SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Soldiers from the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) and other Military District of Washington ceremonial units participated in opening ceremonies ahead of Super Bowl 50 at Levi's Stadium, Feb. 7.
Soldiers from The Old Guard participated in a Joint Armed Forces Color Guard during the singing of the National Anthem, performed by Lady Gaga. Additionally, Soldiers from The U.S. Army Band "Pershing's Own" performed as part of a Joint Armed Service Choir.
Gaga's performance was concluded with a stadium flyover by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels.
The Joint Armed Forces Color Guard was comprised of service members including: Sgt. 1st Class Thomas C. Dell'Omo, Spc. Walter L. Hardin III, Staff Sgt. Marco A. Moreno Jr., Spc. Colin Z. Mantha, Marine Corps Sgt. Allen J. Banks Jr., Navy Seaman Jason D. Davis, Senior Airman Dalton R. Homme, Coast Guard Seaman Brett J. Lanze, Lance Cpl. Zachariah, T. Fredericksen and Sgt. 1st Class C. Michael Hooke.
Dell'Omo and Hooke played snare drums at the conclusion of the National Anthem. Lady Gaga added the drums to her performance during pre-show rehearsals.
"She wanted the ending to be more intense," said Hooke. "To have more energy."
"She also wanted it to be more inclusive," said Dell'Omo. "She said 'I just want to include everyone. I feel like this will ramp it up to one big climactic ending.'"
"I always appreciate when these opportunities come up," said Dell'Omo. "For Mike and I, it is a good time for us to hone the craft that we do in the band ... It's meant to be marching troops."
"It's one of my favorite things when you are attached to the color guard," said Hooke.
This is the second Super Bowl Hooke and Dell'Omo have performed in.
The first was at Met Life Stadium in New York in 2014.
The drums themselves are two of the four original Moeller Drums that Gus Moeller made for the Pershing's Own in 1952. Moeller was a nationally-recognized musician, educator and author who developed a unique snare drum playing style known as the Moeller Method.
One of the original drums is on display at the Smithsonian Museum, another is in the Band's display case at Brucker Hall on the Fort Myer portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall. The last two "you saw today," wrote Hooke via a posting on social media.
The drums themselves have been played in inaugural parades for several U.S. presidents, as well as the funeral of John F. Kennedy.
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