Monday, April 5, 2010

My kind of retirement ceremony

The retirement ceremony ranks at the bottom of a Navy band's list of enjoyable gigs, tied with its brother-in-boredom, the change of command.

Here's a new approach to the retirement ceremony, one I think you'll endorse. The retiree, Command Master Chief Mo Radke, instead of delivering a long, dry recitation, speaks only long enough to cue the big band from the U.S. Pacific Fleet Band. Along with the master chief's father, trumpeter Fred Radke, leader of the Harry James Orchestra, the band then shows that a retirement ceremony can, indeed, swing.


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2 comments:

  1. mo radke5:53 AM

    Fred is also an honorary Chief MU. He has supported Navy musicians in the Seattle area for 30 years. It was great to have him and a swing band vice a souza band at my retirment. Iwas tired of funerals
    Aloha,

    Mo

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  2. Frank Mullen III11:09 AM

    Thanks for the input, master chief. The YouTube videos of your ceremony make it clear it was a swinging occasion.

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