Veterans Day parade again

[jon_norstog]

I get a lot of social media mileage out of playing in the marching band. Coming up is my fifth consecutive Veterans Day parade, in NE Portland.

https://www.veteransdaypdx.org/

I think we're unit 70, somewhere in the middle. They try to keep the bands spaced so they don't step all over each other's music. This is the band

http://www.thebeatgoesonmb.org/index.htm

This is our parade set list:


National Anthem March - it's the national anthem in march time
Tribute to America - medley of "this is my country" and "God bless America"
Venus - an old rock song
Veterans Salute - all five service songs each in their original (and different) key

Then there is a flag ceremony and we play a standup:


America the Beautiful
Washington Post March
The Stars and Stripes Forever
Over Mountains and Valleys
You're a Grand Old Flag
National Emblem March


Got a couple Sousa marches there. You never saw so many notes on a little piece of paper in your life. I really enjoy being part of this event. The band leader lets the veterans wear their old service cap for events where we play the "patriotic set list" and this year I'm gonna wear my old USCG flat hat.

And I wish a good and happy Veterans Day to all of you other vets out there. It's a day to remember what we did, what happened to us, old friends and shipmates, the history of our country, and what the United States means in a world longing for liberty.

jn

[free1954]

wish I was there to see it. hopefully the weather will be good.

[jon_norstog]

wish I was there to see it. hopefully the weather will be good.

The weather is supposed to be decent! Last two were rainy and cold, but the worst one was the year we played at Fort Vancouver - a real military parade, complete with flyovers but we got soaked.

jn

[JimW in Ore]

Be looking for you at the start. Jim

[jon_norstog]

Be looking for you at the start. Jim

Look for the trumpeter in the purple warm-up with the USCG white flat hat

[JimW in Ore]

Will do.

[jon_norstog]

The flag ceremony is in front of Ross Hollywood Funeral Home, about 48th & Sandy. Franz Bakery usually has a truck there handing out free loaves of bread

[JimW in Ore]

Saw you in the last row and hollered at you. To much noise i guess.

[jon_norstog]

All I can hear is the band when I'm in a parade. Glad you could make it. Pretty decent parade, hey?

Here's a few pictures I took before the parade started.

veterans_2019 (1).jpg veterans_2019 (19).jpg veterans_2019 (4).jpg veterans_2019 (14).jpg

veterans_2019 (15).jpg

jn

[free1954]

nice pics. thanks for posting. was it cold? it looks like the crowd was bundled up.

[jon_norstog]

nice pics. thanks for posting. was it cold? it looks like the crowd was bundled up.

It was cool in the morning, especially if you weren't mving around. I rode down on my bicycle and never really cooled down. The temp got up close to 60 by the end of the parade. Some of the bandies, myself included took off the warm-up jackets for the standstill performance.

The turnout was really good and the kids along the route were all jumping up and down, dancing and waving. A good band just makes everyone happy!

jn

[free1954]

sounds like a good time was had by all. there is nothing like a sousa march to stir the patriotic soul.

[jon_norstog]

sounds like a good time was had by all. there is nothing like a sousa march to stir the patriotic soul.

You never saw so many notes and rests on one little piece of paper, like ants crawling on a sandwich. I gave up, stayed in key but otherwise pretty much played by ear. They do make a glorious racket, though! Washington Post and Stars and Stripes Forever!


jn