thedrifter
03-09-06, 08:03 AM
‘The Marines Are Coming’
Posted: Wednesday, Mar 08, 2006 - 05:02:59 pm CST
Fredericksburg Standard, TX
The United States Marine Corps’ elite Drum and Bugle Corps, Silent Drill Platoon and official Color Guard will put on a show this Sunday, March 12, for an audience that is to include USMC Commandant Michael Hagee.
An invitation has been issued to the public to watch as the groups perform their “Battle Color Ceremony”, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Fredericksburg High School Stadium.
This weekend’s event will mark the first time the patriotic, award-winning program has been performed in Fredericksburg, the hometown of General Hagee.
Born and raised here in the same hometown as another military great -- World War II hero Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz -- General Hagee became the 33rd Commandant of the Marine Corps in 2002. He is expected to take part in Sunday’s program by addressing the crowd.
“We are honored to have the Drum and Bugle Corps with us,” said John Goodwillie, member of the Admiral Nimitz Foundation’s board of directors. “It will be an evening long to be remembered.”
Admission is free, although donations will be accepted by the Admiral Nimitz Foundation to help defray expenses.
Drum and Bugle Corps
Dubbed “The Commandant’s Own” Drum and Bugle Corps, the group is comprised of more than 80 Marine musicians who dress in ceremonial red and white uniforms.
Working together with the Silent Drill Team and the official Marine Corps Color Guard, the group is known worldwide as a premier musical marching unit.
They travel more than 50,000 miles annually, performing in over 400 events across the nation and abroad.
Currently, the group performs a program entitled “Music in Motion”, which combines contemporary songs and traditional marching music with uniquely choreographed drill movements.
During summer, they perform in the traditional Friday Evening Parades at the Marine Barracks in Washington, D.C. and also in the Sunset Parades at the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, VA, every Tuesday evening.
The United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps was officially formed in 1934, at the historic Marine Barracks in Washington, D.C. to augment the United States Marine Band.
The unit provided musical support during ceremonies around the nation’s capitol and, during World War II, was additionally tasked with presidential support duties. For that additional role, they were awarded the scarlet and gold breastcord by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, which the members now proudly display on their uniform.
When the war ended, the Drum and Bugle Corps resumed performing at various military and public ceremonies and, in the 1950s, gained even more popularity among civilian audiences by performing music that was composed specifically for their unique selection of instruments.
Their excellence and performance history led them to be declared with the formal designation as “The Commandant’s Own” -- a title noting their special status as musicians for the Commandant of the Marine Corps.
In addition to their musical abilities, the members of “The Commandant’s Own” are Marines in the truest sense of the word, having graduated from Marine Corps recruit training in basic infantry skills. Prior to enlisting, each Marine also must pass a demanding audition for service in the Drum and Bugle Corps.
Silent Drill Platoon
Thrilling audiences also on Sunday will be the “Silent Drill Platoon”, a 24-man rifle platoon which performs a unique precision drill exhibition.
The platoon first performed as a group in the Sunset Parades of 1948 and soon thereafter became a regular part of the Marine Barracks parades.
The Silent Drill Platoon entertains audiences by executing an intricate series of calculated drill movements and precise handling of their polished 10-pound M-1 Garand rifles with fixed bayonets -- all without verbal commands.
The routine concludes with the famous and unique rifle inspection demonstration, which includes elaborate rifle spins and tosses.
U.S. Marine Corps
Color Guard
The United States Marine Corps Color Guard taking part in Sunday evening’s performance is unique. It includes the national colors, carried by the Color Sergeant of the Marine Corps, and is the only official battle color of the United States Marines.
The dozens of streamers and silver bands displayed on the Battle Color commemorate every military campaign in which Marines have participated, spanning the entire history of this nation n from the revolution to the present.
Decorated with palms, oak leaf clusters and stars, they represent more than 400 awards and campaigns of the United States Marines. The custody of the color is entrusted to the Marine Barracks of Washington, D.C.
During ceremonies, the Color Sergeant carries the National Ensign with the Marine Corps Battle Color Detachment. He heads the color guard section of Company A, Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C., which performs for parades, ceremonies and official functions around the United States and the world.
The Color Guard has three teams and often participates in more than 1,000 ceremonies each year.
Other Museum Activities
This Weekend
The March 12 performance here by the three Marine groups is being hosted by the National Museum of the Pacific War, a property of the Texas Historical Commission which is operated by the Admiral Nimitz Foundation.
The performance headlines the museum’s “Spring Break Weekend”, which also includes a two-day “Island Assault: 1944” living history program at its Pacific Combat Zone, located two blocks northeast of the museum on East Austin Street.
There, visitors will be able to watch authentically-dressed and equipped World War II Marines on a recreated Pacific War battlefield and experience an exciting combined arms (including flamethrower) attack on a Japanese pillbox.
The Admiral Nimitz Foundation has been responsible for most of the museum’s capital projects since 1970, including fundraising for recent expansions.
For more information on the foundation or to make a donation, call 830-997-8600 or visit the museum’s on-line site at www.nimitz-museum.org.
