U.S. Marine Corps Band to play at Scottish games in Pleasanton

The U.S. Marine Corps Band will be able to play at the Scottish Games in Pleasanton this year, thanks to freshman Congressman Eric Swalwell (D-Dublin).

Swalwell successfully pushed through his amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act. The amendment fixes a bureaucratic snag that blocked military bands from playing at community events. Now it is permissable if the organization funds the band's expenses.

The Scottish Highland Gathering & Games draw roughly 35,000 people and are held at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Swalwell's district on Labor Day weekend.

The Caledonian Club, which runs the games, had been told that this year the Marine Corps Band would not be able to perform even though the organization promised to fund the band's expenses, as it has in previous years.