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The HOLY NAME CADETS public guest book
We´d like to hear from you. Please leave your comments in this public guest book so we can share your thoughts with other visitors.
ALL CADET PROCRASTINATORS If you are coming to the 75th please remember we have a block of rooms reserved at the Saddlebrook Marriott for 99 dollars per night. Great crowd of CADETS from 40s 50s 60s 70s will be there including Bob Bielen; Bart Bartello Al Fulvi Hugh Mahon John Avella Ken Samara Dave Shaw Ken Shedosky Lou Silvestri Jim Kennedy Herb and Rudy Bonin .... and more. Room block will expire on July 10. Call and reserve your rooms NOW .... booking code is HNC HNC A. Hope to see you there. FHNSAB ... Bill Kardash 1952 to 1961
Butch Fecko i have been trying to locate you for several years. Glad you are found. even emailed you on St. Marys alumni list on classmates.com Hope you can get to 75th. we have a group of mainly 40s to 70s Cadets staying at Saddlebrook Marriott. consider stayingi there. we have lots to catch up. will email a pix I have of you and me with Bob Bielen in 55. time flies. I know Joe has passed but havent heard anything about Bill. Bart has asked too. Hope to see you in AUG. FHNSAB ... BILL 1952 TO 61
Greg Mizak: Here are the 2010 dates you are looking for: Get ready for 2010 - Camp dates are here! NOVEMBER 20-22 - AUDITION CAMP #1[ NOVEMBER 26-29 - THANKSGIVING WEEKEND DECEMBER 4-6 - WEEKEND OFF DECEMBER 11-13 WEEKEND OFF DECEMBER 18-20 CAMP #2 ...
Hello all, this is Greg Mizak. I am not sure if you guys will know me in the future, but if you do, then I guess that would be pretty cool. Currently I am in 9th grade and have been told by countless family, friends, teachers, and instructors that I should try for DCI. DCI is a once and a life time thing. The more I think about it, the more I want to do it and the more serious I get about it. I don't want to have to spend most of my summer way out in wherever when there is an amazing corps right in my backyard (7 hours away). Tryouts this winter (I think) are a long way away, but as I think about it more, they are coming ever closer and closer. Then, I remind myself that I have absolutely no information. I don't know what you guys expect from me...in our Marching Band season this year, my parents will be taping me individually along with the show itself so that if you need examples of me marching, they can be given. But honestly, I have no clue when they are, where they are, and how they are. I have been playing trumpet for about 5 years. I started in 5th grade in elementary school, and on to now. At the moment, I have braces and can hit the high-high C. Hahaha! The one above the ledger lines. : ) I will be getting my braces off before winter so hopefully I will have time to adjust to the change. I have been in concert band for 5 years, Jazz Bands 1 and 2 for 3 years, and Marching Band for 3 years. This year, I am currently in a local band performing for the fun of performing. In the past, two of my uncles have participated in the DCI. My one uncle was in Santa Clara and I am not quite sure where my other uncle went...either way, at least one of them could tell me what tryouts were like and what they expect from you and etc. I know my chances are very slim, but I think that if I push myself this year, I could probably make the tryouts. So if you have any information that you could spare, please e-mail us at hcamper@atlanticbb.net. Thanks! (EDITOR'S NOTE: Greg, it's very impressive that you seem to have thought out this decision very thoroughly. This is the Cadets' alumni website. What you need to do is go to www.cadets.org. I'm certain I remember seeing that they have already posted their audition and weekend camp dates for 2010. They will, if you request, send you a registration packet and will answer any questions you might have. The Cadets philosophy is that hard work and keeping your eyes on your goal are the key ingredients for success in anything in life. Good luck. We hope to see you in maroon and gold one of these days).
Butch......I'm very happy that you have finally surfaced. Pls contact me kshedosky76@embarqmail.com with any contact information......address-email and/or home ph#. I don't know if you have been following the events of this our 75th anniversary year, and I would like to send you all the latest information. We have been trying to locate you for the last 2 years, Looking forward to hearing from you, Regards, Ken Shedosky 75th Anniversary Committee/ Search Committee Chairman. FHNSAB
Good day all Alumni ! Our 75th Event is approaching and we have lots of details to be finalized prior to the Auguat 1-2 weekend relative to alumni corps participation in our Diamond Blast. I have assembled our most up- to-date list of registered alumni attendees and all those who will make this a special and memorable time for all. Please NOTE: the deadline for final registration to be able to perform on Aug. 2nd is July 29th. Please make sure your name has been submitted to the YEA office. Their Website (www.cadets.org) provides all registration forms and information for Alumni wishing to participate. The music for the numbers we wil be playing is also posted on that site. I have also assembled a tentative schedule and expectations for both days. It’s not written in stone and I do expect changes to be made prior to the Aug. weekend. My purpose is to provide you some idea on how we are planning the schedule and procedures for the Saturday practice with minimum issues. The Saturday practice will be WITHOUT the Cadets and it will be held indoors; thus, we need to take advantage of the time allotted to make sure we are all on the same page. All marching aspects ( going onto the field/departing with the Cadets at Giant Stadium ) will be worked out at the Stadium at the Sunday rehearsal. Please contact me for copies of the time schedule, site, and procedures for the Saturday rehearsal (yes, you will have plenty of time to attend the alumni reception at Montclair University). I am also able to provide you with copies of alumni already registered to participate to date. Please email me at patrick.vazquez@axellia.com . I am also available to answer any questions you might have. Important: Please continue to practice on your own and for those outside the NY area, please keep in mind we rehearse every Thursday night at the VFW Post in Garfield, NJ from 7-9pm right up to our performance date. As suggested in a previous mail, if you arrive early ( Thursday before the weekend ) please consider joining the Alumni Corps to ensemble and play prior to formal practice(s). Any questions at all......please call me direct at 201 317 5805. Pat , FHNSAB…
Hey all, I’m responding from Anchorage Alaska. On the 5th I’ll be boarding a NOAA ship for a 2-1/2 week hydrographic survey cruise from Kodiak to Dutch Harbor as part of the NOAA Teacher-at-Sea program. I’ll be back stateside on around the 27th of July and hope to make the August Cadet events. The web site for NOAA is as follows - http://teacheratsea.noaa.gov/ . Navigate the site to find posts and blog information. I’ll try to be up to date as much as possible, but our internet access is by satellite and there’s not always service depending on where we are in relationship to the satellites and mountains, etc. I’ve noticed that a bunch of you are educators. One of my requirements in this program is to “turn key” and do presentations at schools. If you’re interested, drop me a note. I don’t know how many of you were there, but the Mass on Memorial Day w/e was phenomenal. When the monseigneur said “Welcome Home” – man that was so cool. I was talking with a colleague who had been in another corps and she pointed out that our corps had not won a National championship in the 70’s. The only decade in which that is true. My reply was “That’s true. But how many corps didn’t even SURVIVE the ‘70’s. Any of these sound familiar? Muchachos, Sac, Lucy’s, DeLaSalle, Seneca Optimists, Anaheim, Blue Rock, Monarchs, Saints, Valley, Bridgemen, BonBons, OLPH, St Rita’s, Emerald Cadets, Argonne Rebels, Black Knights, 27th Lancers, Finleyville Crusaders, Auburn Purple Lancers, North Star, Kilties, and many many more?” She got real quiet real fast (I had named her former corps from the Mid- west.) In the ‘60’s and ‘70’s we were a nation in turmoil from top to bottom as long-standing institutions were crumbling. Yet under the guidance of directors from Jim D’Amico to Hugh Mahon to Ed Frenzel to Doc Cinzio to Doc Santo to that new guy – what is his name?, hmmmm – our corps survived. For an entire generation kids have been able to become Cadets and learn what it means to become part of a greater whole. Lots of folks offer their thanks to George, but without his predecessors performing CPR and triage on the corps, he’d have never had the chance to change the activity as a whole. But isn’t that what our corps has always done? Lead, follow or get out of the way. For 75 years we have been led by the best, but for me, the guys who got us through the arterial bleeding of culture, integrity and honor of the late ‘60’s and ‘70’s and led us to the cutting edge of today, they are the crème de la crème and we owe them more than we will ever be able to repay. Somebody have a cold one for me at the party. I’ll see you all in August.
Hi Bill: Hope everything goes OK! Best of Luck and you be in my prayers and thoughts. Lou FHNSAB
I have so many fond memories from 1950 when both my brothers marched with the Corps. My Dad and Mom were also very active. I can remember the trips to Florida and the stops along the way. South of the Border was a must stop;,the cotton fields of South Carolina another. I was privileged to trail the Corp until I was old enough to strap a snare drum to my body. My years 55-58 are a memory I still cherish. I remember the back room where we practiced our drum routines. The practice was on a wooden table using a rubber pad. At the end of the evening we came together and rocked the rafters of that old church - what memories! I also remember learning to play seven card draw in the back of the Manhattan Lines Bus - what memories! I had eight years of memories that will live in me forever. God Bless the Cadets and thanks for all the memories. FHNSAB...
HI Bill, Take care, hoping everything goes well. Im not sure about drumming, maybe the snare line can split a couple of paradiddles for you .FHNSAB...Scotty
t is with great sadness and disappointment that I cancel my Holy Name Reunion plans for this August. In about three to four weeks, I will undergo surgery to remove Squamous cancer from my tongue....just diagnosed this morning. Hopefully we have caught this in an early stage....you know the script. Three to four weeks of recovery followed by post op treatment of chemo or radiation/just depends. Anyway, in keeping with the undefeatable spirit of a Holy Name Cadet, I need your input to answer a few questions: 1. Will I pronounce the song Bethamay Mutho? 2. Can you get imported beer served in an IV? 3. Can you bring drum sticks into recovery? I am still going to practice "the book" for August 2. See you all on the flip side of this detour. FHNSAB... Red Ridings #39 (EDITOR'S NOTE: Bill's email address is BillRidings2@aol.com, mailing address: 18306 E. Cypress Hills Circle, Cyprus, TX 77433, phone: 281 351 8741. You'll be in our hearts and in our prayers Bill. Don't doubt that for a second. When one Cadet is hurting, we all hurt. If you need or want anything, just ask. Good luck my friend. FHNSAB...).
Really great to see the HOLY NAME CADETS on score reports and schedules for DC! Best wishes. FHNSABI
Dave, My family were long time members of Holy Name Parish. My Parents both woked there and my Sisters, brother and I all attended the school. My brother John, Jr. says that he marched with the Cadets but with the state of his health he is unsure of the years. Can you or any of the other readers of this forum remember when and if he did march? Thanks for your help. Even though I never marched with the Cadets I am still very proud of them in that they started at my home Church and Town. I always have a sense of pride in them whenever I get the chance to see them perform. All the best to all past members and Good Luck to this years Corps!! (EDITOR'S NOTE: Ray, Thank you for your inquiry and your kind comments about the Cadets. Unfortunately, our membership records were not properly maintained over the years, and I was unable to locate your brother's name on any of the rosters currently in our possession. If you give me his age (dshaw40@gmail.com) we can narrow it down to a probable time frame and begin our search in those years. In the meantime it's very possible that a Cadet Alumnus reading this message might remember your brother and contact us. Let's hope so. Please extend the best wishes of all Cadets to your brother as he deals with his health issues. For Holy Name shall always be...)
I have a little story I’d like to share. Last year in Bloomington at the DCI Compeitions, I happened to be outside the stadium as the ageouts from all the DCI corps were assembling by their entry gate for the ceremony that was about to be held to honor them. Something immediately drew my attention. Most of the members of the various corps were clustered together; Cavaliers here, Blue Devils there,..same for Phantom, Blue Coats…in fact, it was that way for almost every corps, with one exception: The Cadets and Crown were in a mixed cluster, all intermingled; laughing, talking, exchanging cell phone numbers... It kind of blew my mind. Not that corps-to-corps friendships are all that unusual, nor is staying in a tight group with other members of your corps who you had just spent some very important years of your life with, but I thought that the interaction I was observing between the Cadets and Crown was kind of special. If you recall, at the beginning of the 2008 season the Cadets were beating Crown pretty regularly, then the tide turned and Crown took the lead right up to and including the championships. Both corps left it on the field however. I was truly impressed. This year, once again, both corps are at each other on the field , but I’m told, and I hope I was given good information (which I believe I was) that both corps are still leaving it on the field, and that they respect and sincerely like each other both as corps and as individuals. When you go on DCP it’s very easy to get just the opposite idea. Some (repeat some...not all) of the fans, and parents, and alumni. on both sides of the fence, understandably are very partisan in their comments, sometimes with an anti-the-other- corps bite to them. I’m a Cadet. Alumnus. Of course my loyalty and support is 100% maroon. But like our 2008 and 2009 Holy Name Cadets, I have nothing but respect and admiration for Crown. I believe most Cadets and Cadet Alumni feel that way. I hope they know that. FHNSAB…
I will be at the VFW on Outwater Lane in Garfield Thursday night June 25 from 7-9pm with my computer to help anyone who might need assistance with the voting process. If you want to participate in the Hall of Fame vote but are having trouble, come to the VFW on Tursday and we will get it done! -Eric Santo, Charman, Cadet Hall of Fame Committee 2009. FHNSAB...
Hello SGT. Taylor, Ed McMahon's drum corps experience was limited to the Sons of the American Legion Drum and Bugle Corps, Scranton, Pa. As far as I know, he never marched with Holy Name. His bio can be found at: www.broadcastpioneers.com/mcmahon.html FHNSAB
God Bless Ed McMahon, Alumni of Holy Name Cadets Drum & Bugle Corps. Patrick W. Taylor Yankee Rebels D & B Archer Epler Musketeers D & B Reilly Raiders D & B
My fellow Cadets, voting for the Cadets Hall of Fame ends 7 days from today at midnight Tues. 06/30/09. Those who have internet access can vote on line quickly and effortlessly.Log on to www.cadets.org and look to the right of the site and down to FILL THE SHAKO. Continue down under the DONATE NOW button to the CADETS HALL OF FAME. Click on that to open the HOF page listing all the nominees. Click on each nominee to read their nomination letters and letters of support. To cast your vote ,go to the very top of the page and click on CAST YOUR VOTE. If your votes do not tabulate , most likely you have not registered on the Cadets Alumni Site. Simply go down to the second paragraph below the list of nominees to CLICK HERE to register. Complete all the information and click SUBMIT Recast your votes and click SUBMIT. This year's candidates represent a diverse and high quality selection of individuals and groups. You are authorized to vote for 7 of the 13 cadidates. Please give all of them your serious and thoughtful consideration and please vote for before the deadline ..midnight 06/30/09......... FHNSAB
The next rehearsal of the alumni corps will be this Thursday, June 25, at the Garfield VFW on Outwater Lane from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. Both brass and drums will be rehearsing.. As Pat Vazquez recently mentioned, it's getting near showtime. We only have 6 rehearsals left until August 2, so please make every effort to attend. Thank you. FHNSAB...
Good for you, Dave! I've been preaching the same message to my newly re-connected friends. FYI, the response of the Original Girls coming to the Diamond Bash is awesome! I have been calling people and finding people who haven't been to a drum corps show in 30 years. Naturally, I talked them into also buying a ticket to the Giants Stadium show. This year is going to be FABULOUS! We also have a whole group of us going to the Jackson show so if you're there a little earlier, we would all like to meet up for a quick dinner before the show (something low key like an Applebees or Chlis or something). Renee Lapadura is looking into a place to go since she lives down that way. Will you and/or your friends like to meet up with us pre-show? I think it would be a lot of fun. FHNSAB...
I keep meeting alumni who tell me they "have been meaning to send a check, but it keeps slipping my mind." Luckily for us it didn't "slip the minds" of earlier benefactors and alumni contributors who gave to us during our years in uniform. If you think back you can probably recall the faces of those that were there for us, constantly giving us their time, their hard work, and whatever personal resources they could spare (some even going beyond "what they could spare" as they mortgaged their homes and took out personal loans... mostly without our knowledge or any desire on their part for recognition). They did it for OUR benefit...YOU AND I... because they recognized the value of the Cadets to us and to the generations to follow. No one is asking you to mortgage your home or take out a personal load, but surely every single one of you, every single man and woman who ever wore the uniform we revere, at one time or another thought to yourself, "someday I'm going to give back for everything I received." So, what's the problem? You know in your heart you should send a few dollars, or more than just a few dollars if you can afford it...because it's OUR turn NOW!. You know how you feel when you fill the gas tank on your car and see the cost going up every day. Well, imagine what it feels like to the Cadets when it comes time, as it does almost every day, to fill the tanks of four buses two tractor trailers, and three RVs . Suppose they don't have the money to fill those tanks, or to feed the Cadets, or to pay their bills? What do they do? Tell the Cadets who make us all so proud; "Sorry, we're out of money. We're going to have to send you home..and, oh yeah, there is no more corps!" It's possible that day could come you know...UNLESS you're there for them to ensure that it doesn't happen. If not us...who? If not now...when? Don't let it "slip your mind" my fellow Cadets. It's just too damn important to let it slide. Our 75th year...are you as proud as I am? One or more of those 75 years were YOUR time in the maroon and gold. Make sure with your financial support that some other young person gets that same opportunity that you were once given. Write a check, send a money order, use your credit card...but SEND SOMETHING!! SEND OUR CADETS YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO THE PRESENT AND TO THE FUTURE SURVIVAL OF OUR CORPS!! Do it NOW! Don't let it "slip your mind!" Do your share, so we can continue to say with confidence and pride, For Holy Name shall always be...The Holy Name Cadets, 601 W. Hamilton St. Allentown, PA 18101, 610 821 0345, www.cadets.org, send to: Attn. Sue Erben, susan@yea.org
By the way, that 56-57 history I wrote did have a phrase about not seeing a problem renaming the Corps "Holy Name". At least it hapened this year, and seeing the arm patch is pretty emotional. Another by-the way; Before I joined I thought the corps was known for it's excellence in M & M. I wasn't in St. Louis in 53 but was told by some Cabs that it was the greatest marching they had ever seen. I also heard of a Joe Huber(?) who drilled the corps into it's marching predominance. Any information about him and when he was an instructor.? (EDITOR'S NOTE: Joe Huber was indeed the man who made the Cadets noted for excellence in marching...a skill that has been maintained and polished through the years. Mr. Huber was brought in as an instructor right after WWII (double check that with our soon to be released history book), and continued unti he unexpectedly passed away in 1950. We are al in his debt). FHNSAB... FHNSAB John 37
My Cadet brothers and sisters, several days have passed since my return from a trip to Chambersburg to view our Cadets work through their 2009 show/drill and to accompany Dave Shaw and Albert (Al) Mura who were asked by George to rehearse the Holy Name Hymn (the traditional version), with the young men and women of our 2009 corps. The events of this visit are still swirling in my head. Reading the recent posts submitted by Mike Terry 99- 07 and comments of Scotty that accompanied the photos he shot before and during the show on Friday evening, they confirm and validate my own impression of this year's show (which I conveyed both to Dave and Al ). It is ,without any doubt ,in my opinion, of world championship quality and calibre. This will be a show the that the corps takes with them into the ages like 1983-1984- 1987-2000 (some of my modern era favorites) Mind you ,there's much to do yet,the closing and sundry refining and cleaning., however the overall creative thrust is solidly there, I mean...IT's THERE!!!! Jeff Sacktig has poured in all his creative effort ,inspired,and flowing from this special 75th anniveresary. and this magnificent 2009 musical score. At the end of my commentary of our recent Memorial Mass, I said " Get ready ...the best is yet to come" I truly did not ever realize how exceptional "the best" would actually be.There is a song that keeps penetrating my consciousness ever since I returned from Chambersburg. It's from the opening in the movie score of West Side Story.......it's name ? .........."Something's coming".. FHNSAB
Thanks for your updates. As a '75 (rookie of the year) / '76 alumni, and a parent of a current Cadet member, (my daughter plays tuba), it’s good to get your insight into the history being made. Unfortunately I cannot make most if any of the events scheduled for this year. You see, I and several other Cadets Alumni teach the Raiders Drum Corps, Wayne NJ, a World Class Jr. corps. Our schedule conflicts with just about all of the festivities. I have two Cadets in training with the Raiders and I’m the drill writer for the corps. We teach the Cadet style, and even have the Cadets horn caption head, Gino Cipriani on staff. We offer an Open Class drum corps experience to those who are not quite ready for the Cadets, and we still hail from North Jersey. Please keep the updates coming, and if you know of any good horn players who are hoping to be a Cadet soon, we can prepare them. We are still looking for 3 trumpets and a Mellophone to complete our group. Hope to hear from you again soon. (EDITOR'S NOTE: Good luck this season to all the Raiders and Raider staff. You are doing a great job keeping community drum corps alive and well in North Jersey, and we support you 100%. Look up in the stands at one of your contests if you hear a lot of extra-loud cheering. That will be your fellow alumni!).
As posted on Drum Corps Planet: All I can say is........ANY non "narrated" Cadets show is one I am THIRSTING to see!!!! I LOVE THE CADETS! Question: Why the name change for ONLY one year? Just plain "Cadets" always seemed a little artsy fartsy to me..............why not just STICK with "Holy Name Cadets"? I can't think of a cooler name for a drum corps!
Give em the old pepper 2009 Holy Name Cadets! FHNSAB...
Thank you for sharing these pages from Jeff’s incredible creation! As I was watching the show during the Live Access webcast last Friday evening – I was thinking that Jeff has truly outdone himself with this year’s drill. After seeing these pages from the closer, I’m convinced that he has created another classic for the ages! It’s perfect on so many levels! FHNSAB…
Ken: It was fun being with you and Dave those two days to see the 2009 Holy Name Cadets in action on the field, both doing their West Side Story routine as well as observing their warm up routines and exercise program. But I was really excited and very emotional when I was in front of the wonderful young men and women, 150 strong in the H.S. auditorium singing the 1934-36 version of the Holy Name Hymn, and especially when they all gathered onto the stage in a tight circle, with me in the middle. It was indescribable. I felt very proud and humbled to be there. FHNSAB...
I have been involved in the 75th plans ever since August of 2007 in Atlantic City; however, it wasn't until Thursday, June 18 that reality set in for me. I opened up a DCI email and clicked on the schedule of shows. I then clicked on June 19 Chambersburg, PA and there "IT" was. In bold, black letters, the performing corps list read "Holy Name Cadets" for the whole drum corps world to see. Those words gave me a major lump in my throat. I now anxiously await the HNC visit to my home town of Houston on July 16 on the road to the Reunion on August 1-2. FHNSAB...
It is a strange adventure we have embarked on... this experience we call drum corps. I can remember housing the Blue Rock and the Lancers when I was marching. As a matter of fact I was fortunate enough to have one of their snare drummers from the Blue Rock (Lou) stay at my house, Needless to say that we didn't get much sleep that night. I remember going to North Carolina and a local band put us up on our way to Miami.I stayed with a family whose father ran his own radio station from his home. I could go on for hours , but there is no need because I'm sure that every one who has ever marched in any corps can relate. I' will positively be envious of all who will be attending the 75th anniversary bash and will be there in spirit. If only we were 75 next year. Anyway, good luck Cadets. I wish you and all participants of drum corps everywhere good health, happiness and good luck. FHNSAB...
The next rehearsal of the alumni corps l will be tonight, Thursday, June 18 at the Garfield VFW from 7:00 to 9:00PM.. We will be working primarily on the tunes for July 4 and August 2. Please make every effort to attend as the performance dates are drawing near. Thank you. FHNSAB...
Gosh, look at all the (often very emotional) comments on the HNC website about the UNIFORMS. Cadet alumni really LOVE the traditional Cadet uniform. (As do a great many NON-Cadet folks). Maybe you can keep these on file for the next time somebody suggests screwing around with the Cadet uniforms for "field presence". BTW ... adding the HNC patches was a GREAT idea! Congrats to all involved. FHNSAB!...
Hi Dave, Thanks so much for sending me these photos. I'm so glad to hear that the kids got so emotional. I remember the first time I put on my uniform. It was at School #1 in Garfield. Unfortunately, Aunt Nellie refused to work with me since I was one of the first girl(s to get to wear pants). Once Mrs. Wildt (the guard uniform lady) finished with me, I turned and looked at myself in the mirror and felt my eyes well up. I was actually wearing the Maroon & Gold that I dreamed about. Wow. I'm a bit jealous of Dee Dee and Caren to actually see the current members when they saw the "new" patches. Thank you both for volunteering your time and expertise. See you all at the reunion in August. I can't wait. FHNSAB...
This summer is going to be a tear a day. John (EDITOR'S NOTE: tears of joy no doubt).
David , it usually takes a lot to get my attention but i have to admit seeing those Holy Name jackets gave me a rush . Hooray for our side. FHNSAB...
Dear Dave, I think it's fabulous that the Holy Name tradition keeps going on and on.We certainly have great memories from the past that wil stay with us forever. I really was happy to see my old friend and playing partner John Gangale in the gold and maroon uniform when I was in the Navy and saw the'58 Nationals. Agelo Lacaten, Hank Goin, and little Delores Mazzarella met for lunch last week ( all in their '70's)... They saw the Memorial day parade and commented that Holy Name sounded greater than Hawthorne !...WOW !...
Dave, those pictures unexplainably brought tears to my eyes this morning. They are so beautiful on so many levels! Thank you to you and to Dee Dee for sharing this historic moment in pictures. One question, if you please – Michael Patrick (my son, 99-07) has somehow gotten the idea that the patch is on both shoulders. I told him that I thought that they are on the left shoulder only. Are either of us correct? (EDITOR'S NOTE: You win. Left shoulder). FHNSAB! (#10 in ’09!)
Hi Dave, Please forward my regards to Dee Dee. She and all those '77 kids are so very special to me. They really walked the walk and restarted the Cadets' climb back to national prominence. Without them, I doubt there would be any uniforms on which to sew patches today. Best, Frank Dorritie (EDITOR'S NOTE: Frank was one of the all-time great Cadet brass arrangers and instructors. He holds a special place in our hearts. A truly great talent, and more important, a truly great man).
Great pics! I remember how upset I was with the unis they wore a few years ago. And now that they are back to the original unis and with the patches no less, it is very satisfying and exciting to see. IMO, it's the last real uni left in DCI. Thanks for sharing
Thank you for sending this Dee......it must have been something just to hear the kids and watch the expressions on their faces when they saw the uniforms with the patches. FHNSAB...
WOW! Talk about trying to hold back tears! God bless each and every one of them and may the championship title be theirs this year. FHNSAB...
Even for someone not a part of the maroon and gold.... I simply can't wait to see this corp and call them the Holy Name Cadets.... so much history, so much glory and another 75 years of history and heritage to come. Tim
Hi Dave, Just a line to say that Dot and I spent the first week of June at Spring Training with the Holy Name Cadets where we volunteered to assist in the food trailer, feeding some 200 folks. What a treat it was for us to see such a highly motivated, high energy, and talented group of individuals performing from morning till night. It was great watching and listening to them perform in the numerous maneuvers and songs from West Side story. They are just awesum!!!!!! We then went back to Fredericksburg for a few days and then left for our trip west, but first had to stop by on Friday evening to see the Holy Name Cadets perform in their first exhibition to a full stands for the Johnstown, Pa community. We all loved what we saw and heard. It was also great sharing "stories" with all on what we did back in the early 50's. Boy, things sure changed since then. FHNSAB... Basil "Bill" Nosal
Hey Dave, I've attached a couple of photos of the corps unis with the Holy Name patches. I wish you were there to see the kid's faces when they woke up on Thursday morning and saw them sewn on. Some of the members were so emotional, they fought back tears, and I wish I had taken a picture of them snaping photos of the unis with the patches with their phones and cameras. I was quite taken aback to see so many members totally into the history of that patch and what it means to have it on the jackets. Many, many members talked with Caren and myself for hours about our experiences in the corps, looking over Caren's photo albums, old Drum Corps News articles, etc. Caren had her Garfield jacket on the back of her chair, and many, many kids thought it was beyond cool that actual members were there working on the uniforms. When they were told that we were in the percussion section....well, the looks were priceless! Anyway, it certainly seems as though the members are really excited about this anniversary year, and all the history surrounding it. I will be with the corps on and off throughout the summer, and touring with them from Allentown through finals. It should be a tissue carrying, emotional ride this year for sure! (EDITOR'S NOTE: Sorry, but we're not able to affix the photos here. We will try to get them posted somewhere, and will give you the link just as soon as we do. Thanks for all you're doing Dee Dee (and Caren). Tell the kids that their alumni will be with them in spirit on every field, and across every mile, and in every heart). For Holy Name Shall Always Be...Dee Dee
It is with extreme sorrow that we inform the Holy Name family of the passing of Rev. Msgr. Edward F. Wojtycha of Stuart, Fla., formerly of Bayonne and Monmouth Beach. He died on Monday, June 8. Visitation at the G. Keenen O'Brien Funeral Home, 984 Avenue C, Bayonne, is on Sunday, June 14, from to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Vincent de Paul R.C. Church Bayonne, on Monday, June 15, at 11 a.m. Interment to follow at Holy Name Cemetery, Jersey City. He was elected to the National Drum Corps Hall of Fame and was also placed in the New Jersey and Massachusetts Drum Corps Hall of Fame. He formed the famous St. Vincent's Drum and Bugle Corps which won 10 national championships and 22 state championships. The Drum Corps had the honor of marching in the inaugurations of all presidents from Truman to Kennedy. The Drum Corps is also written in the History of the U.S. Congress. He also founded the famous Dream Contest held every year at Roosevelt Stadium. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to St. Joseph's Villa, Flourtown, Pa., for the Home, Villa and Hospital for the retired Sister of St. Joseph of Chestnut Hill or to the Archdiocese of Newark for the Home for Retired Priests.
Having played in Holy Name from 51-2-3, I still have great memories of the corps.It was a great learning time for a teenager to travel and groom myself for the future.The strive for excellance in horn playing and marching ,led me to know dedication in all my future endevours. After starting a family , I returned to Drum Corps with the New York Skyliners in 1961 -2-3. The music was my attraction, as I loved the arrangements of Hy. Today, as I am able to hear & see the CADETS, I still get a sense of pride to see the Marron & Gold of Holy Name continue. At the Memorial Day parade in Hawthorne ,09 , It was great to see the HOLY NAME patch being worn. I filled up with emotions from seeing the Corps still setting the bar for excellance." HOLY NAME FOREVER " Brandy - that's the alias that Bill Kemmerer gave me in 1951
It is my sad duty to announce the death of Msgr. Wojtycha last Tuesday in Florida. Msgr. Wojtycha was the oldest living priest of the Archdiocese of Newark, and the founder and long time moderator of the St. Vincent Cadets, Bayonne, NJ. He created and begin the DREAM contest, held for many years at Roosevelt Stadium in Jersey City. He was also a member of the DCA and DCI Hall of fame, and a true Drum Corp giant! His funeral will be on Monday, June 15th at 11am, at St.Vincent's Church, in Bayonne, New Jersey. The O' Brien funeral home in Bayonne is handling the arrangements. Please spread the word, and remember Msgr. in your prayers! Fr. Jim Reilly
Who the hell is Bill Tubito? (EDITOT'S NOTE: Bill Tubito 56-57)
When I read your article about the 75th year kickoff you mentioned John Baumfalk. While in the Navy in 1954 I had a four day pass in San Francisco with very little money. I saw a bunch of guys with drum corp jackets on and one of them was John. I told him I had played for St. Vinnies and he said he wouldn't hold that against me. They invited me back to the hotel and put me up for three nights. John was the musical director for the Santa Ana Post and they won the State Championship that year. They got me a uniform and I got to march in the parade with them down Market St. John kept in touch with me when I went back overseas and the following year, 1955 in San Diego I became their Drum Major when we won the State Championship again. I was discharged in 1956 and kept in touch with John via Christmas cards for a few years then never heard from him again. Seeing his name in your article brought back great memories. (EDITOR'S NOTE: You're still welcome Jack. If it's ever convenient for you to attend one of our alumni functions it would be our honor to have you in attendance. As you mentioned, we have a lot of memories to share. See you soon I hope.)
Ther next rehearsal of the alumni corps will be this Thursday, June 11, at the Garfield VFW on Outwater Lane from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. We plan to go over the music for August, and our parade in Saddle Brook on July 4. All are welcome to join with us or to attend our rehearsals as a spectator. FHNSAB...
I MARCHED SOPRANO IN 1960-62 WITH MIAMI VANGUARDS - SAW CADETS ALL OVER THE MIDWEST AND SOUTH. LOVED THE WEST SIDE STORY SHOW AND NEW CONTRAS. (EDITOR'S NOTE: Always good to hear from old friends. If you're ever up in our area drop in to any of our functions. You're always welcome).
Dave: Yesterday, when I went to say good bye to you I guess the great emotions of the two days reached their peak and I almost lost it when I spoke with you. I even had a difficult time holding back tears as I was passing out the hats to the corps for every single one of them – with no exception – had a word of thanks to us the alumni for the hats, the pizza and for being so firmly behind them. When I saw the corps lined up in the giant “U” and playing as they did, I could not help but picture us (although smaller in number), over 50 years ago, playing our hearts out and looking as smartly as they did. And I could only hope that many of them will have the same feeling, 50 years from now! Anyway, what I wanted to tell you yesterday is that you are relentless – you are untiring – you are dedicated - you are talented – and you are an icon of what all of us wish we could be. Yes, I remember you playing a damn good baritone – kicking up your legs higher than most and never giving up the dream that we could be champions. It was because of you and Bob Peterson and many of the near age-outs in 1957 in Atlantic City that infused a spirit into all the others and made sure everyone worked equally as hard as we practiced on the beach to strengthen the legs. I recall you and others helping me place inspirational notes in some of the bugle cases and drum cases before practicing in A.C. We may have been the “door mat” to all the other big corps in the major part of the season that year but we were able to convince everyone in our ranks that we could do it! We could be the champs and sure enough, when we came out on top in the prelims, that was all they needed. Well Dave, as I have said to many others of the 1957 miracle group, thank you for allowing me to walk tall and proud for all the years that followed and to be able to tell anyone who would listen that I was a champion! Thank you for honoring by asking me to direct the alumni in the singing of our beautiful Holy Name hymn. (EDITOR'S NOTE: Bart: Thanks so much for everything you did, and everything you always do, to represent our corps in such an inspirational manner. I know when the kids in the corps look at you they know they are looking at the very best of who we were, just as we look at them and know that they are the very best that we could ever hope for them to be. I don't have your son's email address, so I would appreciate it if you would extend to him our very sincere thanks for the wonderful contribution he made to the Memorial Mass. There are some moments that are just beyond words because they're so important to us, and stir up so much emotion, and those few moments in our Church, with our friends and our memories of friends lost, was made special by the beautiful rendition of "Thankful" your son gave to us. I am glad that you and Barbara were there to enjoy it along with all of us. FHNSAB...Dave)
Dave, Well worth taking the time to read your report. As usual, your way with words makes me feel like I'm walking through the entire weekend again. You are always able to capture the feelings of the event and put them into words so others that were not there can get some insight into what they missed, and for those that were there, you take the words out of our mouths. Thank you once again for a great recap and I really look forward to the Diamond Bash activities and your reporting of them all.
Gosh! I went to the DCI site and saw that the Cadets are actually listed on the DCI schedule as the HOLY NAME CADETS! :) FHNSAB...
To my fellow alumni: I had the opportunity (and privilege) this past week to work with the corps at Johnstown, PA. On Wednesday evening of this week the Cadets, with a few alumni participating (Basil Nosal Holy Name 51-55, and other volunteers) had their corps history presentation which I give on a yearly basis. They viewed the revised video, which covers the time period from 1934 through 2009; including the Presidential Inauguration Parade, the Anniversary Mass at Holy Name, and the other Memorial Day Weekend events. Our current marching Cadets also had the opportunity to explore photos, articles, and other memorabilia (inlcuding the original Holy Name by-laws) that we placed on display in the foyer of the college. I believe that the presentation coupled with their experiences in Hawthorne, provided our 2009 Holy Name Cadets with a deeper appreciation and understanding of who they are as members of the "Golden Thread" which began in 1934. Some of the questions I was asked included: What does give it the old pepper mean? Why did the corps wear shorts in 1958, 59? When did we introduce 2 valve horns and mellophones? FHNSAB...
Hey all! I felt it was about time for me to tell you that I'm leaving for Naval Officer Candidate School TOMORROW!!! I've been extremely busy these past few weeks. For those of you who I got a chance to see, it was great seeing you and I'll miss you. For those of you who I didn't get to see, it sucked not seeing you and I'll miss you. Now down to business... OCS is a 12 week course. People can get "rolled" into the next class which would lengthen their stay at OCS. This would not be favorable as it is a "boot-camp-esque" environment and I would like to get out of there as quickly as possible. That being said, I have no idea what my modes of communication will be nor how accessible they will be. This may be the last most of you hear from me until august (sorry, but i'm not sending 30-some-odd snail mails...hah). If you would like to contact me here's my address OC Christopher Del Vecchio Officer Candidate School Class 26-09 Officer Training Command Newport 291 Kollmeyer St Newport, RI 02841-1641 NOTE: The class number is an estimate and may be incorrect. So I may not get your letter, but it's worth a shot anways. When my family or Loren get's an e-mail from me they will have my class number and I will ask them to send it out all of you along with periodic updates Also, feel free to keep up with me on facebook (if i have access to it) and most of all please feel free to pass this letter on to whoever you feel. All of my friends and family have been extremely supportive in my career choice and I can do nothing but thank you for that. The next time I see you i'll either be an Ensign in the Navy or would have failed out of OCS and trapped in the enlisted route......hahahaha not funny. i know. FHNSAB... (EDITOR'S NOTE: May you always have calm seas and smooth sailing Chris. Your fellow alumni proudly salute you.) Love, Chris Del Vecchio DelVec CDV
Rick, glad to see that you surfaced and look forward to seeing you in August.
The next rehearsal of the alumni corps will be this Thursday, June 4, at the Garfield VFW, from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. Both drums and brass will be rehearsing. All are welcome, as participants or just to watch and spend and evening with us. FHNSAB...
Dave, Thank you for the info. I'll see you there. I made a mistake on my e-mail address. It's Richember@aol.com
Hi Rick, Rink tink, rink tink, Ballentine Beer. I couldn't get that tune out of my head for months. I look forward to seeing you at the "Big Show" in August.
Sorry Rich, my email response to your message bounced back. Contact me at dshaw40@gmail.com and I'll be happy to give you any information you need. You could also access the Cadets' website: www.cadets.org. Just so you can pencil the dates in on your calendar part 2 of the reunion will be August 1-2 in NJ.
This is the first time I'm seeing this site and I've been reading some of the posting and smiling as I see names that I remember and can put faces with. I'd like to know when the second half of the 75th yaer reunion will be held. I'm in florida, and apperantly somewhere between Louie Silvestri and Reggie Miller. I can be reached @richember@apl.com. Please let me know because I'll plan a special trip for a Cadet reunion. FHNSAB
Dave, this just keeps getting better and better! Alumni participation and great events! Memories! Fun! Did you have any idea it would be this great? And it will get EVEN BETTER yet! :) Well, I hope that the alumni team will be able to harness all this excitement and interest to form lasting teams and relationships for future work. As a personal aside, I'd be VERY happy to see the alumni and (yes, even YEA) cooperate to form a LOCAL Cadet corps .. maybe even in GARFIELD. Yup, local kids just doing local stuff. NO TOURING, NO big $$$. Just drum corps. Maybe as a local adjunct, not unlike the Cavaliers "Green Thunder". (They may be ahead of you on this!). Best wishes, FHNSAB...
Bart,Dave: There are times in life when you make decisions that you think are prudent but turn out to be so wrong. Not attending the Memorial Day weekend was probably the worst decision I could have made. Bart, our telephone conversation left me wondering why I let financial concerns get in the way of an event that was enormously important. I have lost a few million dollars in income during retirement due to the financial collapse of my former business but that should not have derailed this trip to N.J. I missed in all probability, one of the most memorable events of our lifetime. The Holy Name Cadets without question is and still is the backbone of my life. Without that organization my life would have been much different.The Corps quickly became the foundation of solid rock that give me life, purpose, goals, direction, and a determination for success that followed me throughout life. I have been privileged to be associated with the two best Drum Corps ever to march on the field. "Holy Name and the, Caballeros." I have spent most of my life playing ,teaching, judging doing the thing I love most." Drum Corps" As I reflect on the last seventy one years, ten percent of those years were spent with Holy Name. Those seven years to this day are the most formidable years of my life.There were so many people in our Drum Corps family that were very instrumental in our development. Certainly amongst the top were the Bartello and the Shaw families. Following your family lead the two of you set the standard for the rest of us to follow. I will never forgive myself for not being with you during this wonderful weekend. There are no excuses only total regret. Thank you, Thank you for all you do. "For Holy Name shall always be..." Thanks to guys like you.
