蘇沙的父親在海軍樂隊中擔任長號演奏者的角色，他知道自己的兒子是個守法的男孩、絕不會做出逃跑的行為，當他發現兒子計畫加入馬戲團，就立刻安排與海跟陸戰隊指揮官的會面；在1868年6月9日，他們見到了指揮官澤林將軍、當時十三歲的蘇沙也接受了入伍擔任海軍樂隊演奏學徒的職務；他的父親希望在他退伍之後，會對加入馬戲團失去興趣。

他的決定是對的，蘇沙後來沒有成為馬戲團的指揮，而成為了海軍樂隊中最有名的指揮。

Sousa's father played the trombone in the U.S. Marine Band. He knew his son was a "law-abiding boy" and that he would never desert. When he found out about his son's plans to join the circus, he made special arrangements with the Marine Corps commandant. On that morning of June 9, 1868, they met with General Zeilin, and 13-year-old Sousa agreed to enlist as an apprentice musician for the Marine Band. His father hoped that by the time his service was over, his son would no longer be so interested in joining the circus.

And he was right. Sousa never did become a circus band leader, but he did become the most famous leader of the Marine Band.

4 / 4 頁