Locals now have the opportunity to reserve their seats for this year’s evening parades at the Marine Barracks.
Friday Evening Parade reservations for the 2016 parade season are available at https://t.co/BEOwQ0lhh6. https://t.co/O09Gm7HsR3
— Marine Barracks DC (@MBWDC) March 2, 2016
The parades by more than 200 Marines with the Silent Drill Platoon, Marine Corps Band, and Drum and Bugle Corps are scheduled to begin at 8:45 p.m. every Friday from May 6 to Aug. 26. The Marines parade for about 90 minutes.
Reservations for the free seats at the parades are available online.
The Marines typically start each evening with “Ode to Joy,” “God Bless the USA” or another pick from their repertoire. The Drum and Bugle Corps will perform next, followed by the Silent Drill Platoon and the Drum and Bugle Corps again. A senior ranking officer and his or her guest also is honored at each parade.
Photo via Marine Barracks/Cpl. Chi Nguyen
(Updated at 2:05 p.m.) Police didn’t find anything hazardous after they received a report of a suspicious package near the Marine Barracks, according to authorities.
Police were dispatched to investigate a package at 8th and I streets SE about 11:15 a.m. By 1 p.m., they had concluded their investigation.
It wasn’t immediately clear what the package was.
At least some of 8th Street SE was temporarily closed during the investigation.
@PoPville suspicious package on barracks row. Street and sidewalk closed pic.twitter.com/IvNl4mIlL5
— Laura Meminger (@lauramemmy) September 23, 2015
Marine’s New Housing May Open Barracks Row Space for Development — The Marines are planning to build a new Bachelor Enlisted Quarters complex across Southeast Freeway from their current location on Barracks Row, possibly opening that area for private development. [Washington Business Journal]
Po Boy Jim to Bring Eating Contest Back to H Street Festival — H Street NE restaurant Po Boy Jim (709 H St. NE) will host its second annual po’ boy sandwich eating contest this weekend at the H Street Festival. [District Cuisine]
NoMa Residents Seek Help from Councilman Allen to Build Permanent Dog Park — Dog owners in NoMa are looking for Ward 6 Councilman Charles Allen’s help in bringing a permanent dog park to the neighborhood as an empty lot currently serving as an unofficial space for unleashed dogs nears development. [Hill Now]
Marine buglers and drummers are scheduled to perform at their last evening parade for the year on Barracks Row this week.
The performance is set for 8:45 p.m. Friday at the Marine Barracks. The evening parades, which have happened every Friday this year since May 1, feature the Silent Drill Platoon, Marine Corps Band, and Drum and Bugle Corps.
Although advance tickets to the parade no longer are available, the Marine Barracks offers free admission to people without reservations if ticket holders haven’t arrived by 8 p.m.
More than 200 Marines take part in the parades, which are about an hour-and-a-half long, The Marine Barracks has seating for 3,500 people at each parade.
The performances start with “Ode to Joy,” “God Bless the USA” or another pick from the musicians’ repertoire. Then, the Drum and Bugle Corps will play, the Silent Drill Platoon will go on, and the Drum and Bugle Corps will take the field again.
A senior ranking officer and his or her guest also is honored at each parade.
Photo via Facebook/Marine Barracks
The U.S. military doesn’t plan to use several acres of privately owned or leased land in Navy Yard for new U.S. Marine Corps housing, setting its sights on federal land just south of the Southeast Freeway, the U.S. Defense Department announced last week.
The Marines are looking to put a “Bachelor Enlisted Quarters” within the Marine Barracks Annex property at 1053 7th St. SE. The almost 1-acre site currently holds a basketball court, gazebo and sports fields.
“The Marine Corps identified [the site] as the preferred alternative based on this agency and public input, as well as its proximity to the [Marine Barracks] main post and annex, the elimination of the need for land acquisition and the mitigatable environmental impacts of locating the [housing] at this site,” a Marines website says.
