Hail To The Chief

Hail To The Chief

"Hail to the Chief" is the official Presidential Anthem of the United States. Its playing accompanies the appearance of the President at many public appearances. For major official occasions, the United States Marine Band and other military ensembles generally are the performers, so directives of the U.S. Department of Defense have since 1954 been the main basis for according it official status. It is preceded by four ruffles and flourishes when played for the President. The song is also played during a former President's state funeral, though it can also be played even if the funeral is not a state funeral such as the funeral of Richard Nixon. The song is in the public domain.

Read more about Hail To The Chief:  History, The Lyrics

Famous quotes containing the words hail to the, hail to, hail and/or chief:

    Hail to thee, blithe Spirit!
    Bird thou never wert,
    That from Heaven, or near it,
    Pourest thy full heart
    In profuse strains of unpremeditated art.
    Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792–1822)

    Hail to thee, blithe Spirit!
    Bird thou never wert,
    That from Heaven, or near it,
    Pourest thy full heart
    In profuse strains of unpremeditated art.
    Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792–1822)

    But hail thou Goddess, sage and holy,
    Hail divinest Melancholy,
    Whose saintly visage is too bright
    To hit the sense of human sight,
    And therefore to our weaker view
    O’erlaid with black, staid Wisdom’s hue;
    John Milton (1608–1674)

    The Chief Defect of Henry King
    Was chewing little bits of String.
    At last he swallowed some which tied
    Itself in ugly Knots inside.
    Hilaire Belloc (1870–1953)