(EDITOR'S PREFACE: This note was received from Andrew German '08, one of the uniformed Cadet age-outs who participated in our 75th Anniversary Memorial Mass. Andrew, his partner Katie, and Chris all volunteered their services, and represented every Cadet who has ever worn the uniform with dignity, grace, and exemplary example. Thank you from all your brothers and sisters in the maroon and gold). Dave, Thank you for putting together a great event on Sunday. Katie and I had a wonderful time and were so happy to be a part of something so special and historic. It was very special for the two of us as we were finally able to be in uniform at the same time together. I know Katie felt extremely proud to be a part of the service, especially after meeting the first girls in the corps who expressed how proud they were to have Katie represent them. FHNSAB...
And the envelope please!!!......If there was a Cadet Alumni Academy of the Performing Arts and a special category 'best production or direction of a 75th anniversary memorial mass' this honor would go to Dr Joseph Cinzio, Greg Cinzio and Dave Shaw. Guy's, you would retain permanent possession of this award for all time herein after. This beautiful ceremony unfolding before me was the perfect emotional launch into this very special year and spiritually bonded me to all those cadets who have preceded me. Each event order of the mass was so meticulously orchestrated with the participation of Cadet Alumni and recent age-out Cadets in uniform as our honor guard. From the opening procession to Greg Cinzio and George King's trumpet duet accompanying the Alleluia Chorus recessional; the beautifully trained voice of Cadet Nancy Watson-Baker ('71-'73) who participated as Cantor (an example of the hidden talents our Alumni posess) ; and finally, the reflective and penetrating vocal rendition by Anthony Bartello,Jr (Bart's son) of the composition 'Thankful' by Josh Groban. To echo the recent post of Greg Cinzio.....What more can I say, honor, tribute, comraderie, tears, laughter, esprit de corps.....all in one weekend....Get ready.....the best is yet to come! FHNSAB..
Dave Rice - thanks!!!! Great pics... and a beautiful flag. (courtesy of the Hawthorne Cabs Alumni Corps and Jim Russo). Hope the pizza was good & hot. BTW - all of the 2009 HNC are now Cadets with a Canadian connection!!!!!! Get 'em posting. FHNSAB...(EDITOR'S NOTE: Jim Gardiner spear-headed the fund- raising initiative that brought our Canadian Alumni together in support of the 2009 Cadets by raising funds to host the Alumni/Cadet pizza party following the parade and concert in Hawthorne last Monday. A more detailed account, complete with photos, will follow...but in the meantime we all want to thank our Canadian brother and sister Cadets for their generosity. I also read on their Face Book page, "Cadets with a Canadian Connection," that they are in the process of organizing an active alumni chapter that will permit them to gather periodically in order to stay in touch. This website is at your disposal, along with any other assistance you might require. Again, thanks Jim, and thanks to all of you who contributed. For Holy Name shall always be...
(EDITOR'S PREFACE: Joe, Arlene, Joe Sr. - It's difficult to find words sufficient to express our gratitude for the beautiful flowers you donated to the Cadets' Memorial Mass. Everything about that special Mass was indeed "special," and the beauty of the floral arrangements made it even more so. Thank you for your kindness, your generosity, and your presence). Dave, It was our pleasure. The Cadets have meant so much to me. Even though I left the Plebes in '74 to march with the Polish Falcons (they had guy rifles), my heart always remained in Garfield. This past weekend brought back so many memories of my childhood. Thank-you for including us and for doing such a great job on making the day so special. If you need me to do anything in the future, please do not hesitate to call on me, not just in flowers, if help is needed with anything. For Holy Name shall always be...
What a great job at the Hawthorne Memorial Day parade. The concert at the Municipal building after the parade sounded really good. GREAT SOUND. OLOL CADETS (57-63)
Thanks for the nice words in your post Greg. I thank the dear LORD everyday that we have been able to do what we do, and, bring some joy and happiness to those involved in all the 75th year celebrations.. Also, to those outside our little world who might possibly be inspired to take their own particular ideas and activities to another level ... as we feel we have done...we hope that you too will carry on the Cadet traditions of hard word, dedication, and pursuit of excellence. Basically none of it would ever have happened if it wasn't for the support and dedication of positive alumni support.. As you mentioned, everyone contributing their time and talents. It might be just a phone call to remind another alumnus of what is going on, all the way up to a large financial contribution like some folks made. It's the participation that counts. With the momentum to build on from this past weekend, August should be one heck of a trip. Can't wait to see the history book you''re ready to publish. Be well my brother. I'm off to take down the sign in front of HN church. I will donate the framework to the church for their future use, in the name of all our Cadet Alumni. P.S., I was just thinking.. what in the world are we going to do for an encore next year ? (EDITOR'S NOTE: Very few people know how much George King does and has done to ensure the success of our alumni regeneration. If you turn to him for assistance you receive it...no hesitation...he just does it. George, Thank You on behalf of all your brothers and sisters. Your example is truly what the Holy Name bond is all about). FHNSAB...
Dave, Jim Messina told me a great story that happened to him at the Legion on Monday when we were mingling with the kids from the corps. Jim had asked one of the kids (very tall drummer, don't know his name) what his experience was like so far in the corps. The kid started telling him how much he enjoyed it, etc. Jim said, "You know I wore that uniform. Not the one that you are standing in but I wore that uniform, those shoes, that shako, etc. and I know for me it was the best and most rewarding experience of my life. There have been a lot of people before you that are here today that share that common bond". The kid responded, "Wow! That is so weird that you're saying that to me. When I was marching in the parade today, the sun was behind me and I could see my reflection in the drum. I looked down and there was my cumber bun, my jacket and then nothing... No face... I felt a little spooked out when it happened... Almost like a faceless Cadet... But now what you're saying to me brings it all together... It's not a faceless Cadet, it's my brothers and sisters who marched before me". Wow! Jim said he got goose bumps... Just thought I would like to share the story with you....(EDITOR'S NOTE: I just got goose bumps too. I know the kid you're talking about...bass drummer #5, the holy bass. ..I met him last year and was really impressed with him. When Greg and Kevin had the proposed sample poster spread out on one of the tables I was watching one kid after another stand up on a chair so they could get a photo looking straight down, trying to capture the breastplate reflection with the 1934 drum line in their caped uniforms staring up at them. Bob Messineo walked over to take a look, and he did a double-take. The drummer in the center was his Dad, still a boy, staring up at him from the image in the breastplate. We do I guess, all of us, march with the angels during our time in uniform. Thanks for sharing). FHNSAB...
The next rehearsal of the alumni corps will be this Thursday, May 28, at the Garfield VFW Hall on Outwater Lane from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. We all extend get well wishes to Sal D'Amico and Joe Triola.
The postings on the HNC Guest Book show that the Cadets 75th anniversary year events are off to a GREAT beginning. Lots of alumni are interested and are having a great time. :) Yes, I know that there are a lot of others involved. BUT.. I also know that it is your spirit and determination that got this all going. :) I respect and admire that. Best wishes for a great year .... FHNSAB
What a nice weekend!! The Mass was absolutely beautiful. If there was a dry eye in the church, I didn't see it. And the reception afterward was very nice! The Cadets in the Hawthorne parade were outstanding! The idea that they learned separate songs just for the exhibition is a reflection of their intellect and talent. However, I must admit, I was waiting to hear West Side Story! And the pizza party afterward? What a nice bunch of young ladies and gentlemen!! (I would never use the word "gentlemen" to describe the guys I marched with!! !LOL) As the alumni sang the Holy Name song, I looked out and saw ALL of them standing at attention in absolute silence with their hands upon one another's shoulders. When speaking to them later, I couldn't believe how excited they were to march under the Holy Name banner this year!!! My thanks to all those who helped to make everything possible, and to you for all you have done!!
Hi Dave: Just thought I would take a minute to thank you for this weekend. It was truly AMAZING! I could not believe how emotional and uplifting the whole weekend was. When we sang our song at the church it was great, but it was nothing compared to singing to our wonderful group of yuoung people standing before us. I can't say enough about it. At the same time I can't really explain it to anyone either. It was truly special in every way. I am so grateful for all the hard work you have done to put this entire alumni effort together. I don't think too many people realize how much work you have done to make it happen, but I do, and I want you to know that I appreciate every bit of it. THANK YOU DAVE,
KARIE-HI. LONG TIME NO HEAR FROM YOU. PLEASE E-MAIL US AT TJA116@AOL.COM. LOVE TO TALK TO YOU.
Karie--Your father was a friend of mine and I was so sorry to hear of his passing--I think of him often and fondly and it's so nice to hear he had a daughter and grandchildren! FHNSAB
I WOULD LOVE TO ORDER A HOLY NAME JACKET IN REMEMBRANCE OF MY FATHER, FRANK VITRANO. HE MARCHED MANY YEARS AGO , 66-67, AND IN ADDITION MANY MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY WERE CADETS.; KENNEDY'S, AND ADAMO'S, I SAW THE CADETS IN THE MEMORIAL DAY PARADE IN ROCHELLE PARK, AND THEY WERE GREAT. I LIVE IN ROCHELLE PARK SO IT WAS VERY CONVIENENT FOR ME. I HAD A SIGN I MADE FOR 75TH ANNIVERSARY. MY DAUGHTER WAS HOLDING IT AS SHE SAT ON THE CURB, AND SOMEONE TOOK A PICTURE. I'M NOT SURE WHERE OR IF IT WILL BE POSTED. WHEN THE CADETS SAW THE SIGN THEY PLAYED JUST FOR ME. I CRIED IT WAS SO SPECIAL. MY DAD PLAYED SOPRANO HORN. THE CADETS WERE WONDERFUL TO PLAY FOR ME! I WILL NEVER FORGET THAT. (EDITOR'S NOTE: THE PHOTO IS POSTED ON THE CADETS' ALUMNI FORUM PAGE ON WWW.CADETS.ORG).
Dave: Bot my brother, Steven, and I, thank you and all the alumni who arranged this beautiful Mass. It was so fitting and proper to honor and remember all of our deceased Cadets. I am sure that Richie was helping to conduct the corps song from up above. Thanks for allowing me to place his picture on the memorial table at the front of the church. It meant a great deal to us to be part of this wonderful beginning of our corps' 75th anniversary celebration. For Holy Name Shall Always Be...
Thanks Editor (and Bob--OMG, I can't believe that's really Bob) for the invite. I would love to come to the Thursday night meetings, but I live over an hour away and I usually have to work on either Thurs or Fri--however my husband and I are hoping to attend the big party at the end of July beginning of August. I still get the chills when I see the corps enter the field--it's been that way for close to 50 years now--I first saw Holy Name as a very small child courtesy of my sister. In fact her sons were in the corps long before I was. But that's a story for another day. Looking forward to 75th bash.
This past weekend was probably the most continual, emotional cadet experience I have ever had. From the beginning with the Mass at our original "home", to the Monsignore greeting us with a "Welcome home" comment, to hearing my son sing so impressively, to seeing the three cadets handle themselves so smartly and with such great class, to seeing the "Holy Name Cadets" in Hawthorne and almost crying like a baby when they played, to mingling with the "kids" at the Legion Hall, to having the honor of directing the Holy Name Hymn. I get goose bumps when I relive the moments. We all owe a special thanks to Dave Shaw for his constant leadership in helping to guide the alumni group, to Greg and Doctor Cinzio for their efforts in getting things organized for the Mass at Holy Name Church and for Ken Shedosky for his participation in all things important and for his generosity. All of our lives are richer simply because we were cadets and members of the best drum corps in the world, and the afore mentioned people and many others too numerous to mention have helped to keep the cadet feeling alive even in our "golden" years. From one of the golden agers, I express my sincere thanks to all of you (especially the "boys" of 1957) who have made me the person I am today ... a damn proud champion cadet!
This note is for Al Lopez....Hey Al, I remember you well...Henry was a fine friend..not sure when he died...we were all together in 63...the July 4th show being the greatest...the night we beat Sac...when you left to go back to Calif. I believe Chief gave you a shako as a memento...still have it??? I'm in LA every couple of months...where are you in Calif.??? as Dave said, send us your e-mail...by the way, I was probably your tallest friend...just kidding..
David, just a few words to tell you how much Jeannie and I enjoyed Sundays event. I t brought back so many memories . Good and not so good (sad) but never bad. FHNSAB
All, Don't forget to VOTE if you haven't already done so! ORIGINAL GIRLS 1969!!!!!!! Ken and Jimmy, the girls thank you for your beautiful letters of nomination. Girls, don't forget to make your $34 contribution to the corps if you haven't already done so. Remember, there is a donor who will match the $1000 we contribute. Do it today! :) If any of you were lucky enough to experience the bonding the alumni had with the current marching members this weekend you will see that your contribution is well worth every penny and then some! We want to keep the kids going and you can help. I'm asking this of you from one alumni member to another. Let us have a good representation of support from the ORIGINAL GIRLS and every female member thereafter!! I don't know about the rest of you but to me this weekend was OUTSTANDING and it was wonderful spending time with all of you. The 75th Diamond Bash should be the icing on the cake! Thanks!
Great weekend, so great. My video came out great... Trying to see if I can get a friend to help me put it on you tube. I will get a copy made for you. The kids were so great. The pizza/hat event was so wonderful... thank you for doing that for them... and mostly, for us. I feel as if I am still 16 so many times. !! Thank you for everything you do always.
What can I say. Honor, tribute, camaraderie, tears, laughter, esprit de corps . . . all in one weekend. I think the job you guys did over the weekend was phenomenal. One of the best drum corps weekends I've ever had, and, we really never got the chance to hear this years repertoire. Hell, it didn't really matter, did it . . . I know the work that goes on behind the scenes (or at least some of the work), and just wanted to say thank you for everything you've done. It was truly a special time in the corps history. Now on to the next chapter . . .FHNSAB. EDITOR'S NOTE: Greg: You make this sound like it this wonderful weekend we just experienced was a one man show. None of this, nor none of anything else, would get done, and get done so well, without you. Thank you for working with me to make this weekend one that none of us will ever forget. God truly loves maroon. FHNSAB...
Dave, I really want to thank you for your efforts this weekend. It was a GREAT weekend. I appreciate your hard work and all the time and organization that you put into each event. Sorry to tell you but no one could ever take your place! You are the BEST at what you do! Thank you again. I loved talking to the kids (I did behave myself) and I didn't think anything could top the alumni singing the corps song in the Church, but I have to say that yesterday at the Legion was "over the top"!!!
OMG, what a fabulous weekend!!! Great Mass, great crowd for the church, nice gathering for the brunch, we then were over to Lodi to Sandy Van Romer's, another great mix. Today, so special for me on many fronts. aA you know, Hawthorne is my 2nd home, so I got to see alot of my old Muchacho friends that are now marching in the Cab alumni. Previous to Hawthorne, I was in the Starduster's (giving away all my secrets at the moment...) and there were even a few women from there sitting amongst Cadet alumni. And then the reason we were all there... WOW!! Joe & I didn't shut up the whole way home. 3 hours never went by so fast. So many great things to say about what a great weekend it was... no need to bore you, you were there.... but for me, I still feel such gratitude for you and your persistance and your patience (with me especially), for all that you've done to not only rekindle the alumni, but especially for being able to reunite the alumni with the corps.... thanks, again, with all my heart.
Mickie (liebermann) Evans, if you still live in the area why don't you come to the meeting on the first Thursday of every month. A lot of the people you know show up, and it would be great to see you again. EDITOR'S NOTE: The next gathering-of-the-maroon is scheduled for October 1, 2009. Between then and now our full focus will be on our 75th Anniversary events. But. I endorse Bob's invitation Mixie. You have many old friends who would love to see you again. Instead of waiting until October, just us at some of the 75th events.
So great to see so many familiar names here--I have the fondest of memories of the Cadets and the years I followed the corps (when it was still boys-only) to my brief stint in the Color Guard to my return to the fan world. I'm so sad to read that Frank Vitrano has passed along with so many others from those days. When did we all get so old? Well, looking forward to the 75th. FHNSAB
Dave: Came up with your email addy when I was viewing the Holy Name Corps alumni page. I was with Garfield in ’63 and stayed at your mom’s house for a few months when I first came out from California. I remember you coming by once to the house. I’ll never forget your mom. She was very kind to me. I play trumpet professionally out here on the west coast and sure wish I could be there to lend a hand in the soprano line of the alumni corps. When did Henry Mura die?? I remember him vividly from my one year in 1963.
Played with Garfield in 1963. Came out from California just to play with the greatest corps of all time. Hello to all from out here in California. Good luck with the Alumni Corps. Wish I could be there to lend a hand in the soprano line. EDITOR'S NOTE: You must be the Al Lopez who lived at my house when I was in the army. I'm looking forward to meeting you one of these days. Send me your email address and I'll put you on our mailing list for news updates and announcements.
Corky Miller and Lou Silvestri ? What have you guys been doing for the past 40+ years? Funny how some of us wound up in Florida. I'm living in Ft Walton Beach, FL which is in the FL Panhandle about 50 miles east of Pensacola. Any of you going up to NJ for any 75th Anniversary events? I'm going this weekend and again in August for the big bash. Hey, we need to have a Florida Maroon and Gold bash. E-mail me when you get a chance garfieldw707@hotmail.com
Good luck in your 2009 season! Can't wait to see what you guys do this year, I just wish you had a show close to Nebraska that I could go to. EDITOR'S NOTE: Thanks for your good wishes. I'll relay them to the corps.
Lou Silvestri, how are things going with you? I see you are living in Spring Hill FL. How far is that from Tampa? My two daughters live in Tampa, and my wife and I go up there almost every other weekend. I am retired, living in Cape Coral, FL, which is two hrs from Tampa. I am also on the west coast. If you have a chance drop me a line at nealsiu@embarqmail.com
Hi Dave; It's been forever!! I was thinking about the Corps the other day, so I decided to see if there was a web site. Guess What! SoI started reading about everything that was going on, and I was shocked to see the Alumni that you have. I haven't seen or talked to anybody for at least 40 years. I saw Dennis Mura at my brothers wake back in '93. That's the last that saw or talked to him. I am retired and living in Spring Hill Florida. It's on the west coast. I'm about 5 Miles from the Gulf. I love it and am very happy. I spoke to Carl Samara this evening and we are going to talk again tomorrow. FHNSAB... EDITOR'S NOTE: Welcome home to the Cadets Lou.
I am happy to report that Cadet John Avella "57-'61 has been released from Kessler Rehab. Hospital. He is up on his feet and walking with a cane. His doctors report that someone else with the extent of his injuries would normally be held in rehab another week or more. Another example of the legendary Cadet work ethic and goal -setting focus. Join me in congradulating John for progressing beyond this phase of his recovery process. John ,hopes to see you all at the Memorial Mass at Holy Name Church this Sunday. FHNSAB
The Alumni Corps will have our next rehearsal this Thursday, May 21, at the Garfield VFW Hall on Outwater Lane in Garfield, from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. Both percussion and brass will be rehearsing. All are welcome, either to play with us, or just to visit and hear some old songs from way back when. FHNSAB
Good news to report.: Joe Belger 70-71, and Lou Silvestri 58-70 are back on board the big maroon boat. Both of them contacted me today, and not only blew my mind but made me very happy in the process. Welcome home Cadets!
I have heard that the 2009 Cadets will name their corps "The Holy Name Cadets". But, what does this mean? Will there be any uniform addition? Program addition or focus? Just announcements at shows? Best wishes - FHNSAB
The next rehearsal of the Alumni Corps will be this Thursday, May 14 at the Garfield VFW Hall on Outwater Lane from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. We look forward to seeing you there. All are welcome...to participate, or just to watch. FHNSAB...
Hi. My Dad, Frank Vitrano marched for the Cadets 66-67 I believe. He passed years ago March 29th. Any ceromony's you are having please let me know . Its all he talked about. I live in Rochelle Park and always watch the cadets and think of him.! I wish you all well to the deceased and living!! (Editor's note: Karie, thank you for your note Your Dad, Cadet Frank Vitrano is memorialized on the Rest In Peace page of this website. I hope you've had an opportunity to visit that page. He will also be remembered, along with all his brother and sister deceased Cadets, at a Memorial Mass on May 24th, 10:30 AM, at Holy Name Church in Garfield. For Holy Name shall always be...
Dave, Best of luck with your 75th Anniversary year. Can't wait to hear "West Side Story." Even though we competed against each other on a Sat. night, we went swimming on a Sunday afternoon & many of us have stayed friends for over 50 years. Hope to see you at the "Garfield Tent" in Indianapolis. Stay in touch Kay
John, Our Best Wishes and Prayers are sent to you for a speedy recovery from your injuries. If we don't meet in August, let me know when your in San Diego again...........bar tab will be on me this time.
Dave: My name is Mike Lawrence and I think that the 75th Anniversary satellite parties the corps has scheduled around the country is a great idea. (Editor’s Note: I agree). Thank you for being so active... I do remember you; I played in No More War... I started out with everyone else in the fall of '71 playing snare, but had to leave. I rejoined in the spring only a few weeks before the first show. I guess they needed another tenor drummer, and after unrelenting browbeating by Angelica and Sanford, my high school music teachers, I agreed to jump in and help. Some very strong emotions and memories as you well understand, and I am so glad I got to experience it. I have had no contact with the corps, nor played again after high school (Bergenfield High, Class of '73) ... although I used to tear up watching DCI on Thanksgiving TV. I also attended a couple of shows up here in Mass. over the years (I have been here since 1977). Living in Mass., there is something I have been thinking about for some time... It would be interesting to find out who the 27th Lancers were that year, since if you recall we stayed in their homes and they in ours (I had the tenor line stay in my house in Bergenfield, but can only remember the name Lenny). It is highly likely you had something to do with setting this up... If you recall, we formed a sort of kinship with them; so much so that some of them actually got into it with Bayonne in the dorms at Whitewater, and got into trouble on our behalf... I'm not sure, but I think I also recall that they may have yelled something like "Go Go Garfield", when Bayonne took the field in the finals... (highly unsportsmanlike, but hey...) it's probably on the tape of that year's DCI finals. Do you think it would be too much to extend an invitation to them to attend the satellite party in Mass if I could get a list from that year? For practical purposes, I doubt that more than a few could be located/contacted... As I mentioned, I have thought about this a few times over the years. I will RSVP per below for the Massachusetts event, and do all I can to attend. I will send a donation to help as well. Are family members welcome? Perhaps I will see you there after 37 years... I'm sure we look exactly the same... Best regards, Mike (Editor’s note: Mike, I forwarded your suggestion to the Cadets’ administration for consideration. I think it’s a great suggestion, and hopefully it can be accomplished. I’m sure the corps would love to issue an invitation to the Lancers, but expense might be a deal killer. Let’s hope not!).
To Dr.John Avella, God Bless and a speedy recovery. See you this Summer.
Dee? Really? Wow, it's been nearly 40 yrs!.....so that would make you 39, right? Wonderful to hear that your "Home Again".
i am reporting on the condition of Cadet John Avella '57-'61 who has been hospitalized following a serious auto collision on 4/26 while he was distance training on his bike for the Senior Men's Tri- Athalon held at the end of this month.A driver ran a stop sign. He suffered multiple fractures and a punctured lung. He tolerated his surgery well at Hackensack Medical Center, NJ and has since been transferred to Kessler Institute Rehab Hospital ,West Orange,NJ for therapy. John said the process is rigorous but he wants to be out as soon as possible and up on his own feet again. Join me in wishing John a speedy recovery so that he can join us for the upcoming 75th Anniversary Celebration events. FHNSAB
Hi Dave, I had an absolute blast tonight! I am so happy to have attended the gathering.
There will not be a rehearsal of the alumni corps this Thursday. May 7th is the first Thursday of the month, and the evening of our monthly alumni gathering. From all indications it looks as though there's going to be an unusually large turn-out, so come on down and enjoy a nice relaxed social evening with your fellow alumni. The next rehearsal of the alumni corps will be at the Garfield VFW on Thursday, May 14 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. We just received the good news that Sal D'Amico is out of the hospital and resting at home. We wish him a full and speedy recovery. He's definitely missed by all of us in the alumni corps. For Holy Name shall always be...
Looking forward to seeing you guys again! Is Tommy still coming?
Hey Everyone, Hope to see many of you at the Clifton Show on Sunday August 2. We'll be there to hang with everyone at the alumni tent, enjoy the drum corps contest, and participate (Frank) with the Alumni Corps. Excited to see everyone this summer. Frank (76-79) and Judy (78-79) Sgammato judysgammato@yahoo.com
Now, why did I "know" that the alumni corps would play "The Angels Sing"? Great idea.
Alumni Corps Report: Lots of progress last week on nailing down "The Angels Sing." Our next rehearsal is this Thursday, April 30 at the Garfield VFW from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. One of our brothers, Sal D'Amico, an outstanding mellophone player, was hospitalized this week. We are all concerned about his well-being, and send our best wishes for a quick and full recovery. For Holy Name shall always be... A big get well to our mello phone extraordinaire Sal D'Amico who is not feeling well. Hurry back Sal we miss your solo in Rainy Day.
As the Cadets enter their 75th year, know that the alumni of the NORWOOD PARK IMPERIALS wish all the best to the Cadets and their alumni on this occasion! :) Our corps go back together many years .. a common maroon experience, if you will!. We have always admired the SPIRIT and DEDICATION of he Cadets: Holy Name. Garfield, Bergenfield, etc. We also have quite a few friends among your alumni. Best wishes for a great summer of fun and success in the future. David Borck, for the Imperials
For anyone voting for the Cadets Hall of Fame....PLEASE vote for one of the best soloists in the history of drum corps...our great mellophone soloist from the 80's...Barbara Moroney. I am amazed, and frankly appalled, that she was not voted in long ago! Thanks, Mike Davis, 70-72
My personal 75th Anniversary expression of my feelings for my corps. http://cadets.ning.com/profile/DaveShaw
A letter I received in the mail from the Cadets got me thinking about my time in the corps in 1972. I have been scouting around on the net doing a little memory chasing...and found this site. I am truely glad I got to participate with an incredible group of people. I almost missed it. I started out in the snareline in the fall (I'm sure that the Paterson armory and hall in Garfield have something to do with the loss of much of my high frequency hearing), but then I left, (I can't recall why, just stupid I guess), but Angelica talked me into coming back in the Spring, about a month before the first show...they needed another tenor drummer, I had to learn fast and but Vince Florio was in the Bergenfield High band with me and he took the time and we worked on the parts everyday (during and after school) . I am really glad I came back, as it was truely one of the most memorable experiences of my life. Don Angelica, Fred Sanford, and Bobby Hoffman are all gone. Angelica and Sanford were my high school music teachers, I also just picked up a copy of the 72 show on DVD from drumcorpvideos.com. Best $20 bucks I've spent in a long time. I remember the "new" busses, with the coolers of baloney sandwiches in the back, and sleeping in gyms, and how we got tight with the 27th Lancers, and how we lost to the Bridgemen by 1/10th in Whitewater. We were a new group, DCI year 1, and I'll say it again, it was truely an honor... Best to everyone ... Mike Lawrence 1972 (mnmlawrence@aol.com)
The following comments were made by Andy Lisko in an article he wrote for Drum Corps World, May 2009, on the Buglers Hall of Fame I&E contest and alumni corps concert in Bridgeport, Ct., March 28: "The final performance of this (first) segment was the Holy Name/Garfield Cadets Alumni, led by BHOFers Jimmy D'Amico and Gene Marotta. They were simply magnificent and they exemplified their proud musical tradition with stellar offerings from their storied history. What a day and what a way to close out the first half of the show." EDITOR'S NOTE: Steve Vickers, Publisher of Drum Corps World has been very generous in printing information on the Cadets when requested to do so. We appreciate his generosity very much. For those of you interested in obtaining historic CDs, but haven't been able to locate what you're looking for, Steve probably has them available. You can call him toll-free at 800- 554- 9630 to check to see if he has what you want, and to place phone orders. You can pay by check, money order, or credit card. Drum Corps World has been in continuous existence for 38 years, bringing support and an independent voice to the drum corps fraternity. Thank you Steve...your efforts do not go unnoticed or unappreciated.
I bought a Garfield drum and bugle corps tshirt ("Beyond tradition!") from a charity shop in england 3 years ago. Last year i was at a gig and the drummer in the band (who i think were on top of the pops a few months back) came up to me and started drooling and pointing at me shirt. we assumed he was just a fruitcake, but he tried again later and it turned out he used to be in the corps all the way over in america. that was cool.
With the 75th anniversary growing in interest and intensity, we have another option for hotel accommodations for the weekend of July 31- August 2, 2009: The Marriott Hotel in Saddlebrook (just off the GS Parkway) and only a couple of miles from "where it all began", will be home for many Cadets from 1934 through 1970s. But any Cadet or supporter can book rooms here. We just want to enjoy the 'after-glow" a little while longer and the chance to spend time together with old friends is very appealing. The block room rate for a double room is $99 per night + taxes. This rate will be available until July 10, assuming rooms are available. You can call or book online. The toll-free number: 1-800-832-6254; or go to www.marriott.com To get this block-room rate, tell them you are with the "Holy Name Cadets"; if you book online, the code is HNCHNCA. If you are interested ... don't delay. The hotel has 241 rooms and we already have strong interest. FHNSAB...
The next rehearsal of the Holy Name Alumni Corps will be this Thursday, April 23 at the Garfield VFW on Outwater Lane from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. Come on down and join us to play or just listen in to some of our great old tunes. All are welcome.
I marched and played snare in 1964 - only the one year, but it was a wonderful experience. During the summer I had my 21st birthday which aged me out after the season's end. It was a strange set of circumstances that brought me to Garfield. Apparently, one of the snares from the 1963 season had been drafted into or joined the military, as I recall, and my buddy Jack Stivers asked if I'd be interested in playing for that season. I had no transportation to be able to get to rehearsals, and Jack guaranteed me a ride to and from if I would give it a shot. Les Parks auditioned me, said I was OK, and the "Chief" allowed me to participate for that year, knowing I could not return the next season. It was truly fun from start to finish, and if your listen to the recordings from that year, we had a solid line. That was remarkable, considering how fast it was put together. Ask Pat Vasquez because he was there too. I think of it often and am thrilled that I was part of it all. The Garfield Cadets were, are, and will always be a " Class Act".
Former instructor to donate $25K to Cadets' future Friday, April 17, 2009 By: Caryn Goebel Portion allotted to initiate endowed chair for percussion staff. A generous donation of $25,000 from a Cadets instructor of the early 1980s has launched the corps' 2009 Annual Campaign in a momentous way, and has also put in place the beginnings of an endowment fund to pay the salary of the Cadets’ Front Ensemble arranger. Bob Gross, also known in Cadets’ circles as ‘Chicky,’ recently notified Director George Hopkins of his gift, half of which will go towards the Annual Campaign’s Leadership Circle for the fall of 2009. According to Hopkins, the other $12,500 will be used to seed a newly created “endowed chair,” to be used for the support of the Cadets’ front ensemble arranger, a position that Bob held with the Cadets back in the 1980s. Gross will present his gift to the Cadets at Noon on April 26th, prior to the corps’ ensemble rehearsal at their next rehearsal camp at Woodstown High School in Woodstown, N.J. A resident of Vineland, N.J., Gross teaches kindergarten through eighth grade music in South Jersey. A graduate of West Chester University with a master in music performance and a bachelors in music education, Gross’ roots to the corps, and the activity, date back to 1970s when he was a member of the Crossmen in 1977- 1978 marching with Hopkins, Thom Hannum, Steve Keiffer, Grant Davis, and other folks who eventually made up the bulk of the Cadets percussion instructional team. Gross then teamed up with the Garfield Cadets as the Front Ensemble arranger and instructor from 1979 through 1983. He served as a consultant in 1984. INVESTING IN FUTURES : At this time in his life, the 51-year-old wanted to be able to give back to the corps that has invested into the futures of thousands of young adults. “I can say with confidence that every year I see the great young men and women who are in this corps, that is the reason I am making my ‘investment.’ I have zero doubt that the membership will ‘pay the dividends’ in the future, to everyone they come in contact with,’ said Gross. Gross brings his support of the Cadets into real life terms. For him, after years of teaching, and being close to the activity, Gross sees the students he taught in the early 1980s, and forward, and acknowledges that many of their successes are due to the foundations laid while they were in the Cadets. “I am now old enough that students I taught in the corps are now husbands, wives and parents. For example, I arranged to meet on one of my former students at the Rose Bowl a few years ago. Not only is he doing well, but he brought his 6-year-old son to see drum corps live for the first time, including the Cadets. I saw how well he was raising his boy. At that moment, I was ‘paid.’ ” Gross mentions an email he received from a third baritone he taught, thanking him for leading her to the Cadets where she learned how to work hard toward goals, have self confidence and not sweat the small stuff. He also watched a mallet player with raw ability struggle to make the corps. “I gave him a shot. Not only did he work very hard to be an excellent Cadet, but he earned a doctorate in music and is a successful college music professor. When he wrote me an email thanking me for giving him a shot and the invaluable things he learned at the Cadets, I lost it.” The stories and sentiments shared by his students are many, according to Gross. Students have become successful in careers, some in music, and some have even acquired fame, he acknowledged. But far more importantly, Gross recognizes Cadets who are simply successful in life. “Great spouses, great parents, positive role models and community members. These are hard-working people with positive attitudes, and many with faith in God, which is important to me,” Gross said. As a young arranger and instructor, Gross admits he and the staff of the Garfield Cadets fantasized about competing and winning competitions. But through the years, the real philosophies and teachings of the corps became paramount. Now, as an arranger, educator and adjudicator for several scholastic marching circuits, those ideals mean more than any award or trophy. A GLIMPSE BACK : Gross of course remembers how wonderful the Cadets’ first DCI championship win was in 1983. But memories of 1980 will always fill his heart, when the Cadets struggled with membership, and even having enough horn players to field a corps seemed an impossibility. “We had a rehearsal in early May with only 18 brass players. They were very good, but I cried because things were looking bad. George calmly opened his briefcase, and produced a huge list of names - all kids from Mississippi and Louisiana. He looked at me and stated "even if only a fraction come, we will be fine." Two weeks later, the hornline had grown to 36 players “with funny accents” Gross jokes, but still not enough to make a run for it. A second trip was made to the Southeastern states in what was later termed “The Boatlift,” and the Garfield Cadets were fielding 56 horn players. Gross tells the story about the first camp full of fresh new “Southern” faces: “Donnie Van Doren walked over to the van with a smirk on his face, and said "come here." We walked over to the arc, and Donnie told them to play a choral warm-up. For a day's work, it was great, and they blew my face off at the end. Then, more surprises, as all sections were full and working hard. We had to pull out of the first two weekends of the season, and rumors were out that we were "in bad shape." We opened the season week three with no closer yet on the field, and brought the corps onto the field in halves, just sort of as a joke that 64 TIMES TWO is a FULL CORPS! We lost to North Star by over 15 points, and got a 51. Yes, we were very dirty, but the potential was showing from night one. The corps worked morning, noon, and night. The corps won a show in Ohio in July for the first time in three years. By August, we were locked and loaded. At prelims, the corps performed very well and also won the crowd… Not only did we make finals, but took tenth place, a miraculous feat for a corps that was in dire straits in May … I honestly believe we had divine intervention." Alumni, fans and family are welcome to join the Cadets in thanking Gross for his kindhearted gift on Sunday, April 26th at noon in Woodstown, N.J. Join Gross in investing in the Cadets of the future… Make your donation to the 2009 Maroon & Gold Club
If anyone is interested in a lead Soprano Position with Star United Alumni Corps please let me know...they have recently had a member whose commitments have changed. Although it is typically Star of Indiana based alumni, Star and the Cadets have had a unique coexistence in staff with quite a few of the former stafff having been apart of both Corps successes...it is open to anyone who currently has true Lead Soprano ability and would like to be involved in the activity. Contact: eric.buckman@cirquedusoleil.com
All Little Falls Cadets Alumni and HN Cadets, Garfield Cadets, Cadets of BC and Cadets Alumni, hold the the evening of Friday, May 22 open on your personal schedules. Bill Ridings, GC ,1959- 62 and John Hertlein of the Great Notch Troop 14 BSA, D&B Corps/ Little Falls Cadets are having a reunion gathering at the Bethwood Rest. 6pm-11pm (on Lackawana Ave in Totowa) Bill and John are inviting all past members,instructors,staff and any and all Cadets from all eras. If you choose, you can send a check for the cover charge $35.00 to John at 4601 Blitzgel Dr. Florence, SC 29501, or you can drop by later -on for a toast or two . This event was to coincide with the events at the Crown Plaza and Westmont CC which are now cancelled. But undaunted, Bill and John have pressed forward to organize this event. Many LF Cadets came to Garfield after their corps closed the doors and filled our ranks with quality members. We should toast these members if we can be there that night. Don't forget the memorial mass at The Church of the Most Holy Name ,May 24 at 10:30am followed by a brunch at the Garfield VFW following the mass.
To Corky Miller...I am on the east coast...20 miles north of West Palm Beach..town called Hobe Sound, next to Stuart
The next rehearsal of the alumni corps will be this Thursday, April 16, at the Garfield VFW Hall, Outwtater Lane in Garfield, from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. Also we are sending get well wishes to baritone, Frank Bentivegna, who's been under the weather. The good news is that he hopes to make this week's rehearsal. See you all on Thursday.
The material referenced in this post is a history of The Cavalier's undefeated 1961 season, written by Ken "Nolie" Nolan, a fellow Brother of the '61 Chicago Cavaliers, now sadly passed on. For my Green Brothers - this may renew your Pride & Spirit. For my Maroon Brothers & Sisters, I hope this shows you how much we loved & respected you!! For those of you who marched in Gold, Blue, Black, Red, or ANY other color, please know that we could not have been the Corps we were without having to compete with the GREATEST Corps of the era! While my Soul belongs to The Cavaliers, my Heart to The Cadets, my mind remembers you all!! May God bless you and hold you, as I do . Splooie! & FHNSAB! EDITOR'S NOTE: This is a lengthy article, well worth your time and attention. It is impossible to reprint here because of its' length, but I will send it to anyone requesting a copy. Regarding the expressions of friendship and respect directed towards the Cadets in this article, we would like The Cavaliers to know of our deep respect and sincere friendship for them as well. Our two corps have shared many adventures together, and none of them have been forgotten. 1961 was a great year by any measure, and The Cavaliers were and are a great corps.
Vinnie Ferriola, Where in Fl. are you located? I been in Fl since 1990. I live in a town called Cape Coral Fl, it is located on the West Coast of Fl next to Ft. Myers.
Bill Kardash - I ain't mixed up for nothing. Too many Chicks out there Let's hear from Chick the drummer hisself. Was he a bugler then a drummer or not? Only us old farts remember this stuff.
Dave: I really appreciate the emails keeping us all up to date on the happenings of the Alumni and the Cadets. I run a business, and something always seems to interfere with the monthly meetings at the VFW Hall. Reading the names of all the legacy cadets (45 - 52) that I marched with really hit a nostalgic note in my memory. Billy McCullum was in my wedding party. I am going to clear my schedule when the next gathering of the maroon takes place. My brother Bob Arthur was at the March gathering. He said many of the guys were asking about me. Thanks again. FHNSAB... Val Arthur
Phil Kowalski .. you have your Chicks mixed ! "Chick the bugler" (Richie) is the brother of "Chick the drummer" (Charles, Jr) (not to mention they are both sons of "Chick the Coach" (Charles, Sr) ). As to who wrote the comments, below .. it "sounds like Richie", but is signed by "Charlie". (I'm heading for the bar after I finishing writing this !) I checked out the youtube clip from the Buglers Hall of Fame event and am impressed with the sound and dedication of the Alumni Corps. Great memories of the "old days" when we could actually recognize the melodies played. Congratulations to all for your efforts.To Vinnie Ferriola, John Ganguzza lives in Idaho after a career in the Air Force including director of the AF D&B Corps at the USAF Academy. We almost had him for the Reunion of the 1957 Championship in AC. I would like to encourage more Alumni to post their memories. This year will be the high-water mark for memorializing them. C'mon, get with it!