JDLand was the first to report the announcement of the complex’s planned location, which was first discussed in 2010.
Draft studies for the construction of a new quarters listed five proposed sites. Three of the properties are located on privately owned or leased land. The rest of the sites are owned and occupied by the federal government.
Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton and area neighbors expressed concern about locating the complex on privately owned or leased land occupied by the National Capital Area Spay and Neuter Center and other organizations.
The Defense Department expects to issue a final decision on the location for the new quarters early next year.
Barracks Row doughnut and coffee shop District Doughnut announced that they plan to celebrate National Doughnut Day by raising money for their neighbors — the United States Marine Corps.
All proceeds from the sales of their $1 Vanilla Bean Glazed doughnuts on Friday will be donated to the Semper Fi Fund, which financially assists injured military members.
District Doughnut is also collaborating with delivery service Postmates to cater to those who cannot make it to the store on Friday. Beginning at 10 a.m., the companies will deliver four donuts for $5.
“On National Doughnut Day we invite our friends, family, and fans to support a worthy cause,” says Greg Menna, owner of District Doughnut, in a press release. “We hope to express gratitude to our brothers and sisters who have suffered to protect our many freedoms and blessings.”
Image from District Doughnut Twitter Account
(Updated at 9:45 a.m. Wednesday) The U.S. Marine Corps would receive new housing on federal land in the Navy Yard neighborhood under a plan supported by Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton.
The congresswoman has called on the military to construct a new “Bachelor Enlisted Quarters” for marines on one of two areas the U.S. government owns in Near Southeast. The military is considering the two locations and three privately owned or leased sites in the neighborhood for the quarters, which would house marines stationed at the 8th Street SE barracks.
Released by the Marine Corps in April, the plan calls for the new quarters to replace the existing housing at 8th and I streets SE. All five locations under consideration are located between 5th and 11th streets SE, south of Southeast Freeway.
Putting the new housing on any of the privately owned or leased sites would cause “significant negative impacts” on D.C. residents, Norton wrote in a letter to the Marine Corps released today. Those locations include Site C just west of the Washington Navy Yard and Sites A and B, adjacent to the Virginia Avenue Park.
Site D within the boundaries of the Washington Navy Yard and Site E within the Marine Barracks Annex property at 1053 7th St. SE are the “best options” for the new quarters, Norton wrote.
“The Marines cannot now swoop in and take these prized sites in a city that has almost no land left for development for the benefit of its growing population and businesses,” she wrote.
Capt. Diann Rosenfeld, a Marine Barracks spokeswoman, declined to comment.
Image via U.S. Marine Corps
The Friday night parade on Barracks Row will have a big-name guest of honor tomorrow — Sen. John McCain.
The senator will be the guest of Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Joseph Dunford Jr., Barracks officials announced this afternoon. The festivities will include the U.S. Marine Band, Silent Drill Platoon, U.S. Marine Drum and Bugle Corps and two companies of marchers.
“When determining guests of honor for Marine Barracks Washington evening and sunset parades, the Marine Corps typically highlights veterans, public officials and other individuals or organizations who support Marines and their families,” a statement from the U.S. Marine Corps communication office said.
The parade begins at 8:45 p.m. All guaranteed seats are currently booked, but a standby, general admission line will start forming about 7 p.m..
“Ninety-five percent of the time,” people in that line can be seated by 8 p.m., Capt. Diann Rosenfeld said.
More than 3,500 people attend the Friday evening parades at the Marine Barracks every Friday night through Aug. 28, as Hill Now reported earlier this year.
First-time attendees can expect marchers to kick off the evening with “Ode to Joy,” “God Bless the USA” or another pick from their repertoire. Then, the Drum and Bugle Corps will perform, the Silent Drill Platoon will go on, and the Drum and Bugle Corps will take the field again. A senior ranking officer and his or her guest is honored at each parade.
