This is an early Thanksgiving gift to all of you from two fellow Cadets.
Tom Gallo, 1968-71, wrote the poetic tribute to the Cadets that follows. It touched my heart. I hope that the beauty of his words and sentiments reach you as well, and enrich your day as it enriched mine. Al Mura, 1934-54, a founding member of the Cadets, our National Championship Drum Major in 1940, and later our horn instructor in the 1950s, sent the photograph to the right. It shows the Cadets parading down Passaic Street in Garfield in 1939. The Drum Major is Al Mura. To Al's right is junior drum major Joe Paluh, our first West Point Cadet. Joe is now deceased. The little guy on Al's left is his brother, junior drum major Art Mura. Al is now in his 80s, but has the look and energy of a fifty year old. Artie is in his late 70s, but he too has the look and energy of someone far younger. Most of the Cadets shown in the photo are now deceased.
I share this information not to depress you, but to elevate you. This corps, this history, this heritage is YOURS. We each link our time as a Cadet to the years and Cadets that preceded, and the years and Cadets that followed. We left the corps and built our lives, and families, and careers; and all we have and all we are is linked to the young Cadets you see in this photo and the young Cadets that preceded them. The next time you sing the Holy Name Hymn, or end a letter or message with "For Holy Name shall always be..." stop for a moment to remember the meaning and the proud history behind the words. 2009 - OUR 75th YEAR: YESTERDAY - TODAY - TOMORROW...THE CADETS!!!
Your gift from Tom: I wrote this after reading about the reunion in A.C. Hope that you enjoy it, and hope to see all of you in the near future. For Holy Name shall always be... Tom Gallo 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 Somewhere 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.
Well, it looks like a lot of Cadet Alumni (I was among the missing) decided to take a breather and not attend the November gathering-of-the-maroon at the VFW Hall in Garfield. Still, not a bad attendance. About 25 of our fellow Cadets were in attendance. Actually, if you look at it realistically, that's pretty darn good after a full year of monthly meetings. When we started this program we would have been overjoyed to attract that many Cadets to a single meeting. We never anticipated the strong devotion of so many of us to our Cadet experience and to the modern-era Cadets. Instead we started off with amazing attendance that seemed to grow with every gathering. Sixty five or more became the norm, and consequently our monthly attendance expectation expanded. November wasn't what we've become used to, but twenty five Cadets is still pretty impressive. I personally was not present because of a health issue. Many others have contacted me explaining their reason for not being present. Al l good reasons, and all seemed genuinely disappointed that they missed the meeting. I get the feeling the reduced attendance at the November gathering was one of those coincidental happenstances that occur periodically.
Activities centered around a group discussion moderated by John Avella, 1957-61, on suggestions for the 75th Anniversary, unexpected expenses from the Great-Gathering-of-the-Maroon in Atlantic City and how they can be addressed, and other miscellaneous topics. Of course, the Holy Name Hymn was the centerpiece of the evening at 8:30 PM EST. This is the first time I was among those singing it at home, though this time I had to do it flat on my back rather than standing. In case you're wondering, it sounds good from that angle as well.

photos courtesy of Pat Kowalski
In Attendance (thanks to Ken Shedosky, 1957-61, for assembling this list): John Avella, 1957-61 Bart Bartello, DM, 1948-58 Frank Bentivegna Gene Clayton, 1946-56 Jim D'Amico, Director-retired, 1950-55 George DeOld, 1964-70 Marie DiDomenico, Cadet adjunct staff, retired Vic Jaskot, 1949-60 George King, 1954-61 Pat & Phil Kowalski, 1950-54 Bill McCullum, 1943-51 Walt Serafin, 1948-58 Ken Shedosky, 1957-61 Andy Swiderski, 1955-57 Tont Tantillo, 1943-52 Walt Taormina, DM, 1943-52 Doug Tenis, 1957-61 Paul Wall, 1964-66 - 71 Joe Wegrzyniak, 1943-50 Bob Wilke, 1966-69 As usual, my apologies to anyone I missed who failed to sign the attendance sheet. I know there were others present. Wish I knew who they were.
Our next gathering-of-the-maroon is scheduled for THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6, at the VFW Hall on Outwater Lane in Garfield. I will be there! That's an iron-clad guarantee. If I have to be carried in so be it, but I will be there! In fact, I have good reason to believe that a lot of people we haven't seen in awhile will be there. I have already been informed that George Hopkins and perhaps some of his staff expect to be in attendance. There's a lot of excitement building as we begin initial preparations for our 75th Anniversary. Here are some hints:
Greg Cinzio, 1967-77, has taken on the challenge of updating and rewriting his classic history of The Cadets, "A History of OUR CORPS," first published in 1976. He has committed to finishing the project in time for our 75th Anniversary. If anyone would care to assist him in this endeavor he can be contacted via E-mail (gjcmedical@aol.com).
