July 4th 50-Gun Salute: Presidential Salute Battery, US Army Military District of Washington DC

[Questerr]

I need to correct Tangmo: With liberals the military has lost every war since 1945. The NCO's have kept us free.

You realize the single most liberal President in the history of the US was leading the country during WW2 right?

 

[Fledermaus]

You realize the single most liberal President in the history of the US was leading the country during WW2 right?

You are correct.

 

[smallvoice]

You realize the single most liberal President in the history of the US was leading the country during WW2 right?

And your point? He took that opportunity to jam his wife's socialist dream down us, and we are still recovering.

 

[Questerr]

And your point? He took that opportunity to jam his wife's socialist dream down us, and we are still recovering.

Our country did amazingly well with the New Deal programs until Reagan Republicans started gutting them.

 

[Fledermaus]

Our country did amazingly well with the New Deal programs until Reagan Republicans started gutting them.

The FDR programs were a mixed bag. Some were successful. Others not so much. And Social Security has morphed far beyond the original intent. Perhaps the greatest impact was giving the appearance of the government doing something instead of Hoover's stay the course and wait it out course of action.

 

[Tangmo]

While I was at Ft. Myer across the river I and a couple of my colleague friends would make it a point to take in the Friday Evening Parade at least once a year. Unlike later times, The Old Guard didn't have a regularly scheduled event on Friday evenings; rather, we did our weekly parade at Summerall Field on post Sundays at 4 pm. Everyone had to be in their billets by 2 pm. The Sunday Parade continues into the present times.

These Marines ha are hell on their rifle stocks which are wooden of course. The narrator always psyches up the crowd beforehand that always includes separated and retired Marines to cheer when the Marines SLAM their rifle butts onto the concrete ha. And I mean slam.

Sooner or later some stocks split or splinter ha as it's just inevitable, although one might think it unlikely, but it does happen. And more so than one might think. These infantry grunts luvit for sure. Thingy is, if it happens early rather than later in the ceremony the Marine(s) have to finesse manual of arms and marching through the challenge without a flaw. So if you find out later, say, that three stocks got fractured you know you never saw the difference as even judges will say too. I didn't know anyone who ever noticed a difference when it happens ha.

One can identify the retired and separated Marines in the audience cause they pop right up instantly when the Drum & Bugle Corps plays the Marine Hymn; others stand too but because the Marines in the bleachers are standing already. Afterward we'd go for a beer but Marine Barracks is in a high income section of SouthWest Washington so restaurants and clubs cost a servicemember an arm and a leg. We and the Marines go to 14th St NW where the poor people go ha. (Where the beers are cold and the women are hot -- omg did I say that?.) It's the original barracks single building that accommodated everyone and everything ha, since 1801.


SOUND ATTENTION!

US Marine Corps Barracks | Washington DC | Oldest Active Marine Barracks | Friday Summer Evening Weekly Parade

On The Green / Deck | Two Companies of Marine Infantry | USMC Memorial & Ceremonial Affairs Command

Commonly "8th & I" (Streets SW) | Two Blocks North of Washington Navy Yard | Potomac & Anacostia Rivers & Anacostia NAS

HISTORY OF THE FRIDAY EVENING PARADE | Marine Barracks Washington DC | Commonly: "8th & I" (Streets, Southwest Washington)​

The "Oldest Post of the Corps," was established in 1801, and has performed military reviews and ceremonies since its founding. The present-day Friday Evening Parade was first conducted on July 5, 1957.

The presidential inaugurations and specific occasions prompted the parades and ceremonies conducted at the Barracks during the early 1900s. In 1934, when MajGen. John H. Russell, Jr. was the 16th Commandant of the Marine Corps, the Barracks initiated its first season of regularly scheduled weekly parades. The parades were commonly referred to as "Sunset Parades." The ceremonies were conducted from April to November [Tourist Season], concluding the week of the Marine Corps Birthday, November 10.

The basic format for today's Friday Evening Parade sighted the symmetry of the parade deck: Bordered on its long axis by graceful maple trees and shrubs fronting Officer's Row and the barracks' administrative offices, to the north of the picturesque home of the Commandant, and to the south the Marine Band Hall made famous by the immortal John Philip Sousa. They conceived a balanced pageant that would perfectly match the splendor of its old fashioned setting. The shadowy arcade was envisioned by Major Shepherd, "as wings to a stage, a runway from which Marines would march to their places on the parade deck."

