Bands to honor fallen police, perform with Marines

On the heels of a trip to Cleveland to perform at the St. Patrick's Day Parade, the South Central High School Band is preparing for an exciting time honoring fallen police officers and playing with the Edison High School Band and the United States Marine Corps Band. "We are gearing up for another big performance in May," said Joe Gaither, South Central band director. He said that the bands will perform alongside the USMC band stationed in New Orleans on May 20 for the 35th Cleveland International Tattoo. The term, "tattoo," he explained, is an English translation of the Dutch phrase, "doe den tat to," meaning, "turn off the tap." The tradition, beginning in the 17th century, involved military drummers playing as they walked down the main streets of towns, as a call to tavern keepers to stop serving soldiers and send them back to their barracks. "It was a signal call," he said. After World War II, Gaither said, the British organized the first military performance for the public, to boost local morale. The word, "tattoo," was attached to annual events after they were moved inside castles, he said. Though tattoos began popping up world-wide, only five are held in the United States, with Cleveland's beginning in 1985, Gaither said. The next day, the bands will participate in Cleveland's Annual Police Commemoration. The observance will include a parade down Lakeside Avenue, also known as "Police Memorial Way," culminating in a commemorative service to honor all fallen Cleveland Police Officers. Both bands will spend the night in Cleveland, between performances, their directors said. "My seniors have never travelled on a trip," said Denise Reilly, Edison band director. "It's a special for them to go and do this performance." Reilly said scheduling cycles and the COVID-19 pandemic combined to deprive her senior students of opportunities for performances on the road. During the pandemic, however, her school system did all it could for the students in extra-curricular activities, and did not discontinue musical instruction, she said. "We were very fortunate that way," she said. "Edison has been so supportive of the music and the sports kids." An exciting aspect of the students making music with the Marines is to allow them to observe professional musicians in their own environment. "This is their day job, and they're the best in the world," Reilly said. "We are very privileged to go up there and do that."