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The HOLY NAME CADETS
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.
Where have you gone my brothers and sisters in maroon, white and gold
Why have you abandoned us as we have grown frail and old
We marched together once as proud as can be
Competing as one winning glory and fame,
and lifting a cheer for old Holy Name.
And now you labor, old and gray stitching together the tapestry of your journey so your children, grand children and those on the way will have a piece of your life to remember you by some day
Don’t let them forget how we toiled and sweat to uphold our honor as a Garfield Cadet
Tell them the stories of our heroes and kings of our victories and loses and all of the things that made our youth glow and how our corp made us champions for the rest of our lives
Don’t forget us my siblings because soon we’ll be gone
We laid the foundation for you to march on
Just stop by, please, stop by and visit this home where our drum corp spirits are left all alone
Just stop by, please stop by and thank us so our souls can rest in peace because we know you remember us who’ve gone before you and loved you without knowing you
Just stop by, please stop by and talk with your friends and in that special way our brotherhood will never end
2018.
My son Ian Clarke joined the Cadets for this 2015 season on mellophone. I marched in HS at Evansville North on trombone in Indiana. Now we live in Branchburg, NJ. My wife might be one of the few here who was born in Garfiield, NJ. I am not an alumnus but am now one of the food truck volunteers. I am a chemical engineer but Ian will be majoring in music performance. Look forward to a great 2015 season!
Always liked the Holy Name Cadets. As a Des Plaines Vanguard alumnus, I feel that the Cadets were kindred spirits. I marched in Garfield's show in 1962 and 1963. We were glad to be there. They reciprocated by competing in the Vanguard's show. Nice site.
Another successful season for our corp. Congratulations to the Cadets of 2014.
Dear Old Holy Name Cadets. I marched along with the dear Cadets, not as a musician but as a little kid from St, Nick's, in the then-annual Holy Name parades the war-year 40's in Passaic, Now, so many years removed, my grandson, Ian Olofson, is in the drumline of the Concord, California Blue Devils. It's been an unbroken line of music from the maroon and gold to the blue and black. Love you all. Play loud. Harry
Anyone know what happened to the Alumni section of the YEA Cadets site? Or how to access the site and the Alumni photos again. Thanks. Try Cadets Ning
Proud to hear that my fellow Cadet and dear friend for many years, George King, has been nominated this year for Cadets Hall of Fame. I would think because of his creation of the Holy Name Cadet / Garfield Cadet Alumni Corp. still active after quite a few years. More so for his excellent solo playing in 60 and 61. A great horn player then, and still an great active lead horn player with the Skyliners Alumni for many years. Congratulations to my dear friend. Proud of you. To get a nomination is a great honor.
"Happy New Year to all "
Mr. Davidson, The Garfield Cadets closed their 1962, American Legion National Championship show with Maria, and the same "there's a place for us" segment, which was used to end their 1961 and 1962 regular season concert music, i.e., Tonight. You can listen to Tonight on the 1961 VFW Nationals album, and the 1962, An Evening With the Corps, at Carnegie Hall album; both albums can be purchased from Fleetwood Records, Drum and Bugle Corps on-line archive. I believe that the 1962 American Legion Nationals album is also available.
Would someone tell me what year did The Cadets Play "Maria & Tonight" as their closer.
My father was a member of the Cadets back in the late 30's early forties. His name was Alfred Hausler. He played either bugle or trombone. I had a pic of him in his uniform, but alas a family member took it. He passed in 1985 and I wanted to share his memories with his four grown grandchildren who never met him. Would there be any pictures or news articles from that time ? Liz, We do not have a photo archive, but I will post your request on Facebook on The Cadets' page. Hopefully another Cadet from that era will be able to assist you. There are a number of Cadets who marched the late 30s who might have some information for you. Good luck in your search.
Nice to see alumni activities. Keep up the great work! FHNSAB
Congratulations to the young men and women of the Cadets, who performed at such a high level this year. You have continued to exemplify the finest traditions of the Garfield--Holy Name Cadets during the 2013 Competition Season. Every Cadet Alumni, and every friend of the Corp salutes your many incredible performances this Season. You have done us proud and I'm positive that all of us old guys and gals who marched vicariously through you, will be at your side next year. FHNSAB
The Cadets are still my favorite corp.My son marched with Garfield in the early 80's.Can I get any pictures from the winning years online? There are many sites on the internet where can you find photos of The Cadets from all eras. You can start at www.theholynamecadets.net Make certain your speakers are turned on because there is audio. There are also many photos posted on Facebook if you are familiar with that site. You can also go to www.yea.org to find photos. Hope you find what you're looking for. Incidentally, we are making a one-time exception for this message. We do not post or accept messages without a last name. Please use your full name in the future. Thank you for your understanding.
