John Philip Sousa wrote “The Stars and Stripes Forever,” a patriotic march often heard at Memorial Day events.
Sousa composed the march in 1896, and it became one of the best-known pieces in the American concert-band tradition. Its bright brass writing, energetic percussion, and prominent piccolo part helped make it a standard for patriotic concerts and public ceremonies.
Memorial Day programs may include Sousa’s march alongside hymns, military music, “Taps,” and the national anthem. However, the march itself is not the official music of Memorial Day, and it was written decades after the first Decoration Day observances.
In 1987, Congress designated “The Stars and Stripes Forever” as the national march of the United States. That status explains why the piece appears at many civic occasions beyond Memorial Day, including Independence Day celebrations and military concerts.