What the history books don’t, but should, teach us.

The song that bears the title of this piece is the one you most likely hear when attending a graduation ceremony. You wouldn’t hear it played at a Sophomore end of year party, any more than you’d hear it played on the senior class trip. No, Pomp and Circumstance is a tradition that signifies a graduation and its celebratory tone is intended only for that occasion.

Similarly, it is only acceptable to play the one and only presidential march, entitled Hail to the Chief, after the new president of the United States has been inaugurated. Written by Albert Ganse and set to music by James Sanderson, Hail to the Chief was made the official music to announce the president in 1954. One rarely hears the words, but they are illustrative.

Hail to the Chief we have chosen for the nation,
Hail to the Chief! We salute him, one and all.
Hail to the Chief, as we pledge cooperation
In proud fulfillment of a great, noble call.

Yours is the aim to make this grand country grander,
This you will do, that’s our strong, firm belief.
Hail to the one we selected as commander,
Hail to the President! Hail to the Chief!

Notice the emphasis in the words. But today, like so many other things in this campaign, basic respect for the traditions developed and adopted in this great democracy have been thrown aside.

More “Pomp and Circumstance”