Hello Jim Messineo...your right on a couple of scores...time really flies...and we all seem to have spread out all over the country...but the memories never fade...I'm living in Fl now...I believe John Ganguzza is in Colo. not sure...we sure did have a great bunch of guys, such as the Mura's, Raymond's, Paul Arthur and so many more...great seeing your name here...hope all is well
I remember Chick De Vito as a bugler. But then he went over to the drum line and left us poor buglers on our own.
Review of YouTube clip of the Alumni mini-corps performing at The Bugler's Hall of Fame show in Bridgeport, Ct.: ...I listened to Besame and Stripe first. Harmony in the solo was great. Sounded real good. Stars and Stripes also sounded real good. Sopranos sounded good, getting up there once in awhile and sounding really tight. Then I listened to King of Kings, which has me sit up in the chair, and then here it comes, French National. It blew me away. I had tears in my eyes hearing it played by a bunch of ex cadets from different eras. It was nothing but awesome. Bold, clean, attacks, tounging tight, and clean. It was nothing but awesome, I could not believe how good it sounded. I kept going to the computer and sliding the bar back to the beginning. Tell the guys, great job, French National blew me away. Stars and Stripes was great. A couple sopranos getting up there, and sounding good added to the sound. And, just when you think you heard it all, here comes the grand finale, American Soldier Johnnie Comes Marching Home. Pure Dynamite. The schrills by the sopranos were tight and held as long as they were supposed to, Sounded clean, and even at the end, when you expect everyone to run out of gas, the schrills were tight and held to the end, and clean. Overall a great job by the corps. Even the obligatos were done with good taste and added to the overall sound. The small drum section with just a couple guys was awesome, and that is coming from horn player. As good as it sounded on You Tube, I can only imagine how great it must have sounded in person. I was impressed. Nice collection of songs to represent the Alumni. My hat goes off to whoever arranged the music... If it was Jimmy, Thanks for some great arrangments. The whole experience just blew me away. What else can I say except. FHNSAB Charlie #9
Give the Alumni Corps a listen on You Tube. Hearing King of Kings you half expect a gun to go off ..French National sounded great ..plus American Salute (classic Angelica) and Besame ..that's Garfield! The maroon alumni corps ..something else to be proud of in this proud year.
Reprinted from Drum Corps World, April 2009 Issue: Reference Buglers Hall of Fame show sponsored by the New York Skyliners. The show on March 28th was a great success with over 35 performers and a guest appearance by the Holy Name (Garfield) Alumni who brought the house down with "King of Kings."
On Saturday, March 28th, I had the opportunity to judge the "Bugler's Hall of Fame" I&E contest in Bridgeport, CT. The Holy Name/Garfield Cadet Alumni Corps did an exhibition. I had a great big smile on my face when I heard "King of Kings", "French National", "Johnny", "Beseme Mucho" and "The Stars and Stripes". It was great to hear the old music and see some old friends. I'm looking forward to August to see them again. Bob Cardaneo - 67 member ; 77 instructor FHNSAB
Hi Dave: I wonder if you'll remember me. My name is Ed Jacko, originally with De La Salle, from Toronto, ON Canada. You might recall that I, together with Paul Mosley, met you at Rochester, NY way back in the 60's at the indoor show that the Garfield Cadets were doing there that weekend. I received this notice about The Cadets' Canadian membership content from a New Jersey friend of mine and I must tell you how pleased I am to see how well the Canadians have represented themselves with The Cadets over the years. You see, I take a particular interest since I am now one of the 7 proud Canadian participants in the current Hawthorne Caballeros Alumni Drum & Bugle Corps. I never lost my interest in Drum Corps over the years and decided that I wanted to play with the best that there is. I've been with The Cabs Alumni since 2005 ( where does the time go??? ). I've often wondered if you were still affiliated with The Cadets and I am happy, and not at all surprised, to see that you still are. What a great organization, my favourite Junior Corps of all!!! I'll look forward one day to connecting with you somewhere at some show. Best wishes, Ed Jacko
The Alumni Corps had a great performance up in Bridgeport last Saturday at the Buglers Hall of Fame Show. We were very well received and got so many acknowledgements and thanks that Holy Name is back in action again bringing back some classic music and some fond memories. It was a huge day for us and we all left for the drive home in high spirits. EDITOR'S NOTE: Congratulations guys, from all of us. FHNSAB...
Hi Jim Messineo, It has been a very long time. I retired 2 years ago and just this past August moved to Maine, Im going to attend the 75th Festivities in August, hope to see alot of OLD friends. Hope to see you there. FHNSAB
Sandy VanRomer: Yes the question is basically for anyone who might know. As I said it is no big deal, just curiosity. By the way, I remember both you and your brother from the year I marched. Take Care.
Jim Messineo, Where in California are you located, I've been out here since '76 myself? I'm now in N. San Diego Cty. and always looking for our local Alumni. I've been invited by some Cavalier Alumni to their monthly pizza get togethers, but I'd rather have some back-up first ;)
Hi Lewis Meikas, As far as the Plebes! I never knew one thing about them? Perhaps you are thinking of someone else. or Joe Triola only. I was never in the Plebes Just Garfield Cadets with my brother Jim. 1969-73.
Hello again Joe, Just a FYI Frankie left us in 07 passed away in Florida. And Uncle Russell Stagg also left us 03, also in Florida. My Mom Fran married his brother Jack. His mother our other grandmother is 98 this year. We loved them both and Uncle Joe and Aunt Sara (gram and gramp very much. take care. Holy Name Shall Always be.
I Just realized that the last time i made a comment was Sept 07 following the 50th reunion. Seeing the Cadets at the parade in DC reminded me of waiting to escort Santa at the NYC Thanksgivings Day Parade. We had to wait 2 1/2 hours before we marched and it was freezing weather. Nowhere near the wait the Corp had to endure in Washington. Despite the 5 hour wait, The Corp was Inspirational to see. If I was not 72, I would have liked to be there marching. Great Job FHNSAB
Damn - does time fly by or what - yes it has been a LONG time since I've seen any of the gang and one does wonder if they are still around and what the hell they are doing now. I'm in California now, have been since 1979. Have you seen the Mura's, or John Ganguzza, or Greg - the drum corps of today is unlike the "old days" - but everything evolves. Hope you'rer all fine and drop a line anytime. FHNSAB... EDITOR'S NOTE: Great to hear from you Jim. Sadly, Henry Mura is no longer with us. We've seen Dennis once at one of our monthly Gatherings-of-the-Maroon in Garfield. Greg Zwarycz was a helicopter pilot in Nam. He too, sadly, is no longer with us.
Each year every new cadet received a uniform number that remained his/hers for as long as he/she was a member of the corps. Just as with a family name, each cadet over the years that shared a uniform number also has a lineage. What do you think of the idea of establishing a connection of present cadets with the members of the past that shared the uniform number they now wear. It might make our connection to the present corps stronger and the new members connection to the past even more meaningful. What do you think? FHNSAB...Brian Callahan, Uniform Number 65
Hi Sandy, Thank you for that information. Please give Frankie V. my best regards. He sat next to me in practice, and I remember laughing a lot with him. Also, my cousin, Russel Stagg, married into the Adamo family. Maybe that's how you remember me. JT
Thank you Joe Triola and Sandy VanRomer for the information about the Plebes. Never knew they began in 1962. Now, again out of curiosity does anyone know if they existed continuously until they were disbanded? Also when where they disbanded? I know they were still around in 1977 and 1978, but after that I lost track.
Hello again Joseph Triola, Just wanted you to know I remember you some how... I marched in 69-73. Maybe because of Jimmy or Uncle Joe (grandpa)
Hello Joseph Triola, Uncle Joes grandson was Jimmy VanRomer my Brother... Frank was our cousin Frank Vitrano... Hoping all is well just trying to help out.. Holy Name Shall Always be..
Dave, thanks once again for the info on our Canadian and foreign alumni. Each time I receive this type of info, I am sorry that I have gotten so far out of touch with the Corps. We are very excited to be coming to the celebration. Please keep the info coming, as we would hate to miss any opportunity. Our lodging is taken care of, and we do not want to miss any of the activities. FHNSAB!!
As we take the field for our grand 75th Anniversary, I thought perhaps you might be interested in knowing just how many Cadets and Cadet Alumni there are from foreign Countries. There are sizable groups from England, Canada, and Japan that I'm aware of, and this is only a representative list. Cadets from many Nations have worn the maroon and gold. We hope that as many of them as possible will be joining us for the 75th festivities, but if that's not possible know that when the Alumni and the 2009 marching Cadets combine to sing the Holy Name Hymn this August, you will be remembered.You can access the Facebook page of our British Cadets using the following page name: "Cadets - The Brits!!!" A list of our Canadian Cadets,, also on the Facebook page: "The Cadets present & former members with a Canadian connection." We hope to see as many of you as possible at the big Diamond Anniversary Blast, July 30, August 1-2. See www.yea.org for additional information. We are working on attempting to secure a iist of our Japanese Alumni, plus the names of Cadet Aumni from Germany, The Netherlands, and other Countries. For Holy Name shall always be...
Hi Lew, To the best of my knowledge; the Plebes were organized in 1962; the year I joined Garfield. Jimmy D'amico was our horn instructor. We usually referred to ourselves as "The Rookie Corps". John Carloni, Joe Olivieri, Ken Swistak, Dennis Harris and a guy named Frank (I think he was Mr. Adamo's grandson) were also among the usual suspects. See you soon. JT
This is not a big deal, just curious. I have a history question. Does anybody know when the Cadets formed the Plebes? I joined them at the end of 1967 and always thought they were formed about 1966 / 67 as a training unit for the Cadet corps. Now I see in the history article for 1962, that James Damico was teaching them then.
We have received, to date, two requests from current Cadets for financial assistance in meeting their corps financial obligations. If you would like me to copy their requests to you please contact me at: dshaw40@gmail.com
After talking with my brother about playing with the corps on the weekend of the 75th reunion, he was wondering where he could get a bugle to practice. I remembered that many corps have transitioned to the Bb bugle and therefore, any horn player who wanted to get their chops back that didn't have a horn could do so by renting a Bb baritone or trumpet. The fingerings will all be the same as the Bb bugle. I hope the information will help all you horn guys.
Margee Estelle Gearhart, You and your son Richard are in my daily prayers. Please tell him that this old 35 year career Vietnam Vet is in his corner and we are proud of him and his service. God Bless! JRK. FHNSAB! 59 - 62.
Please keep my son Richard in your prayers. He's preparing for his first class officers test this year. They make it so hard for them to advance. He had to have surgery on his lower legs (did the first leg, next month the next). He was injured in Afghanistan but it took until now to diagnose it. Typical military. He is doing ok, Thank God. They will be visiting in June for two weeks for John's high school graduation. So much going on this summer ! :) EDITOR'S NOTE: Richard, the son of a Cadet, is now placing himself in harm's way for all of us. He has sustained injury in our service. Please send prayers and thoughts his way on a continuing basis; for his safety, his recovery from the injury he has sustained, and for his success with the test he is about to take. Keep his Mother Margee, our fellow Cadet, and all of Richard's family in your prayers and thoughts as well. This young man has a wife and two beautiful children. From all Cadets Richard, stay safe from harm. You have the love, the support ,and the gratitude of us all.
Hi Dave, Just wanted to let you know that Janie and I are planning to be there for the July 30 - Aug 3 festivities. It will be a great pleasure to see you and all my old friends from way back when.
Trying to locate all female members of the guard from 1969-72. if anyone has any information at all regarding anyone, even if the contacts are old, please let us know. Cynthia.devivo@citi.com or mgearhart@sbhcs.com
I spoke with Dave Shaw this morning and he told me that some people were asking about my whereabouts. I moved to Houston in 1987 and have been teaching percussion since serving in the military. I have been fortunate enough in my life to have marched with the Garfield Cadets and also to teach the corps during the early 70's. For those who want to contact me I can be reached a bdcallahan@msn.com. Both my brother Al and I are presently planning to attend the 75th reunion. I think it will be another of those most memorable cadet moments in my life. For Holy Name shall always be...
Hi Dave, It has been years since we have been in contact but your name comes up time to time every time I talk with Bill Ridings. He called me yesterday to tell me about the 75th alumni bash and, after talking with my brother Al, he and I are planning on attending this year. He is a comfortably retired Naval Officer and I am a semi- retired owner of a music school in Houston and am still serving our country flying as an air crewman with the Civil Air Patrol. I am wondering if anyone will be playing "Cardinal Puff" during the reunion weekend. Hope this communication finds you in good health and spirits. Warmest regards, Brian D. Callahan, Capt. CAP, Texas Wing Recruiting Officer, 281-728-0263 Cell, 281-370-9743 Fax
Hi Hop, my name is Nick Ayala. I'm in the Euphonium section this year, and I wanted to tell you a little story about yesterday at the airport. When the bus pulled up to drop us off, about 5 or 6 of us got off at the delta terminal, and as we were about to go through the main door, a man in a black truck pulled up in the middle of the road and yelled "HEY". We quickly turned around, and this man said "I marched Garfield in '77!" and before we could reply, he continued "and my dad marched in the 40's! Kick ass this summer!" and he drove off. I wish any of us could have gotten his name, but alas, he was gone, just as quickly as he pulled up. I love the fact that one minute this man was a total stranger, and the next, he was part of my extended family. That's the kind of things you can only get here, at the Cadets. Thank you for your commitment to us Hop!!! EDITOR'S NOTE: If you were that Cadet Alumnus in the black truck let us know. Now we're ALL curious.
Belated congratulations to Dr. John Avella on your recent completion of the Doctoral program. I know in my case the phrase is : "Pile it Higher and Deeper", but what is the phrase for EdD? I hope to see you this Summer and renew old friendships. After all, you were my section SGT. in the Corps. Regards. JRK.
My apologies to Ken Shedosky for failing to get in touch. Ken, I am planning to get to Jersey for the 75th Celebration. Plans are not clear as yet, but each day seems to see improvement in my chances to get there. I am overwhelmed with the possibility to visit with all my friends from over 40 years ago.Regards, JRK.
Re: Cadets Alumni Corps The recent appeal by Joe Triola struck my heart. The 75th anniversary of the Cadets is a major milestone. How can it be that the Cadets could not field a major alumni corps for this event? There are thousands of Cadet alumni who are physically able to march and still able to play! This isn't limited to the "old folks". Recent alumni should be participating too. Gosh, out here we even had enough people from all corps to do the Royal Airs alumni corps. And they have been inactive for 40 years. Come on Cadets alumni .. get off your b***s and be part of this. :)
Today I was browsing the Holy Name website, and on a whim browsed the "Departed" page and discovered that David Welch has passed on. I admit I did not read up a whole lot about him but he was a very strong young man who was taken early, and his story, for whatever reason, touched me greatly. I was not prepared to learn today that he has passed on, but may he find peace in God's loving embrace. I wish David's family the strength to move forward celebrating his life more than mourning his loss. Words hardly have the strength to comfort, but it's what I have to give. God bless you all, Richard G. Skare, SCV 88, Blue Devils 89-90.
Dear Cadets Alumni and Friends, Tne next rehearsal of the alumni corps will be this Thursday March 12th at the Garfield VFW from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. In addition we would like to discuss our recent invitation to the Bugler's Hall of Fame Show in Bridgeport, CT on March 28 and the Brooklyn United show in October. Look forward to seeing you all. The Holy Name - Garfield Cadets Alumni Corp
The correct contact for Cindi Devivo in the message below is: cynthia.devivo@citigroup.com
Thanks for the info on the 75th Dave. The Alumni Corp will definitely be doing the Hawthorne parade and anyone wanting to participate can contact Pat Vazquez, patrick.vazquez@alpharma.com, or me George King, Gefreki@aol.com, and for the color guard Cindi Carozza Devivo, cynthia.devivo@citiigroup.com. Thanks for your help. For Holy Name shall always be...
Our next alumni corps rehearsal will be on Thursday March 12 at the Garfield VFW on Outwater Lane from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. The corps is open to anyone who wishes to play or just sit and listen. Please come down and have some fun.
Anyone thinking about car-pooling to the Cadets Open House practice, Sunday, March 15, down in Woodstown, NJ (South Jersey). Respond to me, ,,,,,yea or nay, ,,,,,,or lets talk at the VFW gathering Thurs. night. 3/5/09 ....... KShed. kshedosky76@embarqmail.com
Dear Cadets Alumni and Friends, Our next rehearsal is tomorrow night Feb. 26, at the Garfield VFW from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. We will be tuning up for our performance at the Skyliner's I & E show being held at the Garfield VFW on Saturday afternoon Feb. 28. We will discuss the details tomorrow night. Thank you.
The Alumni Corp will be performing at the NY Skyliners I&E show this Saturday afternoon Feb. 28 at the Garfield VFW on Outwater Lane. This is a nice show with other alumni corps, individuals and ensembles also performing. Please came out and support your alumni corp. Thank you.
Gosh, I CERTAINLY remember "Intermission Riff" and the entire1961Cadets show. What a great corps and show. Our corps saw the Cadets in Denver that year . Fine show
A tip of the shako to Alan "Chick" DeVito down in Seminole, Florida. Those of you from the 1960 - 61 Cadet era will remember Chick's torrid solo soprano work in " Intermission Riff ". Chick is rehearsing diligently everyday in a effort to get his chops back. It is rumored that it won't be very long before he is playing with the Alumni Corp. Over the years Chick has amassed a serious collection of over 70 trumpets and cornets. Also an extensive collection of recordings by trumpet greats such as Harry James, Doc Severensen, Maynard Ferguson amd Rafael Mendez. Chick played with the Cadets for 9 years from 1953 to 1961. His older brother Charles was a Cadet drummer in the early 50's. Chick's favorite horn player along with many others is the great hall of famer and Cadet alumnus Jim D'Amico. So with much encouragement from the Alumni we congratulate Chick on his determined effort and wish him the very best with his come back. It ain't easy Chick, when the going gets tough give it a little " YO PEPPER ".
RE: Bob Petersen's Comments Bob, I understand your concerns and have held similar feelings for many, many years. This event is just a microcosm of the underlying issue that has been on a slow simmer for decades. Having to travel from Calif. we too have been forced to make a "Solomon's decision". Incidentally, a few years ago I met and spent an afternoon with Marc Mura, and few years later with John Baumfolk those men and their contemporaries were/are the true "Heart & Soul" of the Cadets....... and they are not even represented in today's "Hall of Fame", that pretty much says it all.
After discussion with quite a few people I know have the total picture. Bottom line ---- I am extremely disappointed that the 75th anniversary has been fragmented into two completely different celebrations. I am not sure where the disconnect started but unfortunately the result will not be beneficial for all concerned. Many of us who now live many miles from the home land will be forced to make a decision as to which event we will attend. When one considers plane,hotel, auto rental and all other miscellanies expenses the cost will become prohibited to attend both celebrations. It is obvious that the Alumni & the competing Corps are not on the same page and that is truly regrettable.It is what it is but it sure is a shame that we could not all be ONE regarding this significant celebration. Bobby Peterson
I adore the Cadets! you're drill director came to talk to our marching band this past summer..and he asked us questions. I got one right, and he gave me a DVD with shows from the past 10 years. It's the greatest thing i've ever won! I watch it everyday with aspirations of one day marching with that same uniform. It gives me butterflies. "For Holy Name Shall Always Be..." I want to march for Holy Name. I'm in love with it! It's my goal, and it's something I NEED in my life. You inspire me to keep working hard, so one day I can march for The Cadets. Thank you. =]
Just logged this site into 'favorites'. Will be back for more when the weather thaws out.
James Kennedy....US Arny Retired / Garfield Cadets Alumnus .Please call me 908-832-7149 Regards, FHNSAB
I just came home from the alumni meeting. It was great seeing everyone and it was great listening to Greg C. and his knowledge of Cadets history!!! It was truly a great time hanging with everyone!!! See you next month.Ron
Ken Shedosky: You emailed Jim Toller’s snail mail address (thank you), so I wrote a long overdue letter thanking him for helping me learn the manly art of snare drumming back in 1957 in the Great Notch Troop 14 Boy Scouts. I also told him that I later marched, as did he, with the Cadets. He did not know. Jim telephoned me this past Monday night after reading my letter. Words cannot describe the feelings of pure joy and happiness to reconnect with someone who shares such a bond and has personally been one of many contributors to my own success. Jim was thrilled when I told him about the reunion events this summer. He had no idea, but he does now and he will be there to reconnect with the gentlemen he marched shoulder to shoulder with such as Billy Westdyke, Bobby Peterson, Mel Tantillo, and many, many others. Jim’s email is BasicTool@ATT.Net . At the young age of 73, Jim still works every day at his company that specializes in metal working. I also think I convinced him to attend a Friday nite (May 22) reunion of the Troop 14 Scout D&B Corps, later known as the Little Falls Cadets. Whenever I get frustrated searching for lost Cadets, along comes a big score like this to re-energize me. Boy oh boy, I am sooooooo looking forward to this reunion. FHNSAB, Red Ridings #39, billridings2@aol.com
Hall Of Fame? Nobody deserves a place therein than The Cadets, under ANY name, they graced the DC world with their consistent dignified and amazing performances! FHNSAB!
I get just as excited now, when I see The Cadets, as I did in the late 40's / early 50's! A wonderful time of my life! I love this site. Nice seeing that my brother, Tom & so many of my dear friends are being remembered in the Memorial Section. March on, Cadets!
Dave, Joan and I heard from one of the first house guests (Cadets) from England back many years ago and he shared with us that he and his wife watched the parade on British TV and were proud to see the Cadets. More later on about our visit to them in England this past summer. For Holy Name Shall Always be...Noel and Joan
Eric, re: the Hall of Fame. Fully agree that ALL Cadets, including the Holy Name Cadets, should have equal consideration for this honor. After all, is this really ONE CORPS that you have (regardless of names and affiliation, location)? If so, then the entire Corps history must be represented in this project. Just my opinion.
The Hall of Fame Committee has recognized a problem that we would like to ask your help in solving. The problem is that we feel that the original Holy Name Cadets (1934-1957) may not be appropriately represented in the nomination process. We understand that many of these Cadets do not have computers, may be infirm, or may have died. These realities should not be reasons for them being left out of consideration or out of the voting process. The solution: We would like to create a sub-committee of 3-4 people who have ties to those years. It doesn't matter if they marched or not. Their task would be to research those years and find candidates who are worthy of this honor. In addition, they would act as midwives to the letter writing process. (We, as a committee, were extremely gratified to hear how many voters read all the letters last year). For many, it was the only information they had about particular candidates.) Nomination is, of course, the first step, but we have also been concerned about how older Cadets can obtain enough votes for inclusion. Since voting is limited to Cadets registered as Alumni on The Cadets' website, and we suspect most of the voters, therefore, have never heard of these heritage nominees, and would probably be more inclined to vote for more familiar names. To address this problem the committee is also looking into getting paper ballots to our "non-computerized" alumni. The problem, as always, is address information. That's another reason for the sub- committee; the hope is that in their research, they can find out where some of these folks are. Finally, we will have arrangements in place so that any alumni can phone-in their votes. For additional information contact Eric Santo at eric289@aol.com
My cadet brothers and sister, plan to hold these dates open in your personal schedules this spring and summer. March 15. Pre-Season open House with The Cadets in the Philadelphia area. May 23rd. Sat. 75th anniversary celebration kick-off.The Crown Plaza Rt. 46 E Fairfield, NJ. Cocktail hours 6PM to 10pm (11 pm/12pm/1am/2am/3am?????) along with memoribila / video exposition. May24 10:30 am Memorial Mass to honor deceased Cadets, The Church of the Most Holy Name, Marsellus Place, Garfield, NJ May 24.. 12:00 /4:30 Anniversary Gala,Westmont Country Club, West Paterson, to include the 40th anniversary of, and honoring Women in the Cadets. May24th An evening with the Cadets in concert.. Recptn 5:30 pm. Concert 7:30pm at a High School in NJ-... site pending. May25th Memorial Day parade, Hawthorne, NJ. . Pizza and beverages withThe Cadets following the parade.(Caballeros and Skyliners to march also.) July 31st- Aug 2 DCI East , Allentown Pa.and Music in Motion "Home Show" Clifton , NJ. plus Summer Diamond Bash at Monclair State University Conference Center with a performance by the Cadets For complete details,Committee contacts, and general question forum , go to the NEWS tab on this website and read the posting of Jan 11,2009.. I'll be looking for you....so be there. FHNSAB
After The Cadets performance - MAGNIFICIENT BTW - in the Inaugural Parade, I have been notified via Cavalier site that they ( at least not all) will no longer initiate nor participate in ANY "FTC" correspondence. I know I created a dialogue that ended in that result. I take no credit for it, rather Salute them for their decision. While my 1st Love will always be the CHICAGO Cavaliers, my VERY CLOSE 2nd will continue to be all you Maroon and Gold!!
Dave - Something more to note: I personally observed an Army band, several groups of Midshipmen and Army Cadets, service men and women, The Predident's own (Marine Corps band), and several other groups of Marines hopping up and down and huddling for warmth as they waited for the parade to start. It was quite necessary for them to do so, but very much out of character for the military. So the Cadets were in good company! January is, of course, the beginning of the formative process for DCI drum corps. I am therefore extremely impressed that the Cadets corps I saw marched with uniformity and class. It is never too early for champions to re-establish tradition and standards for the upcoming season. Apparently the staff and the returning Cadets know this and impressed it upon the "new guys." What I saw turning the corner onto Pennsylvania Ave. was the makings of a champion, for sure. Keep up the great work! Gary
Like many of you, I watched the Inaugural Parade, in hopes that I would get to see The Cadets. Damn! You blew me away! Looking the way I remember you, dignified, proud, and TOTALLY Class! Well done, Brothers and Sisters, you did your Heritage and ALL Drum Corps proud! While still a bit Green, I am hugely Maroon! FHNSAB!
I was quite impressed with The Cadets at the inaugural parade today. I posted some parade clips to YouTube. The Cadets' link is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2uGH5tl4Y8. Enjoy! EDITOR'S NOTE: Thanks to Gary Dickelman, our good friend from the great Blessed Sacrament Golden Knights for sharing this with us.
Leadership, tradition, excellence and the spirit of idealism, radiated across the Nation and indeed across the globe on this inauguration day 2009. What greater honor and heartfelt pride than to have Holy Name present as the embodiment of such noble ideals. For all in the eternal fellowship of our great botherhood, Holy Name shall always be.
I was told that the Holy Name Cadets were marching in the parade today...I saw some other corps dressed liked them but they were just the Cadets...from Allentown, Pa. no less....wocka wocka
Would like to extend a hearty congratulations to the Cadets on reaching their 75th anniversary. Drum corps just never leaves your blood. I really hope you can get more members for your alumni corp. The alumni is the best part because of no competition. I belong to an Alumni corp with a history and tradition with the Cadets. This corp is PRESTON SCOUT HOUSE Alumni Band. It will take some time to build your alumni corp. When they realize how much fun they are missing they will be there. I hadn't played a horn for 38 years before joining Scout house. Only took a short while to get back into it. Scout house restarted in 1993 with a small group. We now have 54 on horn line and 28 on percussion and 15 colour guard. So hang in there the alumni corp will happen. Thanks Jeff Clark
I have officially been "permanently banned" from the Cavalier Alumni website, due to some harsh statements, and personal phone calls in response to a Post entitled "FTC" (ie; Eff The Cadets). I am proud of the actions I took in response to that Post, and feel little regret at being disassociated with that crew of reptiles (a reason many of my Marching Brothers wont even visit that cesspool site!) You won't be seeing "SPLOOIE!" from me anymore....but remember FHNSAB!
David wrote me an email once about getting to walk onto the field with the corps at finals in 2007: QUOTE, "It was powerful to march onto the field with The Cadets at Finals this year. I did so in very symbolic fashion. I know that well. Many generations were with me. The energy was powerful." Many generations are with you today. Godspeed, Cadet.
David NEVER lost his battle! He simply succumbed to an unrelenting enemy. Due to physical & economic limitations I will be unable to attend his Memorial Service, but will be with you in Spirit. David lives on, for he & Holy Name shall ALWAYS BE
Ready for the 75th. Sorry I missed Pa. last year. Glad to see that the tradition lives on. Will always remember 3 parades & a competition at night on Mem Day and 4th of July. Also the 5 mile Firemen's parade in Suffern, NY. Also remember my dear old light rope drum with no leg rest, swaying in the wind. How 'bout The Legion Nationals in 1953 with the drummers getting a perfect score? The Legion Nationals in 1950 in LA with 48 clean cut guys in 2 buses-500 miles a day to get there. Memories, memories. Best Wishes to all of you who come from far & wide to make the Corps what it is. Bob Sipos Ft. Lauderdale
To all women who ever marched in the Cadets: Please contact me at cynthia.devivo@citi.com and share your stories with me of your experiences. This includes any of the first female brass or percussion players. I am trying to collect as many memories and personal experiences as possible before our 75th Anniversary Gala honoring "Women in the Cadets" over the Memorial Day weekend. Please let me know what it meant to you to be a woman in the Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps and share your memories!
Sad news, yet joyful too, about Cadet Welch. A fine person who handled his situation with grace and courage! It was an honor to know him. He has, indeed, gone on to a much better place.
The first Diamond Jubilee Anniversary gathering-of-the-maroon will be held on Thursday, February 5th, 7 PM, at the VFW Hall on Outwater Lane in Garfield. All are welcome. Please note that the new email address for Dave shaw is dshaw40@gmail.com. Generations of Cadets are now standing to salute David Welch, a giant of a man who we were privileged to call brother. For Holy Name shall always be.
Our brother, David Welch, has crossed the Finish Line of this life and joined the greatest Drum Corps the Good Lord is assembling. I look forward to joining him on the Starting Line of the Eternal Cadets. My thoughts, prayers, and best wishes are sent to his family, friends, and his Corps. Your gestures of respect and support are truly inspiring - but, then again, you were ALWAYS a Class Act! Fare Thee Well David, keep watch over all of those who loved you so deeply. And keep a spot in the Guard open for me. David lives on, FHNSAB!
Hi all. Thank you for the website. I'm looking forward to seeing the Holy Name Cadets perform. Is there a special event at DCI for the alumni this year or is that the banquet that's spoken of at YEA. Also I was wondering with the passing of David, is there PRIMO tshirts available anywhere. I'd love to still support his cause of the cadets as well as his brain tumor website 38lemon. Happy New Year and God Bless.
To all alumni friends Happy New Year and Happy 75th Anniversary Celebration let the party begin, and to all our friends from other drum corps come and help us celebrate 75 years. To Mr. Opager & Chuck from the Cavilers remember 1962 with both Scotty brothers in Chicago, were we beat you guys in Minneapolis ha ha - thanks for the memories from Pat, Richard, & Owen all Scotty's.FHNSAB
Congratulations for the invitation to march in the Inaugural Parade. What a way to start the New Year. Happy 75th. I remember when I was in O.L.O.L. Cadets we marched for JFK at Rallys in N.Y. City and Paterson N.J. HAVE A GREAT YEAR
During the Civil War certain soldiers would be assigned the duty of preventing the capture of their National & Regimental flags or "Colors". Hence the term Color Guard. But nowadays, given the intricacy & movement of Flags, it would be difficult to avoid Flag Violations; "No flag shall be ahead of or to the right of the National Colors". When did DCI do away with this code? Wouldn't it be possible, during these troubled times, to just park the American Flag & 2 rifles in the lower right hand corner of the field facing the OLD Finish Line? Or would this diminish the number of members on field? Watching Alumni videos of The Cavaliers & Royal Airs, I realized the only time I see OUR Flag is in the closing ceremony! Please understand, Brothers & Sisters, I have absolutely NO desire to create debate or controversy here! I'm just a 50s-60s Dinosaur with nothing better to do than wonder God bless you all and grant you a truly prosperous and Happy New Year! JohnO FHNSAB!
2008 - not so great! 2009 - HOPE it's FINE! My Love and Prayers to all my Cadet Sisters & Brothers in this New Year!
Happy Holidays to all my fellow alumni and to all the friends of the Holy Name Cadets. FHNSAB
Merry Christmas! Happy Chanukkah! Glorious Kwanza! And to anyone I missed, Happy Holidays!Special Prayers and Wishes to our Brother David Welch. God bless you all, my Brothers & Sisters! With Love, JohnO FHNSAB!
Best wishes to all Cadet alums for Happy Holidays .. and a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Spend time with family .. kids and GRANDKIDS! Remember WHY we celebrate Christmas too! Hope that 2009 is a great year for ALL Cadets! FHNSAB
To the Cadet National Champions of 1964: my apologies for inadvertently leaving you off the list in my Letter to George Hopkins. Winning a National Championship, whether under the American Legion, VFW or DCI is a significant achievement and should be recognized. My salute to each of you! FHNSAB...
As a former Garfield Cadet in the late 1960's it makes me proud to see our corp continue to soar. My son, Ryan, is a member of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. I have season tickets to the Navy football games and get to see the U.S. Naval Academy Drum and Bugle Corp perform at every game. I am not sure how many people are aware that former Cadet Jeff Weir is the Director of the U.S. Naval Academy Drum and Bugle Corp. You can check it out on the web at USNA Drum and Bugle Corps. My two families, The Mura's and the Ruggiero family have been with the Cadets from the beginning. MY uncle, Joseph Ruggiero was the first junior Drum Major of the Holy Name Cadets. My cousin Dennis Mura was also a Drum Major. Good luck to the Cadets in the future. As a Police Captain with the Garfield Police Dept. I hope to see some of the alumni in the near future. EDITOR'S NOTE: Thanks for sharing this information Glenn. We look forwarding to seeing you at one of our gatherings of the maroon. The next will be held at the Garfield VFW Hall on Thursday, February 5th. We salute you, your son Ryan, and Jeff Weir. For Holy Name shall always be...
Well said, Bill! I also have (down deep in my files) a picture of the HNC marching in an Inaugural Parade ...might have been 1956. Still had the rope drums! The ENTIRE Cadets history should always be noted. FHNSAB
This is an Open Letter to George Hopkins: Congratulations on being selected to march in the Presidential Inaugural Parade. It is a wonderful honor and you can be justifiably proud. I also note your comments regarding the start of the "75th Anniversary Year". However, I respectfully disagree with your championship "score card". While the Cadets may be "9 time world champions" (since 1982) you ignore the 9 additional national championships (by my count: 1940-48-49-50-53-57-60-61-62) won during the Cadet's illustrious history as the Holy Name Cadets and then, the Garfield Cadets. As for marching in "significant parades", in addition to 1996, I recall at least 3 times the Cadets marched in the "Macy's Day (Thanksgiving) Parade in the 1950s .. my guess is there were others, too. Sooooo, if you are going to re-brand the Cadets as "the Holy Name Cadets" for 2009 and bask in the glow of "75 years of Cadet History", please don't forget to include the achievements and milestones of those who preceded you. It is part of who we are and who contemporary Cadets become when they wear the maroon and gold. FHNSAB...
HI MR SHAW. THANKS FOR ALL THE NEWS ,GOOD AND BAD. I KNOW ITS A BIG EFFORT ON YOURE PART AND TAKES MANY HOURS. I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE NICE NICE TO MENTION THE PROGRESS OF OUR ALMINI CORPS. THEY REALLY SOUNDED GREAT AT THE LAST GATHERING .THANKS TO ALL AND ESP THE INSTRUCTORS, JIMMY D. AND JACK DAY. ALSO, GEORGE KING FOR ALL HIS EFFORTS. A SWELL BUNCH OF GUYS. ITS GREAT,. BOB NITKIN
What a sensational way to start off our Diamond Jubilee Year. This information was just posted on George Hopkin’s blog. Ordinarily I would wonder how they could possibly pull it off at such an awkward time of the year, but with George’s track record I have no doubt whatsoever that he will do it. This is an inspirational idea George, and a great tribute to your leadership. Pretty Exciting --- the Inauguration. Well, as we have got word to the members, the word is out that the Cadets will be participating in the inaugural parade for Barack Obama. We are early in the process. We have schools and transportation to secure, and money to raise and tunes to learn. But .. for me ... why we applied ... .well, what a Joy for the Cadets to be a part of this experience. It will be a part of the legacy that will live forever. And as for the members of the corps; well, we are talking lifetime memories! There will be releases today and through the coming weeks but it is exciting. I received the call Friday evening and it was just a perfect beginning to a great weekend.
There was a thread recently opened by someone using the nik "Doyle079" on Drum Corps Planet asking the following question; “what kind of shows do you associate with each corps this decade (starting from 2000-2008) ,do they each have their own niche, or do you think that there are some still trying to find that thing that defines their corps and the shows they do?” I thought you might enjoy reading the responses describing The Cadets. Written by DCIknowledge: “cadets---controversial.” Written by “OdeToArsenal47: “Cadets: History and progression. To me, Cadets are like the Mercedes S-Class. They're always ahead of the curve. They're great at pushing the envelope and they look good doing it.” Written by Latrobe’s Finest: “Cadets- phenomenal brass/guard/drums with shows that "push the envelope"
Last night, December 5, at our monthly gathering-of-the-maroon, approximately 75 alumni, their wives, and honored guests sang the Holy Name Hymn, and followed it with a heartfelt prayer for healing and God’s grace for David Welch led by Patti Lovis-Trojanowski . It was a very special experience for everyone present. We will continue to present updates on David’s condition on the news page of www.theholynamecadets.org. You will be able to access those updates by using the link provided on the news page. For Holy Name shall always be… Pray for our friend and brother, David Welch.
The correct site for the meeting this Thursday is the VFW Hall on Outwater Lane in Garfield, 7 PM. For some inexplicable reason I incorrectly typed in the American Legion Hall instead of the VFW Hall. I'm sorry if I confused anyone. My thanks to Fabe Izsa and Doc Cinzio for calling the error to my attention. See you all on Thursday.
Hello Holy Name: FINAL REMINDER…THE MAROON WILL GATHER THIS THURSDAY, DEC. 4, 7 PM, AT THE VFW Hall, OUTWATER LANE, GARFIELD. This will be the final gathering of 2008. We will not reconvene again until Thursday, February 5, 2009…our 75th anniversary year. Thursday will be an informal Christmas Party of sorts since it will be our last opportunity to enjoy each other’s company prior to the holidays. We will provide a little food beyond the usual pizza, and everyone is encouraged to bring along something to add to the table. It is, however, not a requirement, so if you are unable to do so, no problem! A reminder also that ALL are welcome wherever and whenever the maroon gathers. 2009 is about to begin, and with it a year-long celebration of our Holy Name history and heritage. YOUR corps, your history, your heritage! I have begun to receive a few checks for our Caps for Cadets Alumni Initiative. If you haven’t made a contribution yet please send your check made out to The Garfield Cadets Alumni to Dave Shaw, 10-01 Hopper Avenue, Fair Lawn, NJ. This is an ALL-alumni project. George King generously allows us to use the Garfield Cadets Alumni account and non-profit status for convenience. Please contribute as generously as you are able. The gift of these Cadet-only baseball caps (unique to each year) are a gift from the heart from our alumni to our marching Cadets to show them our support and unity. For Holy Name shall always be…
THANKSGIVING ! I hope that all Cadets had a great Thanksgiving Day .. hopefully with family and friends! Remember all of your blessings .. including that the Cadets still exist, Cadet alums have been meeting and reaching out to each other via meetings, activities and the website; and that the Cadets will have a GREAT celebration in 2009! FHNSAB
The maroon will gather on Thursday, December 4, 7 PM, at the VFW Hall on Outwater Lane in Garfield. Our function and the rehearsal of the alumni corps will be meshed for this meeting since we are planning to expand the food menu a bit and add a little Christmas Flavor. Anyone wishing to bring any special food contributions to add to the table ,will be showered with kisses and given the one-time title of “caterer to the stars.” We will also collect our customary $5.00 donation to cover expenses. Please invite your wives/husbands to attend, along with our friends from other corps, parents of Cadets, Volunteers, Corps Staff, current and future Cadets, and anyone else who would like to join us. This is the final gathering for 2008 as we head into our extraordinary 75th Anniversary year of celebration. A full listing of all 2009 events will be sent to you shortly, and hopefully printed copies will be available at the meeting. Due to the first Thursday in January falling on New Year’s Day, there will not be a gathering for that month. The first Thursday of February, 2009 , will begin our new year. An agreement was reached today with the alumni corps to permit us to continue on the first Thursday of each month with our social-focus gatherings, while they will schedule their rehearsals for the balance of Thursdays each month. In that way we can keep our focus undivided. I would like to apologize for my absence at the last gathering. I have been informed that a number of people left early for a number of reasons. If you were one of those who were disappointed at your last visit, please make it a point to attend on Thursday, 12/4. We’ll show you why these social-focus gatherings have become so successful, and why they are enjoyed by so many people. We are heading into a spectacular year for our corps… Our Diamond Jubilee. Just saying it excites me. I was informed by Cadet Staff that auditions were very successful, and they expect to field one of the most talented corps in Cadet history. Most exciting for our alumni is that Holy Name will live again for this special year. There are year-long events scheduled to meet everyone’s interest and pocketbook. We hope to see every single Cadet Alumnus at one or more of these events. This is your corps and it is a history and heritage that belongs to everyone of us that we will be celebrating. O Holy Name will be heard over and over as we join hands and hearts with all our fellow Cadets. Get ready maroon and gold…it’s time to shake the earth. For Holy Name shall always be…
Hello Holy Name: As you can probably guess, putting together a project like our Holy Name Alumni website takes an incredible amount of time and effort to accomplish. A few months ago I advised you that we were turning over operation of the site to a new team, headed by John Ogle, 59-61, of Goochland, VA. Well, as the saying goes, nothing ever goes exactly as planned. The programmer John thought he had to assist him was recently promoted to a new position with his company, and will be relocating. That unexpected development has forced us to reorganize. Both our original programmer and myself will be resuming operation of the site for the short term, with John joining with us to assist on the editorial side. Our programmer, however, is stretched to the limit and needs assistance. He is generously doing all the work necessary himself, as he has been doing for several years now, but he needs backup assistance very badly. If there are any Cadet Alumni out there who know PHP, MYSQL, FLASH, and HTML, and would be able to volunteer assistance so we could build a programming team rather than place the full load on one person, please contact muller.hal@gmail.com. He will explain to you what our needs are, and how much of your time it would take. Basically what he needs is someone he can redirect work to when he needs backup assistance. We do what we do here out of our love for our corps, and we believe it’s important work. Please join with us in helping to ensure that Holy Name shall always be…
I was at the audition (experience) camp saturday night and things looked real good! Definately larger numbers of potential members than I have seen at the first camp for years. Approximately forty something snare drummers, 20 quads, approx. 20 something for the pit, didn't get to see the bass line, approx. 150 (?) brass and about 60 for the guard. Heard the brass ensemble play a new chart and they sounded pretty good for the first camp. EDITOR'S NOTE: Thanks for sharing this information Dan.