Mr. Mader: The general phone number for The Cadets/YEA is 610-821-0345, I will send you an email with the extension numbers of the people who will be able to assist you with your requests. Thank you for your support of The Cadets.
I am looking to the buy the 1984 CD (west side story). I thought I was buying it from the dci store but they sent me the DVD edition. Do you have the cd? I would also like to donate money but I can't find that either. I. Don't have the Internet maybe that's the problem? If you don't have the cd could you put me in touch with somebody that does. Also please let me know how to donate money. My email address is mikemader56@yahoo.com ph# is 727-252-6668. Thanks for your time.....mike Mader
Glad to see you back online. Hope it works. FHNSAB Thanks Dave, so far so good.
Boyle, John Boyle, F. Leslie Boyle, William All marched in the 1930s (as shown in attached photo I sent you already with John in the front) - although I think they were there from 34-37 I'm not sure. I will tell my dad and his family about the mass - although my grandfather (John) was a starter on the 1939 Garfield High team that won the national high school football championship, he was always proudest of having been a Cadet.
The Holy Name - Garfield Cadets Alumni Corps will be performing at the NY Skyliners / Bugler's Hall of Fame show this coming Sat. afternoon Feb. 23 at the Hasbrouck Hts., NJ VFW ( off Rt 17 South ). Show starts at 1:00 pm. Come on out , see some old friends and cheer your Alumni corps on.
We are experimenting with going live on our guest book page again. We were forced to deactivate it last year because of the volume of robo mail we were receiving. Each one had to be deleted individually, and it was far too time consuming. Hopefully that will not happen again this time, but if it does we will probably be forced to deactivate the guest book page permanetly.
We regret to inform you that Walt Bienski 57-58 is currently in Hackensack Medical Center fighting a very courageous fight against an extremely serious health issue. He is expected to be there another several weeks. George King has his room number and phone extension number if you would like to contact him.
What an honor it is to have been a part, in some small way, of the tradition of the Cadets. Mark Holub / Garfield Cadets Percussion Staff: 1982, 1983 and 1984.
I reviewed the new online book .. it is beyond great, it is amazing! ALL Cadets should be proud, and very grateful to the Book Committee (team) for doing this. This is a good reflection of this history of the Cadets .. the emotions and problems are also included! My congratulations to all involved. FHNSAB David Borck Norwood Park Imperials
GET READY, IT'S COMING...the all new updated, upgraded, on- line Story of The Cadets will go live on June 9th, and best of all there's no charge. Just log on to www.theholynamecadets.net and enjoy...but NOT BEFORE JUNE 9TH. It's packed full of stories, photos, audio, and if you're lucky you might catch a whiff of aroma- therapy (not really). That's JUNE 9th, www.theholynamecadets.net Seriously, this is one heck of a "book." Check it out and see for yourself. Seventy-eight years in coming, you'd better believe it's a blockbuster! Use the attachment with this email as a reminder to pin to your calendar.
Bill McCullum suffered an unfortunate injury to his trip during a trip to Gettysburg. Pa. He is currently at Kessler Institute on Market St. in Saddle Brook. Cards can be sent to him at his home address, 21 Buena Vista Ave., Hawthorne NJ 07506
The next rehearsal of the alumni corps will be this Thursday May 17 at the Garfield VFW on Outwater Lane from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. We will be going over our program for the next job which will be on Memorial Day May 28 at the monument in Garfield located at Midland Ave and Marsellus Place. ( One block from the Holy Name Church ) We will go over the details at the rehearsal. We still have one Holy Name jacket available. It is a size large and it is at our cost of $75. Your name will be printed on the right breast at no extra charge.
Just a reminder, there will be no rehearsal of the alumni corps this Thursday. Our next rehearsal will be on Thursday May 17 at the Garfield VFW on Outwater Lane from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. We will be working on the Service Tunes, Taps and the National Anthem. Our next job is on Memorial Day May 28 approx. 11:00 am at the monuments in Garfield located at Midland Ave. and Marsellus Place which is a block down from the Holy Name Church. We will go over the details at the rehearsal on May 17. In the meantime please work on the Memorial Day tunes at home. Thank you. Please note our jacket maker has one size large Holy Name Cadets jacket left over from the last production run. If anyone is interested the price is our cost of $75. Your name will be printed on the right breast for no extra charge. FHNSAB...
