush said Saturday in his weekly radio address. “Our nation honors their sacrifice.”

America is an example to the world that free people can succeed, he said.