WASHINGTON -- Nov. 6, 2024 marks the 170th birthday of the Marine Band's esteemed 17th Director, John Philip Sousa, and the 58th year of the Marine Band's annual celebratory performance at Sousa's gravesite in honor of their former leader.
Join the Marine Band for this special performance at 1 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 6 at the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, D.C. (1801 E St. SE). This event is open to the public and tickets are not required.
The ceremony will kick off with the band marching into historic Congressional Cemetery led by the band's drum major, who will guide the musicians through the headstones to Sousa's final resting place. As the band members take their places flanking Sousa's grave, Assistant Director Captain Darren Lin will conduct several definitive Sousa marches including "Semper Fidelis” and America's national march: "The Stars and Stripes Forever." Following the series of spirited musical performances, Lin will briefly cover Sousa's musical history for those in attendance.
“John Philip Sousa was a transformative figure for the Marine Band,” Capt. Lin said. “The exceptional musicianship, quality programming, and high level of performance that audiences enjoy today are all directly tied to his work as our 17th Director."
John Philip Sousa is known for bringing the Marine Band to its current level of excellence through his high standards for musical performance and, most notably, for making the Marine Band a household name by taking the ensemble on tour. His intimate knowledge of music coupled with his signature style earned him the title, “The March King.”
The tradition of honoring Sousa at his gravesite was first conceived on what would have been his 89th birthday in 1944. The Sousa Band Fraternal Society gathered for a celebratory dinner in which "there was a formal motion to the group stating that on each Nov. 6, the group would meet at Sousa's grave and play taps," said Scott Schwartz, Archivist for Music and Fine Arts and Director of the Sousa Archives and Center for American Music. "According to the next society newsletter, the group met at Sousa's grave on Nov. 6, 1945, to begin this celebration of his life. Both of his daughters were in attendance for this first grave side performance by the society."
The tradition was eventually passed on to the Marine Band; however, no known records exist to explain exactly how this exchange transpired. In any case, there is no doubt that the transition of this responsibility to the Marine Band was an appropriate one. Though its famed leader is long gone, it allows the Marine Band to help his music live on.
Additional Event Information