My husband John designed many of the emblems used by the corp during his marching days and after. He also created the first souvenir table and also designed and made many of the flags used. He worked tirelessly for the corp he loved so much. He single handedly silk screened flags, tee shirts and posters, both used by the corps, and to be sold. He really cared for the Cadets and when it wasn't the norm to have set-up tables at a contest, he created and made everything to sell at no expense to the corp. He donated his time and talent for years. I am asking on behalf of his memory, his children (who were also members of the corp) that he be considered to the Hall of Fame. Thank You Anita R. Bognatz, E-Mail Anita73139@Verizon.net. EDITOR'S NOTE: Anita, thank you for your message. I can assure you that John has not been forgotten, and his work and contribution to the Cadets is still discussed wherever and whenever Cadet Alumni gather. I will forward this message to the Hall of Fame Committee. It is my understanding that they will begin accepting nomination petitions sometime in January. The Chairman of The Committee is Eric Santo, eric289@aol.com. I am also placing your name on our mailing list for interim news releases. It was wonderful to hear from you. For Holy Name shall always be...
Go Gahfield! :)
Just some meaningless winter-blues kind of stuff that appears on Drum Corps Planet at this time of the year. I thought you might enjoy it. Tom Brace opened a thread entitled "3rd Annual Before Audition Camps top 12 Predictions " (for the 2009 season). To date there have been 33 responses (others did not offer a prediction or at least a serious prediction). Of those actually offering predictions 22 selected Holy Name as the probable 2009 DCI Champions, 7 picked us for 2nd, 1 for third, 1 for fourth, and 2 for fifth. Twelve respondents referred to the corps as Holy Name, twenty one as Cadets. All of this is just meant in fun of course, and has very little relevance. The part that I personally found a little amusing is that when we were in point of fact actually marching as the church sponsored Holy Name Cadets, everyone else in drum corps called us Garfield (with most pronouncing it Gahfield). As the old saying goes, "you can call us anything you want, just don't forget to call us for dinner."
I appreciate the time and effort you put into updating all the information on your website. I have a note about "Cadet Lee Russell." He actually passed away in November 1994 (14yrs today) at age 27. He did leave a wife, but not a child. November 20,2008
Thank you for forwarding Mark's report, Dave. As I finished reading it, I was not at all surprised to find a fresh tear in my eye and a huge lump in my throat. I could not be more proud of Dave or the entire Holy Name family at this moment. FHNSAB...
I am a current member of Preston Scout House. As some of you are aware Scout house reformed in 1993 and now have 54 on our horn line, 27 on precussion and 18 colour guard. I am looking forward to see your alumni corp soon and hopefully you can get enough people to perform at Rochester DCAs in 2009. The alumni corps take a while to form but it so much fun as no cometitions, just exhibitions. Lookin ahead to your reunion next year and hope it goes off with a bang. I know a lot of Scout house people would love to be there. Our Alumni band has 60% of its members are from original Scout House days. Thanks again Jeff
I attended the Holy Name sing today at Dave's mother's home in Virginia. It was wonderful to see David with a gleam in his eyes that got bigger and brighter as each past and present Cadet walked through the front door. Some had never met Dave before. Others traveled from as far away as Chicago and Georgia. Dave wasn't able to say my name but the way that he looked at me, shook my hand, and hugged me told me that he knew. Doug Rutherford led us through a very unique rendition of the Holy Name song. By no means was it perfect. It was unrehearsed and several of us were out of practice. Considering the chorus was made up of Cadet members spanning almost 30 years, it was the most meaningful performance of the song I have ever given. It was a fitting tribute to a man who has inspired us all. God bless you, David. Love, Mark
Our next alumni corp rehearsal will be on Thursday, Nov. 20 at the Garfield VFW from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. Both brass and drums included. We look forward to seeing you all. FHNSAB.
Please give David a hug for me. Words are not necessary, my prayers are with him. FHNSAB...
Know that while I'm unable to attend Cadet Welch's salute, I am and always will be with you all in Spirit! Sing for me, my Brothers and Sisters! FHNSAB!
I will not be able to attend either, but will certainly sing the Holy Name Song at 1:00 PM. God Bless all who travel to be by his side. For Holy Name Shall Always Be...
Gosh. Pat Zambetti said it so well! WELL DONE, Cadet Welch! We all will go there ... this is the only way off our planet! But, when we have the spectre approaching ...we can fight as much as possible. Then, when we see the inevitable, we can deal with it with grace. Cadet Welch has done both ... and is respected even more for both! What a fine person! Gods grace to him. FHNSAB
God speed to all who travel to participate. Know that this Holy Name Cadet from Texas will be with you in spirit and in song with you at noon CST Houston time. FHNSAB... Little Red Ridings
Please forward on my most sincere wishes of peace and comfort... a hard situation, but what a heartfelt salute and warm way to say goodbye. I've returned from Iraq, in CO and it is snowing... hard to believe I was in Kuwait 3 days ago. Take care.... best wishes... FHNSAB. Timothy L. Tilley, Sergeant First Class, United States Army, 1st Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, the 1st Infantry Division timothy.tilley@us.army.mil
Another example of Cadet class! A great gesture. I'll join you (here) at 1PM too.
I will raise my heart to David at 1 P.M. on Saturday. I may not sing that well but my prayers are earnest for a fellow Cadet in need to know we do care and appreciate his past efforts and talents. God Bless Him and he will be marching in Heaven soon with some of the best Former Cadets who have made that trip along with him.
I know we may, in fact, be saying "goodbye", but I prefer to say "well done"! I am seeing him on Monday.
Oh Dave you just broke my heart....I wish I could go. David and I became very close this past year and I can think of no better tribute to him then everyone singing with him. For he shall always be....
The maroon is gathering to say goodbye. To all of the Holy Name family: The Cadets (many, many of us, anyway) are visiting David's mother's house in Annandale, VA on Saturday at 1pm to sing "Holy Name" with him one more time. All Cadets are invited. The more the merrier. David's mother thinks it will be great, and when she told him about it, he was apparently delighted beyond words. People are coming from all over the place, some flying in especially to see David; so if you need a ride, it is definitely possible. Visit the event page on Facebook for more details: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=106945895384 from Sam Saunders , DM 00-03. Personal note from Dave Shaw, 50-58: My health will not permit me to be present, but my heart will be there. In our tradition I too will sing the Holy Name hymn at 1 PM on Saturday. I ask that all Cadets unable to be present, wherever they might be, join with our brother and sister Cadets as they pay tribute to David for the light and grace he brought into the world, and especially to our corps. He will live in our hearts evermore, For Holy Name shall always be...
Dear Cadets and Friends, Our next Alumni Corp rehearsal will be Thursday Nov, 13 at the Garfield VFW on Outwater Lane from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. Brass only no drums this week. We look forward to seeing as many of you there as possible. Thanks. FHNSAB
Happy Birthday Marines - wherever you are today. SEMPER FI! Bill Gaeckle 1967-1971, US Marine Corps Drum & Bugle Corps, Marine Barracks, 8th and I streets S.E., Washington, D.C. Ooh RAH
Phil .. either way, I really enjoy your stories. I have similar memories from my days in the Imperials. AND, you give a very unique perspective on the "history" and "tradition" of the Cadets with these stories. Seems to me that they are worthy of being put into the HISTORY area. Maybe the website should include a less formal "blog" segment for such stories? Maybe the "Guest Book" is an acceptable place too. I don't know the answer, but do appreciate the stories. EDITOR'S NOTE: Phil's memories are moving to the history page. Look for it soon. If anyone has any pictures from the 50's I'd be glad to include them. If you can send them electronically please do. E-mail address is FHNSAB@gmail.com ..Photographs can also be used and will be returned. Just drop me a note: John Ogle, 2727 Turner Road, Goochland, Virginia 23063. FHNSAB
Dave Borck is right. My words on Marching with Dave Shaw belong in Memories or History, not cluttering up our guest book. Except that I don't know how to post things there. Maybe the webmaster can take care of that for us.
If you haven't seen the trailer composed by Ryan Tinker, a 2008 ageout who was one of our standout leaders of the 05-08 era, don't miss it! Select NEWS from the bar menu at the top of the page, then select CORPS NEWS 2009 from the pulldown menu. Thanks for a wonderful job Ryan, and welcome to the ranks of the alumni. For Holy Name shall always be...
Best wishes to the Cadet alums for a great meeting this Thursday! Will stand by at the appointed time for the "O Holy Name" rendition. :) Hope to see a great agenda for the anniversary in 2009 .. perhaps a field corps? Regardless, be proud.
Please be advised that the current Cadets' office team will not be represented at the meeting on November 2. We will all be in Annapolis, MD, setting up for the second annual USSBA National Band Championship, a three day event that will attract over 120 marching bands to the Annapolis, Baltimore area. Too pull this off, we use 50 volunteers, all staff, and folks anywhere in the world wishing to assist. See ya next time. Hop
Hello Holy Name: Reminder: The maroon will gather again on Thursday, November 6, 7 PM, Garfield VFW Hall, Outwater Lane, Garfield. These gatherings will continue on the first Thursday of each month through May, 2009, so mark your calendars. All are welcome! The Alumni & Friends musical ensemble will also be rehearsing on the lower floor of the VFW Hall this Thursday and every Thursday. For Holy Name shall always be...
Dear Cadets and Friends, Our next monthly Alumni meeting and gathering of the maroon will be held this Thursday Nov. 6 at the Garfield VFW on Outwater Lane at 7:00 pm. At this time we will provide updates concerning the 75th anniversary weekend. Also the Alumni Corp will be rehearsing so come on down and have a listen. Look forward to seeing you all.
Phil: A GREAT post about life in the Cadets of the 50s! This belongs in the Cadet History too!
Phil: all things change. Dave Shaw has been a wonderful influence for the Cadets (a great Cadet). His work to start the HNC website was genius. :) This has become a focus point for support of the current Cadets and of Cadet alumni actiiviities. All of his friends wish him well!
And worse, no Editor to correct my lowsy speling.
With great sadnnes I read that the torch has been passed from my personal friend and fellow 'Archtypical pal' Cadet Dave Shaw. I will miss his words. I hope and pray that his health will be restored and that we will still be hearing from him on this (his) website. FHNSAB.
Best wishes to Cadet Dave Shaw! A great friend and an excellent Cadet! :)
Through various eMails and phone calls I have learned that our Brother, Dave Shaw, is currently going through a tough period in regards to his health. My thoughts and prayers are with him and I ask you to join me in that, as well as recognizing the HUGE effort he has given The Cadets and this website. FHNSAB! while we have committed people like Dave. Love you, Bro! JohnO
I just started marching cadets and it is the place I can truly call home I love it here. I'll be a cadet from 08-13, but more importantly for life For Holy Name Shall Always Be. . . EDITOR'S NOTE: Look over your shoulder Jesse. All those people you see are Cadet Alumni standing behind you with support and love. You are us, and we are you.
I've been reading your "History" section with great interest. Speaking as a Roman Catholic, I find the actions of the Pastor (always thought that meant "Servant" rather than "Dictator") reprehensible. Your perseverance in the face of adversity is one of the most famous stories in Drum Corps history. Whether you are aware of it or not, you WERE and ARE an inspiration to us all! God Bless you all, FHNSAB! Your Cavalier Brother & Honorary Holy Name Alumnus, JohnO
Luke Gall ..a part of the Cadets baritone line for the past two seasons has been selected to the 2009 US Army All American Marching Band. He is the drum major of the Goochland, Virginia, High School Marching Band. His father has been band director for 21 years. Luke wrote the bands show for the past two seasons. At a school assembly Luke said "I couldn't have done this all by myself." He thanks his father and his bandmates. He is a Holy Name Cadet in every sense of the word. FHNSAB
Hey "John Schneider 75-77" -- Glad to see your name on this site. Can you please email me at dripke@skadden.com. Would like to ask you a few questions about sending "stuff" to your son. AND if you don't remember me. . . I was "connected to Patti Lovas' hip" from '73- 75' -- LOL!! Thanks John! Hope to hear from you soon! Debi
Hello, I'm sure you know that Doug Rutherford was the Drum Major in 1987 & 1988 and Chris Buck was DM in 1989 & 1990. Chris's picture has a caption with the wrong dates listed. Keep up the good work! Nicole Roach (1987-90)
Wanted you to know that I sent your son a letter, expressing my thanks and gratitude for his service, and asked him to pass it on to his comrades. As his father, I can only imagine your pride. Wanted to let you know that I and other vets share, in our way, your pride, respect, and admiration for his, and your, sacrifice. God Bless Our Troops, Our Country, and the entire Schneider Family! With GREAT respect, JohnO '59-'63 Cavaliers, '64 Men Of Brass, '66-'72 US Army, '08 Honorarary Holy Name Alumnus. FHNSAB!
John, I will be using your son's address for a second and third grade writing project. Of course the second graders are still better at art than writing but in the past it has brought smiles to the soldiers. Thanks for the info. I hope all is well with you. FHNSAB...
Dear Cadets Alumni and Friends, The next rehearsal of the alumni musical ensemble will be at the Garfield VFW on Outwater Lane on Thursday, Oct. 16 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. Please make every effort to attend as we plan on doing some recordings for a You Tube video. FHNSAB...
As a U.S. Army veteran '66-'72, I salute your son and his comrades for their sense of, and commitment to "Duty, Honor, Country"! I will mail him to let him know that we all share in your pride and admiration for his service. May God bless him and keep him safe. God bless all our troops, watch over them, and bring them safely home! FHNSAB! JohnO
Dear Fellow Alumni, I'm so proud of my son I can't stand it. PLEASE drop him a note. Tell him what a total lunatic his father was. Tell him that his father meant a lot to you. Tell him that you hate/love/don't care about his father. But whatever you do, tell him something!!! As a matter of fact, if you know ANY soldier - or veteran - let them know that you are blessed to live in a country that is free and that it is our veterans to whom we owe all that we have. I took my Dad to see BLAST! on B'way a few years ago. Afterwards, the members of the company greeted people in the audience. When one of them approached us, I told him I was in Garfield in the late 70's. He THANKED me for paving the way for them to be able to do what they do. I said to him, "If you're thanking me, what about my Dad, he was in HOLY NAME in the '40's." The way he honored my Dad was something that my Dad has not forgotten. PLEASE - if you have a veteran in your family or sphere of influence - THANK HIM/HER. We live in the freedom they have afforded us. LET THEM KNOW. And if you find it in your heart and soul, let my kid know that you're praying for him and his mates to come home safe and sound. Thank you all more than you can imagine. If just ONE of you drops him a line, my pride in the corps will be justified. Thank you all. Dave, If it is possible, please post the preceding on the web site and encourage all our alumni - all the thousands of them - to support our troops. My son's address in Baghdad is: SPC SCHNEIDER, JOHN L. JAS G-C, Security Directorate, APO, AE 09316. EDITOR’S NOTE: John, you bet we’re proud of him, and I know our alumni will let him know just how proud we are. God Bless our Country and those who defend us in Iraq and around the world! FHNSAB…
Do any of you remember......when we would show up in a small town, for a morning parade (contest in the evening), shed our uniforms, and show up at the local VFW or American Legion Post to find that the Ladies of the Women's Auxillary had prepared and laid out a home cooked buffet? After which we would sit them down, encircle them and sing to them?Ken and Bill, you guys have brought back memories of our voices, joined in harmony, as our Corps are forever joined...in Harmony! SPLOOIE! & FHNSAB!, Your Brother, JohnO
To John Opager: Thanks so much for correcting my recollection of Ted Steinohrt's proper name. Bill Kardash sent a msg confirming his correct name also. Sorry to hear both father and son are no longer with us. We are indeed fortunate to still be here to experience the visual and musical programs of this great activity. Best regards. FHNSAB
Ken, I don't recall a Dick Steinert in the Corps when I marched '59- '63 but I believe you stayed with Ted Steinohrt, our lead/soloist Soprano at the time. His son also marched with the Corps in later years. I am deeply sorry to inform you that both have Crossed The Finish Line of Life. I know Ted would have been pleased to know that you remember that stay. It was one heckuva of a get together for all of us, funeral parlor and all! Not only were we great 2 Corps on the field but we sang like, as Bill said "The Mormon Tabernacle Choir". Thanks for the memory. FHNSAB! JohnO
To John Opager: In 1959 or 1960 on our way to Minneappolis or Stillwater, Bill Kardash and I were house guests of Richard (Dick) Steinert and his parents. My best recollection now , is that Dick was a lead soprano with the Cav's. We were up into the early hours of the AM spinning records of the 50's...Cavs, Holy Name, Skokie and Cabs. The next morning we were treated to a sumptuous breakfast. As we wolfed down eggs made to order , sausage , home fries, waffles and breakfast pastries, our plates never seemed to empty as the Steinerts kept the food coming .Needless to say. we skipped lunched that day. The Steinerts were most gracious and warm hosts. I don't know what became of Dick, as the last time we spoke was at the Legion Nat'ls in Denver in 1961???? If he is out somewhere, I wish him and his family my warmest regardsand all of God's blessings. Please read Bill Kardash's post to this Guest Book of May 15, 2007 about the song fest we had with the Cavs. As was told to me by several cadets, the house where this gathering took place was .....of all places..... the residence quarters of a local funeral home. How the Cavs arranged this is still beyond my imagination. Talk about a captive audience, LOL and no complains about the singing. May the Cavs and Cadets march on........and on.....and on. FHNSAB .... Cavaliers too!!
In tears at the moment, I am humbled and honored at your magnanimous gesture. A simple "Thank You!" seems inadequate. For a verbose old coot like me, I find myself speechless. May God shower His Blessings on you all. FHNSAB and SPLOOIE! Your Brother ALWAYS, JohnO
John Opager - You are absolutely correct. We Cadets were all perfect gentlemen. Just ask the famous Audubon Bon-Bons. NOT
Dang! Through your replies and eMails, you continue to exhibit the absolute CLASS you've always had! Thank you, God Bless each and every Cadet! FHNSAB and SPLOOIE! JohnO
Hi one and all. I am proud of the two years I marched with the Garfield Cadets 79-80. I have never felt so full of life since leaving and joining the United States Army. I now look back with fond memories. I Thank the Cadets for everything for being a member has changed my life for the better. The holy name shall always be in my heart, soul, and in my mind.
Dave, Pleased to hear that we continue to make our activity a friendship thing and not only a competative one. Sorry Joan and I can't make the Thursday get together as I teach Huntington HS on that night and we're in the heat of the competative season. Please send our best regards to all. Noel and Joan Borden
I am currently in Madison, Wisconsin for The Scouts 70th Anniversary Banquet. I was asked by The Scout's Alumni to convey their warmest regards, and to let you know the great value they place on the seven decade friendship between our two corps. A number of the 2008 marching Scouts present also made it a point to tell me how much they respect and admire our marching Cadets. I was asked to say a few words, so I took the opportunity to tell them that we hold them in similarly high regard; and that wherever there is a single Scout and a single Cadets...there too "They Will Never Walk Alone.". Don Warren, the founder and lifetime Director of The Cavaliers was also present, and similar sentiments were exchanged regarding the bond we have shared with The Cavaliers for the last six decades (this year was The Cavaliers' 60th Anniversary), and Don Warren's 80th birthday. I would like to remind everyone one last time that our first 75th Anniversary gathering-of-the-maroon will be held THIS THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2, 7 PM, at the VFW Post on Outwater Lane, Garfield, NJ (near the intersection of Midland Ave. and Outwater Lane). Representatives of The Cadets' staff, and John Avella of our alumni 75th Anniversary Committee will be present to offer a power-point presentation on the events being planned for our Diamond Jubilee next summer. The news article to be printed on our website ( www.theholynamecadets.org ) following the meeting, will also carry that information for those unable to attend this Thursday. You will also be able to find the information on The Cadets website (www.cadets.org ). The Alumni musical ensemble will also be rehearsing on the lower level of the VFW Hall, so any of you interested in knowing what's happening with them are invited to drop in to take a look. They might even be enticed into coming upstairs to play a few numbers.,Once again, THIS Thursday, 10/2, 7 PM, the VFW Hall, Outwater Lane, Garfield. ALL ARE WELCOME. For Holy Name shall always be...
Did you know that our color guard, back in the 70's, would always sing "Never Walk Alone" together in our little tight circle before each performance ? There were also a bunch of songs that rookie's had to learn that I'm sure are still buried in the minds of the 70's Cadets, like "We are the National Champions, that no one can deny. We beat the best in drum corps and still are riding high. Here is to Chicago and Anaheim as well. When we march off the field, they say that we were swell . "
Bob Peterson: Have seen your name on the website. That 1958 drum line was one of the best rudimental drum lines of the era .. maybe even of all time. Still love to listen to it. :)
I think that it is "possible" that the young hoodlums of Garfield became DIFFERENT PEOPLE when with the corps .. due to their management and the pride they had in their Corps! The Cadets are like that! (That is what drum corps is supposed to be like). FHNSAB
Hello John, My name is Bob Peterson. Your Email was forwarded to me by Dave Shaw and I wanted to respond with great appreciation. I was a snare drummer with The Cadets in 1958 and it was my age out year. Thanks to many people we did make it to Chicago to defend the National title won in 1957 in Atlantic City N.J.. Among the great people that helped us through a very difficult period were" The Cavaliers". There was something very special regarding those drums as we scored an 18.75 out of a possible 20 points and won the high drum score. We always felt that "The Cavaliers" were part of that accomplishment. The bond ,respect and admiration i something we all cherish now and forever. We will never forget "The Cavaliers and the generosity displayed many years ago in 1958. May the good Lord bless you and The Cavaliers now and forever. Bob Peterson "For Holy Name Shall always be... and The Cavaliers as well !!
John, I read with great interest your email published on the Holy Name Cadets web site. The association between the Cavaliers and the Cadets, goes back a long way. I was a H. N. CADET, from 1945 to 1952. In October 1950 on the way to defending our two year in a row American Legion National championships in Los Angeles, we stopped for a weekend in Chicago. The Cavaliers were the leaders in setting up a welcoming party for us that weekend. Even though it was 58 years ago, I remember that day very clearly. it was a Sunday afternoon. The friendship the your corps members showed, was truly unforgettable. At the end of the party, we surprised our hosts. We had our instruments on the bus, we whipped them out, assembled on the street, and played for them as a thank you for the great hospitality they had shown us. When we finished playing, the manager of the Cavaliers, made the kiind comment, "Now I know for sure why we are not going to L. A. to compete." We loved to watch the Cavaliers and other midwest corps. They were different. They used, what we called the "chop- chop" step in their show. By the way, we won the our third in a row A. L. national championship in LA. Thanks for all you did for us. Val Arthur
Charlie! You may have been "young hoodlums" in Garfield, but in our presence, our homes, and on the field, you were the consummate gentlemen - and as a result we ALWAYS loved and respected you. God Bless YOU! See ya on the Final Skid - should be one helluva ride! FHNSAB & SPLOOIE! JohnO
Congratulations on the Cadets upcoming 75th year of drum corps history. Its my hope and prayer that The Cadets and The Cavaliers are around for another 75 and still winning championships. We both had our "dark years" but endured and as Spock said " lived long and prospered ". Yea Opager was waxing something alright ! The only Shelly I knew , well it was at Nationals in 66 and well....... That's another story !
Best wishes to all Garfield Cadets, past and present, in your efforts to rekindle the "Spirit". I marched only one year, 1964, but it was one filled with fun and great learning experiences. Les Parks was a fabulous instructor; Bill Kemmerer- "The Chief" was ever-present, fair, and highly regarded and well-respected as the corps director; the fellows I marched alongside were fun to be with and always focused on doing their very best in performing and presenting a solidly recognizable and respectful demeanor to the public. I have an 8x10 of the drumline performing at a contest that year, 1964, hanging on my wall. I glance at it at least once every day. That one year still stays with me these many years past - and it seems as though it were yesterday. For Holy Name shall always be...
John, almost fell off my chair when I read your earlier comment "you taught us how to be gentlemen". Were you perhaps "waxing poetic?". Somehow that vision of a group of young hoodlums from the backstreets of Garfield endowing upon the men from Chicago the ability to read Byron & Shelly while knowing which spoon to use on a fresh breakfast melon raised the memory of the "Gee Officer Krupke" skit from West Side Story. Now That's the memories of the Cavaliers and Cadets I have.......... cheers and may God keep you in good health right up until you hit that final Skid! LOL!!!
As I attempted earlier (though my apparently Kerosene powered PC has a mind of it's own!), Best wishes and CONGRATULATIONS to ALL you Maroon Gods! Personal Medical conditions preclude my attendance....BUT KNOW I am Spiritually with you! Thanks for the invite, SORRY I can't be with you, but let all attendees know that this Cavalier SALUTES you! FHNSBA and SPLOOIE!, JohnO
I neglected to mention where you should send your registration information: shaw.d.g@att.net Registration is not limited to Cadet Alumni. If you are interested in Cadet History and Alumni activities you are welcome. Send your name, email address, and corps affiliation (name of the corps you marched, parent, fan, future Cadet hopeful, whatever). Alumni are asked to provide years marched. Sorry to have overlooked including this information in my prior entry. FHNSAB...
A welcome to all new 2008 Cadet Ageouts. Welcome to the rest of your life as a Cadet! We hope we get to meet you personally at some or all of the events you see listed both in our e-mail news updates and on this website: www.theholynamecadets.org With our 75th Anniversary on tap for next year, there will be a lot of alumni events for you to attend and enjoy. Try your best to be a part of this major celebration, but whether you can or you can't, stay in touch. You never stop being a Cadet. If you send me your name, years marched, and email address, we will put you on our mailing list for interim news updates and announcements. Though we work in tandem with the YEA-Cadet website, we both maintain separate mailing lists. The only thing you might have a hard time getting used to during gatherings-of-the-maroon is the way we sing The Holy Name Hymn in traditional fashion. Not to worry, we have some great Cadet Drum Majors conducting. You did us proud in Bloomington. Thank you for enriching our corps' history with your contribution. The 2008 corps was truly special. For Holy Name shall always be...
The HNC website continues to be a great instrument of outreach .. to many people, as the recent interchange with Cavaliers alumni is showing. I can appreciate the fondness which the Cadets and Cavaliers have for each other. On a different level, the same fondness for the Cadets exists from the NP Imperials. :) FHNSAB...EDITOR'S NOTE: Norwood Park shared our maroon and gold bloodline, and our fondness and respect for them has been longstanding. They were a great drum corps, and are remembered and honored. Thank you for your expression of regard. I can assure you it's mutual.
Jim, I have no idea where joe is. I will be doing a search online for him. Ain't the internet grand ! I have a fine art print (giclee) of our 61 corps circulating to the guys for signature. The plan is to give it to Don Warren. A lot of those guys are lost or marching with the big corps in the sky. Even our alumni list is short a lot of names. I'm so glad that our 2 corps are still on the field and competing and world class !
Tony nice to see your name. We hung out a little bit. Did you stay at my house ? The last time I saw you I think you were marching with Hawthorne. I'm in California now (32 years here) . I have a boat I'n the best Bass fishing lake in the world. Any Garfield alum lives in the neighborhood (Ojai Ca) email me we can go fishing and tell more lies.
My Dear Friends, your replies and your personal eMails have affected me to a greater degree than I can explain. I have no idea what your current membership policy is, but at age 65 (I lost 17 DC friends between Feb 4 and Dec 16, 2007) I would be HONORED to greet my Creator as a Chicago Cavalier and an Honorary Cadet! I respect your program and do not ask for any special treatment, but I think it would be Divine to march in Heaven's Corps wearing huge Green Wings, trimmed in Maroon! Your Cadet wannabe comrade, JohnO EDITOR'S NOTE: John, you and all other Cavaliers and Cavalier Alumni are always welcome wherever and whenever the maroon gathers; and that includes heaven if any of us qualify after all the trouble we gave to Don Warren and Bill Kemmerer. We socialize the first Thursday of each month at the Garfield VFW on Outwater Lane in Garfield, so if any Cavaliers happen to be in the neighborhood come on and join us. We would be honored by your presence.
Dave, I know John Opager, and he was among the greenest Cavalier of the Cavaliers. This is a real testament. - Tony.
Dave, I don't know about you but I love the stuff this former Cavie friend and brother is writing. His last comment literally brought tears. Jack
Dave, As was true for many Cadets, I had a very good friend who was a Cavalier during my time with Garfield. We lost track of each other over the years, and in my senior senility, I will probably misspell his name here, Joe Lavergine. We traded Corps jackets and my younger brother Dennis (currently a Hawthorne Cabs Alumnus), wore it out. Joe was a super guy, and I'm sorry we lost contact. FHNSAB Jim.
While an Alumnus, I have no power over the Cavaliers website. I would suggest that ANY of you go to www.cavaliers.org and request their permission to include them in your Links. Godspeed and SPLOOIE! FHNSAB! Your devoted brother, JohnO
Gentlemen, my corps buddy for life, John Opager turned me on to your website. I marched with the Cavalier guard from 61 through 66, hung out with you guys , and was and am the other Jimmy Costello. I remember going to the diner in New Jersey when we visited out there and hanging at Nationals with you guys I think in 62 in Minneapolis . I now live in California. I had a coworker that was a pretty good friend for a few years. Found out after 2 years he had marched with the Cadets as a snare drummer (Chris Sloyer). Interesting that we became friends and later found out about the Maroon and Green connection. EDITOR'S NOTE: Thanks for checking in on this remarkable conversation initiated by your good friend (and ours) John Opager. Many Cadet Alumni are joining in with their own favorite Cavalier memories, and we watch in amazement as the bond between our two corps continues to grow as the current marching members of both our corps come to realize that our memories are part of their heritage and history.
What else can I say; the respect and admiration by The Brassmen towards the Garfield Cadets is mutual! It was all about the level of excellence that was on display while competing and what was achieved within not only the national drum corps community, but I am very proud to say "our local" drum corps community here in the Northeast. Both our corps were taught by the "best" in drum corps ! The longevity of the Cadets demonstrates not only your "good fortune" to continue to exist today , but your consistency in delivering a world class drum corps program to kids year after year. The Cadets have more than earned their position today of being a "Leader" and "WINNER" on and off the field ! Please send us your "Logo" so that we may link to your website on The Brassmen links page. Yours in Drum Corps, Keeping Our Memories Alive, With Hope, Faith and Charity. www.stritasbrassmen.org
This is a wonderful story and message! Thank you for sharing! I am always so very proud of the maroon & gold whether via stories told by those who've come in contact with Holy Name over the years; first hand experience as a friend, fan, or volunteer of the organization; or vicarious experiences as the dad of a long time marching member (and now alumnus). I appreciate all you do. FHNSAB....
John Opager (Jr) is a TALL man. When he marched in the color guard of the C avaliers, the corps used his height to advantage. He carried the American Flag ... and in the CP of "Battle Hymn" he carried the flag in his upraised hands .. at a very great height. It provided great impact! John's dad was a timing/penalty judge with CSJA and also helped operate the Illinois Drum and Bugle Corps association for many years. John has been around drum corps for a long time. --------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Appreciate the Don Warren insight about 1958 .. I agree that the relative competitive positions of the Cadets and Cavies had NOTHING to do with his offer of help.
You, Sir, and your comrades, exemplify the character that was the hallmark of the Cadets. I began my Drum Corps experience in 1949 as a uniformed waterboy with the Logan Square SAL Drum & Bugle Corps (Sons of the American Legion - NO age limit, later when the SAL program was abolished the members formed the Skokie Indians Senior Corps and the Skokie Vanguards Junior Corps) My father was involved with Corps as a manager, Marching Member, and as a commissioner with the Illinois Drum Corps Association 1946 - whenever DCI was born. As a result, I was exposed and immersed in Corps activity for the first 22 years of my life. You can only imagine the number of contests and Corps I have seen throughout those years. I LOVED St. Kevins, ADORED Scout House, WORSHIPPED the Skyliners and admired many other Corps (does the name Reilly Raiders ring a bell?) but there was NEVER a Corps that I actually LOVED as I did the Cadets. We Cavaliers were a bunch of Chicago street punks - you taught us how to be gentlemen. To my dying breath, I will never forget you. "For Holy Name Shall Always Be..." Lifes Journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "Holy shit...what a ride!"
Great story. You may recall, we hosted the Cavaliers in the early 70s, and they stayed in our homes for a day or two when they came to Garfield to compete in our show. Great memories. FHNSAB... Jim
Thanks for sharing that Dave. I seem to remember hearing that story in my early Cadet days. An amazing activity...and amazing world. FHNSAB...
Outstanding story and magnanimous gesture the "Green Machine" bestowed upon the Garfield Cadets in our time of need. I marched with the Garfield Cadets from 1962-65, I too heard about the Cavalier's extending their hand of friendship. From a former Garfield Cadet...........thank you. Interesting, at the time we marched, here in the East, the Corps were mainly sponsored by Churches, mainly Roman Catholic - Holy Name Cadets, Blessed Sac, St. Lucy's , St. Kevins, St. Vincents etc. In the Mid-West, to my understanding, very few were sponsored or affiliated by Churches. Very interesting............and in retrospect a good move. When I aged out, I joined the Marine Corps. My first duty station was at Marine Barracks Great Lakes Illinois. For the 18 mos I was stationed there. I followed the Cav's throughout the two summers, and their Midwestern hospitality I shall never forget.................Thanks again. Semper fi, Bob
Many thanks for your emails exhibiting your traditional Courtesy and Kindness. BUT.........now you've made me totally nostalgic and I'm trying to reach out to all my Corps friends from Our (yours and mine) Days! AUTHORS NOTE: NOT Blessed Sacrament, always hated them, always will! St. Vincents? Ditto!!! But Google as I will, can't find a St. Kevins Emerald Knights Alumni website. Discovered a bunch of stuff on YouTube (including them checking in to The Cavalier Motel in Miami '61 ROFLMAO) but no "official" Corps website! Can any of you steer me in the right direction? Sweet dreams, oh you Princes and Princesses! EDITOR'S NOTE: John, St. Kevins fields a wonderful alumni corps. I'm sure we will be able to find a contact address for you.
"For Holy Name Shall Always Be..." and "We are Chicago Cavaliers" neither rhyme nor seem to be in tune, and yet the Pride to sing either of those songs is so powerful that words beyond those pale in comparison. I love you guys, always have, always will! With my sincerest regards, JohnO FMM Chicago Cavaliers 1959 -1963
Greetings! My name is John Opager. I was privileged to be a Marching Member of the Chicago Cavaliers 1959 - 1963. I was often told a story by Cavaliers that in 1958 Holy Name (I guess that was a Catholic parish) withdrew their sponsorship weeks or days prior to the American Legion Championship. In spite of this, the members of your Corps decided to attend and compete in this National Championship - buying white Bermuda shorts, white collared T shirts and of course, your "White Bucks" shoes. The Cavalier legend has it that we gave you our horns, drums, and flags so that you could "take the field for competition". I was not a Cavalier yet, but this story raced across the Drum Corps World (Hell, it was 1958, there was NO Internet) I do know this - in the years following, after the Corps reinvented itself as the Garfield Cadets there seemed to be a bond between the Cavaliers and the Cadets that I was amazed at. (I mean we were the Cavaliers, and though we didn't literally hate every other Corps we were determined to crush them - especially Sac) But that drive, that will to conquer, defeat, and demand submission N E V E R included the Cadets. I can recall times when "Gahhhfield" toured the Midwest, we took Cadeis into our homes and were happy to do so. In retrospect, more than happy, as we learned from each other the true meaning of Drum Corps as it was "in Our day" In closing, please allow me to salute the Cadets in whatever name they now appear, but know this - I wil Never forget Holy Name or Garfield! I pray for God's blessings for you all, past, present, and future. Sincerely, your biggest Cavalier fan, JohnO. johnopager@sbcglobal.net EDITOR'S NOTE: John, I can't begin to tell you how much this message is appreciated. Cadet Alumni hold the Cavaliers in the highest possible regard. As you noted, competition can be the great divider or the great unifier. How fortunate our two corps were blessed with mutual respect, friendship, and admiration that has stood the test of time. We have never forgotten your kindness in 1958 when you came to our rescue with your loan of equipment and your expression of support. Don Warren often jokes that if he knew ahead of time that we would be fortunate enough to beat you in that contest he never would have loaned us the equipment; but we both know that he would have because Cavalier values came from him, and they have endured through the years. We too hope that God will extend his blessings to all Cavaliers, past, present, and future; and that our two corps will continue forward knowing that wherever we are, wherever we place in any given year, we are with friends. Green and Maroon go very well together. Thank you for making that bond even stronger with your kind words.
Though I knew Cheryl so briefly.. I will remember her always ~~~Rest in peace my sweet angel~~~ FHNSAB
I have been in contact with so many of my old Cadet friends over the past 6 months. We are scattered to the four winds now, but the bond of friendship and camaraderie from our days in the corps. stands stronger than ever in our hearts. We are all looking forward to the 75th reunion as we all plan to meet up and attend. Cheryl was to join us. Her passing came quickly and completely unexpectedly. She suffered a brain aneurism and was airlifted to Columbia University in NYC. There was nothing they could do. Thank you again for posting her obituary. Looking forward to seeing you next summer. For Holy Name shall always be...
So my BEST Times was with The Garfield Cadets 1973-1974 seasons. I had the best of times and the worst of times, this has carried me thru my life with good memories. I have met people in my life and when they found out I was a former Cadet they were blown away. They have so much RESPECT for the name Garfield Cadets / Cadets of Bergen County / what ever the name it commands RESPECT. I thank the Drum Corp Life for making me a Good American. "Semper Fidelis" means Always Faithful ! For Holy Name shall always be...
