Twilight Tattoo returns

By JJ Despain

Here’s a military tattoo that has nothing to do with sporting an anchor on one bicep and “Mom” on the other.

The U.S. Army returns to Fort Hamilton on Friday with its Twilight Tattoo, the annual military-themed celebration of fifes, drums, bayonets and gun twirling.

The goal is more than pageantry.

“It’s an opportunity to not only bond with the community, but for the community to get a taste for what army history is about,” said Bruce Hill, a spokesman for the Army base at the tip of southeastern Brooklyn. “The soldiers interact with the community, they ask questions, they talk, they engage.”

Twilight Tattoo is based out of Fort McNair near Washington, D.C., but makes one of its rare sojourns every year to the Bay Ridge base.

“Twilight Tattoo doesn’t travel too much outside of Washington, D.C.,” said Cathy Santopietro, who works for Fort Hamilton public affairs. “We’re the one place they travel to, which is nice.”

So what is a Twilight Tattoo? First off, there are military bands, such as “Pershing’s Own,” the U.S. Army ensemble, plus the Army blues choir and the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps.

Plus, there’s military precision, thanks to the Army drill team strutting its stuff.

Bring a blanket and just revel in America’s military history.

Some songs or drills might be different from year’s past, but the Tattoo will delight even military families and civilians alike.

“The main things don’t change,” Santopietro said. “The old guard comes up, the drill team’s still here.”

The Twilight Tattoo at Fort Hamilton [Bay Eighth Street between Cropsey Avenue and Shore Parkway in Dyker Heights, (718) 630-4783], May 20, pre-ceremony pageantry at 6:30 pm; main show at 7 pm.