Battle Color Detachment performs aboard Combat Center

Courtesy Photo | Cpl. Megan Almojuela, a member of the , U.S. Marine Corps Drum & Bugle Corps, interacts with two young fans after the Battle Color Ceremony at Lance Cpl. Torrey L. Gray Field aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., March 8, 2017. The United States Marine Corps Battle Color Detachment travels worldwide annually to demonstrate the discipline and “Esprit de Corps” of United States Marines. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Natalia Cuevas)  

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, CA, UNITED STATES

03.08.2017

Courtesy Story

Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center

The Battle Color Detachment, which is comprised of the U.S. Marine Drum & Bugle Corps, Color Guard and the Silent Drill Platoon, celebrates the historic pride of the Marine Corps through music and ceremonial drill. Each year, these Marines travel worldwide to demonstrate the discipline and “Esprit de Corps” of Marines.
“I absolutely love performing in front of people. It’s one of the best things that we can go out there to do,” said Cpl. Megan Almojuela, member, Drum & Bugle Corps. “We shed a positive light on the Marine Corps and it gives us a really good opportunity to influence young lives and to bring a sense of entertainment, joy and perspective of what the Marine Corps has to offer to the community.”
The ceremony opened with a performance by the Drum & Bugle Corps following renditions of contemporary songs and traditional marching music played by “The Commandant’s Own.” As traditional buglers, they are part of the time-honored tradition of performing daily bugle calls along with standard “honors” for fallen comrades.
Following the performance, the Silent Drill Platoon took to the field with perfect synchronization between the 24 riflemen. Each Marine carried a hand-polished, 10 1/2-pound, M-1 Garand rifle with fixed bayonets. During the ceremony, the Silent Drill team performed the drill movements without the use of commands.
“The precision that the Marines on this field have, both the Drum & Bugle Corps and the Silent Drill Team, is tremendously impressive,” said Brig. Gen. William F. Mullen III, Combat Center Commanding General. “To me its representative of what Marines are capable of doing given the right environment.”
The Marine Corps Color Guard, which consists of two Marines flanked by two riflemen, marched onto the field and presented the National and Marine Corps Color. The 54 streamers and silver bands displayed on the battle color commemorate the military campaigns in which Marines have participated. They span the entire history of the nation, from the American Revolution to the present.
The ceremony concluded with the pass in review and the Battle Color Detachment being dismissed. Afterward, the detachment remained on the field to interact with spectators.

• Date Taken: 03.08.2017
• Date Posted: 03.09.2017 16:30
• Story ID: 226360
• Location: MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, CA, US