4th of July parade

[jon_norstog]

My fourth was spend at Hood River, OR, marching in the parade. My band had to split things up with an Army band that showd up. I think we were the only bands in the parade. Our parade tunes included National Anthem march = the Star Spangled Banner is a great tune but you can't march to it. So it got arranged as a march, with trumpets handing off the lead to the horns and 'bones. Veterans' Salute is a medley of all the srvice songs, including (our director's arrangement) Semper Paratus. The other tune was Tribute to America which is a medley of This is My Country, America the Beautiful and God Bless America, with a dash of the Star Spangled Banner.

There was a flag ceremony after the parade and the Army Band [played. We weren't sure about the agenda and particularly who was going to play the National Anthem. The Army Band did that, an arrangement I never heard before. We play that a lot, using the John Philip Sousa arrangement.

Later we did a standup show, about 45 minutes with all the patriotic parade numbers plus America the Beautiful.

Not a bad way to spend part of the day, and to honor your country/

jn

[dryheat]

Darn good. I'm not a musician.

[M1Tommy]

That's cool, IMO.

We live in a somewhat silly little neighborhood in Little Rock, AR. After 7 months living here, I call it the 'Brady Bunch' area.... houses built in the 60s - late 70's, swarms of kids, neighbors sitting the yards, on decks, etc., everyone knowing everyone's bus., a bit of a hoot, really.

All that blather aside, the 'neighborhood parade' was held on 04JUL, just as always, as I'm told. THere was a police escort in front, followed by a local Boy Scout troop bearing flags, in a decently proper manner too. That was followed by a fire truck with lights and noisy things, followed by a straggling line of about a hundred kids, with their own flags, some walking, some in wagons pulled by siblings, even a few in ... wheelbarrows... (hey, it is Arkansas!), with police escort trailing. After 3-4 blocks, it dispersed at the neighborhood park and pool, where a catered BBQ spread was being laid out.... all very .... umm... civil and such.

I did happen to notice that I was not the only bystander who rendered salute to the passing colors.
Tommy

[Griff Murphey]

Congrats, Jon! Good job.

[Art]

Congrats, Jon! Good job.

+1

[tmark]

I heard many states banned fireworks due to arid conditions. One state programmed hundreds of led-lighted drones to form various patterns in the night sky in its place.

[jon_norstog]

Thanks, Griff & Art!

I just like blowing my horn and marching, but especially at "patriotic" events like Veterans Day, the 4th, Memorial Day, etc. I look aside and see veterans in their hats & stuff, listening for their branch's tune, or jumping up when we [play the National Anthem, even if it's the march version. I love my country and I served, and now I found a new way to serve, with a horn instead of a gun (actually in USCG I never had to use a rifle or pistol after boot camp)(as a snipe, I served with a wrench)

But, hey, it's all for the love of your country.

jn

[JB White]

Did anyone take pics? In the past you've had one or two to go along with your "report".