By GottaLaff
Pipe Major Mike Engle, bandleader of the Cleveland Firefighters Memorial Pipes $ Drums, said Drum Major John Coleman has been suspended for six months after he acknowledged the president during last week's inaugural parade in Washington, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported Monday.
"We had gone over and over time and again with everyone in the band that this was a military parade. Protocol and proper decorum had to be followed at all times," Engle said. "Unfortunately, John chose to ignore that."
Engle said other bands in the parade complained about Coleman's behavior.
He... nodded? How unband-like! How disruptive!
"I looked over, and he smiled and waved. I was just acknowledging the president, who was acknowledging our band," [Coleman] said.Seems to me that he would have been rude not to reciprocate when the President of the United States made the first overture, even if it was meant for the entire band.
Face it, sometimes rules are made to be broken. In fact, if President Obama had smiled in my direction, I wouldn't have hesitated to respond.
Do you think dropping everything, breaking out of formation, running wildly and screaming like a maniac, throwing myself at the glass-enclosed booth, mouthing the words, "Thank you for restoring my sanity! I lerve you!" and licking the window would have been out of line?
Me neither.
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