George Hopkins has put together a representative alumni committee to establish criteria for expanding the Cadet Hall of Fame to encompass eras that preceded the DCI era. Their first meeting is scheduled for early December. Additional information will be released as it becomes available.
The Alumni have put together a steering committee for the 75th Anniversary. They will meet with George and other Cadet staff members to develop a blueprint for a year-long celebration of our history, with an eye towards programs that will assist in assuring another 75 years. Again, additional information will be released as it becomes available. Buckle your seat belts...this is going to be a ride to the stars.
Others of us will be putting together adjunct activities, such as the Caps-for-Cadets project in Hawthorne last Memorial Day. It's our hope that during the 2008 season Cadet Alumni will plan similar projects of their own. It could be as small as a group of alumni making a video to be shown to the Cadets wishing them luck and telling them how proud you are of them. It could be a single alumnus donating snack packs, or gatorade, or some movie DVDs for the buses. It might also be a group of alumni, fans, or friends planning a special dinner or breakfast for the Cadets, if time permits, when the corps is at a school in your general area. It could be several of us holding up signs of support along the side of a highway as the Cadets' vehicle caravan whizzes by, or perhaps funding a billboard in Indianapolis to show our pride in our corps. Even a few hours of volunteering would give the road volunteers a break and show the kids how much we care. Use your imagination and personal initiati ve my fellow alumni. Don't wait for someone to say "why don't we?" Instead, YOU say it or YOU do it. You won't be sorry. We have a great corps and a great group of Cadets, and you'll be amazed to find out how good it feels to reconnect. For Holy Name shall always be...
We are still taking orders for Holy Name Cadet jackets. See the order form in the MERCHANDISE section of the website. Additional information can be obtained from George King, 1954-61, (Gefreki@aol.org).
While you're here visiting the website you might want to check out the new entries under PHOTOS (Rogues Galley IV & V), and on the HISTORY page pulldown menu, MEMOIRS, two new entries. All the new additions will hopefully bring back some happy memories for you. We hope to have our DIRECTORS section (HISTORY pulldown menu) activated soon. If you have any good photos of any of our Directors, either from the time they were Director, or if they marched Cadets, photos of them in uniform; we could use them. It is planned for each Director to have his own page of personal history and photos. Other individual lists of Instructors, Color Guard Captains, Commanders, and Sergeants, Booster and B.O.D. officers, Quartermasters and other key volunteers, and adjunct administration staff, are all under construction. If you would like to help please contact me at: dshaw40@gmail.com
Join the Cadets in celebrating an amazing year By: Caryn Goebel from the YEA website
Tickets are on sale for the corps' 2007 Banquet.There is so much to relive. The days that never seemed to end at Spring camp in Buckhannon, W.Va. The inspiration bursting from every "This I Believe" essay writer. Appreciative fans that warmed your heart in the Pacific Northwest, and the not-so appreciative fans who tried and failed to shake your spirit.
The Cadets 2007 Banquet will bring all the memories rushing back. And friends, who for months were each other's family, will again embrace. Tickets are now on sale for the annual Cadets Banquet to be held Dec. 9 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Renaissance Philadelphia Hotel Airport in Philadelphia, Pa. The banquet will follow the 2008 corps' audition camp being held Dec. 7-9 at Penns Grove High School in Carney's Point, N.J.
The banquet will include appetizers, a full brunch, program and awards. Tickets are $85. Members of the 2007 corps receive a discount price of $65. Included for each member is a 2007 Cadets Yearbook. All members, staff, volunteers, alumni and donors and their families are invited to attend. A separate Donor Event will be held prior to the banquet, from Noon to 1 p.m., when Cadets Director and Program Coordinator George Hopkins will reveal details on the 2008 show.
The Cadets Audition Camp will wrap up on Sunday morning and shuttle buses will transport those attending the banquet to the Renaissance hotel. Following the banquet, transportation will be made available to the airport and train station.
For more information on the Cadets 2007 Banquet, contact Caryn Goebel at caryn@yea.org, or by telephone at (610) 821-0345, Ext. 21.
Contact Justin "Rudy" Heimbecker, Director of Performing Ensembles, at Justin@yea.org, or by telephone at (610) 821-0345, Ext. 12, for information on Cadets camps and auditions.
ALUMNI VOLUNTEERS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME AND NEEDED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. Contact Christen Juel, Alumni and Volunteer Coordinator, at the YEA offices, 610-821-0345 for additional information. www.yea.org
NEXT GATHERING-OF-THE-MAROON Thursday, December 6, 7 PM, VFW Hall, Outwater Lane, Garfield NJ. SEE YOU THERE!!!!!!!
2009 - OUR 75TH YEAR: YESTERDAY - TODAY - TOMORROW...THE CADETS!!!
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