One of the most memorable segments of the three hour show was a dramatization of the morning of the Halifax Explosion 100 years ago in 1917. The scene culminated with a bright flash of light and the sound of a loud explosion. After this, pictures of the actual devastation caused by the explosion were shown on the big screen, and then, as the Tattoo choir sang the song We Rise Again by Nova Scotian songwriter Leon Dubinsky, pictures were shown of Halifax as it is today. I admit that I teared up when the choir started singing; fortunately it was dark, and in any case I wasn't the only one.
Here's a picture of the choir; several members from the choir I sing with were in it:
During the finale every night of the Tattoo, the massed bands and choir perform the national anthem of one of the visiting acts' countries, and then the Canadian national anthem. Since I was there on the fourth, the American anthem was done, which was additionally nice because there were quite a few members of the crew from the air craft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in the audience. Mention was also made of the seven American sailors from the USS Fitzgerald who recently died in an accident at sea, the Tattoo moderator expressing condolences to the Americans present.