Salute the old boys

Old Catholic private high school traditions and ceremonies have stood the test of time.  There was one small tradition that I remember well and one that we twisted for our own amusement.  At the monthly school assemblies, we would sing the national anthem, sing the school anthem and then salute the old boys (the old boys of the school).
There was a group of us in year 8, most of the year in fact (after word had got around) that wanted to subvert this tradition at the next assembly and instead of looking at the flag and saluting it, we would look downwards towards our own old boys (our balls) and salute them and the work they do for us (boys in year 8, there was plenty of work for them). We all thought we were hilarious and that this would be the greatest assembly ever.
The day loomed and then was upon us.  There was a general murmur around our year group as we collected at our year's lines in the assembly area.  Most of the year were in on this subversion and we were all waiting with youthful anticipation.  The time that the principle was going to ask us to salute the old boys was looming, it was  sunny day the sun was shining down upon the assembled throng.
The principal uttered the words "Now it's time to salute the old boys".  I was already smiling, almost laughing as I looked down towards the ground and my old boys and did a hearty salute as I could sense all the other boys in my year doing the same.  The other year groups were also wondering what was happening at this stage and a few of us broke up with laughter at our antics.  Executed perfectly and long remembered, our youthful twist on this old tradition.