Marines Put on a Show

More than 1,500 people turned out to the Tustin Marine Corps Helicopter Air Station on Monday morning to witness one of the most familiar traditions of the American military--precision music and drill teams.

Cold rain and winds, however, forced an acclaimed Marine band to cut its performance short.

The U.S. Marine Drum and Bugle Corps, with 81 members dressed in ceremonial red-and-white uniforms, was about 20 minutes into its performance when the rain started, driving onlookers into a nearby airplane hangar and sending them home.

Once inside, the thinned crowd was rapt as the 24-Marine Silent Drill Platoon began its routine--an 11-minute precision drill demonstrating precise handling of bayonet-tipped M-1 rifles. The routine ended with a rifle inspection, where the Marines tossed their weapons to the delight of the audience.

The Drum and Bugle Corps did not play again because the acoustics in the hangar would have been poor, officials said.

Some Marines said they were pleased to see the Washington-based band, even if it was for a brief show.

“This is really our way of embracing the traditions of the Marine Corps,” Sgt. Jay White said. “When we talk about ourselves and past deeds of Marines, we talk about precision and real military performance. The Drum and Bugle Corps is the epitome of that kind of tradition.”

The unit, which combines contemporary songs and traditional marching music with choreographed drill movements, also was scheduled to perform at a private event Monday afternoon at the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station.

The history of the Drum and Bugle Corps can be traced to the early days of the Marines, according to military officials. In the 18th and 19th centuries, they said, military musicians would be used to pass commands to soldiers, because the various drum beats and bugle calls could be heard over the noise of the battlefield.

The unit was officially formed in the 1930s to augment the U.S. Marine Band and provide music at military and public ceremonies nationally and abroad.

Today, the Drum and Bugle Corps performs at more than 400 ceremonies a year and usually travels more than 50,000 miles annually.

All of its members are enlisted Marines who have completed boot camp, basic infantry training and passed demanding musical auditions, officials said.