Stirring songs, military might and photos in the park

The tunes were stirring. The band was loud. It was martial music and it made me want to get up and go for a march a long one.

There were about 200 people gathered in the shade of trees at the back of the bandstand last weekend. Everyone was singing from the same red songbook. Between songs you could hear the chirping of cicadas.

Most of the singers were middle-aged or elderly. Some were in wheelchairs. Great grandchildren played among them. The mood was upbeat, inspiring.