Using the resplendent setting of the Barracks, wistful imagination and the Marines' flare for showmanship, the parades were to be a showcase for the ceremonial prowess of Marines and the musical eminence of the U.S. Marine Band, which had achieved international renown under the premier military band leader of all time, John Philip Sousa.

In planning the parade sequence and format, Colonel Leonard F. Chapman Jr., the future 24th Commandant of the Marine Corps, insisted that the parade adhere to strict regulations. The parade drill would be without fancy theatrics, which frequently characterized drill routines of that period. Since its inception, the Evening Parade has become a unique patriotic tradition of the "Oldest Post of the Corps". The parade's heritage is entwined with former military rituals such as tattoo, retreat, and lowering of the colors ceremonies. The Friday Evening Parade is offered solely to express the dignity and pride that represents more than two centuries of heritage for all Americans.

 

[Fledermaus]

And your point? He took that opportunity to jam his wife's socialist dream down us, and we are still recovering.

Are you speaking of Social Security?

 

[Rexedgar]

14th Street was where the oldest trade was plied back in the day. The only “hot women“ there cost and liable to lose your wallet as well……

 

[Questerr]

The FDR programs were a mixed bag. Some were successful. Others not so much. And Social Security has morphed far beyond the original intent. Perhaps the greatest impact was giving the appearance of the government doing something instead of Hoover's stay the course and wait it out course of action.

Social Security could be saved with one simple reform: lift the income cap.

When SS was created, the richest man in America had less than $400 million adjusted for inflation. Today the richest American has nearly a trillion dollars.

 

[Fledermaus]

Social Security could be saved with one simple reform: lift the income cap.

When SS was created, the richest man in America had less than $400 million adjusted for inflation. Today the richest American has nearly a trillion dollars.

When SS was created it wasn't a retirement program for the general populace.

 

[Questerr]

When SS was created it wasn't a retirement program for the general populace.

It wasn’t? Who was banned from using it?

 

[Fledermaus]

It wasn’t? Who was banned from using it?

Banned?

Try not included.

The Social Security Act, enacted on August 14, 1935, provided a new federally administered system of social insurance for the aged financed through payroll taxes paid by employees and their employers. Under the system, which applied only to workers in commerce and industry, people would earn retirement benefit eligibility as they worked. With some exceptions, benefits would be related to workers' average covered earnings, and workers could not have earnings and still be eligible for benefits. No benefits were provided for spouses or children, and lump-sum refunds were provided to the estates of workers who died before age 65 or before receiving at least the equivalent in benefits of their taxes plus interest. Collection of payroll taxes began in 1937, and benefit payments were scheduled to begin in 1942.

Social Security History

www.ssa.gov

 

[Questerr]

Banned?

Try not included.

The Social Security Act, enacted on August 14, 1935, provided a new federally administered system of social insurance for the aged financed through payroll taxes paid by employees and their employers. Under the system, which applied only to workers in commerce and industry, people would earn retirement benefit eligibility as they worked. With some exceptions, benefits would be related to workers' average covered earnings, and workers could not have earnings and still be eligible for benefits. No benefits were provided for spouses or children, and lump-sum refunds were provided to the estates of workers who died before age 65 or before receiving at least the equivalent in benefits of their taxes plus interest. Collection of payroll taxes began in 1937, and benefit payments were scheduled to begin in 1942.

Social Security History

www.ssa.gov

It also did a good job of excluding Non-Whites at the time. Does the inclusion of black and brown people constitute going against its intentions to you?

 

[Fledermaus]

It also did a good job of excluding Non-Whites at the time.

You just can't stand the fact you were clueless as to the intent of the original SS. And black and brown people weren't part of commerce and industry?

Do tell.

Does the inclusion of black and brown people constitute going against its intentions to you?

Race card declined.

Try trolling someone else.

 

[Tangmo]

14th Street was where the oldest trade was plied back in the day. The only “hot women“ there cost and liable to lose your wallet as well……

Three blocks from the White House besides.

At first I found that strange.

