The first Saturday of July, small town Oriental, North Carolina begins its annual Croaker Festival with a parade down main street. This year, the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band from Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point, NC both marched in the parade and then, played for the town. (By the bye MCAS, Cherry Point – just happens to be my birth place many years ago).
This is just a small snippet from the parade of some of my favorite entries. This year I was totally enamored with the little trucks. I want one, they were fabulous. And … I also liked how the dragon, Oriental’s mascot, looked lovingly on to the America Flag — it is almost July 4th after all!
Songs from each military branch: “Anchors Away” for the U.S. Navy, “The Caissons Go Rolling Along” for the U.S. Army, “The Wild Blue Yonder” for the U.S. Air Force, and “Semper-Paratus” for the U.S. Coast Guard. The Marine Corps Hymm, below. (Wouldn’t you know my phone rang right in the middle, so missed a bit and split in two).
The Marine’s Hymm (Halls of Montezuma)
The 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band from MCAS – Cherry Point, NC
A Little More Sweet Nostalgia — The first Saturday of July, small town Oriental, North Carolina begins its annual Croaker Festival with a parade down main street.