Posted on Aug 17, 2014
Cpl Michael Strickler
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So I am watching the MLB Reds vs. Rockies game right now (for work, believe me I would never subject myself to such torture of my own free will) and they just started the bottom of the seventh inning.

During the stretch there was an Air Force servicemember who was playing God Bless America on the trumpet. He messed up a couple times, I believe once more right at the end, but covered it up very well.

I just want to say to him (if he sees this) and for anyone else that has ever done something similar (national anthem, colors, etc.) I applaud you regardless if you were perfect or not. It takes some coconuts to get up in front of people and do those types of things.

Though the performances may not be perfect it is the thought that counts behind it. Even for celebrities that mess up while doing the national anthem at the Super Bowl and all that... *clap clap clap*

Just having the nerve to get up in front of millions (not to mention cameras and the trolls on the internet today) risking their reputations and all to show pride in this great nation of ours.

*to my brothers in the Silent Drill Team who mess up, this does not apply to you, you should be ashamed of yourself, go sit in the corner haha
Posted in these groups: TraditionPride logo PrideD11e08ce Courage
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SFC Mark Merino
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Eod go boom
Agreed. Doing something like that can frazzle the nerves and allow for mistakes. Case in point.........................
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Capt Jeff S.
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I did the colorguard for the Liberty Bowl back in '84? when I was a Sgt and I carried the Marine Corps colors. A hard charging GySgt (AMOI at Memphis State University) was carrying the National Flag, and we had two riflemen from the Reserve Unit in Memphis. The GySgt invited me because he saw me around campus taking college classes and I was a hard charging Marine.

Well, we marched out without incident and during present arms, one of the rifleman forgot to go from Right Shoulder Arms to Present Arms and the music started. The GySgt was MAD!!! He told the Cpl, "Cpl XXX, the command was Present Arms, correct yourself." And when the Cpl heard the order, instead of executing a brisk movement and making it look good, he just slimed the rifle into place. Now the GySgt was PISSED! As we marched out he marched us under the goal posts and the top of the flags hit the goal posts and bent back as we pressed forward underneath... in front of the entire nation? ??? THANK GOD THE CAMERAS WEREN'T TRAINED ON US LEAVING!!! So no, thankfully the nation didn't get to see that mistake. By far, THAT! was the most embarrassing colorguard EVER that I was a part of in my career! And I did a quite a few. Most went off without a hitch or if there was a mistake it was so minor that we were the only ones who could tell. This colorguard had two major mistakes that were hugely embarrassing! [I was just glad that I didn't mess up forgetting to dip the Marine Corps Colors for the National Anthem, or miss the holster when coming to the carry and have to fumble around trying to set the pole in place... but as part of that team I still felt embarrassed at the overall performance. Never saw the GySgt so mad. He was all shades of red and steaming! You could fry an egg on his head!]

When we finished people came up to us and kept telling us how good we looked! Nobody was paying any attention! Nobody saw the mistake with the rifle. It wasn't caught on TV. I couldn't believe it. Whew! LUCKY!
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Capt Jeff S.
Capt Jeff S.
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Was doing the colors for a Marine Corps Ball (also in Memphis) and we did it at the E-Club. Where we were told to line up was in a corridor out of view of the ceremony inside and the ceiling was low. Because of that low ceiling, we couldn't lift the colors up to the carry initially as we marched out -- so we had to improvise!

The guy carrying the National Ensign still had to call "Carry Colors" so that the riflemen could go to their respective right and left shoulder arms. Instead, we just lifted the flags about one inch up off the ground and held them close to our sides and vertical. On forward march, the two of us carrying flags had to march out carrying the flags low at our sides until we cleared the end of the corridor with the low ceiling height and got out into the main area where the ceiling was much higher. As we entered this space, we would hoist the flags simultaneously, without verbal command, and without looking down place them into the sockets on our belts. It was totally by feel that we had to do it and our movements had to be synchronized. We practiced several times until we got that part down and then went back into the corridor and waited for our grand entrance.

On this particular colorguard I made a small but hilarious error. Being a creature of habit, when I heard the command, "Carry Colors", I went to hoist the Marine Corps Colors and jammed the top of the flag into the drop down ceiling and bits of celing tile rained down on my head. We quickly dusted me off and went ahead and started over and nailed the rest of the performance and no sense me being modest, we pulled off that improvised hoist flawlessly. Nobody saw us hit the ceiling, but I left my mark at that event. : )
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SSG V. Michelle Woods
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"*to my brothers in the Silent Drill Team who mess up, this does not apply to you, you should be ashamed of yourself, go sit in the corner haha" this made me bust out laughing! Lol too funny!
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SSG V. Michelle Woods
SSG V. Michelle Woods
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I can't say anything else because I have already angered too many soldiers from that "Marines defend their women" thread lol.
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Cpl Michael Strickler
Cpl Michael Strickler
>1 y
haha. you have a beard. my arguement would be invalid... if i wasn't a Marine.

(as far as all my posts, hey, i was brainwashed with perfection ok?! imagine if you were loved by God himself k?)
http://terminallance.com/2014/03/28/terminal-lance-313-god-loves-marines/
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SSG Laureano Pabon
SSG Laureano Pabon
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perfect? That's my son when he was 6 months old.
Now the Marine Silent Drill team 2013 are really good, I mean look at there rank.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXa39XyP6q8
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Cpl Matthew Wall
Cpl Matthew Wall
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We titans from the SDP are the best of the best. We do not make mistakes for if we do we shall be removed from the team to walk the shadows.
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