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THE SMITHSONIAN — Witnessing a surprise performance of the United States Air Force Band would be a treat any time of year, let alone at Christmastime during a visit to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.
A group of tourists and veterans from the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington, D.C., were treated to that very spectacle last month when the Air Force Band performed their fourth annual holiday flash mob.
While the unsuspecting crowd gathered, 125 members of the band appeared one by one, each adding a new instrument or voice to the chorus.
Yesterday's Have You Seen This?
The band started the performance with a beautiful rendition of "Patapan," and moved on to "Ding Dong Merrily on High" once the entire group was assembled. They were even joined by Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James on the handbells.
Watching the world-class Air Force Band sing out "Hosanna in excelsis!" will be a great start to your holiday weekend. You can also watch last year's World War II-themed flash mob here, or a 360-view of this year's performance here.