Is it really summer without outdoor concerts? The thrill of listening to music under the summer sky without the benefits of hall acoustics… the numerous bug bites.
We attended the Memorial Day Concert but hadn’t had a chance to attend any other until August 17th when we were able to head down to the Sylvan Theater on the grounds of the Washington Monument. There we had the opportunity to attend our 2nd 1812 Overture Concert put on by “Pershing’s Own” U.S. Army Band. This year they played a Disney Medley and the ever popular Armed Forces Medley where members/veterans of the various services stand as their service’s song is played. They also played a medley of songs popular throughout the history of our nation’s wars including “Your in the Army Now” and “Proud to be an American.”
The highlight of the night is always the Presidential Salute Battery firing its four three-inch anti-tank guns.
These guns weigh a whopping 5,775 pounds and are vintage WWII guns. Did you realize it takes one-and-a-half pounds of gunpowder to fire each shell? Between the four guns, twenty-three 75mm blank shells are fired in time to the conclusion of the Overture with the grand finale being a volley fired by all four cannons. Amazing!