TIRRITO Cheryl M. Cadets 1972 (nee Blair), 51, of North Haledon on September 11, 2008. Born in Ridgewood she lived in Waldwick before moving to North Haledon 9 years ago. She retired in 2006 from IBM in Paramus after 30 years of service. She was a member of Hawthorne Gospel Church in Hawthorne.Beloved wife of Frank Tirrito. Devoted mother of Adam Popelka and stepmother of Paul Tirrito, Shawna Tirrito, Lori Perst, Lisa Bott, Kristin Popelka and Kara Baker. Cherished daughter of Dorothy Blair (nee Chapin) of North Haledon. Dear step-grandmother of Alexandra, Kennedy and Myia. Loving sister of Gregory Blair of Wantage.Funeral Services Monday 10 AM at Hawthorne Gospel Church, Hawthorne. Interment George Washington Memorial Park, Paramus. The family will receive friends Saturday from 7-9 PM and Sunday from 2-4 and 7-9 PM at Vander Plaat-Vermeulen Memorial Home, 530 High Mountain Road, Franklin Lakes. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made in Cheryl's memory to Hawthorne Gospel Church, Mission Fund, State Highway #208, Hawthorne, NJ 07506. For further information www.vanderplaat.com http://www.vanderplaat.com Published in The Record and Herald News on 9/12/2008 For Holy Name shall always be...
Dear Cadet Alumni and Friends: Our next rehearsal will be at the Garfield VFW on Thursday night Sep.18 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. Jim D'Amico has just completed Besame Mucho and we will begin working on it on the 18th. Drummers, please make every effort to attend as you now have four numbers to work on. Thank you. For Holy Name shall always be...
I went to the New Yankee Stadium today. They had a wonderful memorial for 9-11. While playing Taps they lowered the flag, donated by the NYFD this morning, to half mast. While this was an exceptional honor to be asked to do this for this special day, it was also very moving to me, as well. Every construction worker on the stadium stopped work at 9AM and it was silent, then a speech by some dignitaries, then Taps while lowering the flag, a moment of silence for the 3000 people that perished and the other 7000 that were injured. Amazing Grace and America the Beautiful were played by the IBEW Local 3 pipe and drum corps "The Sword Of Light" appropriately named. I then had a tour of the entire stadium including the score board. It was truly a moment I will cherisand honor for the rest of my life. I thank you all for letting me share this memory with you.Thanks again, for your encouragement and support. Rich Wardlow: Trumpet Player, Arranger, Composer. For those of you that don't know, Rich "Red" Wardlow is a Cadet alumnus 79-81. and currently plays lead soprano in the Cadet Alumni Corp. Thanks Rich for sharing this with us. You did us proud! For Holy Name shall always be...
A super web site! Many thanks to those who put this together. For anyone who remembers me, a short update. I completed 35 1/2 years in the Army and retired as a Colonel 06. I earned 4 degrees. Univ. of KY.(3 including a PhD) and Penn State(1 - MS). I taught for 3 years at UK in the College of Business and Economics after retirement from the Army. Married for 41 years with three kids and 7 grandkids. Now living in Louisville, KY. Regards to all present and former Cadets. Jim Kennedy. 1959 - 61. EDITOR's NOTE: Jim, GREAT to hear from you. It sounds like you have quite a life story. If you look on the photo page of our website you'll see your HS Graduation photo in one of the Dave Shaw Rogues Gallery sections. Hugh Mahon lives in Danville. If you send me your email address (shaw.d.g@att.net) I'll put you two in touch, and also add you to our mailing list for interim news updates and announcements. For Holy Name shall always be...
Dave, I think I heard a couple of years ago that Brian Callahan had moved to Texas. There is a Brian Callahan listed in Bergenfield High School Alumni graduating in 1965. Do you think it is the same one? EDITOR'S NOTE: I'm pretty sure it is. His brother's name is Al. They lived on North Stoughton St. in Bergenfield.
Yes, a Brian Callahan taught the Cadets in the early 70's. Lived in Bergenfield as I remember. EDITOR'S NOTE: Brian also had a twin brother who marched Cadets. And yes, they lived in Bergenfield. Does anyone have contact information on either of them? Please advise us if you do.
Hey Dave, Rich Cesani here. Thanks for doing what you're doing. I'm still so very proud to have been a Cadet. I marched '62 and ' 63. Mostly in the color guard, but sometimes in the drumline, snare or cymbals. I also " faked " a soprano bugle spot for one show. I was so looking forward to the '64 season. I would have been in the drumline full time, and we all knew that the corps was going to be much better than in the preceding years; and that's saying something since the corps had been a real power for the last 4 to5 years. But then the shit hit the fan, Angelica quit, nothing was the same. I quit too. Sat out a year and did 3 with the Cabs. The 3 other snares in that line were all ex-Cadets too !! Incidently, the other Cadet you emailed when you emailed me, Bill Von Bargen, had bought me in the rookie auction and I was his " rookie and a slave " for my rookie year. Good guy. Treated me fairly. Anyway, Thanks again. I've stayed in music since back then in one form or another. I earned my living as a drumset player, taught drum corps and marching bands, taught privately too. It's all been good. Been in Memphis since 1980 when I came down here to help set up a drum corps. For Holy Name shall ALWAYS be...
Cadets supporting Cadets: for the benefit of David Welch's non- profit 38lemon Brain Cancer Awareness Programs (www.38lemon.com): Saturday, November 1 – Sunday, November 2, 2008. The Celebration includes Limousine-Chauffeured Wine Tour, Costume Ball, Tour of Niagara Falls and Visit to the Niagara Falls Casino: Saturday, November 1st (GET HERE ANYWAY you can!) Arrive in the morning to Lewiston N.Y. Check in at the Barton Hill Inn and Spa in Lewiston N.Y. http://www.bartonhillhotel.com/index.html Noon Wine tour: Meet in front of the hotel to depart on a wine tour in a fleet of limousines and limousine buses donated by my company, Mac Limousine. The “Niagara Wine Trail” wine tour offers traditional and fruit wines from the region, and includes a tranquil limousine ride through the picturesque escarpment area, rich in history and wonderful vineyards. One of the wineries is the famous Marjim Manor, featured in this season’s Sci-Fi hit show “Ghost Hunters.” 5:00 p.m.: Arrive back at the hotel and rest up, recover and prepare for the Ball. 7:00 p.m. : Costume Ball in the Banquet Room of the Barton Hill Inn. Cocktails at 7 p.m., Dinner at 8 p.m. The evening will also include: · Drum Corps trivia contest (Given at check in and turned in at the Ball for prizes), · Karaoke contest, · Dancing. Sunday, November 2nd: 9:00– 10:30 a.m. , Brunch at Hotel. 11:00 a.m. , Limousine tour of Niagara Falls; visit to the Niagara Falls Casino. $229 per person, plus hotel. All proceeds go to David's non-profit 38 Lemon Brain Cancer Awareness programs. (Meals, Tours, Food & Entertainment included). Must book by Oct 7th: Checks to: Michael Collette, 5480 Pinecrest Drive, Lockport, NY 14094, note "Primo Fest" on checks. Please book hotel rooms directly with Barton Hill. Contact the hotel at (800)-718-1812 and ask for the Primo Fest Group rate. Special room rates of $169.00 double occupancy have been reserved. Email Michael at maclimo@msn.com or call 716-471-1654- with any questions. For Holy Name shall always be...
We will kick off our winter social season for our 75th Anniversary year with a gathering-of-the-maroon on Thursday, October 2, 7 PM, at the VFW Hall on Outwater Lane in Garfield. All are welcome at our gatherings, including friends, former competitors, families, military representatives, and members of The Maroon and Gold Cadet family from all 75 years of our history (for those who have asked, yes, of course that includes the Plebes and the Epochs). Our custom is for everyone present to pool our resources (usually $5 per person) to provide pizza. Drinks are available at the bar. If you don't have $5 come anyway. We all have days when our pockets are empty. We try to keep the atmosphere informal and non-structured, though periodically we present short programs that we think might be of interest to those in attendance. Suggestions are always welcome. Primarily we are there to rekindle old friendships, make new friends, and share memories. We share our 75th Anniversary in 2009 with the United States Marine Corps D&B Corps, also celebrating their 75th Anniversary. We are humbled and honored to share this special year with this honored and distinguished premier drum and bugle corps and musical ambassadors of our Country. A reminder that Tuesday is 9/11. WE WILL NOT FORGET. The face page on our Holy Name website will remain silent in memory of those lost. God Bless America.
Did Brian Callahan also teach the Cadets? He was an instructor with the Cavaliers in the 1970s/ 80s.
Brian Callahan the drum instructor?
To Rich Cesani: let's get in touch again. The last time we had a jam session together was in the mid to late 90's at Klein HS/Houston with Brian Callahan at the Bayou City Blues rehersal. What a hoot!! I can be reached at billridings2@aol.com
Dad was a big fan of Drum Corps. If you could wear your colors & come out and pay your respects it would be greatfully appreciated. Clavin Funeral Home...Verrazano to 92nd st... straight to 86th... 4 traffic lights to 4th Ave... right on 4th to 78th st. R train to 77th street station. 7722 4th Ave Brooklyn, NY 11209 718-745-1445 Wednesday & Thursday 2-5 / 7-9 pm Mass Our Lady Of Angels Friday @ 10:30 7320 4th Ave Brooklyn, NY 11209 Red to rep BU playing Amazing Grace. Toppers : Lords Prayer Salvation Army Carlton to sing. Dad was a Korean War Vet Army : 6 Purple Hearts. He would have never mentioned that but I am so proud of him. Thanks Tom & Steve Breen, GC 78
The Cadets have at least three of our number in the New Orleans area: Moe Latour, Manny Colomb, and Chris Castille. There may be others as well that I'm not aware of. If any of you are aware of their situations, please notify us so that we can share the news with the rest of the Cadet community. To Moe, Manny, and Chris, and whomever else we have in that area, whatever your needs might be, just let us know and we'll go to work to see that they're met. My email address is shaw.d.g@att.net
The Cadets Alumni Corp is currently rehearsing at the Garfield VFW on Outwater Lane. Our next rehearsal will be on Thursday Sep.4 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. We are working on some great standards like Stars & Stripes, American Salute and King of Kings / French National. Our next tune will be the 1960's vintage Besame Mucho, but updated with some nice harmonies and super chord structures. We plan on performing at the the Cadet's 75th anniversary celebration in 2009. So come on gang let's make an effort to support our Alumni Corp and have a little fun playing some cool music. For any of you who haven't played in a while we have plenty of people in every section who can help you get your chops back. Thanks to all of you who are already participating. Our future rehearsal dates are 9/4, 9/18, 10/2, 10/16 and 10/30. Should you have any questions please feel free to E mail me at gefreki@aol.com. We look forward to seeing you all. FHNSAB.
REMINDER: FLY THE FLAG ON SEPT.11 Regardless of your political leanings or your feelings about the war in Iraq, remember to FLY THE FLAG on Sept. 11 to honor and remember the innocent victims of this horrible terror attack.
Tom Costa, Jr. recently posted a search for Tony Vaccaro. Can he please send his e-mail address to: shaw.d.g.@att.net and it will be passed along.
Chris: I am honored by your words. We lost Steve Brubaker in January 1992 to a fast-growing GBM brain tumor. I have wanted to connect 38 Lemon with the Cavies for a long time. We share that need to be concerned with brain cancer -- to at least be aware of this risk. (See http://www.38lemon.com/mriday.php to get an idea, especially the video.) My best to you, and thanks for so many years of your team's great work. ~ David
I'm am looking for Tony Vaaaaro who was with Our Lady of Loretto My Dad taught their a very long time ago.
Best wishes to Cadet Welch for recovery and long life from the Norwood Park Imperials alumni. It has been inspiring to hear of his steadfast determination to beat this illness. We stand with him and offer constant prayers on his behalf.
Dave...please feel free to post this for your folks.... I have been privileged to be on Dave Shaw's mailing list for the past year and have followed his messages about David Welch's illness. We just received word yesterday that another 1950's era Cavalier FMM passed away, this from a brain tumor as well. That is an unfortunate reality of our fraternities, that we will lose more and more of our number as time marches on for we "baby boomers" (no, that's a generation nickname, not a group of young bass drummers). However, when an illness like this strikes out at someone as young as David and we see the spirit in his battle to return to health, it gives us all a pause to think about the way our activity has touched our lives and appreciation for all of those we have shared the field with, from whatever year or generation or uniform. On behalf of the Cavalier Alumni Association we wish David a speedy recovery and extend a hand of encouragement to keep on fighting. Chris Hartowicz splooie@aol.com
Since the corps is going back to the original name, I vote that they go back to the original version of "O Holy Name" . . . EDITOR'S NOTE: I'm sure we're going to hear O Holy Name sung a lot of times in a lot of different ways during the next 12 months. I'm just glad our corps is still here, and we're still singing it. 75 years and going strong.
To Phil Kowalski........Amen FHNSAB
To Ken Shedosky- Ken just to let you know that I appreciate the return of the fanfare from 1957 to our homepage with its volume will once again impress new visitors to our website with the glory of The Holy Name Cadets.
ANNIVERSARY CORPS Well, this is clearly the new "thing to do"! AND, it is great to see them. 27th Lancers did it a few years ago, then the Royal Airs. Madison, now the Cavaliers. All have been great. Now, it appears to be the Cadets turn! We can hardly wait!
Speaking of alumni corps practices; if any of you are interested, the alumni corps meets at 7 PM sharp twice a month, (every other Thursday) at the VFW Hall on Outwater Lane in Garfield. Our next practice is Thursday, August 21. See my letter on the Alumni Corp link for further details. Joseph Triola # 61 Garfield Cadets 62-66 FHNSAB
Mike Davis: i am doing well. Married, 2 daughters, get to a show about once every 5 years. Follow the corps via internet and Greg Cinzio. Starting to go to the alumni corps practices. Saw Randy Dalrymple at one. Remember him? Take Care.
I may not like the Cadets 2008 program, but I love and respect the Cadets. :) Best wishes to all Cadets and alums for a great time in Bloomington! Enjoy the times, the friendships and the fun! FHNSAB
Hey Lou...I marched 70-72. Wish I could have stayed a couple of more years, but I had to work summers for college. I am doing well. Get to a show at least once a year...working with the HS band in my town as the music arranger, both winds and percussion, though my 'day job' is in the IT field as a project manager. How are you? ...Mike
I remember singing 'O Holy Name' to the tune of Oh Tannembaum when I was in the corps in the 60s. Does anyone remember the lyrics? I would love to have a copy Once a Cadet always a Cadet. rcesani@comcast.net EDITOR'S NOTE: O Holy Name is still the corps' hymn. It's sung at every function of the Cadets and the alumni. And yes, you bet you're remembered. Check out the photo page. You're in one of the Rogues Galleries. Hope we'll get to see you again soon at one of our alumni gatherings. I'll email you the words to O Holy Name right away. FHNSAB...
Bloomington-Indianapolis: The Cadets' traditional finals-day breakfast will be at their housing site which is a large travel distance from either Bloomington or Indianapolis. It will probably be necessary to coordinate people needing rides and people with room in their cars. I will be staying at the Quality Inn in Bloomington, 1100 West Rappel Drive, 812 323 8846. If anyone would like to pool resources to rent a car for that day, or if they have room in their car for an extra passenger from Bloomington, please contact me. I will attempt to assist others as well if I have internet access in Bloomington. For people staying in Indianapolis, most Cadet Alumni will be at The Westin, so perhaps someone there can volunteer to match people needing rides with people with cars. Anyone who has ever attended one of these breakfasts know how inspirational they are, and how much the marching cadets appreciate the attendance of alumni, parents, and friends. It's a special kind of event with special meaning. Please try to attend.
To Mike Davis: Maybe it is my memory that is failing. After all I am older than you you young whippersnapper. But I think what I should be asking is "Hey Mike, How the heck are you. It has been a long time, since either 1972 or 1975" Can't remember when your last year was. Hope you are well. Take Care.
I did not remember it being taken out (getting old!). I have the World Open DVD of the show, and it is there, of course. The audio CD I purchased at a USSBA band show my band was at also uses the WO show, so that is no help. :-) Might have been for a penalty reason...I have to watch the WO DVD to see just how close the horn line actually was to the end line just prior to the spin. Jim...I am trying to LOSE some of the pounds that I put on since....down 90 the last 12 months...want to lose another 60 over the next 12. It ain't easy at my age! :-) Mike
For those who would like to send messages of support to The Cadets: hopkins@yea.org
I saw the Corps in Warrenton ..nearly a month after seeing them in Chesapeake. The Show has been edited and improved. It clearly takes great playing and marching skill to do it and they're working very, very hard every day to achieve perfection, knowing that's what it will take to win. Parts of the drill are breathtaking! Spirits are high. Holy Name never quit. Garfield never quit. The Corps was always dangerous in the last two weeks. In my interviews for an ABC Radio story I learned that Alumni support matters to them ..a lot. Why not e-mail George Hopkins and let them know there are literally thousands of Cadets marching with them to Indianapolis.
Hey Joe S. Good to see you on the posts...man has it been that long? Also Mike D. what do ya mean 100lb?,,,,,lol :-) I think I caught up by a few. Good to hear from ya.
Mike Davis..1971..Yes we turned and charged back to the stands during the reprise of Yankee Doodle but it was taken out for VFW's. Whether it was a rule thing or most likely the instructors wanted to be sure there was no chance of someone touching the finish line and coming back on the field (can anyone say penality?) I do not know. I do know I LIKED the turn around and wished we did it at Nationals. Always thought it helped make the ending. EDITOR'S NOTE: Lew, if you wish to remain on our mailing list for interim news updates you should clear us on your email block. We purge people with blocks from our list unless they remove the block at their end.
Jim...you and I had about a 100 pound difference in weight...no one could mix US up. :-)
Regarding the reentry...We did a sort-of one in 71...the horn line did a quick turn in the block as Profiles in Courage ended, reprising the jazz part of the Yankee Doodle opener (the bari lead)...spinning again to exit the field when the sops came back in. In 72, I think the actual reentry music was the Mahler's 5th theme we had already used when moving the Peace Sign...we had started the reprise of Sinifonians and then did the quick segue to the Mahler.
George Hopkins has just announced that The Cadets will perform under the name of "Holy Name Cadets" for 2009. Wow! What a year it will be, it will be thrilling to see Holy Name again! I have always thought that George Hopkins is the BEST, and the decision to march the corp under the Holy Name banner just re-affirms my belief in George and all that he has done for The Cadets over the years.
RE: Ed Mura and Art Mura Wasn't Art the drum instructor back in the 60s?? I was in another local corps, the Dumont Police Cadets, and I believe he was also the instructor there. EDITOR'S NOTE: Art was indeed a percussion instructor for a number of corps. He accesses this site fairly regularly, so I will leave it to Art to respond himself.
I have some photos of the Holy Name Cadets from the 1930s. I can send email if you give me an address. I was joining the Garfield Cadets in 1965 when I got my draft notice. By the time I got out of the service I was too old. My dad was the Commander of the Legion post in Ridgefield and used to hire the Holy Name Cadets for parades in the 30s and 40s.
To Don Kolenda: I was one of the many Cadets who helped house the Cavaliers that year (1972?). I housed 2 sopranos, Tom Lotter and unfortunately I forget the others name. Time does take its toll. But I remember their consideration and courtesy while staying at our home in Garfield. I have a photo of the 2 of them with our Guard Captain, Denise Kolbutz and when I chance upon it I remember them fondly. Take Care.
Why do we do this activity? The friendship and lessons of respect are so eloquently captured in link and well-wishes from our friends, The Cadets. The feelings are mutual I can assure you! Thank you. (it was '70 or 71' and we were "guests" of Garfield members in their homes -- a truly fun time no matter what we were throwing down on the field; such cool memories and even better running into a few of those folks over the years, and STILL friendly acquaintances.)
Great Read Dave.......Couldn't top many of those stories.....the years I marched 65-67..... I was in awe of all the top contenders and the three Corps you wrote of, The Cavies, The Scouts and the Troopers actually helped the eastern Corps get over their local predjudices especially as we matured and changed as the years went by.. What amazed me was when I was a young member of a corps as historical as the Cadets, I couldn't imagine being a member of any other outfit. When I joined the Marine Drum & Bugle Corps - there I was marching in the same line with A former Cavie, a RoyalAir, Blue Rock and a Trooper. We also had folks from every drum corps across the country. I guess I grew up and found that all these people had a legend to uphold from their respective musical groups and they certainly did not embarass their home corps of record. It was a pleasure marching with all these giants and many of them went on to teach and help their former Corps.. I am still in awe of these greats but also found a common thread of most folks who have been in one corps or another. They have succeeded by working hard at what they love to do. It certainly is nice to see that these Legends in Drum Corps have survived and are happily celebrating their many years of comradship. I look forward to next year when we celebrate our 75th Anniversary the end of July...I already have it on my calendar. Warmest regards....The Cadets will always be as Holy name shall always be.
Ha! Ed Mura will be happy to hear of his resurrection! :) FHNSAB
Please be advised that Edward Mura's name has been removed from our Rest In Peace Page. His brother Art informed us that Ed is doing just fine and living out in Las Vegas. We apologise for any concern our listing caused to his friends, his family, his fellow Cadets, and to Ed. We posted the incorrect information based on information given to us which we thought came from a reliable source. Apparently we either misunderstood or there was a miscommunication.
Dave: Great article on the Cavaliers, Troopers, Madison Scouts. It brings back a lot of memories from years past. Holy Name Shall Always Be...
Lew your are right .We did the re-entry in 1972 for the first time.It was the Sinfonians. Remember we went off to the far right corner then came back.It was put in sometime after the season started.By the way, hello Jimmy I was the little kid that marched between you and Tommy Betterbed. It was great seeing everyone again! I would also like to thank Dave and some of the other people for getting this rolling.
Hi Lou, Thanks for the hello :-) I really would have loved to be there to see everyone at the get together as well as the show. A big hello also to Lois, Cindi, Patty, Marilyn, Dennis, Margee, Lillian, Ginny, Ted..ok my sister Sandy also....lol..Hope I didnt forget anyone from the pics. I saw cadets this past weekend here in Orlando and loved them. Also a big hello to Dave Shaw and thanks for doing a great job with the site but also making it possible for old friends to re-connect. Thanks Dave.
Patty, drum corps has changed much in the years that we marched...I remember thinking when Bobby Hoffman did the peace sign and everything else, he was a man way ahead of his time....but I also thought that when Santa Clara did the bottle dance, how amazing to create a bottle dance during a drum corp show.....Those men, those creators, were truly ahead of their time....just a thought...
So I went to the reunion and it was wonderful and then to the show. I am of the mind like a few others that the props take away from the show...they were a distraction for me. The narration, not so much... the Cadets are amazing...AMAZING! But I think that big fat prop in the middle of the field borders on the ridiculous. I can accept that drum corps has changed over the years...as well it should...everything has its season, it is good to grow and improve... the new should always out shine the old. The Cadets performance...wonderful...the horn line sounded like perfection to me...so beautiful. Drum Corps has changed so much since I marched and I was pondering when it began to change...who was the first corps to introduce dancing on the filed...who was that corps on the cutting edge...and then it came to me...It was us...we...the cadets. Too funny. If you don't believe me, check out that picture of Tommy Betterbed and Cindi Devivo doing the hoedown in 1970-something.
Regarding a picture in "the Way We Were", did we do Yankee Doodle in 1972? I thought we only did it in 1971. And the reprise was changed drill wise because of VFW national rules (?). I believe in 1972 the reprise was a repeat of The Sinfonians (?)
To Jim VanRomer: hello. We marched together for a few years. The Boy Guard, I believe one would be Rick Marino. Another might Glen Piskerowski (spelling) but not sure. Good to hear from you. Take care.
I played with the Preston Scout House band in 1956. I had a member of the Cadets stay with me by the name of Tommy Sands. Is he still involved with your group? My email is cbellamy@sympatico.ca Thank you and good luck. EDITOR'S NOTE: Cal, Tommy Sands currently marches with the Caballeros Alumni Corps, and we see him at Cadet functions frequently. I will pass along your email address to him. I'm certain he will be very pleased to hear from you.
Hi All,On the photo page titled ( The way we were ) The Cadet in the photo with Steve Tyburczy was Bob Draper ( I cant believe I remember that..lol..) He went on to dance on Broadway in 42nd St. and other shows .The person in the photo with Steve Bodek isnt Mike Davis its Jimmy Van Romer..lol..ME !!!!! EDITOR'S NOTE: Thanks Jim. Now if we can only get the names in that male color guard correct.
Just found this site. I'm sure I'll enjoy it & I was so glad to see our departed friends listed. Greg Handler & I were inseparable! Thanks for having that.
I'm the mother of Cadet alum Phil Perry of Boston and Ed Perry of Houston. I haven't seen The Cadets yet this year and anxiously await Allentown and San Antonio where I'll get my first glimpse of them and the Scouts ( Ed teaches them). Just had to let you know that your news of the Clifton day's events brought back that warm feeling I get when I hear the song. The fellowship of all Cadets is truly a thing to behold!
Wow! The Independence Day weekend Cadet activities sound wonderful! Glad to see the Cadet alums doing well and gaining momentum for the 75th anniversary! :) Our alums who have seen the 2008 Cadets continue to love the corps, but also agree that narration is a distraction. One comment passed on to me about the Cadets: "CADETS - shut up and play - I'm sorry but an NPR show as a Drum & Bugle corps show doesn't work. Narration about breast cancer? The rest of the corps is hot. If they would just stop talking and let the corps play, they would be great.." Just one opinion .. but when the Corps is so great musically, why let ANYTHING detract from it? FHNSAB
Dave, I was unable to attend the Cadets gatherings this past Saturday. Thank you for the detailed summary of the Cadet festivities, it is much appreciated. We have already been making our plans to attend next year's 75th Celebration. FHNSAB
Thank you Dave for your wonderful writeup about the weekend. You made my tears of joy come out!! I love seeing eveyone and being part of the Cadets family. FHNSAB
Congratulations to The Cadets on yet another win at Clifton Stadium on 7/5/08. As always, your precision in marching and drumming and great horn playing showed everyone just how great you are. I sat with a number of alumni and we were all very proud of your performance. Unfortunately, I thought the narration was a distraction from the overall show and the effect of having a "stage" on the field fell short of the mark to be impressive. I noticed that some of the other corps did away with "props" that they used last year such as Carolina Crown with their horse racing items. This year, they had no such items and even incorparated some songs and excerpts that the crowd recognized. I for one would like to see the return of recognizable music from all corps such as the songs The Cadets play during their encore (Danny Boy, Nessun Dorma, and Sing, Sing Sing). I may be old fashion but I know what pleases the crowd and if written properly with some difficult passages, the judges might be pleased as well.
I just attended our 25th anniversary of our first DCI win yesterday. I couldn't have been put together any better!!! The singing of "O, Holy Name" topped off the day perfectly!! I just learned of this site. This is a very classy testament to The Holy Name Cadets. To whoever came up with this site........BRAVO!!! Mark Holub - Percussion Staff, Garfield Cadets 1982, 1983 and 1984
Please be advised that we have a policy against posting messages that do not include your name. We have received two in the past few days lacking that identification. If you do not see the message you sent us posted, that's probably the reason. I am currently sitting on a message regarding the uniform tunic Legion patches that I can't post for that reason. Please add your name (and years marched if applicable) and resend. Thank you for your understanding.
I Have a History / Trivia question for anyone from the 1963 or 1964 years. When I marched in the late 60's and early 70's our right shoulder patch listed the National Championship years. One was 1963. But the corps did not win that year. Does anyone know why it was on the patch? Is there an interesting story or was it just an error in design. EDITOR'S NOTE: Lew, some people viewed a title as running over a year since you were in fact Champions for almost the entire year following the title year. Several times (in both our corps and others); the title year on whatever was printed (or in this case embroidered) was noted as 1962-63. It only happened a couple of times, usually due to the lack of experience of whomever was placing the order for the items.
Editor: In the response mentioning the St. Mary's Star of the Sea Cardinals..Are they the same St. Mary's that ended up with the Holy Name uniforms? EDITOR'S NOTE; Yes. Long story, with no insult or insensitivity intended by them. They had long been good friends of The Cadets, and the way they handled themselves during that very awkward year ensured that our friendship not only continued, but grew even stronger.
Was just wondering if the Cadets were going to be in Maywood, NJ Parade on July 4th along with the Alumni Corps? Thanks for any help! FHNSAB EDITOR'S NOTE: The Cadets are in New England this weekend. On July 4th they will be parading in Bristol (billed as the Nation's biggest July 4th Parade) and I believe in a second parade later in the day as well. They will be competing in Bristol tonight. Yesterday, as has been their tradition for many years, they competed in Beverly...the beautiful home city of our good friends The Cardinals, formerly known as St. Mary's Star of the Sea Cardinals. They have a terrific alumni association, and every year they sponsor a very successful competition in Beverly. Our kids are always treated extremely well by the Cardinals, by the City of Beverly, and by the spectators at the Beverly contest; and our Cadets very much look forward to this New England visit every year.
Hello everyone, Just a short note to remind you that the Holy Name-Garfield Cadets Alumni Corps will be appearing in the Maywood, NJ, 4th of July parade this coming Friday. Statrt time is 9:00 AM. I hope to see you there to to support our effort. FHNSAB...
To Lew Merikas: The DVD video/audio quality is pretty good. The video is B&W , of course. The 71 WO Finals was at night, so the quality is not perfect, but better than I thought it would be given the technology of the day, and not-so-great lighting. The sound is not bad either, though again...not up to more modern standards. It's worth the $15/show to me. The 72 Blue Rock home show, being a day show, is better in quality, and as the Haas family was connected to BR (kids marching there), they got to center the camera! I spoke with Charlie Haas on the phone...he said that he used to sit under the stands with his huge reel-to-reel recorder, and his wife Jackie (just passed away) would man...er.."person" the camera, wires snaking down to the recorder behind the stands where Charlie sat. On the 71 WO recording we started so fast they did not get the first few seconds of the show...maybe 10 or 15 seconds is missing. Hope that helps...Mike
Its great to hear that the corp is having another great year. My name is Charlie Albert and I live in Guelph Ontario Canada. I played with the Preston Scout House in the 60's and the Guelph Royalaires in the 70's. Drum corp is still in my blood to this day ( you'll never get rid of it) as my wife and I love to watch parades and tapes of drum corp shows. All the best to the corp and a great year for every one. Charlie Albert
To Patti Lovas: Good to hear from you. Unfortunately i will not be at the July 5th show. But please give my regards to the group. Have a good time.
I'm looking for two or three photos from the 1967 season to coordinate with a history article we plan on posting on the website. If they happen to be photos taken on July 4th either at one of the parades or at the Union City contest, so much the better. Please contact me at shaw.d.g@att.net if you can help. FHNSAB
Hi John. I was a 4th generation Cadet. My Uncle Tom Adamo, 13 year marching member Holy Name Cadets and Garfield Cadets; when they won the list of the Championships in the earlier years, before the 80's. My cousin Frank Vitrano 60's My brother Jim VanRomer was 8 yrs old, 1963-1973 and I marched 1969-1973. My husband John Kennedy and I will pray for your son and all the other soldiers and servicemen and women. John was a Marine in the Vietnam war 1966-1969. air traffic control special forces. We do understand .. hope to see you at the Mountain Side Inn. I see Patti has been chatting with you. thought I'd say hello.. Holy Name Shall always be.
Looking foward to seeing people on the 5th. It should be a fun filled day. Beth Linkletter McGarril bmcgarril@aol.com
Wow! The Cadets and Cadet alums are having a real blast this summer. Congrats to all who have worked so hard on so many tasks to make this happen. This is a real testament to the true SPIRIT of the Cadets. Best wishes to the 2008 cadets. FHNSAB
Hi John, I did not realize that you were a second generation Cadet., hmm... During every service at the church I attend we pray for our armed forces, for their protection and safe return... it will be a priviledge for me to be able pray for your son by name... by the way, did you know Dan Fogelberg died?
To Lewis, Your welcome. I am good. I will be attending the reunion on the 5th...you? I am not on the yea site...yet. I have a myspace site and a facebook site under my married name Trojanowski, and my email is pattiwho@gmail.com. I have contact with Marilyn, Lillian, Debi, Sandy and Mary Shanley. It would be a hoot if you wanted to join us. No pressure. EDITOR'S NOTE: Patti, if you want to send me email addresses on the rest of the group, I'll put them on our mailing list for interim news updates and announcements of various kinds. shaw.d.g@att.net
My Father is an alumnus (John Louis Schneider - 1940's snare) as am I (1975-1977 bari/contra). My older son, John Louis Schneider, II, is currently at Fort Bliss Texas and will be headed overseas to Baghdad, Iraq in September. Please list him on the Salute section. I encourage all Cadet alumni to pray for ALL of our soldiers, marines and air crew for their safe returns. It is they who have given us the blessings of freedom to allow simple and trivial, yet important to us, activities to continue. Anyone wanting to contact me, I'm listed in Medford Lakes, NJ. Thank you and best regards, John E Schneider (#47). EDITOR’S NOTE: John, all Cadet Alumni extend our prayers and thoughts and gratitude to your son and to you and all your family. Once we receive the photo and information requested in my private message to you, he will be honored on our Salute Page. Stay safe young man, and know that we will be thinking about you, and that we care a very great deal for your well being.
To Patti Lovas: Thanks for the info. How the heck are you? Are you also on the Yea alumni site?
I purchased the 1972 Blue Rock show and the quality is just fine. It is made from a film that is thirty years old but still clear and enjoyable to watch.
To Mike Davis: Thanks for the web-site. It sounds interesting, but can you tell me what you thought of the quality of the recording? The DVD must be made from film that is over 30 years old.
Hi all. I am trying to get in contact with Mr. Shaw. I just got settled in my new condo in PA . I just got my computor set up and I see it is too late to get in on the " all you can eat part before the july 5th. show. My wife and I desparately need to get in contact with Mr. Shaw. If anyone can help us get tickets . He can. My home number is"1-610- 438-4065.
Reading through some of the below is great. For Tom Gallo and Lew Merikas....and anyone else from 71 and 72...www.drumcorpsvideos.com has the 1971 World Open on DVD as well as the 1972 Blue Rock home show. It was taped by Charlie and Jakie Haas, and their daughter Christine now runs the business. Only $15.00 per performance!
I love this site. I used to play with Our Lady Of Lourdes from Paterson ( with the De Old boys. And with the Caballeros(1970-1973), and the Caballeros Alumni(1997-2002). I am still playing the horn. New Jersey had the best corps around in the 50's. Remember Wildwood. Great times!!!!!!! EDITOR'S NOTE: Ron, you forgot to mention that you were/are a truly excellent horn player and a great guy as well. OLOL was lucky to have you as a member. As you noted, we lived in wonderful times.
I was in the Garfield Cadets when we were in Garfield,N.J. Times have changed but our corp pride is still there........1972-74. For Holy Name shall always be...
Member of Our Lady of Lourdes Cadets 1957-1963. Great job. Nice to look back on old time drum corps and also present time drum corps. Have a great year. Looking good at Hawthorne 's Memorial Day Parade. Editor's Note: Thanks Joe. We have many, many greqt memories of OLOL.
Garfield, you still have a great corps; remembering you from yesteryear at the "Dream" contesting 1st place with Blessed Sacrament, St. Vincents, et. al.. As we were competiting with Hawthorne, Skyliners, Archie, and Norman Prince. Keep up the great work! Jim Harkins, Reilly Raiders 1959-1966; a.k.a. "The voice at the 'back of the bus'" Now retired at Sun City Center, Florida; visit my webpage: www.irishmatryoshka.com EDITORS NOTE: We too remember; The great, exciting, creative, innovative Reilly Raiders will never be forgotten, and the Reilly Alumni Corps continues to excite and entertain. The past is what made us what WE are; the present is providing new memories for others after we are long gone. Thank you for your kind message.
Have to agree with Cadet Clayton ... the non-military style of marching is NOT pleasant. The return to the GOLD trim DM uniforms is great! (Maybe the maroon trim could be used elsewhere?) LOVE the HNC Cadet shoulder patch! It is great to maintain the link to the beginnings of the Corps! Best wishes to the Cadets. FHNSAB
Hey you the babe in the DM uniform. Ya wanna fall in love? EDITOR's NOTE: Don't worry Brittany. He's harmless. Now 55 years ago...maybe!
They look spectacular. I'm sure it makes you very proud to see the Holy Name patch on it. Hope to meet you and all the rest of my fellow alumni this summer.
I do too. Nothing like the good old uniforms.
Hello everyone They look great! I just love the orginal uniforms the best (old school)
WOW!!!
WONDERFUL!
I am in total awe Dave. What a smart move bringing back the gold.
I almost cried. Just read that patch. For Holy Name shall always be...
Wish I had been there at the Legion on Memorial Day. Unfortunately I had family commitments. Sounds like it was a very moving day. I heard that when you guys sang "O HolyName" that you got a standing ovation from the kids! Fabulous!
I spoke with Bill Ridings today and the both of us will be having dinner this Sunday in TX. I am being transferred to Austin in the next month. He was my first drum instructor and also my sponsor when I made my confirmation a life time ago. I am really excited to see him again. We spoke on the phone today and were sharing our drum corps experiences. He and I are now practicing for a possible debut with the Alumni Corps. Anyway thanx for all your doing and God Bless you. EDITOR'S NOTE: Good luck in the great state of Texas Tom. Time to start a Cadet Alumni Chapter out there.
OUTSTANDING...and with the Holy Name Cadets Garfield NJ emblem: VENERABLE
Its about time if they decided to go back to gold major uniforms. Thank you.
Thanks for sharing these pictures! Good to see that Holy Name and Garfield are both incorporated into the traditional patch.
Has anyone else noticed the Holy Name patch on the shoulder? , Or am I just seeing it later than everyone else. When I marched we had the Garfield patch on one shoulder and National patch on the other. EDITOR'S NOTE: It's a brand new addition this year Lew to honor our history and heritage. For Holy Name shall always be...
Report on the Caps for Cadets Alumni Initiative: To all my fellow Cadet Alumni donors to this wonderful program; I wish you all could have been present in Hawthorne on Memorial Day to see the way in which your gift was received by the 2008 Cadets. They were obviously touched beyond measure to know that we all care so much; and the "thank you" responses just never stopped coming. It was also due to your overwhelming generosity that we were able to provide pizza and beverages for them after the parade. As said, I wish you all could have been there physically to share in the moment, but I can assure you that your spirit was very much present. So I would like to be the bearer of the message expressed to me by every single 2008 Cadet. "Thank you alumni. We feel so honored." For Holy Name shall always be...
Hi Dave: Thanks for a look at the new drum major uniforms. The female major looks very nice. "New" to me means they returned to the original gold trim instead of using the burgundy color originally worn by the color guard captain and sergeant. I could not tell whether the braid is fake like on recent uniforms, which I thought was awful. Hope it is not. I did notice that when standing at attention their feet are together instead of the traditional military 45 degree angle. We would have been gigged for that. Doesn't look good in my eyes. Whose idea was it to change, and also to lead with the right foot instead of the left when marching? I blew my trumpet (military marches) in Fairfield, CT on Monday. Lots of fun. Regards to all, Gene
Dave, Thanks for the DM pics, they look great!
Dave, outstanding. As always, our DMs look sharp. Bob
Hi Dave, Dee Dee here. I can't be there this weekend, but have spent the past few camps with them preparing and fitting their uniforms. Often times it is the people behind the scenes that don't get to see the ooohs and aaahhhs of the first outings of the season. I'm sure they looked sensational, and well....what else would you expect. I hope to see you during the season, and I do want to tell you that you and the rest of the organizers of the Alumni Association do an awesome job of bringing all Cadets, regardless of age or era together in a wonderful appreciation of each other. If there is ever anything I can do from my sewing/design world to help out, please let me know. EDITOR'S NOTE: Thank you for all you do for The Cadets. What you do for them, you do for all of us. For Holy Name Shall Always Be, Dee
What are the requirements to try out to be a drum major? EDITOR'S NOTE: Terrence, the best thing to do is to contact the Cadets directly for that information. Their website is www.yea.org. There is a section called "Ask George" which is where you post questions to the Director, George Hopkins. There is also a forum where you can ask questions. Good luck.
Can't wait to see a Senior and Aiumni Corps some day for the Cadets. I'm afraid that those great days of patriotic M&M might be lost forever. Moving foward is agood thing, but remembering what got us there should never be lost and foregotten.