Soon I realized the WH is where yet another oldest trade goes on 24/7/365 no matter which guy is in there eh. Y'know, selling one's self.

(LBJ was in there my first two years. We did Joint Service Official State Arrival ceremonies on the South Lawn, for visiting heads of foreign government or state -- a platoon from each service. You're one who knows the drill. JFK started that btw. It's odd though when you see some of the gals from the Speakeasy on 14th Street among the invited guests of the WH on the South Lawn. Yikes.)

 

[smallvoice]

Are you speaking of Social Security?

Are you referring to the quickly approaching bankruptcy Ponzi scheme?

 

[Fledermaus]

Are you referring to the quickly approaching bankruptcy Ponzi scheme?

No, Social Security.

 

[Tangmo]

Let's stick with the Marines Washington Guard one more time. The Marine Memorial & Ceremonial Affairs Guard marching is a can't lose favorite for sure.

This is another Marine Washington Guard "Sunset Parade" this time at the Lincoln Memorial on the Washington Mall with a view East up the Mall to include the Washington Monument and the Capitol Building. The famous Reflecting Pool begins there with the Lincoln Memorial right at the Potomac and Memorial Bridge to Arlington National Cemetery, the Pentagon and Ft. Myer all in view but from the opposite side of the Memorial from the show. The Pool has two rectangular sections, the one we see and another on the far side of the Washington Monument up to the Capitol West Front lawn and the statue of Gen. Grant on horseback (looking South ha).

In the Capital silly's City's early times this whole area was a miserable sweltering swamp that got filled in over the first several decades, so the distant hill was the obvious place to build the accommodations of the national legislature. So while the swamp was done away with nobody yet has been able to get rid of the sweltering heat and humidity that smothers the city interminably, to include the VA burbs to its South and the MD burbs at its NorthEast.

Washington Marine Guard always executes movements slowly and deliberately to project gravitas, bearing, dignity -- pride. In other words, forget about any razzmatazz from the Washington Marine Guard to include their subdued drill platoon of course. Reviewing Official of this performance is the Secretary of the Navy (of the dubious moment) Richard Spencer, accompanied by the 4-star asst. Commandant of Corps and the Colonel CO of Marine Barracks Washington. It is quite the showing in a great setting and atmosphere, superbly well done.




Music:
Pre-Performance Concert Number by "The Commandant's Own" Marine Drum & Bugle Corps: Stars & Stripes Forever
March On/Up: Bravura
Fix Bayonets to beats of music
Posting of the Colors: You're A Grand Old Flag
Pass in Review: National Emblem March; Marine Hymn


Note that the Marine Guard almost always marches in a "closed formation." That is, just off their shoulders. While touching shoulders is a no-no, so is marching at arms length from one another a no-no. Almost always, as I say. An exception is the pass in review at the Marine Memorial weekly summer sunset parade on Tuesdays which I've posted several times of different times. There the Marine Guard marches more openly at a near arms length along the ranks. Conversely, The Old Guard and each other service guard in Washington almost always march at arms length from the shoulder. While closed formation is easier to dress right and maintain a straight line rank, it's not why the Marine Guard does it. Washington Marine Guard commanders like the formidable tight mass that an organized and disciplined formation of Marines projects.

Each Washington service guard does some kind of "evening" eg sunset performance at the Lincoln Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial, the Capitol Building West Front at the small plaza at the foot of the long steps up the Capitol's West Front and lawn, and Washington Monument. Yeah, so each service Washington Guard unit is doing something between 9 am to 9 pm weekdays to include on weekends. Just not each and every day, or each and every weekend, but of course including holidays -- and of course nobody gets paid OT however ha. Each member of each service ceremonial guard is an invited member who accepted, ie, a rarity in the annals of military history -- an actual and true volunteer. Fact is Pentagon doesn't want anyone doing this who doesn't already want to be there.

 

[Fledermaus]

July 16th

 

[Tangmo]

With so much USMC Washington DC Marine Guards let's put a plug in for the Navy Washington Guards because they're so good at what they do (and because my kid brother went Navy while I wasn't looking ha -- ASW on The Big John).

