Last night, I thoroughly enjoyed the tax dollars I pay out to our federal government. During the summer, on Tuesday nights, there is a sunset parade ceremony/concert at the Iwo Jima Memorial in Arlington. It’s an open event not requiring tickets. However, if you get lucky, a friendly Marine will come over and ask if you would like to sit in some extra empty seats they have in the formal seating area (which I think is ticketed).
I admit, we ditched our three friends, but they did have a reserved spot on our picnic blanket under the cool, er, cooler, trees. It was sweltering hot yesterday, but everyone said it was still fun to go.
I used to be in a marching band as a kid and the laddie is a former Jarhead and was in honor guard in high school. We go nuts for this stuff. I don’t care what anyone says, silent drill team is very cool. Watching them flip the guns in the air is awesome!
As one of our friends said, “I was surprised at the music selection.” They played “Gypsy Dance” from Bizet’s Carmen, “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” by the Andrews Sisters, “Stars and Stripes Forever” by John Phillip Sousa, a 007 Theme medley, and John Blunt’s “You’re Beautiful”.
The lone bugler blowing taps while standing ON the memorial was stirring.
The park service/government provides tanks of ice water for refreshment in the heat. Please respect the solemnity of the event and try not to open a bag of chips while the silent drill team is performing. Unless you are uniformed military service, take off your ugly hat so you aren’t obstructing the view of guests behind you.
Nearest Metro: Rosslyn. Walk down to the Memorial from there.
OR Arlington National and take the shuttle bus.
Parking: On street, nearly every where. Meters end at 6pm, the concert starts at 6:30pm in August and at 7pm during July. (Has to do with the timing of sunset)
More details at the Marine Barracks website.
Another option is the longer Friday Evening Parade down at the barracks facility in Capitol Hill neighborhood. I think we’re going to try and catch that one too and then go drinking on a pub crawl. Capitol Hill is a great place for a Friday night.
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