Song-ography - Hamilton ON

You'll Shoot Your Eye Out 

This song was used as the theme for the 2012 Para-Olympics in London.

We attended the Canadian International Military Tattoo last Saturday in Hamilton ON with friends who had invited us.

I was so proud to see how many young people are part of these organizations. It also took place following the 70th anniversary of D Day so there were many tributes to our veterans, old and young.

GUEST PERFORMERS
The Tattoo Dancers – Hamilton, ON
2nd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Drum Line - Shilo, MB
13th Battalion Ceremonial Guard – Hamilton, ON
Fort George Fife and Drum Corps from the Fort George National Historic Site of Canada - Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON
Salvation Army Meadowlands Corps Band - Ancaster, ON
Danielle Bourre – Singer – Toronto, ON
Liam McGlashon – The Fiddle Kid – Hamilton, ON
Visual Signaling Team of Hamilton Signals Association - Hamilton, ON

The word "Tattoo," is derived from "Doe den tap toe", or just "tap toe" ("toe" is pronounced "too"), the Dutch for "Last orders". Translated literally, it means: "close the (beer) tap". The term "Tap-toe" was first encountered by the British Army when stationed in Flanders during the War of the Austrian Succession.

The British adopted the practice and it became a signal, played by a regiment's Corps of Drums or Pipes and Drums each night to tavern owners to turn off the taps of their ale kegs so that the soldiers would retire to their billeted lodgings at a reasonable hour. With the establishment of modern barracks and full Military bands later in the 18th century, the term Tattoo was used to describe not only the last duty call of the day, but also a ceremonial form of evening entertainment performed by Military musicians.

Although the first Tattoo in Edinburgh, entitled "Something About a Soldier", took place at the Ross Bandstand at Princes Street Gardens in 1949, the first official Edinburgh Military Tattoo began in 1950 with just eight items in the programme. It drew some 6000 spectators seated in simple bench and scaffold structures around the north, south and east sides of the Edinburgh Castle esplanade. In 1952, the capacity of the stands was increased to accommodate a nightly audience of 7700, allowing 160,000 to watch live performances each year.

 CANADIAN BANDS
48th Highlanders of Canada Pipes and Drums – Toronto, ON
The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise's) Pipes and Drums Hamilton, ON
Dundas Pipes and Drums – Dundas, ON
Halton Regional Police Pipe and Drums Band - Burlington, ON
The Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regiment) Pipes and Drums – Brampton, ON
The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry Band – Hamilton, ON
The Royal Regiment of Canada Band – Toronto ON
The Windsor Regiment (RCAC) Band – Windsor ON
296 City of Cambridge Squadron Royal Canadian Air Cadets Pipes and Drums – Winner of Regional Competition

Before the Closing Ceremony the dancers performed to Highway of Heroes.

Closing ceremony included O Canada, God Save the Queen and The Maple Leaf Forever.