Military Tattoo

Our friends Vince and Lynda advised us that the Marines were putting on a Tattoo tonight at the football field at the local High School and invited us to join then along with other friends , Barb and dick from Minnesota. This Tattoo consisted of a huge compliment of a Marching Band and a Precision Drill team.  The Marching Band put on a fabulous performance for about 25 minute and it is amazing how those guys can carry a Tuba around for that long.
Then the Band "Stood Down " while the Precision Drill Team Marched on to the field. For those who have never experience a Precision of a Drill Team;  it means that a Platoon of usually 30 soldier will perform 15 minute of Marching and Rifle drill that almost looks mechanical. To complete the final maneuver,  the Platoon leader, who is without a rifle,  marches in front of the Platoon  and one of the soldiers flips his rifle , airborne to the Platoon Leader. The Platoon Leader then marches one step to the next soldier and they perform several  maneuvers by flipping their rifles back and forth to each other. The final maneuver was when the Platoon Leader flips the "borrowed " rifle back to the soldier where it came. This has to be a very precise maneuver because the receiving soldier can not move except to reach with his hand to receiver the rifle.
To end the show the Color Party marches on the field with the American flag and the Marine flag while the band plays the National Anthem. Then the Precision Team and the Band do a March Past and two retired Marine Sergeants receiver the Salute.
After the show is over all the Band and Drill team members are available on the football field to talk to the spectators. I actual heard one soldier from the Drill team say that they practice 7 hours the day before the performance.  This show is nothing short of fantastic. WOW.
To complete the evening ,  we returned to Barb and Dick's home for coffee and pie.
 Cheers