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ID card holders invited to attend bilingual military tattoo

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Katherine Windish
  • 11th Wing Public Affairs
BOLLING AIR FORCE BASE, D.C. --  A Tattoo dress rehearsal June 12 and full performance June 13 are open to all Department of Defense identification card holders at 8:30 p.m. on the Ceremonial Lawn at Bolling AFB in Washington, D.C. The Tattoos feature precision performances by some the Air Force's finest.

Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, U.S. Air Force chief of staff, is hosting the Tattoo featuring the United States Air Force Honor Guard and the United States Air Force Band. The Tattoo is celebrating "50 Years of Friendship and Cooperation" between nations belonging to the System of Cooperation among American Air Forces June 13 on the United States Air Force Ceremonial Lawn. Air chiefs from several American nations will be on hand as the chief of staff's guests.

This Tattoo celebrates 50 years since the first informal gathering of American Air Chiefs. SICOFAA, the organization, was established in 1964. SICOFAA is an organizational alliance of North, Central and South American Air Forces and includes 18 member nations.

The bilingual production at Bolling will incorporate the traditional ceremonial Tattoo sequence of a formal presentation of command, ceremonial honors, feature segments, pass in review and closing. The feature segments include the Drill Team, drum solo, Max Impact and the new Honor Guard element, Air Strike.

The evening's narrator is Senior Master Sgt. Kevin Burns, United States Air Force Band, in a traditional vintage uniform. The Tattoo will be narrated in Spanish and English to accommodate the official language of the organization.

A video segment will also be shown narrating the history and accomplishments of SICOFAA.

Max Impact and the Ceremonial Brass will play bi-lingual songs, accompanied by Air Strike's drill maneuvers.

A final narrative and the playing of Taps will conclude the ceremony.

Though tattoos are traditionally held every year at Bolling Air Force Base, this Tattoo is the first of its kind celebrating the nations' alliance and is the official arrival ceremony for delegates arriving from the air forces.

Military tattoo's are rich with tradition, the playing of Taps signifying the conclusion of the event is one of many customs kept alive through the year's - even from before the Revolutionary War.

The tattoo itself is symbolic of a ceremony dating back more than 300 years to King William III's British Army serving in the Netherlands. The troops of King William's army were housed in the towns surrounding the battlefields, and according to historical officials, went to the local inns to spend the evenings. Drummers marching through the streets signaled the soldiers to leave the pubs and reminded the Dutch innkeepers it was time to stop selling beer.

In the language of that era, the soldiers would have said "doe den tap toe" meaning, "turn off the taps." It has since been shortened to "tattoo."

As the custom developed, the drums were joined by flutes and then other musical instruments. Eventually, full bands played for the whole garrison and the tradition of a military tattoo began.

"This year we've strived to properly represent the history of this great tradition while also showing our joint partners how far we've come through the years," said Lt. Col. Michael Burk, 11th Operations Group deputy commander. "It's always an honor to showcase the United States Air Force and our great capabilities."