# Freedom 250 - The Great American State Fair **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 29, 2026, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470 "2026-05-29T03:08:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/301 "2026-06-25T04:40:24Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > I do believe there are people that play in military bands as a career. This is exactly correct. Each of the U.S. armed forces branches has at least one band, and the Army and Air Force have several. It appears that the Army may have several rock bands, in fact. [https://www.war.gov/News/Feature-Stories/story/Article/1633695/guide-to-us-military-bands-and-music/](https://www.war.gov/News/Feature-Stories/story/Article/1633695/guide-to-us-military-bands-and-music/) ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/302 "2026-06-25T04:43:07Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > Is that their fulltime Army job, playing in a rock band? AFAICT, all US military bands and other musical ensembles are composed of regularly enlisted or commissioned servicemembers. But a few of them are “premier ensembles” whose members have no duties other than being musicians. Source: [United States military bands - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_military_bands) ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/303 "2026-06-25T04:55:22Z")
Seems like waste to me. I’m sure the musicians are happy with the arraignment, but I fail to see how it benefits anybody else. If there’s a function that requires a rock band, they should just hire one. Stimulate the economy and save a buck. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/304 "2026-06-25T04:58:10Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > I’m sure the musicians are happy with the arraignment, but I fail to see how it benefits anybody else. As I understand it, the bands are seen by the military as a PR and recruiting tool; if they didn’t see a benefit, they wouldn’t do it. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/305 "2026-06-25T05:01:34Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > I’m sure the musicians are happy with the arraignment What’s one more arraignment to this administration? ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/306 "2026-06-25T05:01:48Z")
If one person enlisted having been influenced by the Army rock band I would be surprised. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/307 "2026-06-25T05:06:24Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > If one person enlisted having been influenced by the Army rock band I would be surprised _shrug_ I don’t care to argue the point further. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/308 "2026-06-25T05:08:39Z")
Does anybody else want to justify the Army rock band? 😀 ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/309 "2026-06-25T05:18:48Z")
You might even call it “extraordinary magnitude”. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/310 "2026-06-25T05:24:59Z")
I think Military bands are not a Trump iniative. Been around a long long time. These rock bands? I haven’t listened to them, but I’ll bet they’re all good musicians and can perform well enough. My cousin was in a Navy marching band. He retired after 10 or 12 years. Got a teaching certificate. Went on to be a band leader and music teacher. Played trombone. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/311 "2026-06-25T05:33:52Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I think Military bands are not a Trump iniative. > > Been around a long long time. Of course. John Philip Sousa was the director of the Marine Band, over 100 years ago. The point is that, for the most part, the only musicians which Trump could get to perform at his big party were ones which he could order to do so. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/312 "2026-06-25T11:50:13Z")
Really American would have been to have a Battle of the Bands in each state, and have the winners battle it out for the “Fair”. > [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I haven’t listened to them, but I’ll bet they’re all good musicians and can perform well enough I should hope so. ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/313 "2026-06-25T12:08:39Z")
So the country is being entertained by the spectacle of some MMA gladiatorial combat in front of the White House. Does anyone know if they’re maybe distributing free bread as well? Maybe I’ll bring the kids. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/314 "2026-06-25T14:50:49Z")
Give out free stuff to the poors? Trump? Are you joking? It’s “bullshit and circuses” these days. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/315 "2026-06-25T15:27:35Z")
> [@Cardigan](#): > > free bread Affordability is a woke socialist hoax! But seriously, you’d think they’d learn from history. More than one Roman emperor had issues with availability and affordability of wheat. And let’s forget (urban legend though it is) what Marie Antoinette was reported to have said ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/316 "2026-06-25T16:22:35Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > Does anybody else want to justify the Army rock band? 😀 This is the Straight Dope, after all: [challenge accepted.](https://usarmyband.com/mission) > [@](#): > > The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own” has been the premier musical organization of the U.S. Army since 1922 […] “Pershing’s Own” provides music support for the leadership of the United States, to include all branches of government, and to a wide spectrum of national and international events in support of Soldiers and their Families, public diplomacy, memorial affairs, community and international relations, and recruiting initiatives. […] > > Over the years the band has expanded in scope and diversity, today consisting of over 260 enlisted musicians and support staff and nine official ensembles: The U.S. Army Concert Band, The U.S. Army Ceremonial Band, The U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, The U.S. Army Chorus, The U.S. Army Strings, The U.S. Army Blues (big band/jazz), The U.S. Army Band Downrange (pop/rock), The U.S. Army Brass Quintet, and The U.S. Army Woodwind Quintet. Personnel from several elements are combined to create The U.S. Army Orchestra and myriad small chamber ensembles and combos. > > Today the musicians of this prestigious unit render musical honors on a regular basis for our Nation’s leaders, foreign dignitaries and heads of state, diplomats, and of course, our veterans. The band’s most important duties are performed in honoring our Nation’s heroes at Arlington National Cemetery. Elements of the band have been visible in support of every presidential inauguration and have been part of the official escort to the president in each inaugural parade since 1925. Also, The U.S. Army Band plays a vital role in music education, often serving as the featured group at prominent music conferences and conventions throughout the Nation and abroad. So, we’re talking about fewer than 300 servicepeople in all these premier ensembles, which have numerous and diverse roles in military ceremonies and state events. If you’re willing to accept that military music ensembles have any valid role at all in a national military, I can’t see why you woiuld make a specific exception for the particular type of music (pop/rock, as played by the abovementioned Downrange group) that most people are most interested in listening to. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/317 "2026-06-25T17:09:17Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > And let’s forget (urban legend though it is) what Marie Antoinette was reported to have said “Let them eat raw milk!” ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/318 "2026-06-25T18:04:50Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > If you’re willing to accept that military music ensembles have any valid role at all in a national military, I can’t see why you woiuld make a specific exception for the particular type of music (pop/rock, as played by the abovementioned Downrange group) that most people are most interested in listening to. There are occasions calling for military type music, and ceremonies where it’s expected. I still say, if there are times when only a rock or jazz band will do, hire a working band. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/319 "2026-06-25T18:05:00Z")
I’m as patriotic as they come, but there’s an awful lot to be worried about for USA250: > **[250 years on, a vast majority of Americans think the country’s founders would...](https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/25/politics/americans-sentiment-250-celebration-polls)** > > More than three-quarters of Americans think the country’s founders would be disappointed with the US today, according to a Gallup poll released this week – one of several new surveys spotlighting the public’s complicated feelings about the nation’s... ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/320 "2026-06-25T18:43:08Z")
> [@Cardigan](#): > > Maybe I’ll bring the kids. I’d first make sure there haven’t been any statues to Moloch erected. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470.md?page=17)