You guys know about our service songs. I think the Marines have the coolest one: You know, the one about fighting "From the Halls of Montezuma to the Shores of Tripoli" and being "First to fight". Hell. Is there anything in the world of military music more stirring than "Semper Fidelis" or "The Stars and Stripes Forever"? You had John Philip Sousa. Marine Corps martial music is indeed the world's finest.
The Army's service song is great, too; although it was originally "The Caissons go Rolling Along". Evidently nobody knows what a "cassion" is anymore (It's a horsedrawn artillery ammo chest) however; so now it's the Army that goes rolling along.
I can't say I see anything overtly military about the Navy's theme "Anchors Away", but it does take some 'nads to hoist anchor and go sailing into harm's way.
Which brings us it would seem to the anthem of MY branch, the United States Air Force.
The anthem, "Wild Blue Yonder" happens to be the only service anthem that mentions the possibility of DEFEAT!
According to that gem of martial musicianship, we go off "into the sun" and "give 'em the gun". Then we "rise to fame OR GO DOWN IN FLAMES!" (but nothing can stop us). Cheese and rice.
Nothing in the Navy anthem about a submarine sinking. Nothing in the Army song about cassions getting stuck in the mud. And certainly nothing about Marines falling overboard. But here in the middle of MY services' song is a line about an airplane GOING DOWN IN FLAMES. Cheeze Louise.
Oh well. HAPPY VETERANS DAY, MY FELLOW WARRIORS!
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