This teacher was called to protect the U.S. Capitol as a National Guard member.

[orangecrush]

This teacher was called to protect the U.S. Capitol as a National Guard member. He now holds class from a Humvee.




D.C. National Guard Sgt. Jacob Kohut was on his only break during a 12-hour shift standing guard outside the U.S. Capitol. In the back of a Humvee, flute in hand, Kohut was teaching students how to play Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” through his laptop.

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Kohut, 34, is one of the more than 20,000 National Guard troops providing security as part of a massive operation in D.C. ahead of President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration.

Since his deployment to Washington on Jan. 13, Kohut has been on double duty, as an active member of the National Guard and a dedicated band teacher at public schools in Fairfax County in Virginia.

While wearing his uniform, the military musician and teacher spends the first part of his morning conducting virtual band class. Starting at 10 a.m., his 12-hour Guard shift begins, working on the front lines to thwart potential threats following the deadly insurrection at the Capitol.


https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2021/01/18/national-guard-teacher-capitol-inauguration/%3foutputType=amp










This is what a real patriot looks like.

[riversedge]

1. The look of hope

[orangecrush]

2. ...

[catrose]

3. I want to hear him play flute with a mask on. I've heard concerts with masked singers.

Then I never want to hear anyone moan about a mask ever again.

[lagomorph777]

4. When it comes to tough-guy flautists, he's right up there with Ian Anderson.

I'll bet he could rock some death-metal flute!

[IronLionZion]

10. Jethro Tull featured the flute as a main instrument nt

[lagomorph777]

12. Yup - Ian broke ground with that band!

[IronLionZion]

14. Yes, it's very unique for rock.

Whenever I meet a young flutist, I always tell them to check out Jethro Tull. It blows their mind.

[lagomorph777]

15. Oh - and check out Focus. There's a video of them playing "Hocus Pocus."

It's virtuosic, and insanely funny at the same time.

[panader0]

26. I saw them open for Creedence at the Fillmore West in 1969.

Ian had his fancy clothes on and that impressed one of the two guys I was with.
Then Creedence came on dressed in blue jeans and flannel shirts. That friend was so
disappointed.

[MagickMuffin]

27. Well don't forget about the Moody Blues

Ray Thomas could also play the flute, however, no one can top Ian Anderson.

[orangecrush]

35. Here

[orangecrush]

31. ...

[Brother Buzz]

37. Sergeant Kohut is primarily a reed dude

The bassoon and saxophone are his weapons of choice.

Since his story broke, he's been been hearing from bassoon players worldwide.

[Karadeniz]

5. I love this!

[WhiskeyGrinder]

6. Those seem like two jobs that should not be done at the same time.

[Hugin]

7. His students are getting something they'll never forget...

beside their musical lesson.

How critically important to the United States, what Sgt. Jacob Kohut is currently doing. It's also nice he can continue his teaching via virtual technology.

Not the best way to teach or learn, but, pretty good considering the circumstances.

[orangecrush]

36. Exactly.

[Wounded Bear]

8. Cool story!

[orangecrush]

29. Thanks!

[KY_EnviroGuy]

9. This represents leadership, compassion and patriotism Rethugs don't recognize.

Republicans would say the kids should be private schooled and the National Guard should be protecting Confederate statues.

Thanks for posting this photo, Orangecrush. Especially hits home as I have a child that's a teacher and this represents the dedication found in all our school teachers.


KY..... .......

[orangecrush]

38. Most welcome!

[niyad]

11. Thank you for sharing this.

[orangecrush]

30. Most welcome!

[orangecrush]

39. You're welcome

[apnu]

13. Beautiful story but also depressing core

That we have a system that requires this kind of work to survive.

His dedication to his students is remarkable, but this story is a call to action for us to fix our broken education system.

[Ilsa]

17. You mean NG duty as a second job?

I agree with your premise that our education system needs to be fixed, but he may be doing NG out of the desire to serve, which may be an extension of his service as a teacher.

[apnu]

19. No. I mean him feeling compelled to split his focus.

When he's active NG, he should be free to do just that. When not active and a teacher, he should focus on that.

The fact that our system is so fragile that he feels compelled to continue teaching WHILE activated shows how ill our society is.

I don't know how else to express this point to you.

[Ilsa]

21. Okay. I get it now. Thank you. nt

[tiptonic]

16. True Patriot

We have true Patriots like Jacob, then we have the loud mouth coward 'trumpsters', trying to prove how tough they are. My grandson is graduating with a degree in music, this spring. I will be sure he sees this.

[Aristus]

18. Our Capitol Building has become the "front lines".

God damn those Trumpanzees.

And God bless this guy, continuing his life-affirming work, even in times of deepest trouble...

[Hekate]

20. Ode to Joy

[orangecrush]

34. In the face of mayhem

I like it!

[panfluteman]

22. I Played Regular Flute Before I Got Into the Pan Flute

I played flute in the band in high school and college. I also started to play the Japanese Zen inspired Shakuhachi flute in high school and taught myself how to play jazz on it by listening to records and playing along with them. I continued my Shakuhachi studies as a graeduate student in ethnomusicology at the University of Washington in Seattle, and later switched to Pan Flute, studying with the Romanian gypsy master of the Pan Flute, Damian Luca who, along with a few other Romanian musicians, came over to the UW on a Fulbright grant to teach. How did I get into flutes? When I was only four years old, my father taught me how to blow on beer bottles, and get every sound possible out of a beer bottle.

[FailureToCommunicate]

25. Blowing on beer bottles becomes a lifelong passion!

[panader0]

28. I will mention your post to my friend.

He has about 12 shakuhachi flutes and we play music together with me on guitar.
I convinced him to play with our little group, but said that he would have to play sax
instead. He got a tenor from his brother and within a short while was playing blues and R&R
with us. I still enjoy the duos with his flutes though.

[orangecrush]

32. ....

[NoMoreRepugs]

23. Duty - Country - that's a Patriot.

[FailureToCommunicate]

24. Inspiring story! And great for any kid -particulary boys- to stick with flute as your...

instrument. For many years as a grade school kid I got teased for playing flute.

I had picked it in fourth grade when the teacher went around and asked each student what they might like to take up as an instrument. I asked which one was smallest and easiest to carry (I had to walk to school) and the teacher said "flute". Little did I imagine the teasing I'd be subjected to.

However, my choice took a turn for the better in junior and high school when as the only boy in the flute section, I was surrounded by lovey young ladies!

THEN, OMG, when Jethro Tull hit the scene, and Ian Anderson became a flute playing rock god, well, then then all the kids, not just the girl, thought I was cool too. And, in those school years, being considered cool is just about all one can reasonably hope for.

So, thank you Sgt Jacob Kohut for your divided service, and thanks orangecrush for you post that brought back these memories.

One more day!

-FTC

[orangecrush]

33. ...