Photo via McCain.Senate.gov
Aftermath of Suicide at the Capitol Building — The person who fatally shot himself on the west side of the Capitol building on Saturday was a 22-year-old with an Illinois address. He reportedly was carrying a sign that said “Tax the one percent.” Regular tourism continued this weekend, though some visitors said they were haunted by the news. [Washington Post]
Bullfrog Bagels Opening Near Eastern Market — The popular H Street NE bagel shop Bullfrog Bagels will open a second outpost, at 317 7th St. SE, near Eastern Market. The shop will likely open in September, the owner said. [Capitol Hill Corner]
Man’s Body Found Off Southwest Waterfront — A man’s body was recovered from the water Saturday afternoon near the 1300 block of Maine Avenue SW, police said Sunday. [WTOP]
Potential Marine Barracks Construction Sites — The U.S. Marine Corps released a study of five potential sites for new housing near the Marine Barracks complex on 8th Street SE. All five sites are between 5th and 11th streets SE, south of Southeast Freeway. [JDLand]
International Spy Museum May Move to L’Enfant Plaza — The museum wants to build at six-story building at 900 L’Enfant Plaza. The plan is subject to approval by the Commission of Fine Arts and will be reviewed this week. [Washington Business Journal]
The sound of bugles and drums will return soon to Barracks Row on Friday nights.
Friday evening parades by the Silent Drill Platoon, Marine Corps Band, and Drum and Bugle Corps will begin May 1, the Corps announced. The performances will be held at the Marine Barracks every Friday at 8:45 p.m. through Aug. 28. Bookings for the free seats are already rolling in, Capt. Diann Rosenfeld said.
“The parades are booked every single evening,” she said.
Marchers in the parade began practicing last week, and members of the Drum and Bugle Corps and the Silent Drill Platoon prepare and perform year-round. Rosenfeld said she never fails to be impressed by the silent performers.
“I’m always in awe of the Marines’ precision and skill when they are on the parade deck,” she said.
More than 200 Marines hand-selected for their performance units will participate in the parades, which each run about an hour-and-a-half. More than 3,500 people attend every Friday night.
First-time attendees can expect marchers to kick off the evening with “Ode to Joy,” “God Bless the USA” or another pick from their repertoire. Then, the Drum and Bugle Corps will perform, the Silent Drill Platoon will go on, and the Drum and Bugle Corps will take the field again. A senior ranking officer and his or her guest is honored at each parade.
Parade reservations can be made on the Marines’ website.
Photo via Facebook/Marine Barracks
At least 10 Marines will stand guard at the gates of the Marine Barracks on Thursday, as Capitol Hill residents open their Christmas stockings and enjoy a day off work.
In an interview on the 6-acre compound, Hill Now spoke with three Marines who will be on duty Christmas Day.
Cpl. Joe Grilo, 24, will miss a low-key day of presents with his wife, who’s expecting their first child in February.
“After being on post more than three years, I’ve missed so many holidays,” Grillo said.
The Florida native will supervise Lance Cpl. Alec Andrzejek and Lance Cpl. Jake Andrzejek, 20-year-old twin brothers in their first year at the 8th and I street SE barracks.
Standing on post for 8 to 12 hours any day of the year is just part of the job, Jake Andrzejek said.
“Everybody who serves, they miss an important day, whether it’s a holiday or a birthday,” he said.
He and his twin, who share a room in the Marine Barracks Annex, will be absent from a day of church and family meals in their native Minnesota.
The long shifts can be monotonous, the infantry Marines admitted. Conversations with neighbors help break up the day.
“People come up and talk with us,” Grilo said. “It’s a good way to pass some time.”
Sympathetic neighbors have offered the Marines food and drinks as they stand guard, and the new Barracks Row business District Doughnut brought a whole box of treats.
“I’ve had people offer me a beer from The Ugly Mug, though obviously I can’t take that,” Grilo said.
The Marines are allowed to take store-bought sweets, but homemade Christmas cookies might not be in their future on Thursday.
“If it’s homemade, we can’t necessarily accept it,” Jake Andrzejek said.
