Very cool. Maybe there is still hope for our country.
It brought tears to my eyes.
Partly out of love for these kids and the parents who raised them right.
And part out of pure nostalgia. Growing up a military brat, this was required behavior. What really, REALLY got me about this video was the longer than normal (to me) pause after taps, and before they played the “all clear”. (NOTE: Bear with me if I can’t remember the name of the sequence of notes after taps...it has been a long time since I thought of this daily ceremony. )
Anyway, after taps ended, the kids looked like they were all going to resume playing, but when the all clear didn’t sound, they...froze!
And waited.
Yep. That brought tears to my eyes.
Funny. I remember as a kid, when we saw the guys walk out with the flag and bugle, we would make a mad dash to get under cover! If we didn’t make it though, we would stop dead in our tracks and turn around to stand still and straight. My dad was usually the XO on the base (He was a career XO) and we didn’t want to get chewed out for something like that!
I find it hilarious now, but we usually did it with no problem most of the time with the appropriate gravity, and even when we didn’t, we didn’t screw around or grabass during colors or taps.
I work on an Army installation and the fort regulations require civilians to render honors when “To the Color” is played. Unfortunately, it isn’t enforced. They are talking about having all stop lights go red when the Flag either raised or lowered to force the issue.
Anyway, well done Marine Corps. You have taught your children well.
BTTT
BTW - Just watched the video. The children did well. However, what was being played was “retreat” (end of work day) and not “to the colors.” On Army installation they play that first followed by “To the Colors” where you are supposed to be at attention and salute just as if you were hearing the National Anthem.
This is an example of “Retreat”:
http://bands.army.mil/music/bugle/retreat.asp
This is an example of “To the Color”:
http://bands.army.mil/music/bugle/tothecolor.asp
What a lovely wonderful thing to see. Going to have a proud grandmother moment here...one of my granddaughters was inducted into the National Junior Honor Society, tonight in Ohio. 4.0 grade average all year. I am so proud of her.
My dad would slap us silly if we didn't face the flagpole and show respect. Later, when I was in the USAF I passed on that lesson.
It is awesome to see that these kids in the video were brought up to show a deep respect for the flag. Some are no slouch at assuming the position of attention too. Impressive!
Bravo!
Thanks, r.
w & s, Colors ping....
If in uniform, you had to salute ...
As kids - we thought this was waaay cool !!!
Be glad the day they do this without being told to do it...
Be ever grateful when they learn to do it because they understand why to do it...
But still, you have a right to not express your loyalty, appreciation for what this activity represents...And that is just unfortunate...I will always render honors when called for, and if I am the only one in the crowd doing so, I can dig it...
I hope somehow my doing so will shame those who do not...
And be warned, giving me (or anyone else) grief about doing so, when you do not, at that point the gloves come off...
Those people will never be that unhappy ever again...
Excellent! I was beginning to think that the only “colors” kids are aware of are gang colors.