Drum Major suspended for Obama nod at inaugural parade?

In drill team if we fell out of step or did something wrong, we got demerits. But, I think suspension for six months is a bit excessive, military parade or not.

I don't know if this was a military band or not. Doesn't matter. If he signed up to be drum major even with the excessive rules, he has to follow them. The people playing instruments aren't allowed to stop and wave to the president (or their family or whomever else is in the crowd). The drum major is the guy in charge. OK, I would've let him get away with the nod, but the wave was a little too much. I wouldn't even let a high school drum major get away with waving.

If it had not been the inauguration, say a New Years parade instead, there would not be any controversy about this. Would not have even made the news. He violated, knowingly the protocol prescribed for participation in the parade. What if he had nodded to outgoing Pres. Bush instead? Off with his head! So no it does not bother me.

First and foremost - They are what's called a non-com regiment, meaning they are not an official military regiment. As a non-commissioned regiment, they can do what they want - even march in blue jeans if they so choose.

Second of all - even if they were a commissioned regiment of the armed forces, an official salute would still have been entirely appropriate because the president of the United States is commander-in-chief of the armed forces, meaning even generals salute the president.

Third of all - as a US citizen he can do as he da*m well pleases. If he chooses to acknowledge a new US president, more power to him.

I say stand up and take a bow, drum major!

P.S. I was in 2 marching bands in high school and university. Hey, which is worse - nodding to a new president or being out of step in front of the judges?? Or doing a flip and flopping instead on live broadcast ABC Sports?

Not excessive.

I am surprised that nobody bothered to ask if he was not being disrespectful. After all didn't pretty much let the President ( and the rest of the world ) know that he does not think Obama deserved the respect of having the band perform with the proper decorum? In a way he did give Obama "the finger".

Don't we have more pressing problems to deal with in this country?

It was a good moment on camera, it will be remembered for years to come. The drum major will survive not being on the band for six months, I think it was all well worth it. Too often martinets can't see the forest for the trees, all they see are rules in front of them. And they'll do absolutely nothing to help take care of the real problems of this country.

Should he receive punishment? It's like baseball, if you break the rules, you have to live with the consequences. So, the drum major is suspended for six months. There's lots more to life than being in a band. That's my point. Again, I will repeat, band martinets that stress rules and decorum are doing just about as much about the real problems of this country as roosters are in bringing up the sun by crowing. I have to ask, how is having an "impeccable military band" during an inaugural parade is going to help anything at all in this country? People seem to be divided into two factions, which seems clear among those who've answered here: 1) those that love rules for the stake of rules, and 2) those interested in real solutions to real problems.

News Update: John Coleman, the suspended drum major, has just quit, rather than put up with this any longer. John Pipes is reportedly "surprised". Oh indeed? What was he expecting?

A quote from the bandleader:

"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," said bandleader Pipe Major Mike Engle. "Unfortunately, John chose to ignore that."

Imagine if all the members of the bands took it upon themselves to do the same thing. It would not be a "military" parade. He broke strict protocol and behaved in an unprofessional and cavalier way. It's unfortunate that he didn't voice his objections to the protocol before the parade, but the suspension was appropriate in this case.

Not excessive at all. He'd get the same punishment if it WEREN'T the President, so why should it be different. Here is a quote from the article:

"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," said bandleader Pipe Major Mike Engle. "Unfortunately, John chose to ignore that."

His punishment was fair and justified.

Why should he be excused. He was the drum major, the one who most likely trained all the other people. if someone he trained or under him did that they would be in trouble too.

He is the leader and must set a precendent and a higher one at that. Lead by example.

That and WalMart had roll backs on Wisconsin Cheddar and Hillshire Brand Polish Kielbasa. Quite a day in Cleveland Ohio.