AMERICAN PATROL

American Patrol is a popular march written by Frank White Meacham in 1885. It incorporates both original musical themes by Meacham and melodies from American patriotic songs of the era such as "Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean" and "Dixie." The "patrol" format was popular in the second half of the 19th century. The format was intended to represent a military band approaching, passing, and fading into the distance.