Evening Parade

Once a Marine, always a Marine . . . .

We couldn't think of a better thing to do with our former (but always a) Marine on his 50th birthday than watching the Evening Parade at the USMC Marine Barracks in Washington, D.C.  Known locally as "8th and I" due to its geographic location, this post was established in 1801 and is the oldest post of the Marine Corps.

Every Friday night during the summer months, Marine Barracks Washington puts on an evening parade and drill that is open to the public.

As luck would have it, the not-uncommon-in-the-summer afternoon thunderstorms and rains let up just hours before the parade was set to start, and we even caught glimpses of the sun and beautifully colorful skies as the sun was setting.

Sweltering in our seats as we waited for the Evening Parade to start

Marine Barracks Washington is the home of the Commandant of the Marine Corps, and our seats were at the end of the parade ground quite near the beautiful Commandant's Residence.  The Commandant's Residence, constructed in 1806, has been the home of each of the Commandants of the Marine Corps since it was built, and it is the only original building still standing at this post.

The Commandant's Residence at the edge of the parade ground

Marine Barracks Washington has also been the home of the U.S. Marine Band since 1801, and it was here that John Philip Sousa, while serving as Director of the band, wrote many of his marches.

The Evening Parade featured concerts by both of the resident bands:  the U.S. Marine Band ("The President's Own"), and the U.S. Marine Drum & Bugle Corps.

Beautiful skies at the start of the parade as the sun was setting

"The President's Own" (U.S. Marine Band)

Here's a brief snippet of the U.S. Marine Band passing by to give you the flavor . . .



as well as a short video from the Drum & Bugle Corps concert later in the evening:

Getting to know a member of the Drum and Bugle Corps.

"The President's Own"

Both bands combined

Another highlight was watching the "Silent Drill Platoon" perform.  They were mostly on the other side of the parade ground so we didn't get any good pictures to share, but we were mesmerized by the coordination and precision with which they flung and spun their 10.5-pound rifles (with bayonets fixed, which added even more weight!).  Thankfully there were no mishaps.

Forming up the Battalion

Before retiring the colors and playing "Taps" to conclude the evening, we got to see the entire Battalion march before us in the "Pass and Review."  It was an impressive sea of identical bodies, all moving as one.

Pass in Review

What a great way to spend a summer evening . . . "oorah" to the Marines and Semper Fidelis!