The crowd falls silent as the light taps of foot steps begin to emerge from the silence. The drums begin to boom as the United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps, known as “The Commandant’s Own,” march onto the 52 Area parade deck at the School of Infantry – West on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California.
The Battle Color Detachment comes to Camp Pendleton every spring to preform in front of hundreds of service members and their families.
“It’s really an honor to serve the Marine Corps in this way,” said Gunnery Sgt. Josh Dannemiller, assistant drum major for the Commandant’s Own. “We get to show the Marines and the civilians what the Marine Corps is all about in drill and presence.”
The Marines with the Battle Color Detachment spend 12 hours a day training for their ceremony performance.
“This is the seventh time I’ve seen them and every time is awesome,” said Sgt. Maj. Justin Gruder, the sergeant major of SOI-West. “You can see the time and practice they put into every performance.”
The Battle Color Ceremony will be at Camp Pendleton during spring of next year.
“We always love seeing them perform and we look forward to them coming next year,” said Gruder.
