[Eccl 10:2]

It got a reference in Don MacLean's "American Pie":

Well the halftime air was sweet perfume

While sargeants played a marching tune...

[11th_VA]

I never knew that

[Steely Tom]

Sgt. Sadler was also referenced in the Simon & Garfunkel song A Simple Desultory Philippic

I been Phil Spector'd, resurrected.
I been Lou Adler'd, Barry Sadler'd.
Well, I paid all the dues I want to pay.
And I learned the truth from Lenny Bruce,
And all my wealth won't buy me health,
So I smoke a pint of tea a day.

[Komarlady]

Are you sure Don MacLean wasn’t referring to Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band since they were a marching band?

[reed13k]

The sargeants in American Pie referred to the beatles sargeant peppers lonely hearts club band.

[freebilly]

The most likely reference is to the Beatle’s Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band....

[skepsel]

The sergeants reference is a nod to the Beatles’ Sgt. Peppers album, referring like most of the rest of the song, to musical footnotes.

[DPMD]

I had thought it a reference to Sgt. Pepper.

But none of that matters.

[astounded]

“It got a reference in Don MacLean’s “American Pie”:

Well the halftime air was sweet perfume

While sargeants played a marching tune...”

I always thought the sergeants playing a marching tune was a reference to the Beatles Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band...