When Ron arrived at Government Island, he was assigned to the marching band during his 8-week training period. Every Friday the band led the recruits in a parade that honored the graduating company from boot camp. The band's director was Chief Musician William Hastings who directed the band for most of his career. In this picture, Ron Marlett is in the second rank playing the tenor saxophone. Chief Hastings wanted Ron to stay with the band after Ron's graduation, but Ron wanted to experience life aboard a high endurance cutter and declined the offer. The Coast Guard Marching Band would be the last time Ron played the saxophone in his life-long music career.  

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