March 4 - National Marching Music Day

Happy National Marching music Day! On March 4th, today is a great time to march forth to the rhythm of life.  

Every March 4th, it's a good idea to honor the dedicated musicians and performers of many diverse styles and backgrounds. National Marching Music Day celebrates all varieties of art forms that bring us “music on the move.” 

For centuries, the beat of a drum has kept military units moving in unison. From the training field to the battlefield, the football stadium to the Broadway stage, marching music delights performers and spectators. They perform in small gyms, auditoriums, and grand arenas.  

From small parades to impressive spectacles, fifers, pipers, buglers, drum corps, marching bands, parade groups, drill teams, and color guards bring music to life. They bring audiences to their feet and stir a crowd to an enthusiastic roar. 

Military Roots & Technology 

The military roots of the drum corps have evolved over time. A well-rooted art form, marching music moves us during somber memorials. And yet it thrills us with an ability to perform delightful music and execute intricate routines with exact precision.  

Drill squads, marching bands, drum lines, and drum corps name but a few of the many styles of marching music that have developed over the years. They all engage hundreds of thousands of performers of all ages, abilities and experience levels. 

We see marching music in schools, military units, community celebrations and local auxiliaries. The music is as varied as the ensembles themselves, too! Instruments may be limited to brass in some settings or may include woodwinds and electric guitars in others.  

Dance teams, baton twirlers and color guards perform to soundtracks ranging from traditional, standard marches to rock and roll, jazz, contemporary and electronic dance music. 

And marching music keeps changing! Spectacular string bands incorporate their own unique sound and elaborate costuming. 

Technology has also brought about the production of lighter, electronic and digital instruments making it possible for musicians to march with violins, cellos, basses and synthesizers to entertain crowds in unique and creative new ways. 

HOW TO OBSERVE 

Support your local marching music groups by attending their performances, backing their competitions, contributing to their endeavors or becoming one of their musicians.  

Whether it’s through a school, a veterans group or an independent ensemble, they will appreciate your support. Use #MarchForth #MarchingMusicDay to share your support on social media. 

HISTORY 

Drum Corps International founded National Marching Music Day to celebrate marching music as an engaging and ever-expanding art form around the world, and to help celebrate Music In Our Schools Month.  

As an ideal play on words, March Fourth was chosen. Beginning in 2017, the Registrar at National Day Calendar® declared the day to March forth into celebration annually. 

#MarchForth 

#MarchingMusicDay 

@drumcorpsinternational 

@nichecinema 

March 4 - National Grammar Day

Happy National Grammar Day! On March 4th, today's observance encourages the use of correct grammar in both verbal and written language.  

According to the Global Language Monitor (GLM), the estimated number of words in the English language is 1,025,109! There is some controversy over that figure, but it’s safe to say it is over a million. 

Language is something to celebrate.  Some people might suggest that grammar is a set of rules for language, but it is a system for understanding language. 

Understanding the system and the structure helps us to understand each other better and can help us to learn new languages. 

HOW TO OBSERVE 

There’re so many ways to celebrate the day. Try these on for size: 

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  • Read a new blog, book, magazine or newspaper. You might learn a new turn of phrase or word.  
• • Learn a new word from another language. Not all languages use the same grammar rules. Some languages even have words that don’t exist in other languages.  
• • Spend time with someone who speaks your first language as a second language. You might learn something new about syntax, tense or spelling.  
• • What might be a grammar error in one language is perfectly fine in another. Do you speak two languages or more? What are the unique differences between grammar rules that you’ve noticed? 

Today, do your best to use proper grammar and use #NationalGrammarDay to post on social media. 

HISTORY 

American author of  fiction and nonfiction for children and adults Martha Brockenbrough is also the founder of the Society for the Promotion of Good Grammar. In 2008, she designated National Grammar Day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Gv0H-vPoDc  

#NationalGrammarDay 

@mbrockenbrough 

@LanguageMonitor 

@nichecinema 

March 4 - National Hug A G.I. Day

Happy National Hug A G.I. Day! As the only day on the calendar that is mnemonically a military command, March 4th recognizes this day. 

Gather around your servicemen and women to give them a hug. It’s simply a way to show your support. With either a pat on the back or hearty handshake, be sure to give both past and present G.I.s your appreciation.  

While G.I.s refer to U.S. Army personnel, the day encompasses all those who have served in the military.  So, be sure to hug those Jarheads, Wingnuts, Squids and Coasties as well! 

Today, the term G.I. is fairly commonly known to refer to those serving in the U.S. Armed Forces of the United States of America. How that came to be is a little less military protocol and more the American story. 

It seems at the turn of the 20th century, G.I. was a notation used in supply records for galvanized iron. It was later used during World War I for German artillery shells made from galvanized iron. 

Sometime during the war soldiers started interpreting the initials as “Government Issue” or “General Issue”. By the time World War II came around it was starting to gain meaning as the generic enlisted man. 

Not surprisingly, sarcastic usage among many servicemen was common, feeling they were just like any other government Issued supply being mass-produced for Uncle Sam. 

About that time G.I. Joe was born. His creator, comic strip artist and former Army Sergeant David Breger, issued his first G.I. Joe cartoon series in Yank magazine on June 17, 1942. 

The term G.I. became more permanently etched in the American language when in 1944 32nd U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the bill that became known as the G.I. Bill; Servicemen’s Readjustment Act. 

And then there was no going back when Hasbro® trademarked their G.I. Joe as an action figure in 1964. And knowing this is half the battle. 

HOW TO OBSERVE 

Find a G.I. that you know and give them a hug. Is your G.I. too far away to give a hug? Send him or her a virtual one via text, e-mail, phone or even snail mail. Use #HugAGIDay to post on social media. 

HISTORY 

In 1996, American premier "eventologist" Adrienne Sioux Koopersmith created National Hug A G.I. Day. 

She had selected the only day on the calendar that was also a military command to salute and celebrate the men and women who risk their lives for our country and freedoms.  

National Day Calendar® has included the link to the original page for you below. 

http://adriennesiouxkoopersmith.blogspot.com/2013/02/hug-gi-day-1996-ask-style-celebrating.html 

Thank you for your service! 

#HugAGIDay 

@ask_koopersmith 

@nichecinema