The hills were alive,

With the sound of music.

Before I left for this trip, one of my West Point classmates provocatively asked if I was going to be tra la la la la’ing through the Alps singing “The Sound of Music” à la Julie Andrews. I assured him that I would do something much more masculine, if not militaristic.

So, today I decided that some singing was needed to add color and atmosphere to the scene, just in case anyone was within earshot. So I strolled through the Alps belting out,

“From the halls of Montezuma
To the shores of Tripoli,

We will fight our country’s battles
In the air, on land and sea.

First to fight for right and freedom
And to keep our honor clean,

We are proud to claim the title
Of United States Marines.”

PS – I was in the Marine Corps before enlisting in the Army. Some things just never leave you.