USMC Silent Drill Platoon performs at LHS
Lebanon High School hosted the United States Marine Corps' Silent Drill Platoon in a special performance as part of the USMC's 250th anniversary.
The platoon, known for choreographed marching and percussive rhythm using specialized M1 rifles, made a special trip to Lebanon as part of Marine Week Nashville.
Nashville was one of six cities the USMC visited as part of the military branch's 250th birthday.
Staff Sergeant Anthony Havens said hours upon hours of training, repetition and preparation go into each performance the Silent Drill Platoon holds across the country.
'The hardest thing to overcome is yourself,' Sgt. Havens said. 'You have 39 other individuals who are all on the same page. Driven, focused, tenacious, it makes it a lot easier. I would say to those who are thinking about joining, it's a challenge. If you're up for it, I encourage you to accept it. It's like the cliche goes, nothing worth having comes easy.'
Veterans sat in attendance to watch as the Marines, using ceremonial rifles designed specifically for performances like the Silent Drill Platoon's, spun them around, passed them back and forth and used the butt of the stock as a loud 'thud' to accent certain beats of the performance, which is not unlike a drum line.
Lance Corporal Jalen Jones, a Tennessee native, joined the Marine Corps to look for a purpose, to keep from 'just sitting around.'
'For the Wilson County community to experience the Silent Drill Platoon, it gives an opportunity for them to see the magic of what the Marines do,' Joseph Padilla, Wilson County Schools board member and veteran, said.
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