Posted: Wednesday, Mar 08, 2006 - 05:02:59 pm CST
Fredericksburg Standard, TX
The United States Marine Corps’ elite Drum and Bugle Corps, Silent Drill Platoon and official Color Guard will put on a show this Sunday, March 12, for an audience that is to include USMC Commandant Michael Hagee.
An invitation has been issued to the public to watch as the groups perform their “Battle Color Ceremony”, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Fredericksburg High School Stadium.
This weekend’s event will mark the first time the patriotic, award-winning program has been performed in Fredericksburg, the hometown of General Hagee.
Born and raised here in the same hometown as another military great -- World War II hero Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz -- General Hagee became the 33rd Commandant of the Marine Corps in 2002. He is expected to take part in Sunday’s program by addressing the crowd.
“We are honored to have the Drum and Bugle Corps with us,” said John Goodwillie, member of the Admiral Nimitz Foundation’s board of directors. “It will be an evening long to be remembered.”
Admission is free, although donations will be accepted by the Admiral Nimitz Foundation to help defray expenses.
Drum and Bugle Corps
Dubbed “The Commandant’s Own” Drum and Bugle Corps, the group is comprised of more than 80 Marine musicians who dress in ceremonial red and white uniforms.
Working together with the Silent Drill Team and the official Marine Corps Color Guard, the group is known worldwide as a premier musical marching unit.
They travel more than 50,000 miles annually, performing in over 400 events across the nation and abroad.
Currently, the group performs a program entitled “Music in Motion”, which combines contemporary songs and traditional marching music with uniquely choreographed drill movements.
During summer, they perform in the traditional Friday Evening Parades at the Marine Barracks in Washington, D.C. and also in the Sunset Parades at the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, VA, every Tuesday evening.
The United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps was officially formed in 1934, at the historic Marine Barracks in Washington, D.C. to augment the United States Marine Band.
The unit provided musical support during ceremonies around the nation’s capitol and, during World War II, was additionally tasked with presidential support duties. For that additional role, they were awarded the scarlet and gold breastcord by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, which the members now proudly display on their uniform.
When the war ended, the Drum and Bugle Corps resumed performing at various military and public ceremonies and, in the 1950s, gained even more popularity among civilian audiences by performing music that was composed specifically for their unique selection of instruments.
Their excellence and performance history led them to be declared with the formal designation as “The Commandant’s Own” -- a title noting their special status as musicians for the Commandant of the Marine Corps.
In addition to their musical abilities, the members of “The Commandant’s Own” are Marines in the truest sense of the word, having graduated from Marine Corps recruit training in basic infantry skills. Prior to enlisting, each Marine also must pass a demanding audition for service in the Drum and Bugle Corps.
Silent Drill Platoon
Thrilling audiences also on Sunday will be the “Silent Drill Platoon”, a 24-man rifle platoon which performs a unique precision drill exhibition.
The platoon first performed as a group in the Sunset Parades of 1948 and soon thereafter became a regular part of the Marine Barracks parades.
The Silent Drill Platoon entertains audiences by executing an intricate series of calculated drill movements and precise handling of their polished 10-pound M-1 Garand rifles with fixed bayonets -- all without verbal commands.
The routine concludes with the famous and unique rifle inspection demonstration, which includes elaborate rifle spins and tosses.
U.S. Marine Corps
Color Guard
The United States Marine Corps Color Guard taking part in Sunday evening’s performance is unique. It includes the national colors, carried by the Color Sergeant of the Marine Corps, and is the only official battle color of the United States Marines.
The dozens of streamers and silver bands displayed on the Battle Color commemorate every military campaign in which Marines have participated, spanning the entire history of this nation n from the revolution to the present.
Decorated with palms, oak leaf clusters and stars, they represent more than 400 awards and campaigns of the United States Marines. The custody of the color is entrusted to the Marine Barracks of Washington, D.C.
During ceremonies, the Color Sergeant carries the National Ensign with the Marine Corps Battle Color Detachment. He heads the color guard section of Company A, Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C., which performs for parades, ceremonies and official functions around the United States and the world.
The Color Guard has three teams and often participates in more than 1,000 ceremonies each year.
Other Museum Activities
This Weekend
The March 12 performance here by the three Marine groups is being hosted by the National Museum of the Pacific War, a property of the Texas Historical Commission which is operated by the Admiral Nimitz Foundation.
The performance headlines the museum’s “Spring Break Weekend”, which also includes a two-day “Island Assault: 1944” living history program at its Pacific Combat Zone, located two blocks northeast of the museum on East Austin Street.
There, visitors will be able to watch authentically-dressed and equipped World War II Marines on a recreated Pacific War battlefield and experience an exciting combined arms (including flamethrower) attack on a Japanese pillbox.
The Admiral Nimitz Foundation has been responsible for most of the museum’s capital projects since 1970, including fundraising for recent expansions.
For more information on the foundation or to make a donation, call 830-997-8600 or visit the museum’s on-line site at www.nimitz-museum.org.