YSunday, July 8, 2007

SJI 155th Anniversary Parade

SJI's Anniversary Parade (AP) can be aptly described as "The First Half Of The National Day Parade But On A Much Smaller Scale In A Less Grand Location With Kids Instead Of Soldiers". Yes. Former Uniform Group Members, such as myself, have mixed feelings regarding this considerably important event in the SJI school calendar.

On one hand, we have been through this crap many times before, and can recall how we had to stand in the blistering mid-afternoon sun wearing thick leather boots carrying guns and musical instruments and sticks and things, during the many practices, and during the actual event. Whilst all this was going on, some terribly uninteresting event would be happening at the front, and we would all be having malicious thoughts, wanting to just... as I recall someone muttering through gritted teeth "to go in front and beat the shit out of that guy and make him shut the **** up". Thank god those NCC boys didn't have bullets in their guns, or else many APs would have ended in tragedy.

On the other hand, we, who had now graduated, didn't have to put up with such nonsense anymore, and could sit in the stands at spectators, and laugh (whilst pointing of course) at those poor children standing unwillingly out on the field in their smart uniforms. As you can imagine, quite a number of Old Boys came back.

This year's AP was especially special for me, a former Bandsman. It was the SJI Military Band's 50th Anniversary. This makes SJIMB it one of the oldest surviving Military Bands in Singapore today.

So anyway, AP started. The band started the parade, marching on to the field, playing our signature-tunes. This year they did some things a little differently. They carried out several new formations, which was pretty interesting to see. This year's the band's contingent was especially huge, i think at least a 100-odd bandsmen were marching. After the formations were completed, the other Uniformed Groups marched onto the field.

At this point, I recalled how boring AP was. So a few friends and I decided to proceed to the canteen for an unscheduled break, and we helped ourselves to the cold drinks that were provided. After a while we went back.

I do not wish to remember all the boring details, so I'll just elaborate about the more interesting aspects of AP.

One thing that has been consistent over the years is that the Narrator guy will read some sort of script. And for as long as I can remember, the script is always the same.

Halfway through the band's march in, two army helicopters flew over on the horizon, carrying a massive Singaporean flag. People started cheering wildly when they saw it. Whether or not this was planned, we will never know.

One of the more enjoyable things about AP is watching all the little children on the field who succumb to the effects of the sun beating down on their heads.They would either squat down (which I never quite understood) or begin to sway back and forth as if grooving to the silent beats of some New-Age music. As if on cue, two St. John's Ambulance Brigade boys would scamper onto the field, and carry the tired little boy off the field. There are several variations. Sometimes the tired boy would resist in an almost drunkard fashion, weaving and swaying while pushing away the SJAB boys. Others would stumble off dramatically, as if they had just spent a week without water in the Gobi desert, which of course, they didn't. The most casualties came from NCC Air, which was not unexpected. Year after year, they have been putting up solid consistent performances.

This year was especially memorable as one of the Flag-Bearers, who are some of the most important people, had to be taken off the field. Hilarity ensued when the person standing behind the flag bearer was volunteered to carry the flag. Even from my seat, I could see his look of disbelief. The flag-bearer's belt/sash was unceremoniously forced upon him, as was the flag bearer's hat. The flag was thrust into his hands, and he was forced to deal with this unconventional situation on his own. As usual, none of the bandsmen had to be escorted off the parade.

Halfway through the parade, a giant brown dog suddenly appeared, and ran onto the field. We thought the German neighbour had had enough, and finally snapped, and trained his massive dog to EAT SOME UNFORTUNATE CHILD, or at least take a piss on his leg. But it was not to be, and some non-white person went out to drag the animal back to the spectator stands.

This was SJIMB's 50th anniversary, so they got the first ever Drum Major to come to the parade, which was quite special. He presented a new gold mace to the band, which looked very nice.

Oh yes, the NCC leader guy would go hang out in the air-conditioned school office and drink cold drinks while his juniors were outside tolerating the ferocious heat.

After the change of command, the flags were lowered, and the current batch of leaders stepped down, allowing the next batch of leaders to take over. Parade was then dismissed. Many of the UGO members seemed extremely delighted, immediately taking off their caps and tossing them into the air, slapping each other on the backs, their faces alight with smiles. But there was one contingent, only one, that remained perfectly still at the end of parade.

The bandsmen were still. Not one of them moved a muscle. The current batch of Sec 4s then left the contingent, and formed a new group. The new Drum Major then took control, and led the band for the first time, marching past the saluting Sec 4s.

Band Toast was held next. All the bandsmen gathered at the canteen steps, along with the sizable number of alumni that were present. There we sung our three traditional songs, that have been passed down from many years ago. Our voices echoed loudly, all in the canteen heard us, but we didn't care, we weren't performing for them. The band was then finally dismissed at the parade square.

Once a bandsman, always a bandsman.

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Blogged @ 11:19 AM