CADET ALUMNI NEWS UPDATE, WED., MAY 21, 2008 - ADVISORY: We apologize for the lack of Holy Name website (www.theholynamecadets.org) updates the past few weeks. Both our webmaster and myself have been dealing with various health issues that have forced us to put things on hold temporarily. Hopefully we’ll be able to resume regular updates shortly. |||Christen Juel asked me to remind all alumni who haven’t yet voted for their Cadet Hall of Fame preferences that they should do so immediately. The deadline is this Friday, May 23. You are permitted to vote for seven of the nominees (only one vote per nominee). If to date you have only voted for one or two of the nominees, and you wish to utilize your vote allotment by voting for others; you may do so by emailing or calling Christen Juel, christen@yea.org 610-821-0345 X24. You CANNOT register these add-on votes through the website. The system is not designed for segmented voting. You can, however, do so by contacting Christen. Good luck to all the outstanding nominees.|||This Monday, May 26, Memorial Day, The Cadets will appear in the Hawthorne, NJ Parade (parade kicks off at 1:30 PM). Following the parade the alumni will be distributing the caps generously donated by alumni contributing to the caps-for-cadets alumni initiative. Due to the generosity of those contributing,we will also be providing pizza and beverages for the Cadets at American LegionPost #199 (top floor). ALL Cadet Alumni are invited to join us for this event, and to have the opportunity to meet our 2008 Cadets one on one. We expect that the Cadets will be at the Legion sometime between 3:30 and 4:00 PM. The parade ends right around the corner from the Legion Post, and permitting time for the Cadets to change out of their uniforms, 3:30 – 4:00 PM is about as close an estimate as we can provide. Please access the Legion through the back stairway. Other sections of the Post will be in use by other groups.|||This Sunday, May 25th, will be our first opportunity to view the 2008 Cadets at their “An Evening with the Corps” on- stage presentation at Springfield HighSchool, 49 West Leamy Ave., Springfield, PA (Delaware County), 8 miles from Philadelphia International Airport. The concert includes the Cadets, a big-band ensemble with many current and alumni Cadets participating, and other musical groups. The concert begins at 7:30 PM (tickets $10), with a 5-7 PM reception preceding the concert (tickets $25). Go to www.yea.org to order your tickets, or telephone YEA at 610-821- 0345.||| Thursday, May 29th, the new Cadets Alumni Corps will be rehearsing at the VFW Hall in Garfield, 340 Outwater Lane, beginning at 7 PM. Rehearsals are being held every two weeks. Additional information can be obtained by contacting George King (Gefreki@aol.com) 201-207-7266, or Pat Vazquez (Patrick.vazquez@alpharma.com) 201-317-5805. Instruments will be provided for those that would like to test their perhaps rusty skills.||| Have a wonderful summer Cadets. Enjoy your journey! For Holy Name shall always be…
Next rehearsal of the new 75th Anniversary Alumni Corps will be held at the Garfield VFW Hall on Thursday, May 29th, 7 PM. The VFW Hall is located on Outwater Lane near the intersection of Midland Ave. For additional information contact either George King, (Gefreki@aol.com) 201-207 7266, or Pat Vazquez (patrick.vazquez@alpharma.com) 201-317-5805. Instruments will be available for those wishing to see how rusty they've become. That's 7:00 PM, VFW Hall, Outwater Lane, Garfield, Thursday May 29th. The current plan is to hold rehearsals every 2 weeks. Give it a try. You might remember how much fun it used to be.
Holy Name was great, and because of that made St. Vinnies (Bayonne) as great or even at times greater. It is only when you play "next" to talent when your own talent rises to the challenge of the competition, and the quality to meet or beat your competition. Holy Name supplied that catalitic agent that made all around you as good as we all were. Hail to Holy Name. EDITOR'S NOTE: We in turn thank St. Vinnies, and all the other great corps with whom we have been privileged to share the field of competition over the years. As you remind us George, none of us would ever have reached our potential without the challenge provided by our competitors. Our memories remain strong, and our respect and admiration undiminished. Thank you for reminding us all that rivalry doesn't have to involve a lack of mutual recognition of excellence.
Lew M just received the cd and it sounds great thanx again
ALUMNI CORPS MEETS TONIGHT: Growing interest in formation of a 75th Anniversary Cadet Alumni Corps seems to be taking off, as more and more alumni are expressing an interest in participation. The first official rehearsal will be held at 7:30 this evening, May 15th, at the Garfield VFW Hall, 340 Outwater Lane, Garfield. If you’re curious you’re invited to stop by to see for yourself what is developing. For those interested in taking the plunge, instruments will be available, as well as assistance in redeveloping those skills many of you haven’t called upon in many years. This project is all about having fun with old friends and fellow Cadets of all generations. Come on down and join the party. Additional information can be obtained from George King (Gefreki@aol.com), Greg Cinzio (gjcmedical@aol.com), or Pat Vazquez(Patrick.vazquez@alpharma.com). I’m told you don’t have to be a Cadet Alumnus to be a part of the 75th Anniversary alumni corps.
Hey Phil, I am here. I check the HNC website every day, never thought anyone would be looking for me! :) There are a lot of things happening with the Cadets, but most don't need MY comments. Here is a comment: I have admired the Cadets since the time I started in drum corps.. that was 1958. FHNSAB
Hey, where is David Borck? Is he on vacation now? :) Hello Dave
Tom..Just FYI. Put it in the regular mail Friday.Hope you enjoy.
CADET ALUMNI FAMILY PICNiC, SATURDAY, MAY 17TH, 1-4 PM. WALK-IN s ARE WELCOME! KIDS WELCOME (HEATED POOL WILL BE OPEN). SHARED COST: ADULTS $20 PP, CHILDREN 12 & UNDER NO CHARGE. FOOD, BEER & SODA ARE INCLUDED. YOU ARE WELCOME TO BRING WINE OR SPIRITS IF YOU WOULD LIKE. ALL ALUMNI, FAMILY, FRIENDS, SUPPORTERS, CURRENT MARCHING CADETS, AND STAFF ARE WELCOME. DIRECTIONS: John Hannigan jjhanniga@yahoo.com Here are directions to the lake house. ADDRESS: 8 Point Pleasant Road, Hopatcong, NJ (not Lake Hopatcong, the town is "Hopatcong" - Lake Hopatcong is a different town). DIRECTIONS FROM THE EAST:80 West to Exit 28 - Lake Hopatcong. At bottom of exit ramp, you get onto Landing Road, (Stay left at the fork 100 feet from bottom of exit ramp). Go approx 1 mile to end of road (traffic light), Make LEFT onto Lakeside Blvd. Go 1 block past the 3rd traffic light to Cove Road. Make a RIGHT onto Cove Road. Follow as road winds and then goes up a big hill. At the TOP OF THE HILL, you will see tennis courts on the left, Make a LEFT onto Point Pleasant Road. Follow as road winds down to lake. Cove Road makes a hard left turn approximately 200 feet before m. y house. 8 Point Pleasant Road has a line of pine trees out front. There is a driveway on both sides of the house, (STREET PARKING IS NOT PERMITTED). My neighbor on the right side of the house will allow us to use his driveway also. DIRECTIONS FROM THE WEST: 80 East to Exit 30 - Howard Blvd, Mt Arlington. Make a LEFT at the bottom of the exit ramp onto Howard Blvd. Go 100 yards and get back onto 80 West. 80 West to Exit 28 - Lake Hopatcong. Follow as per above. Call me if you get lost, 201 988- 0243. GET READY FOR A DAY OF FUN AT THE LAKE. SEE YOU THERE! DON’T FORGET THE CADETS’ WINE TASTING FUND RAISER THE FOLLOWING DAY, SUNDAY, MAY 18TH, 4-8 PM. THERE ARE STILL OPENINGS AVAILABLE. GO TO www.yea.org to reserve, or call Caryn Goebel at 610 821 0345 X21. DO A MAROON DOUBLE HEADER AND DOUBLE THE FUN. SEE YOU THERE!!
LEW THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!! BY THE WAY IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ANY OLD RECORDINGS THERE IS A WEB SITE CALLED www.preserveourcorpsmemories.com Check it out. I bought quite a few recordings from this site including the 1st show of the 1971 season in Bridgeport in which the crowd went crazy after the peace sign formation.
Tom: The recording appears to have worked. Will send it to you soon. Take care
Cadet alumni corps rehearsals begin! And a NEW chapter in Cadet history is begun! Wow! Best wishes! FHNSAB
This is excellent. Enter your zip code at the site below, and it tells you which gas stations have the lowest (and the highest) prices in your zip code area. It's updated every evening. [http://autos.msn.com/everyday/gasstations.aspx?zip=&src=Netx Be a good Cadet and pass this along
Cadet Alumni Corps rehearsals will begin at the Garfield VFW Hall. The first official rehearsal will take place on Thursday, May 15th, 2008 from 7:00 - 9:00pm. Kindly bring your instruments, if you have them, as we will begin working on Stars & Stripes. Thanks. GEORGE KING
REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE FROM ANY 1991 CADET From: John Bland bland.john@oneeyedmonster.tv I am a documentary maker here in London, England. I am currently making a short documentary on a man named Gary Powell who is a drummer in a rock band called Dirty Pretty Things. In the documentary he speaks of being one of your Cadets. Although Gary did not specify a year, I would guess he was with you in the late 70's - early 80's. I write to ask if you might have a photo of Gary that I might include in my film, and if not perhaps an image of the Cadets from that era would be great. I cannot offer you any money as I am making this film for passion, however I will put a link to your site in the contributers section of the site when it launches. Thanks you for reading my mail. Looking forward to your reply. Kind and best regards, John Bland. EDITORS NOTE: John: Gary Powell marched snare with The Cadets in 1991. I believe he lived in Birmingham,GB at that time. I am forwarding your request to our alumni website, www.yea.org. The Cadets’ Alumni Coordinator is Christen Juel, christen@yea.org. Perhaps she might be able to help with your request. I will also post your request on the visitor's page of our website, www.theholynamecadets.org Perhaps someone who accesses our site will have the photo you need. Good luck with your project, and our regards to Gary. Tell him For Holy Name shall always be… he’ll know what that means.
Thanx Lewis. If it is possible to get a copy to me send it to my home address: Tom Gallo, 2409 W Darrel Road, Phoenix AZ 85041. I hope to see you next year at one of the 75th celebrations
I have an issue (personal problem if you like) with any "Hall of Fame." I don't care if it's Holy Name's or "The Cadets of West BumF*#K". In this area, our Drum Corp's success was due to the combined effort of ALL Cadets involved. It doesn't matter what year, or if a National Championship was attained; each year's Corps made an indelible impression on the lives of each Cadet involved. Yes, there were some Cadet's who excelled, some were excellent musicians, some were excellent marchers, some were outstanding leaders, some were just always there when you needed them. And yes, some of them were outstanding pains in the ass, but they ALL were a part of that groups' success. The point I'm trying to make here is that I'm not terribly interested in voting for any of the current people nominated, but what I am interested in is HONORING ALL of the original membership of 1934, because without all of their efforts, NONE of this would be happening today. I don't want to single out any specific individual, because NO INDIVIDUAL was responsible for our collective success. it was our Corp's combined personality and accomplishment that we need to honor. I'm sorry if this seems disjointed and unreadable but I'm just venting a bit and thought I'd pass on my 2 cents. Charlie Sydoryk for Holy Name Shall Always Be..............
Tom: Of course I remember you and those others. I will try and see If I can burn you a copy of that album. I think it is us, Blue Stars and 2 of the Canadian Corps. I am not great with computers though. Some one was kind enough to put it on CD for me. I will let you know how it goes.
Hello Lewis do you remember the Gallo clan I was in the snare line with Lou Reda, Pete Calabrese and Steve Cherichella. i was wondering if you have a copy of that recording I've been looking for one for years. If you have would it be possible to burn a Cd of it for me ? I would really appreciate it
Hello to all. Reading the comments, I see someone mentioned the 1971 season. Ahhh, the 1971 season. Of all the years I marched it was my favorite. Of the recordings I have from the years I marched the 1971 Shriners is probably my favorite recording.
To Ken Shedosky; While I appreciate the fidelity of the new sound, I'm not sure that it makes the same impression on first time viewers as the full screen image of Dave Shaw's picture and the shorter time it took to download the music. The experience was awesome, the best home page in the Drum Corps World.
To John Hannigan: Thanks for the invite to the picnic(beer fest) and orchestra seats to the Speed Boat races at Lake Hopatcong. You know you're getting old when the last time you went to Lake Hopatcong was to drink beer and watch the submarine races ; ) . However, given the strip search requirements at the airports, I'll probably just sit on the beach here in Oceanside, CA. and watch the Great Whites devour the surfers. Seriously, hope you all have a great time and see you at the 75th! Make sure you post pictures, especially any of Paul Wall falling(getting thrown?) in the lake.
FYI : Just for all who care, Audbon,N.J. is famous for not only a great all female Drum Corps (the great Bob Bons) but it also has the honor of being the home of the most Medal of Honor winners, three, making it the highest per capita Medal of Honor city in the U.S.A. HNSAB for all who remember and care.
I am old enough to remember the greatest off the line music.The William Tell Overture.HI HO SILVER !!!
Dave: Wow! That's an amazing story (loss of Michael Lichtenberger). Sounds like he was an original Cadet. All of our condolences to the Holy Name family from your cousins in the Cavalier Alumni Association. We had a camp this weekend in Indy for the Anniversary Corps (2008 is The Cavaliers 60th Anniversary) and have been QUITE consumed with that and things are going well...so far!! I see that you guys are planning to start up a small corps for your 75th next year, sounds very similar to our own Classic Cavaliers. I wish you the best with that and look forward to seeing them next year.
As always, excellent job. Commitment, effort and creativity always pays off. Keep up the good work. Best of luck to Ryan Tinker and all his fellow cadets.
Tom Gallo, Our drum instructor spoke about that 32 count roll for many years after. He still runs drum clinics with former drum corps buddies at area high schools and has incorporated a lengthy roll in some of their demonstration exercises. Your line was surely the inspiration. Thanks for sharing this.
Robert P Doyle I was one of those Cadets who competed in that show, and I remember your drum instructor came down while we were forming for retreat and was sharing his admiration for the 32 count drum role our snare line played during the song Chester. I was one of those snare drummers, and I would like to thank you for the walk down memory lane.
Just a note regarding the French translation of the expression FHNSAB. It obviously came from a software program and the result obtained and posted on the Holy Name web site comes out in French as "Always Be a Holy Name". Being part Francophone and wholly Catholic, as well as a former legal translator and interpreter turned prosecutor, may I offer the following corrected French translation: CAR LE SAINT NOM SERA TOUJOURS... I am a fan of the Cadets since 1971 when my little Canadian corps got hammered by them in Fairlawn NJ at a show where, despite this, Cadets corps members treated us with respect and courtesy, contrary to Blessed Sac and some of the other corps present. I am also a member of the Maroon and Gold Club. Allow me to offer, in closing, my compliments on the site's graphics and impressive (and extensive) content. The entire alumni phenomenon of the Cadets is unique to the activity, in my view... Robert P. Doyle conseiller spécial du directeur des poursuites pénales Special Advisor to the Director of Public Prosecutions Service des poursuites pénales du Canada Public Prosecution Service of Canada 2347-284 rue Wellington Street Ottawa ON K1A 0H8 613-952-0267 fax: 613-954-2958 robert.doyle@sppc-ppsc.gc.ca Gouvernement du Canada / Government of Canada EDITOR'S NOTE: Thank you for the correction on our software French. It's very much appreciated, as are your comments on the 1971 interaction between the Cadets and your corps. We thank you as well for your support of The Cadets as a member of The Maroon and Gold Club. All Cadet Alumni have a very special place in our hearts for Canada and Canadians, based on the many kindnesses shown to us while visiting your Country over the years, and the large number of young Canadians who have worn the Cadet uniform and become an important part of our heritage and history.
Just found this Great spot, I was part of the Connecticut crew that came down in the winter of 1980, about 25 of us. Man it was a long hard winter... 20 horns, 15 drums (sometimes) and a small guard; but by spring we knew it was going to be something wonderful. When the group from the south came up it was a full corps, and a great season!! So many good times and so many friends. I'll have to read all this comments next time . Joe Natale marched in the horn line in 1981 I 'll always miss you Joe R.I.P. EDITOR'S NOTE: Great to hear from you Cadet. Be sure to register so we can send you interim news updates and announcements. Thank you for notifying us about Joe's passing. He is remembered by many. For Holy Name shall always be...
David Welch, our all-time hero Cadet, just posted this message he received from the 2008 Blue Stars' mellophone line on his website, www.38lemon.com The Cadet Alumni would like to express our sincere appreciation to the Blue Stars for this kind gesture. The Blue Stars are a class act, and have always been a class act. "The Blue Stars' Mellophone Section asked to make you an honorary member of their group. So, you've got at least two corps to root for this season. Stay well & know you remain in many people's thoughts & prayers. Your friend, Scooter." "I laughed and smiled out loud What a moment! Here was this signed t-shirt from a drum & bugle corps called the Blue Stars. I know Scooter because we have worked together on a book publication in 1994. That 1994 book was later republished with expanded materials in 2006. It is called The Middle Horn Leader 2006 and is available on amazon.com. For Scooter to pull a stunt like this out of nowhere is just tremendous. And this entire mellophone section and their instructors to join in as they have. I must say, the impact is pretty damn special. I will not lie for a second. Folks I know, too When I looked at the Blue Stars staff this year, some of the instructors I know well. Donnie Van Doren was our brass instructor back in the 1984 Garfield Cadets, Marc Whitlock and I marched together in the 1987 Garfield Cadets, and Eric Sabach and I marched together in 1984 and 1985 in the Garfield Cadets."
On the subject of class acts, this notice just posted on the Norwood Park website by Dave Borck speaks for itself. Thanks Dave and Thanks Norwood Park. “Help the Cadets. The Cadets are a drum corps we have admired (and also competed against) for many years. Some of us have made good friends among their members as well. They are very good maroon friends! They were also very kind in adding a tribute to the Norwood Park Imperials on their alumni web site. The Cadets will be in the Chicago area this summer as noted - 1. June 25-26, practice, laundry and some free time in the area. Site tba, 2. June 27, contest in Racine, 3. June 28, major DCI contest in Madison at Camp Randall stadium (20 corps), 4. June 29, contest in Naperville, IL (Cavaliers show). Perhaps we can give them some help while they are here? Some ideas for volunteer help might include donating some special food or beverage treats for the corps, help on the food truck for a day or more, be an area guide to assist in any way necessary, etc. Or, just stop in to say hello and offer good wishes and support. Christen Juel would be the person to contact relative to all these possibilities. Christen is their alumni-volunteer coordinator (Christen is a 2000 era Cadet alumnae). Contact christen@yea.org, 610-821-0345 X24. Also see the Cadets website, www.yea.org The Cadets will also be in other areas of the country during the summer and Imperials alums might want to help at some other sites too. Such as Orlando, FL, Ypsilanti and Belding, Michigan, Houston and San Antonio, Texas. Best idea, just contact Christen and ask where the corps will be. Tell her what help you might be able to offer.”
To Phil Kowalski....and all Cadets of all eras....Da music.....Da music... Close your eyes ....lean back and listen to Da music. You are taken back to Aug. 1957, The Dream Contest, Jersey City, N.J. The opening fanfare on the home page has been replaced with one of enhanced audio quality. Enjoy. FHNSAB
I just wanted to advise everyone that we have a page on our website, www.theholynamecadets.org, called "Personals." It can be accessed by selecting the "About Us" option on the menu bar at the top of the page, and then selecting "Personals" on the page. Health updates on Ray Cappicilli, Tony "Bart" Bartello, Marie DiDomenico, and David Welch have just been added. This page is designed to be used for any information on Cadets or their families, or friends of the Cadets, that your fellow Cadets should know about. That could be about illnesses or more cheerful news like weddings, anniversaries, births, christenings, graduations, or other personal events. This is your website. FHNSAB...
To: Tommy Sands. Thanks for clearing up the 1958 Cadet repertoire for me! I had MOST of them, but I missed "Always and Forever" and "The Thunderer". "The Angels Sing" sounded better in 1958 than 1957, (opinion ). Shangri-la was great out of concert too .. almost like another "off the line". A great program .. with great music. You are right, most corps programs now don't have great stuff like that.
I would like to take this moment,to wish all the Cadets from Holy Name, Garfield, Bergen County, to The Cadets of today, a warm thank you for a history of tradition and music that cannot be touched. As I came across this site, which stirs emotions of passed friendships and good times, I am happy to see that the alumni is finally on its way. I was a member of the Garfield Cadets in 64-65, and an alumni member in 92-93 or 95. I just want to say good luck. I do hope to attend some future meetings. The corps meant a lot to me in my youth. What I learned in my short time carried thru my four years in the Marine Corps,69-73, and my 29 years as a Federal Police officer in Wash.D.C. with the United States Capitol Police. You see, I protected that same building you perform on in this introduction to this site, in 1954. While not in contact with the corps over the past years, my memories flashed back to me on two occasions when I ran into Bill Gaeckle. Once when I was loading horns and bugles into my aircract,for the U.S. Marine Drum & Bugle Corps, in Wash. D.C. at Andrews AFB. I was a crew chief and taking the Corps somewhere for an event. I talked to Bill. Then one late afternoon, on the west front of the Capitol during the 4th of July concert, I was on duty in the VIP area and I again ran into Bill Gaeckle. It was nice to see Bill and remember my Garfield Cadets. I did get to see the corps at the Univ .of Maryland,I believe in 2000. I would just like to say, good luck in 2008 Cadets. PS, If any of the following former Cadets would like to call me, such as the following; Danny Panessa, Charles Sydoryk, Bert Summers, Gerry Armstrong, Gene Klaus, John Hultz, Ken Samara, Carl Samara, Bob Davidson, Bill Gaeckle, Reggie Miller, Bob Philhower, Randy Dalrymple, please do so. Contact me at home,301-868-0614 0r email me at choochoo681@msn.com. I would love to talk to you all. FHNSOB. Ron Kaptur
Words cannot express my sincerest appreciation and gratitude to all of the people that have given and continue to give a part of their lives to the Cadets...past, present, and future. Thank You everyone for sharing the love in your heart for the maroon and gold tradition!! Having grown up in a drum corps family where mom, dad, brothers, and sisters marched, the Cadets became our extended family and will be for generations to come....For Holy Name Shall Always Be...!
The glory years years for me were during the late 70's. We Aleman brothers; (Tony, Steve "the kid," and myself) were rehearsing in Hawthorne as part of the Muchachos, when one day the Director of the '79 Cadets came by to recruit members for the Cadets. We were actually among the last of the Muchachos before they folded after their last parade.....we were sold also on going to Disney world! Heck, we were soooo young, and Steven was like 13 years old, and he immediately made the snare line...unheard of in these days...but.we were blessed to be there at a point when Garfield was close to folding as well...but in one year, as we recruited members from the South, we began our ascent towards being a future powerhouse in 1980. I left for West Point in 1983, but my brothers were lucky enough to have several years left to reap the rewards of those early years, and all the hard work we put in forming a killer corps that would revolutionize the activity...and bring many World Championships to the Cadets..........Michael Aleman, Tympanist , 1980-1982. Editor's note: You did us proud Michael! You and your brothers are mentioned often wherever and whenever Cadets gather to share memories. Please register both on this site and on the www.yea.org site (alumni association section) so we can reforge the bonds and keep you updated on alumni news. FHNSAB...
FOR DAVE BORCK, WHO ASKED ABOUT THE 1958 MUSIC THAT WAS PLAYED. FANFARE, MELANCOLY SERENADE, INTO SEMPER FIDELIS OFF THE LINE. NEXT WAS ALWAYS AND FOREVER. OVER THERE WAS THE COLOR PRESENTATION. AFTER THAT WAS THE THUNDERER, (MARCH) THE CONCERT WAS AND THE ANGELS SING FEATURING, DON ANGELICA. COMING OUT OF THE CONCERT WITH SHANGRILA (FANFARE) INTO MARCH OF THE SIAMESE CHILDREN. WAY DOWN YONDER IN NEW ORLEANS WAS NEXT, AND WE WENT OFF THE FIELD TO GOODNIGHT SWEETHEART. I HOPE THIS HELPS YOU OUT DAVE. KEEP LISTENING TO THE OLD STUFF, THEY DON'T PLAY MUSIC LIKE THAT ANY MORE. TOM SANDS FOR HOLY NAME SHALL ALWAYS BE.
Hi All. Just came across the site. Please add Edgar (Manny) Columb to the DM list. Manny and I were the DM's from 1980 to 1981. My years should read 1980 to 1983. FHNSAB! Editor's Note: Tony - we will correct your years, and the spelling of Manny's last name. As you probably saw, we have some great photos of you, but none of Manny have been received to date. If you're in touch with him perhaps you can convince him to send us a few. Nice to hear from you.
Long time Cadet fan and Rocco Carbone's uncle.
Some sad news to pass along. I've just been notified by the Van Houten Family that Nellie Van Houten John Baumfolk's sister passed away on March 3rd, peacefully in her sleep. She was 94. For those unaware of the some of our earliest days, the corp members practiced in the basement of John & Nellie's Aunt and it was Nellie who encouraged her younger brother John to bring them over and to hone their skills as musicians. I met Nellie only last June at her home in Fullerton, CA. when I first met John Baumfolk, our first Drum Major. That Sunday afternoon picnic we shared was highlighted by stories from both John & Nellie about those earliest rehearsals. Those are now treasured memories. John is taking Nellie's passing pretty hard I am told and the family asks for your prayers for him. Isn't it strange and wonderful that two of the key people in our history were named Nellie? I would further ask that at Thursday's meeting the Corp sings "Wait Till the Sun Shines Nellie" for our first Nellie.(with no disrespect Aunt Nell) For Holy Name Shall Always be............... Charlie Sydoryk
Dave: The Cadets tribute to Norwood Park (and vice versa) has been very popular with our alumni. They appreciate the tribute to our corps. Our alums were reminded of the fun they had with Cadet friends over the years. (For example, 1963 was fun for many of us .. me included!). They have also been reminded of the RESPECT that they had (and still have) for the Cadets. These are all great results of the Cadet website and our interchanges. I hope that the Cadet alumni are also enjoying this. Having said that, I hope that you and the other Cadet alums attending the GATHERING tomorrow have a really great time! Great food, great memories, camaraderie and plans for the future work to be done! I am so impressed that I might even stop at 7:30 PM here in Chicago (8:30 there in "da East") and hum the melody to your Corps song. I'll be there in spirit. :) With some envy of you, I might add! Dave B
Da music....da music.....wha happen to da music? Have we just loused up the best home page in the drum corps world?
Your corps extended friendship to us like no others on our eastern trips. Our matching "colors" are remembered as well. George Andros Norwood Park Imperials Chicago '62-'66.
Here is a question for Cadet alums from the 1958 Corps. Can you tell me the names of all the songs in the 1958 program? I have a fine tape of that show, but can't place all the tunes.
Father of Greg Handler "Rest in Peace 79-81" I am pleased with the recognition of Greg's time with the Garfield Cadets. His Mother, Pat and I, toured as drivers, cooks, souvie sales, several times during and after his time with the corps; However, the dates of his corps time may not be correct. His first year 1978, his second year,1979, it was necessary for him to leave in the middle of the tour, then he marched again 1980-82. His Mother and I were both in Montreal when the corps placed 3rd. Dr. Santo, following the show, came to our bus and announced he was stepping down as Director and was passing the position to George Hopkins. To this day we support the Cadets, and see a show whenever it is close to home. For Holy Name Shall Always Be... EDITOR'S NOTE: Greg is always a part of the Cadets, and whenever you see the maroon and gold on the field please know that he is there. We are very sorry for your loss. The date correction will be made to reflect his correct marching years with the Cadets. Thank you for calling the error to our attention.
Message exchange between Michael Terry, Sr., a Cadet Dad, and George King, a Holy Name Alumnus. Michael: In response to your inquiry. We're here to help each other. Once your son Michael put on that maroon and gold he had more brothers and sisters going all the way back to 1934 than he could ever dream possible. You can E mail me anytime I can provide help or information. George King I can assure you that Michael Patrick is very proud of the Cadet heritage of which he is now a part. Particularly this past summer, he bonded with Cadet Alumni from many eras and was always excited when relating to me the occasion of meeting another brother or sister from years gone by. I was personally on hand in Pasadena when original DM John Baumfalk was the guest of honor on DCI Finals morning breakfast with the corps. I saw the looks of awe and respect on my son's face as he shook hands with Mr. Baumfalk and he realized at that time more than any other just how deep and storied the history of his Cadets was. And as the father of an 8 year member, a volunteer, and fan - I could not be more proud of my son and the corps as well. All the Cadets before him are more than my son's brothers and sisters - they are his heroes. Michael, Sr.
As an old alum of the Norwood Park Drum and Bugle corps, later the Imperials, I wish to thank Holy Name for the great tribute to Norwood. In the recent past my wife and I have attended several DCI championshiops. As always I get goose bumps when the Cadets take the field. I was in Norwood from 1948 til 1952. I will always treasure those years. Once a corps member you can't get it our of your blood. Thank you, Holy Name....
To Fabian and Buddy: deeply sorry on the loss of your dad...the Izsa family always were and are still great supporters of the Holy Name tradition...FHNSAB
My Grandfather was in the Holy name Colorguard and both my parents marched in the Garfield Cadets, im so proud to have such a lineage of Cadets history in my family. I hope that i may one day be marching in the Cadets just as proudly as my Grandfather and parents did.
I was part of a small Jersey shore corps in the 50s and dreamed of joining Holy Name when I was old enough to drive. Sadly ..I went to college in Glassboro ..and the drive would have been nuts. I did, however, follow Garfield through the 60s ..used to bend Hugh Mahon's ear and he was always gracious. Met and admired Don Angelica and wrote two or three stories for the Asbury Park Press when major contests were held at the local high school stadium. Reading the history on this website ..while listening to Fleetwoods great recordings ..adds color to all of those black and white pictures I took of you guys winning. I especially remember the 60 state when Vinnies figured they'd make their return to the top ..we'd watched them rehearse early that morning in a field just off the parkway. (I think their drum major was in the Duprees singing group). I am a Benedictine ..nearly became a Franciscan ..but knowing what happened to the Cadets ..really was a factor in my decision not to go brown. The "new" corps is fantastic ..but ..my heart and ear still love the 50 and 60s Holy Name/Garfield Cadets. For this monk ..Holy Name shall always be.
Hello David: What a wonder history lesson you have posted about Garfiled and Scout House. My Father Wayne King was in Scout House from 1958 to 1960. I am always looking for old stories about his Glory years! My Father recently passed away so I am unable to hear the stories from him any more so it is wonderful to be able to still learn a bit about his past! Thank you! P.S. Garfield Cadets were alway one of my Favorites when we used to go to DCI's (My Father also marched with the Royalaires.)
NORWOOD PARK MEMBER 60-68 HAD A LOT OF GOOD TIMES WITH YOU GUYS WHEN YOU CAME TO CHICAGO.
I regret to inform you of the loss of Fabian Izsa, Sr., father of Cadets Fabian Izsa, Jr., and Mark (Buddy) Izsa. Mr. Izsa supported the Cadets with his time, , his talent, his resources, and his hands-on work, for many years. He is remembered with gratitude and thanks for all he gave and for the inspiration he provided. Visiting hours will be at the Wozniak funeral home, 80 Midland Ave., Wallington, NJ, today, Feb. 18, 2-4 PM and 6-9 PM. There will be a Mass tomorrow, 10 AM, at The Church of the Most Holy Name in Garfield. We have lost a great friend of the Cadets, a war hero, a loving husband, father, and grandfather, and a man of honor and principles.For Holy Name shall always be...
To Fabian and his family I am very sorry to here about the lost of your father. It was an honor to know your father while in the Cadets and after leaving the corp.
I just now read and printed a hard copy of the article on the Norwood Park Imperials. Having marched from '53 until '59 as a soprano bugler I found myself fighting back tears as I read. Thank you so much for publishing "our" history along with yours. I was honored in July 2007 to be enducted into the "The Buglers Hall of Fame" and continue to play as American Legion Post 66 of Griffith, Indiana Official Bugler. It must be my Pomeranian or Prussian ancestry, but the sounds of drums & bugles still excites me; I love it. God bless us one and all. To bad the New York Macy's Parade ain't what it used to be! The senior corps still perform with unbelieveable excellence. A number of us, Norwood Alums from the 50's, try to stay in contact although we are spred from coast to coast. We long for the days when only field instruments were used without amplification. As an off shoot of corps I've been singing with the Northwest Indiana Symphony Chorus for 16 or more seasons. Having grown-up in Chicago, I've been a Hoosier for 36-years now, so welcome DCI to Indianapolis in 2008. I hope the new stadium is conducive to drums & bugles; the previous one wasn't. A word to the wise, remember Pianissimo, we used to call it shading, works best in a closed stadium. the smaller corps actually have better a chance, since the large corps cancel their on sounds. Marching bands copied corps, now they are trying to chance corps. Oh well, I marched when we still had lots of fun, worked hard and enjoyed other activities as well, and it didn't cost us or our parents lots of money. Thanks for the "Soap Box". Keep on keeping on and Hail to Maroon & Gold!
Thank you for thinking about the Imperials and putting us on your web site. The picture of the corps from the 50's were the golden years of the activity. Much has changed but I look back fondly at that era. My 13 years a member of Norwood made me a better person. Best to all Cadets and their families.
I'm a former member of the Norwood Park Imperials. Marched in the 60's.I saw your story about Norwwod on your web page. Really appreciate your comments about our corps. I root for the Cadets as have fond memories of competing with a first class organization. Thanks.
Wow! Many thanks to the Cadet alumni for the warm tribute to my corps, the Norwood Park Imperials! Many NP alums have fond memories of the Cadets through the years. We hope that YOU never have to endure the pain that we experienced in 1985, when our corps folded! FHNSAB
Hi Dave.....Great website.......I just found out about it........looking forward to the next get together in March.....
This is GREAT!!! Hope to catch up with people! Glad to be here! Looking froward to the 2008 season!
Thank you so much for that wonderfull article on my band Scout House and the then Garfield Cadets. I was in the 63 Anniversity show and fondly remember marching out of that giant birthday cake and our band singing as we came out. I also remember traveling all over Kitchener selling those tickets for 75 cents each. Finally I remember finding out after the show that my fly was open for the whole thing which my sisters girl friend pointed out to me. 45 years later I am wearing those tight shorts again in our Alumni Band. Garfield was the best and well rememberd by us.
I Ijust got word that Marie DiDomenico is in St. Joseph's Hospital in Patterson. She fell down her basement steps and has a fractured fibia. She will be operated on tomorrow or the next day once the swelling goes down. After that she will be going to a rehabilitation center to get back in the swing of things. Cards and best wishes can be sent to her home. They will be picked up by family members and given to her Marie DiDomenico 14 3rd Street Elmwood Park, N.J. 07407 I am sure she would greatly appreciate it!
hey guys i would love to be in touch with those that remember me (i'm easy to forget, but i'm not easy) 214-202-4803 that's my # . cadet '72-'73
Best wishes for a great meeting this week, with lots of fun and excitement. You all have a lot to look forward to over the next two years! It will be great fun. :) FHNSAB Dave Borck
Hello Holy Name- It's been great to see many posts from ALL Cadets - and especially from those I knew from the 50s and 60s. We need ALL the contact info we can get and this is a special request to PLEASE contact me at bill.actonhall@gmail.com and provide your name, home address and email address. Without this information we can't keep you informaed about future plans as we work toward the 75th Anniversary (2009). Planning is in progress and we hope to tell you more in a few weeks. Check back on this website for more information. FHNSAB... Bill (1952-61)
Your 3 part Scout House commentary honouring the band was 1st class and humbling. You said all that without getting paid for it? =) Note: The 1st pic. in your /63 reunion, with Garfield & SH facing each other was from /58 not /63. (It was my pic., that i gave to Mike Young) Cheers, gary mcmillan, percussion: 56-58
Hello Cadets: So many of you have sent me messages in the past few hours inquiring about the Mass at the Church of the Most Holy Name for Cadet David Welch, I decided the best way to respond to all your questions would be through a general e-mail and a posting here on our website. Thanks to everyone in attendance, and all those that sent emails informing us that David was in their thoughts and prayers today. Thanks too to the many Churches around the Country and in Canada where special prayers of healing for David were included in their services. It was a bitterly cold day here in North Jersey, which did affect attendance to a degree. A number of Cadets planning on attending were knocked out of the box by illness or transportation problems. We did, however, have an impressive turnout of Cadets from various eras; traveling in from western New Jersey, the Jersey shore area, and the Cadet's Camp near Philadelphia. Two former Directors, Doc Cinzio and Ed Frenzel, and two former Drum Majors, Walt Taormina and Greg Cinzio were in attendance. Holy Name Church is quite beautiful, and we were warmly welcomed "home" by the parishioners and the Church Pastor. Most of us had not visited Holy Name Church in 50 years. The Pastor of Holy Name celebrated the Mass, led prayers for David, and acknowledged our presence several times during the Mass. Just prior to the recessional the Holy Name Hymn, directed by Greg Cinzio, was sung inside our founding Church for the first time in 50 years. A number of Cadets were emotionally overcome as they sang, and the symbolism of the moment overtook them. After Mass we gathered at the altar for a photograph to be sent to David. Fortunately Megh Healy had the presence of mind to bring a camera. Thanks Meg. I know that our small group at Holy Name was only a part of a much larger group that participated in many different areas in many different ways; as we joined hands and bowed heads to pray for the healing of our special and much-loved Cadet, David Welch. For Holy Name shall always be...
Hi Dave, Basil Nosal (Holy Name Color Guard 51-55) checking in. First of all-thanks to Phil for finding us and then to you for an awesome web site. The site brings back lots of wonderful memories of fellow cadets, boosters, instructors and contests, etc..By the way I am also married to a Dot (Schrank) Nosal for 50 years. Keep up the good work.
Hi Dave: Buz Sadloch here, member of the Cadets (Color Guard) from1961-1963. My sister, Dot Nosal (married to Mike Nosal, 1959-62 - Color Guard), sent me the link to the website. I'm very happy to learn of the site and would like to be on whatever list you have for that period of time. My Dad (also Emil Sadloch) was president of the boosters both during the Holy Name and Garfield Cadets years. We may have some photos somewhere that might be interesting additions to the site. I'll see what I can dig up. I'm curious about the Kenny Samara reunion pictures: he was drum major when I was involved. I also recall his brother Carl. I know I could not recognize any of the people in those pics. We have aged, haven't we? So please keep me apprised of the activities. And good luck with the site and your efforts. Best regards, Buz Sadloch. (Editor's note: one of the best parts of this job is being able to reconnect with Cadets from earlier years. This week we were particularly lucky to have both Mike Nosal, and now Buz Sadloch, contact us. Welcome home guys...you were missed!)
Mike Nosal & Dot {Sadloch} Nosal mikenosal@worldnet.att.net I was with the Cadets 1958 -1962.they were GREAT years. (Editor's note: They were great years because we had great Cadets like you. Welcome home Mike. We missed you. Do you have email addresses on Buzzy or Basil?).
TO ALL CADETS PAST AND PRESENT, MEMBERS OF THE CADET FAMILY, CADET FRIENDS, AND THE DRUM CORPS COMMUNITY. Many of you are aware that one of our own, Cadet David Welch, 1984-87, has been waging a heroic battle against an unforgiving and fearful disease, brain cancer. His battle to date has been prolonged and difficult, but he has never permitted himself to accept the role of victim. David is a fighter...a fighter who has managed to touch and inspire people around the world through his example and through his website, http://www.38lemon.org Now his battle has entered a new and far more difficult phase. David needs us to stand with him as he submits himself, beginning this week, to medical treatment that will be neither pleasant nor easy. He will be waging the fight of his life. We are asking those of you living in the North Jersey area, whatever your religious affiliation, to attend the 10:30 AM Mass at the Church of the Most Holy Name in Garfield this Sunday, January 20th; to join together in prayer for the healing of this very special young man. Those of you living outside the area are asked to pray for him or think of him in your own way next Sunday. God bless David Welch. For Holy Name shall always be...
Just got finished reading the articles on Scout House. Boy, does that bring back a lot of memories. Dave you did a great job on the article. I still remember the Scout House guy marching out onto the floor while the corp was in concert formation, and putting Bobby Sands shako back on his head when it fell off . I understand it made the local paper the following day .