This video is a killer performance by the Navy Washington Guard Drill Team at the NATO Annual Military Tattoo in Oslo Norway. It's at the Oslo Performance Center that is enormous and looks like all of Norway is there ha. US Navy Drill Team finished first and watching this awesome performance we hear the audience gasping, ooing and awing and applauding. I say without reservation this is as good as it gets in precision and dazzling drill -- not to mention risky as rifles fly around with bayonets fixed. Downright dangerous in fact.

European militaries have been doing this drill stuff for centuries yet their mode is marching around and about. A lotta footwork going this way and that way, subdividing and back again, which are often platoons rather than a 12-16 member team as the US has. This Navy team from Washington DC has the perfect number, 12. All services Washington Guard Drill Teams focus on the rifle instead. We like our rifles of course ha. So Europeans and other audiences around the world see spinning and flying rifles with bayonets attached from our guys they never imagined could be done. Just past the 3 minute mark we see the black duct tape assuring the bayonet stays on the rifle, just in case ha. It's happened of course that a bayonet goes flying off otherwise, rare as it is. We can see the tape in the screen shot below in fact.

The LT commander of the drill team does his Shave & A Haircut March through the gauntlet of fast spinning rifles with bayonets that blows away the crowd. Then he squares himself center of the four senior members who trim him up. What gets my attention actually is that these guys spin rifles from one hand to the other in a continuous action. No other drill team in Washington or anywhere else does this. It's awesome.

US Navy Presidential Ceremonial Honor Guard Precision Drill Team First Place at Norway NATO Tattoo​

The uncut and full version of the 1st place performance of the US Navy Presidential Ceremonial Guard Drill Team at the NATO Tattoo in Norway.



14, 671,758 views


Selected Comments:

Best 6 minutes of American entertainment I'V seen in a while.

Absolutely breath taking!!! enables me to appreciate my military even more than I do now for all the men and women do for our country.

Proud of my husband! He is in this video. Carrying our American flag. I love watching this over and over.

I'm in this video and I still love watching it! Brings back a lot of great memories! And this was one of our best performances. We were in Norway for a week and did three nights. All for a full house! Let me tell you, we were all shitting our pants nervous! We executed what we trained for perfectly (except for one minor error, I won't tell you where its at!) We stayed with the Norway Army Drill team at their barracks and they were awesome. Nothing but love for the Norwegian people. They were some of the nicest people I've ever met.

You know what REALLY impresses me about this? The level of trust that the officer has in these sailors to put his safety on the line like that. You can't do that without complete trust.

I was a member of the team when I was in the Navy and all the training and prep was done during our off time. Yes, it was after we completed our regular work day. It took a lot of effort, discipline, time and dedication to made it and the pride after accomplishment is forever with you. Great performance. Be proud my Brothers.

I don't care if the bayonets are sharp or not, the guy with the sword has balls of steel and absolute trust in his men in order to stand there perfectly still while those guns are flying around him.

Brings back memories of the good old days being in the old guard, spent many mornings and evenings on the parade field from 1980 to 89, loved it.

Underdog Makes Navy Ceremonial Guard Drill Team​

Petty Officer 3rd Class Austin Reed is the point man on the U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard Drill Team at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C. He leads the drill team’s four- and nine-person ceremonial performances, but it wasn’t always easy for him. Reed began his time at the ceremonial guard as the underdog. Discouraged but determined, he fought his way to the top and is now unstoppable.

 

[Tangmo]

Get a plug in for the Army.....





3rd Infantry Regiment got its nick The Old Guard of the Army in the Mexican-American war of 1846-48.

AS CG Winfield Scott advanced on Mexico City he sent 3 IR ahead as his advance force. By the time 3 IR reached the several heights over the City it had run out of ammo in its many defeats of Mexican Army forces. So the colonel commanding ordered a bayonet charge up Serro Gordo heights to seize the high ground. By the time Gen Scott arrived with the main force he was able to successfully demand the surrender of the Mexican Government.

So for the victory parade into Mexico City Gen. Scott had the 3 IR lead. As 3 IR approached the review platform Scott turned to his staff and said, "Gentleman, take off your hats, here comes The Old Guard of the Army."

It was widely reported in the newspapers so the nick stuck.

I Am An Old Guard Soldier -- Forever.

 

[Tangmo]

The 101st Airborne Division Band performs its Sound Off tune at the division's parade, Ft. Campbell KY.

