That's Sousa's march, "The Liberty Bell".
When I was in the Air Force we had to attend a change of command ceremony when some colonel retired. Weather was OK (for Plattsburgh, NY, that means "not snowing or raining or 15 below zero...just deal with the mosquitoes" ) and we are all out there in our dress blues, and mostly wanting to be pretty much anywhere else at the time. We march around the parade field, alternately stand at attention, and at ease. Listen to some speeches. Watch a lot of saluting and hand-shaking.
Then they started music again. Specifically, we hear the bouncy strains of John Philip Sousa's march, "The Liberty Bell". Now, this is the mid-1970's. We're mostly a bunch of 20-something airmen, and we only know this tune in one way - as the theme from Monty Python's Flying Circus. I'm a tall guy, so I was in the back rank of the formation. So here we are, standing at attention while some stuff is going on up on the reviewing stand (saluting, hand shaking, back patting, presentation of plaques, that sort of crap). I'm looking at the backs of all the blue uniforms in front of me, and notice movement. Lots of movement.
We were disciplined enough not to burst out laughing, but there were a LOT of shoulders moving up and down, as people were stifling their laughs. No out-loud laughing, but once in a while you could hear a snort or two. We see a few confused faces on the reviewing stand...probably older officers wondering what the hell is so funny.
I don't remember who retired, who took command, or why the hell they needed to have everyone waste a day honoring them...but I do remember the day that a Strategic Air Command change of command ceremony turned into a Monty Python skit. All that was missing was a giant foot coming down on the reviewing stand at the closing notes.
= new reply since forum marked as read