My name is Mike Engelhart and I marched in the Garfield Cadets from '75-'79. I was the best of friends with Mike Dewey. You can put him down as marching from '72-'77. The Deweys moved to my neighborhood in Bay Shore, LI, in 1971. I became friends with Mike, then quickly became part of the Dewey familey.They took me to my first show, and then drove me from LI to NJ to rehearsals for three years. I spent many trips from Bay Shore to Garfield in the back of Dennis' car listening to stories about you (Dennis loves details), Paul Wall, John Tokar and many others who are now a part of my history. Thanks for the time and effort you put into the website. Mike Dewey and George Hilger were roomates for many years. ‘If there is a Drum Corps Heaven, I'm sure they have a hell of a baritone line.' FHNSAB...
Hi Corky. I'm in the Caballeros Alumni Corps. We have some people from Canada in the corps, and one of them sent me the photos from that paper, (I think that was tommy sands)? FHNSAB...
I came across your website while surfing for some drum corps info. I noticed two names on your REST IN PEACE link that I recognized. I went to Pope Pius HS in Passaic and played football with George Petrencak and Bill Sipos. They and I were also Garfield residents. I know Bill graduated Pope Pius in 1959 and was a Cadet member. The following link will provide some more info on Bill Sipos: www.virtualwall.org/ds/SiposWG01a.htm The website is public with information about the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, DC. It is dedicated to the memory of those who gave their lives serving our country in Vietnam. I am proud to have known Bill Sipos as a classmate, teammate, and friend. He was the best of the best. My brother-in law and his brother, Gary and Ray Scarpa, marched Holy Name in the late '40s and early '50s. I lived a couple of blocks from Garfield Stadium and was taken to many practices by my sister to check out the snare line. My son and daughter marched together (2001-2005) with Pacific Crest here in California. My daughter is now in her third and age-out year with Carolina Crown. I have toured with both corps as a volunteer and I have no doubt that Drum Corps members will always be among the best of the best. Kenneth Kilgus Moreno Valley, CA
Hello all, My name is Alfredo. I am an alumni , marched in 1992. I was wondering if anyone has a video from the early season of that year like June or July?
fantastic job, a little before my time in drum corps. , but as a member of scout house alumni, the feelings are still there
Best wishes to All and a big thank you to Dave Shaw and George King for all your help with the meetings this past season. Happy New Year we should all try to meet at the Cadets show at Giant stadium in 2008 ? For Holy Name Shall Always Be.
Best wishes to ALL Cadets for a very (maroon) Merry Christmas and a great 2008! Keep the spirit alive. FHNSAB
Dave Shaw....Thanks for the marvelleous article on Scout House...my era. Am now a member of the Alumni Band and looking forward to performing at the Dream Festival in 2008.
Excellent Scout House article in your History section. Although not an original member, I am a snare drummer in the Scout House Alumni Band. I remember my mother taking me to a show at York Stadium in Toronto around 1960 to see those suntaned knees. Thank you for being so generous with your comments. The original members that are still marching with the Alumni will be truly impressed.
The Cadet alumni website just gets better and better! Congrats to all.
All tax-deductible donations can be sent directly to the CHA through their website www.centerhouse.org or by mailing contributions to: Center House Association - Truman Crawford Fund, P.O. Box 6663, Arlington, Va., 22206.
RE: Truman Crawford Donations. Please recall that Col. Crawford wrote the musical book for the Cadets in '67 & '68 and did do several stints as an Special Instructor for the Hornline during those two years. Can any of us from 67-68 forget those intense sessions with Col. Crawford? Especially the day of the '67 CYO Nationals? Several small rewrites and multiple changes in phrasing throughout the show and we went from an 8th place at the Am Legions to 4th place and a placement OVER Truman's own Royal-Airs(something we hadn't done since '63!). I can still recall seeing Truman and Jimmy cheering us on from the finish line as we exited, Playing "Go'in out of my Head". BTW, I've got the video of that show and we were GOOD! (and Hughie Judging Backfield had nothing to do with the placement) Bill, I'll be sending in my donation.
HOLY NAME CADET JACKET ORDERS: George King is about to place a new order. He believes, but cannot guarantee of course, that if the order is submitted within the next week he should have the jackets shipped in time for Christmas. If you would like to have one of these gorgeous jackets, act now before it's too late. Go to the order form on the MERCHANDISE page on this website: www.theholynamecadets.org Print out and complete the order form (or just provide the information requested on the order form on a separate sheet of paper), and mail it WITH YOUR CHECK to George King at the address shown on the order form. If you have any questions George can be contacted at: Gefreki@aol.com If you are submitting an order, advise George by E-mail that your order and check is on the way so you are not left off the current order. Everyone should own a Holy Name Cadet jacket. When you wear one you become a part of maroon and gold history. For Holy Name shall always be...
A welcome to all new 2007 Cadet Ageouts. There have been a significant number of new alumni registering for our mailing list. Welcome to the rest of your life as a Cadet! We hope we get to meet you personally at some or all of the events you see listed both in our E-mail news updates and on this website: www.theholynamecadets.org The only thing you might have a hard time getting used to during gatherings-of-the-maroon is the way we sing The Holy Name Hymn in traditional fashion. Not to worry, we have some great Cadet Drum Majors conducting. You did us proud in Pasadena!
The Cadets and The Marines: The Cadets have had a partner relationship with The Marines for a number of years now, and we view all Marines with the respect and admiration they deserve from all Americans. To express our sentiments one of our Alumni, Bob Philhower 1963-65, a proud Marine and a proud Cadet, has agreed to handle a very special project. He will be sending out a letter from the Cadets' Alumni to all Alumni of the Marine Drum and Bugle Corps, The Commandant's Own, expressing our thanks and admiration for the job they do in representing our Nation and the drum corps activity wherever and whenever they appear. Bill Gaeckle 1965-75, another proud Marine and proud Cadet, and a former member of the Commandant's Own, is the administrator for the Marine D&B Corps' Alumni contact list. Bill both marched and taught Cadets, and his Marine service, as well as Bob's Marine service, do us proud! Bill Gaeckle has informed us that the Marines are currently raising funds for a portrait of Col. Truman Crawford to be hung in a newly renamed Crawford Hall at the Marine Corps Barracks in Washington, DC. John Phillip Sousa is similarly honored by The Marine Corps. Colonel Crawford is a very famous drum corps icon, and this honor to him is indirectly an honor to the entire drum corps activity. If you would like to make a donation or would like additional information you can contact Bill Gaeckle at: bcgaeckle@yahoo.com, Or you can obtain information directly from Marine Headquarters: http://www.centerhouse.org/Col_Crawford_Portrait_Donations.html
THIS THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6TH, 7:00 PM, THE VFW HALL, OUTWATER LANE, GARFIELD. THE LAST GATHERING OF THE MAROON FOR 2007. DON'T MISS IT!!
My name is Andrew Barlow. I was a member of the Cadets quad line this past summer. I have a question and favor to ask of the Cadet Alumni. I would like to make a video montage of the Cadets' quad line through-the-years. I am Hoping that perhaps some of you could possibly assist me in this project by loaning me photos and/or video, or information you might have of the quad line through the years. I have footage and pictures from 2000-present, but I would really like to get some material from earlier years. I do not know if you are aware of it or not, but we quads call ourselves the "QB" which stands for Quads of Bergen. This name became official in 1992, there are documents and everything...it's really awesome. So if you have any photo or videos of Cadet quad lines, from 1992 to present (or even pre-1992) I would really appreciate your help. I will also be contacting Scotty McGarry, since I know he has a lot of photos? I am working under a deadline of December 5th. The project must be completed by that date. Thank you so much. If the video turns out well I would love to give the alumni a copy. Thank you so much...I hope to hear from you soon. If you have any material that I could borrow, please send it to preachaboyinmotown@yahoo.com. Andrew Barlow, a proud 2007 Cadet, a proud alumnus, and a proud QB ‘07. For Holy Name shall always be...
Dear Cadets Alumni: The 2007 Cadets are celebrating their extraordinary season and want you to be a part of the festivities. The corps is holding its Annual Banquet from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Renaissance Philadelphia Hotel Airport on Dec. 9, 2007. Members of the Maroon and Gold Club are also invited to a Private Reception prior to the banquet from Noon to 1 p.m. in the Liberty Room. Don't miss this wonderful opportunity to connect with Cadets from across the years, and congratulate the most recent corps for their amazing performance of their program "This I Believe," which captured the Silver Medal at DCI World Championships in August. See the attached invitation for more details, then go to www.yea.org to RSVP for this memorable occasion. http://www.yea.org/site/R?i=Hs2a0zt_gi-p4jJDPg9COw.. For specific details on the 2007 Cadets' Banquet and the Private Reception, contact Caryn Goebel at caryn@yea.org, or by telephone at (610) 821-0345, Ext. 21. For Holy name shall always be...
CADET ALERT! I am in need of some help, if possible. In 1968 I was the first double-bass player marching Cadets, and from what I remember, I was the only double-bass player in drum corps. Our great instructor, Danny Raymond, Uncle Joe (our great quartermaster), and I, constructed them by hand for the 1968 season. Other corps came on-board and began using them in 1969. As I recall in 1968, either in a Spring or Summer issue, I was featured on the cover of Drum Corps Digest . I used to have a copy of that issue, but just prior to my Father's death he asked to borrow it. He was extremely proud showing it to his friends and bragging about his son being a member of the famous Garfield Cadets. After he passed away, I was never able to locate the magazine again. For the past 5 years my wife has been trying to locate a replacement copy of this treasured memento for me. My wife does online research and found an article about the Racine Kilties of 1967 written by Dave Shaw. I contacted him, but he wasn't able to help. This is very important to me, to remember my Dad, and pass on to my family. If there is a fellow Cadet out there, or a visitor to this website who could help me to locate a copy of this issue of Drum Corps Digest, I would be extremely grateful. Thank you in advance for any information or help you might be able to offer. For Holy Name shall always be... Randy Dalrymple, 1964-71) gr8swammie@aol.com
I've been watching the guest book threads and have another recollection of the reunion in AC. It's 1 am and a die hard assemblage of Cadets are populating the oval bar at Trump Mariana. Artie Mura sits next to me, looking many years younger than his age. I remind him that, in 1961, we would go to early mass at St. Phillips in Clifton, then walk over the hill to his home where he would tutor me for hours in preparation for the VFW individuals coming up in August. This time I express my eternal gratitude by buying Artie a Heinekin. Thanks ever so much Artie. Back at the bar and a few minutes later and we are joined by Arties "older" brother, Al. I witnessed an amazing transformation in the Atantic City Convention Center when Al was asked to lead the enitre assemblage in singing the Holy Name Hymn. We are in the stands at attention, eyes focused on Al. His well travelled frame approches the podium and we see him once again assume the posture and composure of a 19 year old Cadet Drum Major. He leads us in a graceful, but commanding way as we all regress back to a better day and time. It's all we can do to keep a dry eye. Thanks for the memories, Al. Back to the bar again, I buy Al a drink to celebrate our commaraderie. It's now 2 am and I'm ready for to call it quits. The Mura brothers are still going strong. I am now soooo looking forward to the 75th reunion. I hope I can keep up with the Mura brothers.
Best wishes to all Cadets for a very Happy Thnaksgiving! Give special thanks for the revitilization of the Cadet alumni activity across all eras! This is wonderful to see! FHNSAB
Dave, do you remember the Shriner's show in 1971? I remember you relaying to the corps the chill you felt when the hornline executed the descending chords just before we hit the crowd with the peace sign. Then there was the Garfield parade in 1970 when the drumline was just a bit lazy and you let us know about it . I could go on for hours walking down memory lane, but I have one very important thing I'd like to say. I was born to be a Garfield Cadet. Every time the Corps takes the field I remember how many hours I spent each and every day to make the snare line as good as it could get, and the total gratification and pride I felt every time I put on that uniform. There aren't words enough that describe the totality of what it means to be a Cadet and for that I will be eternally greatful. Sincerely Tom Gallo
Hey, where is everyone? Are all Cadets on vacation now? :) Hello Dave!
Dave Borck, I was surprised and gratified to read your comment about the distinctive difference of gold and maroon between our DM’s and color guard captain’s uniforms. Recently at our monthly meetings and at our recent reunion celebration in Atlantic City, I had been expressing my disappointment with seeing the DM uniform changed to a maroon sash and braiding. I also shared this with a current staff member of The Cadets. When in Holy Name, in addition to believing we had the smartest looking uniform in the world, I too always admired the distinctive contrast of gold and maroon between the DM and color guard captain. The telepathic waves between New Jersey and Illinois must be active. I appreciate your comments and questions about our uniform. I hope The Cadets organization will give serious consideration to Al Mura’s recommendation. FHNSAB
Fran, I marched with Jimmy and fondly remember your Dad, Uncle Joe. I hope you know that he was a second "father" , a second conscious and a trusted elder to many of us in the Corp. Mr. 'A' like Aunt Nell was one of those "fixtures" that tied the Corp's past to future Cadets. We were truly "Blessed" to have Quartermasters and Quartermistresses that cared as much for each individual Corp member as though they were their own. Charlie S.
I knew Fran Adamo. She was a classmate of mine. Too bad we didn't Have any girls marching with us when I was a bugler. She would have made an outstanding Cadet.
My memories of the Holy Name Cadets and my Dad (every one knew him as Uncle Joe) will stay with me and my family forever. The Cadets of Garfield were the honor of the city of Garfield. My brother Tom Adamo, my son Jim Van Romer, and my daughter Sandy were also in the Cadets.The memories of those wonderful years will never leave us.I now live in Ft Myers,FL. and I am honored to sign your guest book. Fran Adamo Stagg
Al, I couldn't agree more with your statement about the Drum Major and Color Guard Captains returning to their original uniforms, furthermore I"LL EVEN PAY FOR THEM!!!! George. Actually, I recall making this offer once before.
RESPONSE to the question from Dave Borck about the Cadet's Drum Major and Color Guard uniform colors. Al Mura, one of the founding members of the Cadets was kind enough to provide the following information: "The Holy Name Cadet uniform was chosen in 1936 whereby the DMs would be in white with gold braiding and gold sashes and the Color Guard Captains would be in white with maroon braiding and sashes. I am proud to have been one of the members of the committee that chose the West Point style of uniform. Indeed, it remains one of the most elegant and respected uniforms in the drum corp world. I would like to see our DMs and Color Guard Captains go back to the original color combinations." Sincerely, Al Mura FHNSAB...
Thanks for posting the pictures. It was fun walking down memory lane.
The Cadet uniforms are (rightfully) judged as one of the BEST corps uniforms ever created. The use of contrasting colors for the guard captain and drum majors is an important element of the total design. However, besides contrast, is there any special significance to the design of their uniforms? There is no explanation of this on the DM photos segment of your website. As many of the viewers are not Cadets, we are "in the dark". Do the "senior drum major", "junior drum major " and guard captain " (if they indeed even HAVE a guard captain anymore) have specified uniforms? That is (maroon or gold sashes, plumes, etc). EDITOR's NOTE: Dave, thanks for your compliment and for your inquiry. I have forwarded your question to Al Mura, one of our founding members, for a definitive answer.
Great site. thanks for all your contributions. ALAN CHEZ 1978-1982
David; You have done a job for all of us that no amount of thank you's can ever come close to expressing the joy, pride, exultation of again being a Cadet of the Holy Name Cadets. I think back to 1954 when I came with Al Fulvi from St. Francis in Clifton, and thank my God Almighty for the privilege, and His Grace to have allowed me to number myself a Cadet. For Holy Name shall always be...
Just like the Holy Name Cadets, this website is the best of all on the Internet. Especially now that the home page comes up with the MP3 sound promptly, and fades into the background gracefully. And, of course Dave Shaw's picture of the Corps on the steps of our Nation's Capitol remains the most spectacular of all the Drum Corp home pages. Just to let you guys know that someone recognizes the updates that keep our web site the best. Another reason that Holy Name Shall Always Be...
Dave....Kudos to your work and your dedication to the Maroon and Gold. There is nothing like the Cadets across the country, and you have shown great spirit in keeping all of the former members together. This is no small task as I have had to try to keep the Marine Drum Corps former members in touch over the years. Many members go unnoticed as they are MIA or "Missing in Action" It is not easy to keep up with former members as they traipse across the country to new addresses every few years. Let me know if I can be of service to you with the member list I have compiled over the years. SEMPER MAROON & GOLD.....Bill Gaeckle 1965-76 EDITOR'S NOTE; Bill, thanks for the kind words and offer of assistance. We're always looking for "lost" Cadets, so any alumni addresses you could provide would be a big help. FHNSAB...
1958 Cadets: I recently listened to my tape of the 1958 Cadets, recorded at the Dream that year. Seems to me that "out of concert" for that year was "Shangri-la" fanfare, followed by the "March of the Siamese Children". Next was "When My Sugar Walks Down the Street". While the music was great and the brass was excellent .... marching was also solid ... MY favorite element of the corps was the drum line! I was a drumner too:) 1. They had a GREAT sound with their drums ... good tuning. 2. The style of their arrangements (use of snares and tenors, etc) was great ... very different from the midwestern style. It was also somewhat different from other eastern corps, such as BS and St. Vinnnies. 3. The drum line also achieved a higher level of rudimental drumming than most corps.
Wow! The "Memoirs" segment in History is great!
My father was a quartermaster with the Cadets and, my brother, Butch DeMaria, played the bugle. I married Fred Yarosz (the Ghost), who played drums. Fred and I had 2 beautiful children. and now we have 5 beautiful grandchildren. Going to the contests to watch the Cadets compete was the greatest time of my life. Just watching them step off the line gave me chills. We are all in our 60's now, and we still talk about the great times we had. Thank you so much to all Cadets for such wonderful memories ..Jackie
Hi Dave, Just to say I enjoyed the Reunion in AC; just haven't been on the internet to let you know how much it meant to me to see some of my old friends that I had the privilege of teaching in the late 40's and early 50's. Thanks to you, Bill Kardash and all the other committee members that made this a very memorable occasion. Thanx to all of you. I'm having my 9 children and 17 Grandchildren this weekend, starting Thurs. nite. Sorry to miss the meeting at the VFW on the 4th. Regards to all my friends. Al Mura FHNSAB
I am thrilled that after all these years you still remember us. I look forward to seeing your salute to our band. There are some wonderful memories of our bands together. Thank you. Scouthouse Alumni
The Atlantic City reunion of the 1957 National Champs was as awesome as the actual performance. Returning to the floor where we performed brought tears to my eyes, and I'm sure a lot others. I specifically looked for the Steel Cover over the underground pipes,but it was covered by seats. I wish I could take credit for stopping the Color Guard on it on purpose,but it was purely by chance as I was trying to make sure there was room for the exit from the Company Front. Once we hit it everyone to a man realized that it was Viberating and the crowd was chanting "HIGHER- HIGHER" As each squad crisscrossed and hit the company front it magnified, and the crowed roared. What an inspirational boast it gave us. Holy Name Shall Always Be TG
Thanks to Patrick Zampetti for the nice comments about my contribution to the Cadets Drum Lines...I certainly enjoyed working with each and every drummer that I marched next to or attempted to instruct during my short term or "15 minutes of fame" as they say in the business. I would have enjoyed having you as a member of our 76' line and I am a bit sorry we missed out on learning from each other over the years. I understand that you had a lot to do with the first DCI championship lines and that can never be taken away from you and you can always be proud of those accomplishments as I am most proud of having the first Cadet Drum line in the 1975 DCI Finals. I have to thank Hugh Mahon, Jim D'amico, Ray Cappicelli, George Tuttle, Frank Dorritie, John Tokar and all the folks who pushed me to become a drum instructor when the Corps had no money and needed almost all former members to pick up the pieces and keep things going during those lean years. I would be embarrassed to tell you how much money I was paid and we didn't have all the tech folks of the current lines today. I am talking about 1 to 2 folks per caption if that. The members in the lines did a lot to push the members and I do admit being proud of Bob Dubinski as our drum sargent...He made quite a name for himself over the years with the Bridgeman and Star of Indiana as well as other corps and bands throughout the country. It is a good feeling seeing students be successful in this medium but it is also great to see my former Cadet drummers become good citizens of the this great country. They have taken all the lessons learned as a Cadet and have applied to their daily lives as did the first cadets of the Holy Name......Never forget where we all started......we will always win in our endeavors if we keep in mind these wonderful basic teachings. GOD BLESS ALL CADETS FHNSAB Bill Gaeckle 65,66,67 member 72,74,75,76 instructor.....I must also thank Dave Shaw for this great web site -Semper Maroon & Gold
Bill Gaeckle completely understates his important contributions to the Cadets. His drum lines were great and his players had the utmost respect for him. I regret that I missed being a part of his lines by 1 year...it would have been an honor to march in 1976 with the Garfield Cadets, regardless of their placement in the eyes of the judges...I can still hear the impactful opener like it was yesterday. Work ethic has been a cornerstone of the Cadet Experience....a quality that has helped me to this day.
I have a question for anyone who knows anything about the founding of The Cadets. My grandfather tells a story often about how his father wrote drill for the cadets in the very early years of their founding. He says fathers name was John Henry Zimmer I am very interested in finding out if this story is in fact true. If anyone knows anything please email me at stpdz01@moravian.edu. Thank you so much to anyone who can help, Peter Zimmer
What a great feeling as I saw pics of Paul S, Jimmy D and Dave S. Haven't seen them in 50 years. Missed not seeing Johnny Gangale, Charley Brandenburg and Louie Bannanas..... Paul McGann and I ( from St. Annes) always loved to go to Holy Name's practices in "GAHFEELD" to listen and learn...
Peter: I have forwarded your request for information to two of our founding members. If they are able to assist they will contact you directly.
In my dotage I get somewhat emotional when reading things like all your words about the reunion and looking at all the photos. Jeez there was Billy Kemmerer and Chick De Vito and so many other familiar names to go with the unrecognizable faces. Makes me really wish I wuz there. Now that I am retired and can sleep in for the rest of my life, instead I am wide awake at 5 AM and must get up to pee and can't go back to bed and get a few more winks, until about 10 AM when I tend to fall into a nap sitting up. I rarely remember dreams except during these naps when I sleep so lightly and snap awake in broad daylight. The other day I actually had a realistic dream that I WAS at the reunion, seated at a table on the floor. In the dream, George Hopkins grabs the mike from you and growls "Where's Phil Kowalski!?!". I imagined that he had found my website. I immediately jump up slamming the chair to the concrete floor with a clang and bolt for the exit. Then I wake up. Such realism must have come from your words. EDITOR'S NOTE: Phil, you WERE in Atlantic City, you and all the other Cadets unable to be physically present for whatever reason. You jumped off the pages of the photos spread out on the memorabilia tables at the Trump Marina and Boardwalk Hall cocktail parties. You hovered over the arena at Boardwalk Hall as you were remembered fondly by so many of those "unrecognizable faces," in conversations at table after table during the grand banquet. We could hear your voices mingled with ours whenever we sang Oh Holy Name. You were there my friend. You will always be there. You are a Cadet! We are Cadets! We are one! For Holy Name shall always be...
Cadet Kowalski is a hoot! He must have been great when in the corps! You have to love him!
I wish I could have made the 9/12-14/07 reunion. Maybe in 09. Is there anyone out there with some music from that 1957 contest? Hey Bill Kardash thanks for the letters and the info. How come there was no mention of the paper drives in Garfield,and delivering phone books to raise money? Keep up the good work. For Holy Name shall always be... EDITOR'S NOTE: Great to hear from you Frank (Butch). It would be even better to see you again. If you can make it, we'll be at the VFW Hall in Garfield on October 4th at 7 PM for our monthly gathering-of-the-maroon. Don't forget also to register on the ABOUT US page on the website so we can keep you updated on what's happening.
I just viewed the pictures from the Atlantic City reunion and was incredibly moved. While I probably didn't know the majority of those present, I certainly knew enough of them to bring me back to my earliest memories of drum corps itself. Bill Westdyke for instance was the drum instructor for the Little Falls Cadets in the early 60's . I had the pleasure of his tuteledge when I was finally tall enough to march in that corps at age 11. Then Jimmy D'Amico and Hugh Mahon, both great directors with vision. Jimmy D for bringing girls into the guard in 1969, and Hugh Mahon for breaking the mold in 1971, and bringing the total-show concept to the field. I can go on for hours just from seeing once again these incredible people. All I would like to say for now is God Bless them one and all for all that they have contributed to the activity, and most of all to the legacy of The Most Holy Name Cadets. FHNSAB...
Garfield was always my favorite corp, and when I see the Cadet uniform today, (exactly the way I remember it from the 60's), I still lose it. It's quite a paradox that a corps that clings to tradition via the uniform, has thrown tradition out the window during performance. That being said, I was at Pasadena this past August for DCI and I saw the Cadets perform twice.....when they aren't talking....the hornline plays MAGNIFICENTLY. Unbelievable talent! EDITOR'S NOTE: These comments were written by a former member of Norwood Park and the RA Alumni Corps. They were forwarded to us by a huge friend of The Cadets who is also a Norwood Park Alumnus (Norwood Park was a highly respected corps from Illinois, and because of our shared maroon identities and mutual respect, a special friend of the Cadets). You can access the Norwood Park website via our LINKS page.
Dear Cadet Alumni, it is with great joy and pride that I read the reports and view the photos from the gathering in Atlantic City. Oh it hurt not to be there. Being a member of the corps and working as a Cadet volunteer is one of the great joys of my life. To have the privilege of knowing each of you, and to have marched with you is a treasure. I raise a toast to you and the Corps that is pride and excellence. See you at the next meeting. Boy I would have loved to seen Mrs Kardash, Father Rock and Bill Kemmerer Jr. FOR HOLY NAME SHALL ALWAYS BE...!
Fellow Cadets!! I regret not being able to attend the reunion in Atlantic City, but we all have priorities. My brother attended and got the same joys I had at renewing all of the brotherly friendships and esprit de corps that we all had while being active cadets. As I approach 60 years and can remember very clearly beating BS in Fairlawn in 1961 and the thrills we all had in working hard to be successful. It was fantastic and a large part in my success in the military and in life. I hope to make many more local reunions and stay as active as a Cadet Alumni. Best regards to all Cadets wherever their lives have taken them!!
John Hannigan told me about this site during the Summer, but I really never thought about it until Bill Gaeckle, my bother-in-law, reminded me about it this past week. It's a great site. We needed something like this to keep the everyone in touch with whats going on. I joined the corps during the winter of 1966 and marched with the corps during 1967 and planned on 1968 until other things started to happen in my life. I have kept my hands in drum corps. I have been judging since 1969 and I'm currently the DCA Brass Caption Head and I taught the Plebes and the corps from 1975 to 1977. I'm sorry I missed the reunion, but I have plans on making the meeting on Oct. 4th.
To Tommy Gallo: Thanks for the kind words about my dad and the members of Little Falls Cadets..they were very good people and the mentors there helped me decide to move up to the Garfield Cadets when I was ready. When I came back to the Cadets in 1965 I will never forget how nicely I was welcomed into the drum line. If you remember we went to 4 snares and 4 tenors for the first time and won a lot of shows. The only Corps we really had problems with were the Chicago Royalaires and history shows how great they were. Instructors like Bill Westdyk, Les Parks, Bob Peterson, Jim Costello and Jim D'Amico were the guys that directed me to the success we had in the 3 years I marched 65-66-67. Funny enough I was lured to the Marine Corps Drum Corps by then Staff Sargent Truman Crawford of Royalaire fame.....he was a very strong influence in the way I did things in the future in regards to teaching and writing. Sadly he passed away shortly after he retired as a Full Bird Colonel with over 30 years in the Corps.That is Dedication.... He is truly missed by his Marines and the drum corps world. When I came out of the Marines I helped the Cadets along with Fred Sanford and learned another host of items to help make a drum line work. It is these folks that show us the small things that can make a difference in our lives and our careers. I feel that same "Work Ethic" has helped make the "Cadets" the greatest drum corps of all history. it all started with the Holy Name Cadets and everyone since has shared from the love and committment to the ACTIVITY. George Hopkins still preaches about this "work ethic" and the discipline the corps has shown this past year on the field is a testament to him, his staff and every one that wore the Maroon and Gold over 70 plus years of its' history- Holy Name will always be with us- TRUST ME
To Bill Ridings and Bill Gaeckle...I remember your father Bill Gaeckle Sr. I remember when I was being taught by Eric Hossack and Bill Ridings how to play rudimental drumming at the age of 8. I remeber asking your father if I could warm up with the then Litte Falls Cadets' snare line in Wildwood, and he smiled at me and said sure. I can remember Eric, the character that he was, needling Mike La Neve that I was going to take his spot in the snare line. There are a lot of people who made my journey to become a Garfield Cadet come to fruition, and to all of the Bill Gaeckles and Bill Ridings, I want to say thank you one and all!!!!!!! For Holy Name shall always be...
Hey Froggy... I remember you !!!!!!!!! How are you doing? Are you still playing? I pick up my sticks from time to time... nothing earth shattering. I have been ordering recordings from a site called preserveourdrumcorpsmemories.com. They have recordings of corps from way back. I have two sons and live in AZ. Don't hesitate to write. My email gallojt@apci.com
I have returned to my Texas home from a journey to a spiritual and emotional home with my fellow Cadets in Atlantic City. Words are inadequate to describe the reverence and emotion experienced during the 50th anniversary of the 1957 Legion victory in AC. A million thanks those dedicated to making this reunion the success that it was. Lessons learned? 1. Its never too late to reconnect. 2. I am spiritually related to all Cadets, far past to present. 3. It is imperatrive that we keep the spirit alive. 4. When at a reunion, wear a picture of your younger self. 5. I am the luckiest guy in the world to have marched as a Cadet. FHNSAB....Bill Ridings, aka Little Red
Thank you for the wealth of information given here about the song. For your information, I marched 2006 and 2007, so I am of the most current breed, and my time is now done, but it is great to hear what you say. For Holy Name shall always be... EDITOR'S NOTE: Bill, I'm glad I was able to address your concerns to your satisfaction. One small correction; your time with the Cadets is not done. It's just starting! Now, year by year you are going to discover what it's like to live the rest of your life as a Cadet. What you just experienced has given you tools you will find yourself using in everything you do. Cadet Alumni are everywhere, as you will discover; and when you cross paths with a fellow Cadet you will be with family, whatever their age or era. We are currently in the organizational stage of establishing Cadet Alumni Association Chapters around the Country (the World actually). If you register on the website (ABOUT US page), you will be notified about social and alumni interaction activities where and when they occur. For Holy Name shall always be...
Hi...I was looking through www.theholynamecadets.org and noticed that at the bottom of the History page, there are the words to Oh Holy Name. I thought that the words are discouraged from being written down. I just thought I might mention it. If there is a reason they are there, please let me know. I take pride in being among only the select that know the song, so I wouldn't want it getting out just like that. I'm sure I am not alone in this. Thank you for your understanding. For Holy Name shall always be... EDITOR'S NOTE: I am extremely pleased, though not surprised, to learn that you hold deep reverence for our corps song, The Holy Name Hymn. We learned this summer, through the events honoring our first Drum Major, John Baumfalk, that Oh Holy Name goes back much further than originally thought. It was actually written and first sung in the 1930s, so it dates back almost to the founding of our corps. This week the Holy Name Cadets held a great gathering-of-the-maroon in Atlantic City to honor the 50 year Anniversary of our corps' 1957 American Legion Championship, the last National Championship won under the Holy Name banner. If you scroll down the visitor's page on our website, you will see a report by George Hopkins on the event, which includes reference to the singing of Oh Holy Name in the traditional manner. We appreciate that many of our corps traditions have mutated somewhat over the years to meet the needs of the Cadets of different eras. Actually there was a thread on Drum Corps Planet some months ago where various Cadets that marched at different times expounded on what they believed to be "traditions" regarding the corps song. Some believed, in concert with you, that the words were never to be printed for public viewing. Others believed that the corps song was never to be sung by less than two Cadets. Still others believed that it was "tradition" to drape your arm or place your hand on the shoulder of the Cadet standing in front of you when you sang the corps song. All of these, though undoubtedly well-intentioned, are in point of fact mutated traditions that strayed from the traditions established by the early Holy Name Cadets. There are only three: 1. Only Cadets are permitted to join in the singing of Oh Holy Name. 2. It is sung standing, out of respect for what it represents. 3. It is sung reverently. That does not mean that the Holy Name Cadets do not recognize or respect the traditions that other generations of Cadets have added to that list. For example the modern-era Cadets sing Oh Holy Name at quick tempo to get the adrenalin flowing prior to entering the competition field. We know there is no disrespect intended to the original version, and we respect their right to alter it to suit their needs. However, as they change the original Holy Name traditions regarding the singing of our song, Cadets of earlier generations do not necessarily change their version as well. Printing the words to Oh Holy Name has been done many, many times over the years; in contest program books, event programs, and in the print media, and now on the internet. It is done for a variety of reasons, but most often to refresh the memories of Cadets about to gather for special events after many years away from the corps. As you are well aware I know, it is also often sung in public in front of anyone close enough to hear. I understand your sensitivity over what was considered the "acceptable tradition" during the years that you marched. I know that it is undoubtedly important to you. I'm sorry that by doing something that we of earlier generations consider perfectly acceptable, we have inadvertently violated what you believe to be proper etiquette surrounding our corps song. I can, however, assure you that our reverence is no less deep than your own. Thank you for caring. For Holy Name shall always be...
During DCA in Rochester this year,10 of the greatest names in Drum Corps history perfomed in an all Alumni show.The only one missing was The Cadets.When do you think this could possibly happen in the future? Editor's Note: Ken, thanks for your interest. Jim D'Amico and George King have that under consideration as we speak.
Since I last wrote in this guest book I have noticed how many have shared their fond memories also. I noticed an old drumline buddy of mine, Tom Gallo a snare and Bill Gaeckle who I believe was also a snare. I was so happy to read their comments. I also saw some of Diane Volkart's pictures she added to the gallery. I saw Tom in the background and Ray Hines behind her, and I believe I saw myself also. I would like to thank her for the memories. I wanted to let Tom know I spoke with Ray Hines last year. I no longer live in the north or I would attend meetings and maybe join again to play. I miss it. Please keep commenting. The Frog 65-71 for Holy Name shall always be...
I attended the special gathering of the Holy Name Cadets in Atlantic City on Wednesday evening. The event to be honored .. the 50th anniversary of the 1957 Cadets National Championship, claimed on September 14th in YES, Atlantic City. The event was produced on the floor of Convention Hall, the actual site of the performance. I have much to say about this but here are the quick ones .. These people are awesome! To come back 50 years later and to be inspired, thankful and filled with joy ... WOW!!!! I loved being there to witness the entire experience. There were folks there who won championships in 1940!!!!! Are you kidding me! And they speak with such grace and respect for the Cadets. All were so kind to me. It was an honor to be there and yes, I love the fact that I have been able to keep the Cadets moving forward for my 25 years of good luck. The old version of the corps song has to come back! WOW! WOW! WOW!!! I was moved ... and I get to sing now! Look out Barry Manilow. Thanks to the many people I met ... the names are a blur but ... I loved it! What we do here is so special and to see the roots .. the real people ... the foundation of it all ... it just fills me to the brim!!!! Congrats to all! A great, great, great event! I would not have missed it for the world and I am glad I did not! WOW!!!!
Can't say enough about all the comments on this page and seeing all the former greats that I loved....I remember the drummers and horn players of the 60s when I was a rookie and watched Bill Kemmerer (the Chief) smacking his lips while he fixed the uniforms in that low level back room of the Legion in Garfield. God Bless him...I spent some very warm nights with Bill Westdyk in the drum room in the early 60s and he said "IT will take you 3 years to make this Garfield Drum line" . You might think about a smaller drum corps to march with and gain some experience......well he was right and I went to a small corps named Little Falls Cadets and learned a lot about drumming and a lot about people - they became some of my best friends ...and my family got the "drum corps Fever" very quickly. My dad became the Director of Little Falls and modeled our corps after the best - THE CADETS......we were one of the charter members of the Garden State Circuit and these small corps were very spry and challenged to do their best over the years.I found a lot of friends in the "Privateers" The "Manhatenniares" St Raphaels, and many small corps who put out like the big guys.The common THREAD OF ALL OF THESE DRUM CORPS WAS: We all depended on the person next to us to perform the best show possible. WE trusted that person to be the best....we didn't care if we had the best written show....we just did our best and felt that the member next to us would hold up his or her part of the deal. I always felt that everyone I knew or taught alway put out their best. God Bless This Medium and may all the former Cadets enjoy a good life because you have "Marched with the Best" I would say " Semper Fi" to my former Marine Buddies but I should Say " Semper Maroon & Gold to my Cadets
Owen McGarry, great to here from you. I wish I could be in Atlantic City to remember the good old days. Let me know what time the corp will sing the Holy Name Song, as I will stop whatever I'm doing and sing our corps hymn in unison with all my fellow Holy Name Cadets, past and present. I should be at my home in Florida or heading to LA to see my mom, who is not well. God Bless the Holy Name Cadets. For Holy Name shall always be... Corky Miller, Bass Baritone 1957-1964
Just came acrosss this site - I am in the process of digesting all of this info and would like to be included in any future info. I started as a rookie under Bill Westdyk in 1962/63. I marched in 65-67 with some great folks and instructors. U.S. Marine Drum Corps in 67-71. Then came back to N.J. to help the corps during some lean years and had a bunch of great times mentoring to the wonderful Cadet drummers in 72,74,75 and 76. Live in Delaware and not happy I am missing the Atlantic City Reunion (didn't find out till this week) - I will make future get togethers for sure. Keep up the good work and keep all the CADETS as one....bcgaeckle@yahoo.com
Dear Friends, especially those celebrating the 1957 victory! That was a very good year: the year my wife and I were born! While we didn't participate in the Cadets, our son, Kyle has had the time of his life performing during the past 2 years! All of the members past and present have become very near and dear to our hearts! We respect the long line of Cadets that have built the tradition that is so reverently respected by the new members, such as our son. Thank you for your immeasurable support of the 2007 Cadets! Your presence at events and constant support thoughout the season truly brought the new members to a higher level of performance intensity! We can hardly wait for the 2008 season! Again, to the Cadets of 1957 - KUDOS and CONGRATULATIONS! Reflect proudly and enjoy your time in Atlantic City, Bob and Sue Showalter
Pilgrimage: A journey,especially one made to a shrine or a sacred place.......To my 1957 cadet brothers and to all cadets of all eras, the pilgrimage is about to commence. From all points of the compass,over expanses of land and water, cadets, friends, relatives and those devoted to all things Holy Name are preparing to journey back to a place and a moment in time. Visited decades ago by a corps of young men who possessed an unyielding spirit, boundless energy and a quiet but determined confidence, they combined their musical artistry with marching precision in a place then called Convention Hall. Something magical,electric and explosive would occur there and would become embedded in the psyche of those young cadets and those who witnessed this event ,for evermore............ On the starting line, in their magnificent colors of maroon and gold, their opening statement.....the majestic strains of "Shangri-la",.....so bold, so beautiful, filled the cavernous hall to the rafters high above, announcing their presence on the competition floor and demanding the attention of everyone in attendance. As they stepped off to the "March of the Siamese Children" from Broadway's "The King and I" they were unaware that they had stepped into a Shangri-la of their own creation, as the next thirteen minutes would become frozen in time, in their hearts and minds. Every thought ,emotion and memory of that evening would flow to where all meaningful life experiences are kept secure......a sacred personal time capsule, that would open fifty years later. Shangri-la, that mystical place lost high in the Himalayas,a place where one never grows old as the memories of youth arrest the passage of time. Don Koch said it best in an e-mail, months ago.....when we gather again (in A.C.) and are in each other presence, we all are twenty-one once again. Cadets of 1957,may your fifty year journey back to that place, Convention Hall ,be a safe and speedy one. For Holy Name Shall Always Be.
The Maroon and Gold Time in so much as we can discern The common thread that binds us all In a way that can’t be explained Yet futile attempts have been made The glorious road to who knows where At the end of the day Time in so much that can be remembered Some where on an ancient field Where those whose shoe print has been put down In the name of something greater than the one Life everlasting the torch has been passed A realization has come to pass I have become a part of the collective heart and soul Of that which is the Maroon and Gold.
Just finished watching the 2007 broadcast of DCI Finals. Good job Cadets, it was a pleasure marching with you.
