Quote Originally Posted by Leprechaun-91 View Post
Imagine 3 hours of those same 30 bands marching at parade in competition under a rodeo pavilion with packed grandstands. Brisk October evening air. It really did bring tears to my eyes. (I do get choked at the massed bands as well.)
It was truly a great evening. I remember the year the Marine Band from New Orleans was there, and they had surprising part when guys dressed in WWII uniforms came running out and planted the flag in an Iwo Jima pose. The crowd went nuts.

Then they played the Marine Hymn with all the massed bands, and there were no dry eyed Marines in the house. And you knew who we were because we were all standing at attention. Imagine a few hundred old guys scattered through the crowd, snapping to the best attention they could muster--some with canes and walkers--and most with tears on their cheeks.

It was great when they had that tattoo.