101st Combat Team 3rd Brigade engage in Field Training Exercises of live fire.

101st Airborne Band Sound Off at Division Pass in Review Parade - Trooping the Line​

13,584 views

The band troops the line at Fort Campbell Kentucky. Military Marching tune in the band's standard Sound Off that is standard fare at a military review is The American Soldier. The entire division is participating.





The best military marches have have a strong, clear and bold cadence from the start. Of course many marches do have this but then again some are better than others doing it. So the selection of which march title to perform as your opening number is key.

This first bars of martial music makes you wake up and pay attention and this is true whether your feet are asleep from standing at attention or whether you're a civilian bored by the waiting for the parade to begin or the marching to resume. This band sounds Adjutant's Call which while being out of place in parade sequence is the attention getter for the Sound Off.

Military marching music itself comes as a package with the public supporting and applauding the spectacle of the shiny brass bands, the impressive uniforms and of troops marching in the unity of step, rhythm and stride; the national pride, flags and all the emotional credenda that go along with it.

It's not difficult for the lay citizen to recognize the best marches because the best of the best have a clear, reasonably short tune that is in the whistling range of most who do whistle ha. This is the real test because it motivates the troops and the civilians to know their "favorite" march, ask for it and for it to be memorable to ordinary people. USA service signature marches are an excellent example of this with the Army Song: The Army Goes Rolling Along; the Navy tune: Anchors Aweigh; the Air Force "Wild Blue Yonder," and the Marine Corps "Halls of Montezuma (AKA "Marine Hymn"). While only some know the lyrics to any one of 'em we do know the tune ha.

While it is counter intuitive to say music is not the most important aspect of the military marching band, yet it is true that there is an aspect to playing and marching that is more important than making the music and doing it superbly. Indeed, the number one most important aspect of marching in a band is TO STAY IN STEP -- ha. And indeed, the consistently best marching unit before us is the band. Members of the band who make the music know the notes, the bars, tempo, pitch and so on so they march in a precise step, motion, unity, rhythm, flow, left-right-left stride and so on. This band of the 101st Airborne Division is a model too.

3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st ABN DIV​

34,804 views Nov 29, 2018

The U.S. Army 3rd Brigade Combat Team (3BCT), 101st Airborne Division (101st ABN) is a fit, disciplined, and cohesive team with soldiers, who are experts in their craft ... and leaders, who are creative, innovative, well-trained, and adaptive ... "Ready To Fight Tonight" and accomplish any assigned mission or task as directed. U.S. Army video by Staff Sgt. David Birchfield September 2018












Western military march music and Russian march music differ radically. This includes China too.

In the West a typical military march has three components: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.

Part one is lively and based on repetition, part 2 is more classical symphonic, ie, easy going, part 3 is the repetition of part 1. Almost all cultures marching music is based on repetition of music bars. Russian military music however is relentless and strong, powerful with a dramatic pulsing sound of throbbing beats and rhythms. It's a wall of pounding music. It has no letup.....






The Goose Step is murder to do btw. It's hell on the joints that are often damaged yet dictatorships love it and continue to wreck their troops doing it. The general in the limo btw is Valerie Gerasimov, chief of general staff since 2012 and who was wounded in the leg in Ukraine while there trying to get things straight ha -- his nephew who was a two-star was killed by Ukraine artillery at his command post (US targeting!).

The robin redbreast uniform guys are cadets at the Army premier military academy while the younger marchers in black with drums are cadets at the prep school. Overall though the best news in all of this is that I suspect strongly most of these guys are dead now because of Ukraine. As if Putin cared. (I know I don't anyway.)

 

[Tangmo]

What with all the hot air blasting out of Beijing threatening and trying to stop Speaker Pelosi from visiting Taiwan, she landed in Taipei for a bit more than 24 house and left to complete visits with East Asia allies and Strategic Partners. Before stopping in Taiwan Pelosi visited US staunch partner Singapore and the very China nervous Malaysia. Now after Pelosi's Taiwan visit she is in South Korea and then Japan.

When Speaker Pelosi touched down in Taiwan Tuesday morning EST Xi announced live fire exercises had already begun off Taiwan -- as if anybody cared ha. It happens all the time as the CCP Boyz in Beijing are all thunder and no lightning.