I am 60 years old, attended Arthur L. Johnson High School,Clark twp NJ, in 1964 I won the Region2 Allstate band competition for snare drumming. I also marched with a few American Legion bands and was a member of the then Plainfield Symphony Orch. I always followed the Drum Corps although not a member of any. I had not watched the National DCI competition for the last three or four years, simply because I did not know which channel carried it. Last night I watched the DCI National compitition on ESPN. I always enjoy The Cadets and root for them as my "home team". I almost fell off my chair when The Cadets took the field and the field jumbo-tron said Cadets---Allentown Pa., I could not believe my eyes and after watching the performances and scoring, Googled The Cadets. My question is---what happened? Why the move? I feel like I have lost a part of our heritage, not to mention all the local support over the years. I guess things always change, but to me The Cadets will always be Holy Name, Garfield or Cadets of Bergen County. Editor's note: Warren, thanks for your comments. We're glad you reconnected with The Cadets through the DCI Broadcast, and we hope that you will now continue to root for your "home team." It was a very difficult decision for the Cadets to have to relocate to Allentown. The membership base of modern-era drum corps is no longer local. Corps members for most corps now come from all over the 50 States, and many foreign Countries. I mention that so you realize that where a corps is announced from, is primarily where their administrative offices are located. The Cadets found themselves in the position of having to vacate their last New Jersey offices in Bergenfield, which in actuality had become woefully inadequate long before the move. The search to find an affordable replacement in New Jersey was unsuccessful, when Allentown came along with an offer that was simply too good to refuse. I don't have any official position with The Cadets so I don't think it would be appropriate for me to go into the components of that agreement, other than to say the Cadets offices are now located in a modern office building in downtown Allentown, which meets all the space needs of the YEA operation. You are most cordially invited to visit anytime you're in the area, so you can see for yourself why it was an "offer too good to refuse" The Cadets are still the corps you remember, with the same history, the same heritage, the same traditions. They are still our "home team." Most area alumni, like you, of course would much prefer a New Jersey base for the Cadets, but we are most committed to the stability and success of the Cadets, and the character-building experience offered to modern-era marching Cadets. They are still "our" corps, "our" Cadets. We often express our sentiments in this way: FOUR banners, ONE corps, ALL Cadets, All Holy Name! I would like to invite you to attend our regularly montly gatherings-of-the-maroon; social evenings held at the VFW Hall on Outwater Lane in Garfield on the first Thursday of each month at 7 PM. Our activities are open to all Cadets, past and present, families, friends, supporters, members of other corps...anyone that wishes to be a part of the fun. The next gathering will be on Thursday, October 4th. I hope you will attend. It would be a great pleasure to meet you personally. For Holy Name shall always be... Dave Shaw
This was the first year in many that I was able to go to show and catch up on drum corps. When the Cadets were coming to Annapolis, 5 miles, from my house, I couldn't say no. The rush of emotions that came back seeing the show, seeing the passion in each performers movements and in George Hopkins still dedicating himself to the growth of the youth. I just watched DCI on TIVO and I still get goosebumps and a flood of emotions when the Cadets perform. It was even more exciting watching my kids watch the show and get excited. Congratulations to George for dedicating himself to the members and growth of an incredible tradition.
It was interesting, but not quite pleasing to hear the DCI announcement prior to the Cadets telecast last evening. There were only three lines before I turned off the broadcast… The first comments captioned a few photos of the Holy Name Cadets Fife and Drum Corps and the date of our corps inception. The second listed the names of the corps over the years with depictions of various years of uniforms and growth. The third comment stated that our corps "dynasty" started in 1983…somehow we lost around 40 years of our history, blood, sweat, tears…and Victory. As I hit the "off" button on my remote, I wondered why I wasn't even surprised… D. V. Panessa - Editor's note: Dan, sorry to hear you were offended by the announcer's comments...you missed a good show. Since this was a DCI offering, with DCI announcers, and a DCI script (not available for editing by the Cadets), perhaps it's understandable why the "dynasty" comment they used referred solely to the DCI era, and not to our composite Cadet history. During the broadcast I noted that The Cavaliers pre-DCI years were also overlooked by the DCI announcers. While you were out of touch with us this summer, the years of our history prior to DCI have been given regular, respectful recognition by our corps and by our marching Cadets. I can assure you that they are very proud of their heritage. FHNSAB...
Not that this is a surprise... but the HISTORY update by cadet DeOld (regarding the 1957 Championship) is GREAT! The explanation is helpful to outsidfers but the EMOTION is wonderful ! FHNSAB
Corky Miller, just wish to say hello, and to thank you and your dad as we called him at Chief's house, my first horn instructor. Mr. Miller (RIP). Thanks for the good times, and you tagged the name Scotty I,II,amd III. 1958 thru 1965, 2yrs miltary, and aged out 1968. Thanks, Scotty McGarry. Editor's note: Scotty, your military service (and every Cadets' military service), if it slots in between active marching years, count as Cadet marching years. You are therefore in Cadet records as having marched 1958-1968. Thanks for your service to our Nation.
to anyone who may have taken or seen a photo of the 1971 Garfield Cadets' drumline warming up before a perfromance in Fairlawn.N.J. We had on our smocks and were in a semi-circle with our shakos on the ground in front of us. This is a photo I've seen only once but was unable to get a copy of.if anyone has any info regarding this photo please E- mail at gallojt@apci.com thank you
As the proud father of 2007 Cadet ageout (and 8 year vet 2000-2007), Michael "Mikey" Terry - I can't find appropriate or strong enough words to express my gratitude to the Holy Name Cadets Alumni for their unconditional support shown for the 2007 corps over this season! You ladies and gentlemen contributed in many ways to make my son's ageout season one that will be remembered as special and extraordinary in so many ways. I am honored to experience the unique fraternal bond of all Cadets across all the years vicariously through my son's life defining experience as a Cadet. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Sincerely, Michael D Terry - Woodstock, GA
Hmmm .. I suspect that the excitement level is rising a lot as the date nears for the 'GREAT GATHERING OF MAROON"!! Sounds wonderful! Best wishes to you all for a great time and happy memories! ::) FHNSAB!
It is with sadness I read about fellow Cadets who have passed away. It is with honor I say I marched with them. They will never be forgotten, as Holy Name Will Always Be...
Good Morning Dave my e-mail address is in the data base but I'll give it to you now any way it is for the time being gallojt @apci .com this is my work e-mail address, it is the only one i have time to read everyday
Dave Shaw I just wanted to tell you that I have quite a collection of vintage photos and believe it or not I still have your original article from Drum Corps Digest introducing our 1971 show complete with pictures of myself, Pete , Jeff Mails etc. Also, I have the original Eastern Review article that you wrote about Richie Chirichella's untimely death in 1971. If you would like copies let me know and i'll send them to you. For holy name shall always be....... Tom: nice of you to remember. I'll be in touch when I have some down time. Is your E-mail address registered on the website? If not, go to the "All About Us" page, enter it in the box provided, and you will be led through the registration process. That will give us the opportunity to keep in regular touch with you.
All of this sounds all too familiar. This is exactly the kind of treatment that the Star of Indiana had to endure. I did not understand it then and I do not understand it now. My heart goes out to those kids, their staff, their parents and their fans. As you so eloquently stated... what a shame!
I had read a short time ago about the passing of Hugh Mahon's father and would like to convey my condolences to him and his family. I know that it is a little late, but just would like to let him know that I remember how he looked after me when we were on tour and my mother had passed away during the season. I wish to say thank you to him, and hopefully some time next year I will make the trip back to N.J. to thank him personally. Editor's note: Tom, Hugh now resides in Kentucky, but he does read the messages on this site and I know he will be very touched by what you wrote. You, Pete Calabrese, Lou Reda, and the rest of your old crew are remembered in conversations all the time. We look forward to your return visit to New Jersey with pleasure. For Holy Name shall always be...
I marched with the Blue Devils last summer and this past summer. I have always and will always respect the Cadets drum corps and organization. The 2007 Cadets were extremely talented and strong and it was a pleasure to compete against them this past season. Editors note: Luis, I know from speaking with many current and former Cadets that they too have total respect and admiration for The Blue Devils. We all congratulate you on your championship and on your 50 year anniversary. It was a season that I don't think anyone will ever forget. Thank you for helping to strengthen the bond between our two corps.
Scotty #III, youngest of three Holy Name Cadets brothers: Patrick, Richard, and Owen, all grateful Cadets. Just wishing everyone all the best, and to you Dave Shaw, my first drill instuctor at Chief's house, thanks for all the good times . 1958 til 1965, miltary for two years, aged out 1968.
I just saw the following quote yesterday, Dave: I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much. -- Mother Teresa I am NOT comparing myself to Mother Teresa by any means. I can just relate to her humbleness. That is what resonates in the above quote. I am in a public forum with my brain cancer, and it is a unique place to be. I want and need to be very responsible with the opportunity to help others. I wish I could have videotape of that moment when Joe Roach was talking with the corps moments before they walked onto the field. Show that moment to anyone who is even thinking about marching and we would have hundreds more auditioning. I regret that I am unable to attend the reunion in September. For the past 6 months, I have had a commitment at Virginia Tech. They are building a new arts center ($1B budget) and they invited me to be on the committee to help steer the direction of the arts program there. What a chance to influence at the early stages. I need to be all over this one. Here's to the 2008 show AND to the 75th reunion! So much to anticipate. Yours in G, David ________________________________
Dave Welch is an amazing person! We have a Marines saying in our house "Semper Famiglia". This also stands for Dave and all of us Cadets.
David Welch is a true Cadet........perseverance, optimism, and concern for others in his hour of need. He exemplified what we Marines expound as "Semper Fidelis". Ooohah for David.
Message from Judi Kasper, niece-in-law of John Baumfalk-founding member, first drum major, and first horn instructor of the Cadets: Ralph and I were so impressed by the Cadets we spoke with, and those we observed on Saturday. What a wonderful group of young people! I really can't find enough superlatives to describe them! Thank you for all your help in arranging this amazing tribute to John, and we were thrilled to be a part of making it happen for him. Even though we aren't Cadets I hope that I may say back to you: For Holy Name shall always be....
I marched with The Cadets for one year, my age out year, in 1984. I live in Ontario and I am distant from much of the activity that surrounds the Cadets, alumni etc... and was not aware of much of the happenings that you describe below. I'm not sure at what point throughout this Cadet season that I felt something special was occurring but, after reading your note, I am left with no doubt that 2007 was special. In fact, it was unquestionably awesome in the words most literal sense. Thank you for this note. It has served to rekindle my passion for the Cadets and renew the respect I have for George and the entirety of YEA. Thank you. Jim Gardiner
I just read your letter about your experiences this past summer. I would first like to thank you for sharing. My first reaction was, "Wow!". In just the few minutes it took to read your e-mail, it brought back the feelings and emotions of when I last wore the uniform. I hope all of the current Cadets and alumni get the opprotunity to read your letter. It should be framed and hung in the Cadets office. Thank you again for sharing. You can be sure that my dad will get a copy of this. I am sure he will have the same reaction as I. The timing couldn't have been better. I have recently moved into my new home. In the past few days, I have been hanging up all of the old Cadet pictures my dad used to have in his basement in Park Ridge. If you remember, it was a "Cadet Hall of Fame". It shall now be again! Joe D'Arrigo Cadet Alumni "For Holy Name Shall Always Be"
Congrats to the Cadets for a great showing at DCI, in spite of some adverse conditions (boorish "fans") and improper field preparataions. You all showed great class .. including the honors given to Cadet Baumfalk. FHNSAB
I suspect that those who have been around for a while do indeed recognize the common values that our corps share.... and have shared for at least the last 50 years. Au contraire as to expressing the pride and admiration. On this one, both Jeff and George deserve the kudos.... and I passed your earlier recap of the events on to Jeff (along with my personal compliments). I am competitive down to the marrow of my bones... but there are times when being a true champion is more than winning the show. Our teams did themselves proud.
Dave, I really enjoyed reading your re-count of Pasadena. I am a sucker for Cadet stories and am sitting here with tears in my eyes. Coincidently, my brother Paul who lives in Laguna Beach, CA and was never in any drums corps, went to the finals in Pasadena. He thought they were fantastic and loved the Cadets along with the Blue Devils. He did mention some "fans" did not like the narration, but he did not seem to think it was a wide spread feeling. He enjoyed the retreat when all corps played "America the Beautiful". He thought the overall night was magical, and he's not even a drums corps guy! I think we won him over at the tender age of 43.
Very Nice Report Dave. When you described the conduct of the corps during the award ceremonies I was reminded of AC. When Audobon was announced in second place John Gengale through up his hat as though he just graduated from the Naval Academy. I was standing next or close to you and heard you say something like DON"T MOVE. You know, it felt a lot better standing motionless like true professional, disciplined, cadets instead of jumping up and down and celebrating. It was another of the pride building moments. Pasadena sounds like a bunch of wrestling fans were in the audience.
Dear Friends, Family, and Colleagues, I'm finally home from a long and arduous summer with the Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps. I had a fantastic time this summer! I learned more about myself - both as a performer and a person - than I had in the previous two years of marching with the corps. I could have not have asked for a better summer experience. I have absolutely no regrets. The Cadets wrapped up our summer tour this year in Pasadena, CA for the DCI World Championship finals. The corps placed 2nd in the championship - falling just slightly below the Blue Devils. I congratulate the Blue Devils on their victory. The Cadets and BD have a long history of competiting "neck and neck" for many years. The closer our scores became this summer - the more fun I had competitively. It was a great season for drum corps. Everyone who marched will certainly be proud of their DVD. I know I will be! I would like to thank all of you for your prayers and support over the summer. I couldn't have done it without you! I sincerely appreciate the phone calls, cards, text messages, care packages, and visits that I received from many of you. You guys make me feel like the luckiest person in the world. Thank you again and best wishes for the fall! All the Best, Ryan W. Tinker
Just read the comment from Bill Ridings...about the show on July 4th..62 or 63...I'm not sure which year it was...I thought it was 63....great night...remember arriving real late and tired...Jimmy Cos pulled Hawthorne back from the starting line, and we entered...from that minute I knew we were going to win...and we did...score in the 90's...unheard of in those times...good to hear from you, Bill...
Thank you for a wonderful report. Focusing on the Pasadena section I felt the same way as you. I stood on the field as the corps left following retreat and applauded members of Crown, the Cavaliers and Blue Devils (young men and women just like the Cadets).. I refuse to let a group of rude fools tarnish the activity we love so much. I have never been prouder of the Cadets. 2007 was a banner season starting with the Alumni gathering at Giants stadium to the day with John Baumfalk What will stay with me was the conduct, integrity and composure displayed by the members and staff throughout the 3 days of DCI. I will also treasure the conduct of the Cadet alumni and fans at the Rose Bowl who applauded the corps every step of the way.
Vinnie Ferriola: Can't believe you just sent that note and here I am looking for you, thanks to Rick Di Krosta, who told me at DCI Pasadena that I'd find you here. We met at Seton Hall Prep on our first day there, when you marched for Patterson, and I was with Good Counsel. We last saw each other when you marched with Hawthorne at Boston College in the summer of 64, when I was waiting to go overseas in the Peace Corps. Here's my email: (the underscore function doesn't work on this webpage)bcunderscoreslu4u@yahoo.com Drop me a line or call me on my cell: 702-768-2727. Better still, give a holler when you come to Vegas, where I live. SHP is planning a 50th reunion. Check the webpage and get in touch with Mike McMahon, who's the organizer. All the bes, Steve
This was taken, without George's permission, from his blog. It was too important not to be shared on this website. "I sang HOLY NAME this year each time .... I was inducted ... an official alumnus! I am so proud to stand in that circle ... and to be a Cadet. I was so proud to watch the Cadets on retreat. While all around them took videos and joked, and jumped at the scores ... they stood. Out of respect for themselves, respect for others, and respect for the uniform." "I LOVE IT!!!" And, just so you're aware George, I also stand; out of respect for those wonderful 2007 Cadets, and out of respect for you as well. The best is yet to come...and Holy Name shall always be... Dave Shaw
Hooray for George, he certainly does the right thing for his Corp. I think the Cadets looked great. I get the feeling that the Cadets are very controversial the announcers seemed prejudiced against them. Tell George we love him for not putting the Cadets in a dangerous situation. It took balls to do what he did, and he certainly has my respect. Send my best wishes to the great members of this outstanding corp. No matter how they do they are still #1 in my book. By the way these new drum corp drills are growing on me, I think they are much more exciting than the stuff we used to do.
I just happened upon the website while looking for a Garfield Cadets website. After so many years it is great to see that there are still Cadets who are proud of their time with the Cadets of all years.
I just linked to the Holy Name Cadets web site yesterday. What a rush! Fantastic job and mucho credit to you all for the work in doing such an excellent job. The web site photos of you and "the boys" are excellent. All look like they did 40 years ago plus a few gray hairs (me too). Moved to Houston on a job transfer in 1972. Been there ever since except for a 5 year assignment in Oklahoma City in the late 80's. Married Linda Pollak from Union City in '67 and we have one son, Tre' (William III) who marched with Black Gold, Tulsa, from '89 to '91. In '90, I co-founded Bayou City Blues Sr Corps in Houston with the help of Brian Callahan (Blessed Sacrament), Roger Willis (Bellville Black Knights) and few others from Wisconsin corps (Mike Palmquist, Jesse Castaneda....who recently marched the Caballeros parade corps). Palmquist says that Bobbie and Tommy Sands play in the Cabs. Now a days, I'm growing the nest egg for retirement and racing sports cars at a few Texas tracks (road racing). What's up in your neck of the woods? Why is it that most of us old drum corps guys have cultured facial hair? Now I have a good excuse to cash in my Continental miles for a trip to the old "hood" some day. Thanks for all that you have done to preserve and institutionalize the espirit de corps. FHNSAB, Bill Ridings (aka Little Red) '59-62
Cadet from 1959 thru 1962 in the snare line along side "Red" Koch, Tommy Maat and Bill Blazowski. Fourty years since I've seen Mahon, Shaw, Tennis and King. You guys look fantastic. Thanks a million for creating the entire Holy Name Cadets alumni structure website and opportunity to reconnect to those who were a part of "the best time of my life". One fond memory is the evening of July 4, 1962 Roosevelt Stadium in Union City following 3 parades and an afternoon show. We arrived late to the show. The Caballeros were on the starting line for an exhibition. The crowd went wild when they spotted the Manhatten Line bus lights puling into the stadium. The crowd began to chant "Garfield, Garfield.....". The Caballeros stood down as we rushed to the starting line where we knocked off Blessed Sacrament and took high percussion with Joe Mallen judging. Oh what a night. I feel great joy to think that this year's corps will experience similar emotions and bank memories that will last a lifetime. I am a very lucky person to have marched as a Cadet. FHNSAB. Bill Ridings, billridings2@aol.com
hi to all cadets wherever you are in the world and good luck to the cadets in pasadena this weekend. what ever your placing is you will be number one in our hearts and should be proud of your achievements. all the best to you and everyone in the drum corps community!!!!!! yours, gary powell. london england.
I was a member of the Commodore Perry Scouts (also known as Koyasan Boy Scout Troop 379) in the early 1960's. John Baumfalk was our instructor in those years, earning us the California State Championships in 1962 and 1963. The rumor was we "stole" John from the Monterey Park Girls. I have a corp photo from 1961 with John in it as our leader. By the way, John travelled with the corp. to Japan in the year 1962. I would like to send a digitized copy of the photo to anyone interested. Thanks. Les Katow
Just read the posting from Karen of the Monterey Park Girls D&B Corp. Yes, this is your John Baumfalk also! At our BBQ in June, Ralph, John's nephew recalled how Uncle John took him to several Monterey Park practices! Isn't it wonderful, that this man that has given so much to the Holy Name Corp, also gave his time and talents to so many other organizations here in California and is still remembered for his accomplishments! I am even prouder today that I have met and know this man.
As a member of the Bath, Maine Cadets, we always admired Holy Name not just because they were in the top echelon of drum corps but that they could be friends to members of a small corps from "way up in Maine" without any pretentions. That to us, was a real "touch of Class". If you remember way back then alot of the top corps did not socialize with smaller corps. Holy Name to us means "CLASS".
To all Cadet Alums: We have all watched as you have built a solid alliance with all Cadet Alums; and your inspiring work on documenting Cadet history in writing and in pictures. As an admirer of the Cadets, it has been a sincere pleasure to watch all this happen. Special thanks are due to all those responsible. Good luck at the GREAT GATHERING OF MAROON!! (Wish that I could be there to congratulate you all!)
Hello. I am working on a reunion of the Monterey Park Girls Drum and Bugle Corps, which existed from about 1932 to 1960. Just for fun, I looked on the internet for John Baumfalk. He was our bugle instructor during the 1950's. I found your comments. I am wondering if your John Baumfalk is our John Baumfalk, too! There couldn't be that many people with that name.I was very young back then and where he came from did not matter to me. We all thought he was wonderful and it would be nice to know more information about him to share at our reunion. We are planning to attend the finals on the 11th. Too bad we will miss seeing your Corps. Karen. Editor's note: We were told by John's family that they relocated to California in the early 1940s, so it is very probable that "your" John is one and the same.. John was active as an instructor in California during that period with some other well known corps also; i.e., the Commodore Perry Japanese Boy Scouts. Many Cadet Alumni from 1950 remember with great respect and admiration the Monterey Park Girls from your performance at the American Legion Nationals in Los Angeles that year. Please accept the best wishes of all Cadets to all of you on the occasion of your reunion. The Cadets will be competing on the 11th in Pasadena, but John will only be present on the 9th for the Quarterfinals for a short period of time. If you send me your e-mail address (shaw.d.g@att.net) I will pass it along to our Cadet in California who is assisting John's family with his reunion with the Cadets. John's condition is very fragile, so his family limits his activities.; but I am sure he would be pleased to know that he is remembered so fondly by the Monterey Park Girls.
Great site! Speaking as a 21st century cadet, this site is a great way to learn about the history of the corps.
Wow, it is good to see the depth of tradition. I always remember one of the most satisfying things was wearing the uniform and thinking of the long tradition of Cadets wearing the uniform before me. I am flying to L.A from the UK for finals this yr and it would be good to catch up with people :-)
ANOTHER HOLY NAME CADET STANDS UP TO BE COUNTED: I have read the Email from Sergeant Tilley with much pride and respect as he puts his life on the line for all of is. He and all the others who are defending this great country deserve our ultimate respect and thanks. Dave, I read your response with great sadness, as I cannot understand the negativity in reference to The Cadets 2007 show. I am not a fan of narration but it is only one part of a great show that demonstrates a degree of excellence that is unbelievable. The show is extremely creative and the story is quite compelling. I personally would like the story to be told completely through music. These are young men and women that are giving everything they have from dawn till dusk. They and the staff deserve RESPECT and ADMIRATION for a job well done.I saw the show in Lincoln Nebraska this past Wed. evening (a seven hour drive from my home in Minnesota) and the tears came along with a feeling of great pride.The narration is just something one may or may not care for, but what the hell is the big deal. The horn line, drum line and guard are so good, it is almost inconceivable to reach that level. To anyone out there who does not appreciate The Cadets -----YOU NEED TO GET A LIFE.
I joined in about 1943 or 44 together with Mickey Selemi. We had tried to join the St. George group in Passaic but they were disbanding and so we joined The Holy Name Cadets. Mickey played brass and I was in the color guard and carried the American Flag. Our leader was Greg Shumack who has passed away. There were times such as July 4th and Armistice Day when we marched in 3 parades in 3 separate towns. We were pooped. I remember the ladies in the room below the church giving their final check of our uniforms and making sure the soles of our shoes were black so that we looked good to the judges when we all stepped off the mark during competitions. So many good memories, so many friendships; some of the best years of our lives. I hope the young guys today will be influenced by the the good which the corps instills in them. Do you remember the Holy Name song? If not send me an e mail and I'll send it to you. Thanks again for those wonderful teenage years. Editor's note: John, I think you'll be happy to know that the Cadets have never stopped singing The Holy Name song over the entire 73 years of our history. They still sing it today before going into competition. And you, my fellow Cadet, are among those we honor and revere as Heritage Cadets. Thank you for writing and sharing your memories. Thank you also for confirming how far back the Holy Name song goes in our history, and for never forgetting the words. For Holy Name shall always be...
My Brother Bart Played in the Drum Line in the early 70's. I was 5 years old, and remember the entire back yard full of drums and cymbols.When they picked them up to play it was an experience that I would never forget. I guess that is why I have been playing the drums/percussion since I was 6 years old. I am now 38 years old, and still love to play, the Garfield Cadets are in my BLOOD. I am now teaching my sons to play in their high school marching band in N.C. It has become a family tradition that I hope they hand down to their sons. Ed Botto - Born in Garfield NJ, now in Hope Mills, N.C. botto1234@hotmail.com. Thanks for the memories!!!!!!!!!!!
I would like to share with you a letter I received today from Rhonda Mauk, our reunion hero on the YEA staff: I am honored to inform you that a donation has been made in the name of the Holy Name Cadets Alumni by Caren Frech (77-79) upon her recent contribution to the 2007 Cadets Maroon and Gold Club. Each summer members of The Maroon and Gold Club help support The Cadets in their endeavor to become magnificent human beings through annual contributions. Without their support, most of what you see on the performance field wouldn't be possible. As part of their contribution (Joe & Caren Frech), Caren wanted us to pass on to you this message: "In honor of all Cadet Alumnis, past, present and future. For Holy Name shall always be. " Thank you for making such a difference in the lives of others. Thank you Caren and Joe from the Holy Name Alumni. We are very grateful to be remembered in this way.
Nice to re-connect with some of those from 30-40 years ago.
I have been remiss in not expressing my thanks for the recognition of our web site. But what has really brought me here is to tell you how terrific I think it is that you are arranging recognition for your first drum major at DCI this year. That is an awesome idea and I applaud you for handling it in a first class manner. Your web site is also quite handsome and properly reflects the pride you and your alumni have in the history of the corps. Congratulations to you!
Those of you that have had the opportunity to read the most recent HISTORY article on our website www.theholynamecadets.org know that Charlie Sydoryck 65-70, and his lovely wife Lynn, upon reading that our first Drum Major and a founding member of The Holy Name Cadets, John Baumfalk 34-39, was living in their home state of California, traveled to John's home to present him with a Holy Name Cadet jacket. They did so on their own initiative and at their own expense (for which they have earned the gratitude of the entire Cadet family). If you have not as yet had the opportunity to read the article, please do so. I'm certain you will find it inspiring and uplifting. During Charlie and Lynn's visit with John and his family, during which John shared a moment singing The Holy Name song with Charlie; John told Charlie he had two wishes. He wanted to meet the members of the 2007 Cadets, and he wanted to watch them perform in competition one more time. Well my fellow alumni, thanks once again to Charlie and Lynn, and Scotty McGarry, and Dan Acheson of DCI; those wishes are about to be filled. Charlie and his family, once again on their own initiative and at their own expense, have hired a limo to bring John, John's sister (both confined to wheelchairs), plus John's nephew and his wife, to the DCI Quarterfinals at the Rose Bowl to watch The Cadets compete. The last time John saw our corps was in 1950 at the American Legion National Championships in Los Angeles. John and Lynn will arrive early to assist John and his party to access the pressbox. Passes have been provided through the kindness of Dan Acheson and DCI. Scotty McGarry took it upon himself to contact Dan, and Dan didn't hesitate for a second before giving his approval. We thank everyone involved in these arrangements for honoring this revered Cadet in this manner. Hugh Mahon 60-61, representing the members of the DCI Hall of Fame, and all the Cadet Drum Majors that followed John in leading our corps, will officially welcome John and his family to the competition. It is possible that at some point during the evening (John at 89 will probably only be present for The Cadets' performance due to health considerations) the announcer will acknowledge John's presence. We would like to suggest that any Cadet Alumni present in the Rose Bowl upon hearing that announcement, rise to face the press box, and applaud this man, without whom there would be no Cadets. On Saturday morning John and his family will join the 2007 Cadets, alumni, fans and friends at the traditional finals-day breakfast at the Cadets' housing site at Norco HS. This poignant meeting will bring John face to face with the young Cadets of today, in honor of the young Cadets of 1934. All of us, from the time we marched and throughout our lives, have followed the path first trod by John and our other founding members. He has our love, our respect, our admiration, and our thanks. This I believe! For Holy Name shall always be...
Hello Guys I was surfing on the net when I came across your website. I was in a Drum Corps once many, many years ago named St. Rocco's Cadets. (http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/dkickdrum/Stroccos.html) In 1983 I was working for ABC News in Miami as a cameraman when the Cadets won their first DCI Championship. I had a lump in my throat that night. Man what a Show!!! I bought a T-shirt after the competition and brought back so many memories of competing on the field. So about five years ago I hosted my own website for my old Drum Corps. Since then we had our very first reunion. I'm sure just like me, you've put this site together out of love for your Drum Corps. Back in the 50's Holy Name Cadets was one of the Rock Stars of Drum and Bugle CORPS!!! And the one every one of us wanted to compete against. Great Website! Harold Smiley Davis
Editor's note: This is a copy of an email sent to Scotty McGarry by Allen Handzo. Since we've had so many inquiries about this elusive Florida-based Cadet we decided to reprint his message here so you will all know he is well and happy. FHNSAB...Hey Scotty, Thanks for this picture. I can still see Paul's and Billy's faces from 45 years ago. They just have less hair and a few more pounds. Dave Shaw still has the same look as I can remember. And you look almost like that 1962 photo you posted on the website. I did go to the DCI show in Atlanta this past weekend and had a blast. The 2007 Cadets are fabulous! I did wear my Holy Name jacket and went to visit the corps at their buses after the show. I talked to several 07 Cadets, a few 04-06 alumni, some parent volunteers, and George Hopkins. This was great to be back with the corps. It was just like old times. Keep up the good work on the website photos, they are great! Say Hi to all the Cadets from our era. Keep in touch. FHNSAB... Allen
It's great to see so many interested in carrying on the traditions of the Cadets! I marched lead sop in 1987. Still following the corps and wishing them well. if anyone has pics from 1987, please let me know. Thanks. srobinson17@comcast.net. Editors' note: Steve - your 1987 perfect-score drum line was at the alumni reunion at Giants' Stadium, and I understand that some members of the ‘87 corps are thinking about organizing a reunion for the ‘87 corps to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of your year of glory. If so, this website is available to assist you in any way we can.
The greatness continues! I watched the Drum Corps show via computer last night from Atlanta. The top 4 Corps are absolutely amazing. It would appear that any of the top 3 can win the big one in California. Naturally I focused more on The Cadets for obvious reasons.Their show is just fantastic and the execution is mind boggling.The narration is something I could do without as it becomes a distraction from one of the greatest performance I have ever seen.Watching those kids in our incredible uniform brings out emotions that run deeper than most people could ever imagine.We have so much to be proud of regarding our contribution, and the present Corps continues to exemplify the great tradition of Holy Name,Garfield Cadets,Cadets of Bergen County and THE CADETS. Look forward to see all you great guys in A.C. FHNSAB
Holy Name & friends: My name is Ryan Benz and I marched Cadets 04-05 as a lead trumpet player and soloist. I just graduated from Montclair in May and am looking for a job, if anyone knows of anything available. My degree is in music performance, but I'm looking for anything that I can build a career with. I am posting this here because as fellow Cadets, you can all understand the work-ethic required and passion needed to participate in this activity. If anyone knows of any postings or is looking for a new employee, I would be eager to bring my same work-ethic and passion to a new company. I can be reached at Rbenz01@Hotmail.com or at 315-391-9654 if anyone can help me out. And of, course, a resume is available upon request. Thanks for any help you can offer. Editor's note: This information is also being transferred to our PERSONALS page. We hope in the near future to have a Cadets White Pages , but in the interim we will be using the PERSONALS section. Good luck Ryan.
First of all, I want to extend a huge thank you to Eric and Rhonda, the Holy Name era alums, and George. The event was an absolute success at every level except the two hours went by in what seemed like 10 minutes. I also want to thank the marching members of the Cadets for embracing the history of the Corps and upholding the traditions and comittment to excellence that we all helped to preserve during our marching days. It is suc.h an honor to watch the Corps perform, at the highest level of the activity, year in and year out. I am not surprised at the criticism of the current edition of the Cadets. Throughout history, people who stand tall and state what they believe in have always been the target of criticism. It is clear to me that the 2007 Cadets not only "talk the talk" but they "walk the walk" too by backing up their words with actions. Keep up the good work and let's all hope that this groundswell of unified support from Cadet alumni of all ages continues to grow. ...shall always be.
As a corn-fed kid in Ioway I used to dream of being in a corps like Holy Name. Now, reading your invites to the alumni I wish those dreams all over again. Sounds like fun! Who could resist!
Question received from Dave Borck of Norwood Park Imperials fame: "Some of the postings have spoken about the cadets (and others) use of ‘narration'. Can you explain this for those of us who have not seen such a show. What is THAT all about?? And, WHY is this needed/ helpful???" Response from Dave Shaw: I'll do the best I can. "Narration," as far as I'm concerned, is used to "explain" a show. I can't think of any examples of this that I particularly liked. There is also singing, used by some corps periodically...most of which I have liked, and often liked a great deal; including in particular the Cavaliers' whistling and the Cadets' 2006 vocalist in the ballad. There is also what I call "entertainment voice;" i.e., The Cadets drumspeak in 2005, and the "characters" in 2006. Again, I like both, whereas many hated them passionately. Different strokes for different folks. Then there is what I call "component voice," where corps use voice as an additional element in their program (in addition to music, percussion, and visual). It's not really there to explain anything...it's there to add an additional element or layer if you will. An Example would be Blue Stars with their patriotic declarations in 2006, and certainly The Cadets this year. I don't think you could gain any insight by attempting to characterize any of it as "needed" or "helpful." I think a more apt justification (if one is needed) would be that it's very similar to the Cavalier's use of untraditional pit equipment, i.e. pipes, etc., in their 2006 Machine program. Not needed or particularly helpful...just a very clever additional element that punctuated their program in an unusual way, and set them apart from the pack. Since I assume your question is specific to The Cadets, all I can tell you is that reaction to their voice component is very individual-specific, and many times generational-predictable. On the generational side, there are some very surprising exceptions though...at both ends of the spectrum. I do know that you can't watch a show like the Cadets' 2007 show on UTube or anything like that and get any real feel for its' effectiveness. The DCI big-screen presentation of Quarterfinals might be somewhat more edifying, but I've never found my theatre-viewing experiences to be particularly satisfying because the excitement element on the screen is missing from those corps that generate excitement (and The Cadets certainly are all about excitement this year); while conversely corps like Phantom Regiment come across very well on the big screen for a lot of very different reasons (and there is no implication intended here that Phamtom Regiment is lacking in excitement). Drum corps is all about personal choice. I doubt that there is a single corps that "everyone" likes, and maybe there never was. I think I have made the transition from old school to new school a little more easily than others because in the military I was taught to focus on specific areas of interest, to the exclusion of everything else. Where I differ from the average corps-knowledgable spectator is in the area of what you're "supposed to focus on." I think I define that a great deal more broadly than many others. I hope this explanation helps to clarify the questions you raised to some degree.
What a great site...came upon it by accident..Marched with Garfield late 61' 62' and 63'...Dave, Paul Arthur. Carl Samara(who was in my wedding party) the Raymonds, Fabian and Buddy and all the guys...what memories...good years..Vegas in 62'(Nationals-Beating the Royaliers)...July 4th-63'(Roosevelt field-beating BS)..all great times..
And, a special thank you to Dave Shaw for doing all this work getting the messages out to all alumni. The ground work that has been done over the past year has been monumental. Your "co-horts in crime", George King, Jimmy D'Amico, Walt Taormino, Bill Kardash, Ken Shedowsky, Tony Bartello, Danny Panessa, Vic Jaskot, Bobby Bella Rosa, the other members of the 57 Corps, et al (I know I'm leaving several people out of this - my apologies) should all be congratulated as well. We're finnally reattaching ourselves to the main fiber of the Corps - as it always should have been. One Corps - One Banner - One Holy Name. . . THANK YOU ALL. GREG CINZIO 67-77 FHNSAB . . . p.s. can you tell I had a good weekend . . .
A special THANK YOU to Dr. Eric Santo and Rhonda Mauk (from the Cadets front office) for running the SIMPLY OUTSTANDING SOIREE before the Giants Stadium Show on Saturday night. Over 140 people in attendance, with many turned away because of occupancy restrictions. Good times, good food, good drink, wonderful memorabilia, great conversations and simply the BEST RENDITION OF THE HOLY NAME SONG (with several current marching members in our midst) EVER SUNG. If you weren't there, I'd put in my reservation for next year quite early. Oh, did I forget to mention the reserved 50-YARD LINE seats for the Alumni Group. That, topped with the fact that the Corps came on with their new uniforms, and won the show, simply made my weekend. Thanks to Eric and Rhonda for pulling this off (everything except the corps winning, of course . . .) GREG CINZIO 67-77 FHNSAB . . .
You guys are AMAZING! I came to the Music is Cool clinic you had at Giants stadium on June 30th, and I feel awesome that I got a chance to win with such a great drum corps. I'll be sure to come see you guys whenever you come perform in the area again! Good luck with all your performances coming up! I believe that to get a chance to play with the Cadets is a phenomenal experience!
Oh my goodness!!!!!!!!!! Dennis Julian Bradley Sr. is my Dad! Wow he actually looks the exact same now at age 46. Haha My dad is and always will be my hero! Love you dad!!!!!!!!!!
Heart felt greetings fellow Cadets and, good gosh, what powerful forces are at play at this gathering!! As a 15 year old kid, hearing those trills in the color presentation of ,..Johnny Comes Marching Home - that was it!! Satori, harmonic convergence, a visitation, I don't know, I had a glimpse of what perfection might be like. And then the privilege of meeting and learning from those who carried that vision with them: Les Parks, Bob Peterson, Jimmy D'Amico, Richi Chirichella- Bob, I can't find my Bob's Mob Tee-shirt! OOOOoooooooo00Holy Name.
Cadet Cinzio has hit it on the head! It IS the journey, the experience, the effort. NOT the titles. Titles come AFTER success as a team. Just as in life, where many people equate "success" with having money, many people in drum corps equate "success" with winning titles. But, that is backwards. Glad to see that the Cadets continue to have the proper view of "success"! FHNSAB
Greg: Not only have you thought it through, but your insight has hit the mark spot-on, dead center. It is indeed, all about the journey. A journey that, for all of us, continues well beyond the year we age-out, and for the remainder of our lives. For the Cadets of 2007 it was choosing a journey down a different, unexplored road of learning.....learning beyond the classroom,.....learning about ones self . A poem by Robert Frost speaks to us about this ....Two roads diverged in a wood....I could not travel both....(so) I took the one less traveled by....and that has made all the difference. For Holy Name Shall Always Be. Read : The Cadet Experience by Griffin on this web-site. .(.go to News then , News of our Corps).
One thread, one corps . . . I guess we always felt it, but never verbalized it. Different years, new stories, wonderful memories - one common thread - being the best that you can be, all the time, and whatever happens, happens. The more I think about it, the more I truly believe that it's about the journey, not the destination, that makes it all worthwhile. FHNSAB . . .
Dave, Thanks for your comments on the 1958 season. You put into words the feeling that at least I had during that year. I don't recall just when we were told by the church that we could not go to Chicago but when the "go anyway" plan took shape I felt the excitement of not only seeing a plan develop but the feeling that we were doing it ourselves. Whatever Bill ( Chief) Kemmerrer's legacies may be, his efforts in bringing off this trip has to rank as number one. Without his perserverance the corps as we knew it back then and today may not have survived. Winning in 1957 was great but I'm especially proud that I helped in the transition from Holy Name to Garfield.
The upcoming "Great Gathering" will be fabulous. It is appropriate to mark the 50th anniversary of the last "Holy Name" national title. That certainly was a great moment, especially after reading the accounts of that year of competition. There were a lot of other "great moments" too. The FIRST National title in 1940, the rebuilding in 1959, the return to the "top" in 1960, the first DCI title, etc. But, for me, the GREATEST moment in Cadet history wasn't winning a title at all. It was the 1958 defense of the 1957 title. That event, and the manner in which it was done, truly showed the spirit, pride and determination of the Cadets!
Hey everyone!! Just checking in to say a long overdue congrats on the webpage for HolyName Cadets!! I marched with the drumline in 77' and loved every minute of it! Being one of the first female drummers in Garfield history, I get a thrill out of seeing some of the current cadet reaction to that statistic. They can't comprehend that happening 30 years ago! I have recently spent some time wi