CANTON, Ohio (Tribune News Service) — The Pro Football Hall of Fame will host the Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon for a free performance at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 2, and offer free museum admission to military members.

The performance is part of the hall’s Military Appreciation Day.

The platoon, based in Washington, D.C., will perform on the hall’s Field Turf, adjacent to the museum.

The Silent Drill Platoon is known for unique precision-drill work, discipline and professionalism. The 24-man rifle platoon wields hand-polished, 10 1/2 -pound M1 Garand rifles with bayonets.

Canadian-born engineer John C. Garand developed the semi-automatic rifle, was the first semiautomatic military rifle used as a combat shoulder weapon. The Army adopted the Garand in 1936.

Routines are completed without verbal commands and finish with a unique inspection sequence demonstrating elaborate spins and tosses.

The hand-selected soldiers in the platoon, which originated in 1948, train as infantrymen. They hone their skills at the Marine Corps base in Quantico, Virginia.

Marine equipment — including an Indoor Simulated Marksmanship Trainer, a virtual training program — will be available for visitors to check out.

All U.S. military personnel (active-duty, National Guard, Reservists and retired) will receive free admission to the Hall of Fame by showing corresponding identification. (Every other day of the year, military personnel receive $5 off admission.)

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