Taiwan anyway and already had its own live fire exercises going during the final week of July -- Operation Hanguang, ie, light, which is good enough for sure, light of course being the opposite of dark. Yet Hanguang also has the equally accurate English synonyms of innovation, independence, determination, courage, sincerity; and, engagement.

Taiwan's population is long accustomed to seeing tanks and Army attack vehicles in their streets and even parked in their home driveways ha as Taiwan armed forces need to get to the shore wherever the action is. Indeed though, the Taiwan coast across from the mainland has rugged steep mountains and miserable landing shores so there always have been only three locations for a PLA invasion force to land and Taiwan has had 'em covered and constantly upgraded. PLA isn't anyway going to get anywhere near a landing shore on Taiwan. PLA airborne troops landing further inland are goners too.




Taipei Port, Taiwan (CNN) In simulated scenes, a hostile enemy attempts to seize control of a key waterway close to the Taiwanese capital. Attacking from sea and air, the invading forces target the mouth of the Tamsui River on the island's northern coast -- a strategic estuary that provides direct access to the center of Taipei. In response, Taiwan's military scrambles Indigenous Defense Fighter (IDF) jets and tanks, while ground troops detonate explosives to stop the advancement. The scenes are part of the week-long Han Kuang exercises held across Taiwan and its outlying islands until Friday. The annual event has been running since 1984 and involves all branches of Taiwan's military -- including its reserve forces -- in an effort to boost overall defense capabilities.

Taiwan holds massive Han Kuang military drills as tensions with China build

This year's annual Taiwanese military drills have taken on a greater significance amid growing concerns over China's intentions toward the self-governing island.

www.cnn.com

This Hanguang is btw #38 of the calendar year and it was at the end of July.

 

[Tangmo]

The Taiwan "Black Dragon" howitzer was the heaviest field artillery piece deployed by the US Army in WW 2. The 240mm sucker with its 360 pound high explosive shells smashed enemy concrete fortifications in Europe to rubble and during the Korean Conflict blasted PLA mountain bunkers.

Army retired 'em prior to the Vietnam War and never reactivated 'em because the war was too fluid and hidden underground and in the jungles to be employed

Taiwan though bought a bunch of 'em and buried 'em deep inside forts on the Kinmen (Quemoy) and Matsu islands a short shot to the Chinese mainland. From Kinmen, the Black Dragon’s 14-mile range can reach Xiamen, a city of five million people along China’s southeast coast. I visited Xiamen with Chinese friends and went out to overnight stays on the CCP islands that are right there with Taiwan islands, all within sight of and from the mainland shores of the target of the Taiwan Black Dragon Gun, Xiamen.











A Taiwan Naval flotilla sets out from port and fixes its coordinates to do live fire exercises to include depth charges, firing missiles, cannon firings, air support by the Taiwan produced jet fighter and so on.











Elements of the Taiwan Golden Gate Armor Regiment execute a live fire Landing Repulse to include machineguns.

 

[Tangmo]

This is a rehearsal of the arrival ceremony to welcome US SecDef Lloyd Austin on his visit to Japan.

The Honor Guard troops are of the Japan Ground Self Defense Force (Army-Infantry) that is the only SDF armed service authorized to have a ceremonial guard -- Navy and AF don't have a permanent official one. The actual ceremonies are held at the Ministry of Defense main building in central Tokyo. This rehearsal is at the Takayama Ground SDF garrison at Tokyo Bay where the HG is billeted.

Takayama Garrison also has the highly competitive prep academy of the GSDF whose cadets graduate to the GSDF brigade of the National Defense University which is nearby at Tokyo Bay, situated on a 300 meter plateau overlooking the Bay and with a view to Mt. Fuji.




Military Music:
Fanfare Honors Salute by the band
Star Spangled Banner
The Azure Sky, national anthem of Japan the island nation
Fanfare Salute to Guest of Honor
Trooping the Line
Fanfare Honors Salute by the band

The ceremonial color guard unit has two flags: Japan national standard flag, ie, the sun on a white background; US Stars & Stripes flag. Standing in for SecDef Austian is a GSDF senior NCO (rank on the cuff). Each member of the HG is first off certified as Military Police (which we don't do with the ceremonial guard units in Washington DC).