22.04.2015.
Ceremonial march of the Orchestra of the Guard of the Serbian Armed Forces
Those who took a stroll to the city center today probably came across the ceremonial march of the Orchestra of the Guard of the Serbian Armed Forces, held on the occasion of the Serbian Armed Forces Day.Serbian Armed Forces celebrates its holiday on 23rd April, in memory of the day when, in 1815, the Second Serbian Uprising began. This event was a mileston in the creation of the modern Serbian state and military. One of the legacies of the Uprising is the creation of the professional army and the foundation of the Guard, which consisted of 76 young men from best village families “by their physique and reputation”.
The ceremonial march was opened in front of the monument to Prince Mihajlo with the sounding of fanfares and the March on the Drina. Then, members of the orchestra, moving from the Republic Square to Kalemegdan, played several popular marches, and covers of some popular melodies, including March of Aleksandar I, March of King Milan Obrenovic, march from the film Neretva, St. Louis Blues by Glenn Miller, and other compositions.
The march drew the attention of anyone close by. Citizens followed the members of the Guard with amazement during the entire march and applauded after each number. As usual, it seemed that the youngest ones enjoyed the most. “How can they march and carry the big instruments at the same time!” – seven-year-old Milan wondered, trying to imitate the marching step. His older sister Masa was wowed by the blue uniforms.
The Algerian delegation, guests of the Guard in the week of marching the serbia Armed Forces Day, liked both the uniforms and the entire ceremonial march. The three-member delegation includes Colonel Hallasa Moussa, Regiment Commander of the Republican Guard of Algeria for protocol, Major Berkia Zohir, Chief of the Operative Center of the Republican Guard, and Captain Bennoui Diaelkah, Commander of the Musical Unit. They came to learn more about our methods of preparation and training of tasks of military honours. Three days later, they concluded that they are rather satisfied with what they had seen.
The march ended in front of the Military Museum in Kalemegdan, where the audience once again listened to the March on the Drina.