Elaine is the wife of former Cavalier DM Bruce Tietgen.She relayed the following message through Cavalier FMM, Paul Litteau:" I want to thank all of you who took the time to send cards, either via e- mail or USPS. He received over 200 cards, some from people he does not know but who showed their respect for him by sending cards, and we are still receiving cards today. Thank you all so very much for your delighful array of cards, ballons and for the food, fruit, plants, bread and loving thoughts and prayers. You touched our hearts and we are so grateful for your response to help celebrate his birthday. It definitely brightened Bruce's spirits and brought tears to our eyes. " Editor's note: Bruce's name has been entered in the sick book at the Church of the Most Holy Name in Garfield by Marie DiDomenico of long-time Cadet affiliation.
Just saw the listing of corps musical programs for the year ... the Cadets '12/25' show .. all Christmas music... sounds great! I have always wanted to hear a corps do this .. and the Cadets are a corps which could do it well!
We just received information that Cadet #1, John Baumfalk, recently celebrated his 94th birthday. Those wishing to send cards should send them to the following address: Cadet John Baumfalk, 302 So. Border St., Anaheim, CA 92804
The next rehearsal of the alumni corps will be this Thursday May 3 at the Garfield VFW on Outwater Lane from 7:00 to 9;00 pm. We will be going over our program for the Memorial Day Service at the VFW post on May 28 at 11:00 am. Please mark your calendars. We will go over the details at the next two rehearsals. Thank you. FHNSAB...
My fellow Cadet Alumni. I write this note with a very heavy heart because a great Cavalier is currently gravely ill. He is bravely fighting the terrible disease that took the life of our own great Cadet, Michael Welch. Most of you probably don't know Bruce, or have ever seen him up on the podium directing our friends, The Cavaliers. Bruce was drum major of the green machine in 1959- 1960. I am one of the lucky ones who did see him front his corps with his majestic stature. He wore a black uniform (this was during the Cavalier's satin blouse era), and a long white sash that made him look twice as tall as the eiffel tower. I did not know Bruce personally. I did however recognize what a unique and powerful symbol of the activity he so proudly represented. I admired him then. I admire him now. Unfortunately, like many others from his era, time has taken its' toll. He is ill. Today a group of Holy Name Alumni sent him a card to let him know he is remembered, he mattered, and he is still admired and respected. Bruce's wife has advised a fellow FMM of The Cavaliers that Bruce's birthday is coming up, and that it would mean a great deal to him if cards began arriving to show that drum corps friends are forever. If you would like to join in this salute to a great drum corps symbol you can send your cards or words of encouragement to Bruce Tietgen, 218 North Fourth St. West Dundee, Illinois 60118. Let's make this birthday his best ever.
The next rehearsal of the alumni corps will be this Thursday April 19 at the Garfield VFW on Outwater Lane from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. We will be working on our program for the Bugler's Hall of Fame Show in Bridgeport, CT on Saturday April 21. We are scheduled to go on at 3:10 pm and will discuss the final details at this Thursday's rehearsal. On a sad note our sincere and deepest condolences go out to Dan O'Reilly on the recent loss of his Mother. May GOD bless her. FHNSAB...
The Holy Name - Garfield Cadets Alumni Corps will be appearing at the Bugler's Hall of Fame show at the Holiday Inn, 1070 Main St., Bridgeport, CT on Saturday afternoon April 21. We hope to see a lot of you at this event. Come on out and cheer your Alumni Corps on ! We also rehearse every other Thursday evening at the Garfield VFW. Bring your instrument or just come down for a visit. The doors are open to everyone. Also please don't forget the Alumni meeting on April 26th at the Garfield VFW. A nice social event and a good time to meet your Cadet friends and enjoy some pizza.
Dave, This is another update on former Cavalier DM (59-60) and assistant director Bruce Tietgen.He's a fighter,but he is up against a formidable opponent of glioblastoma (extreme brain tumor). (EDITOR'S NOTE: This terrible disease that took from us our own Cadet Michael Welch continues to ravage the good and the brave. I personally remember Bruce from my Cadet marching years. He was a towering figure in his black uniform with white sash, and a friendly and always classy adversary much admired by The Cadets of the 1950s-60). His wife notes that his 73rd birthday is April 21, and cards would be much appreciated.Messaages of support from Cadet Alumni would be especially appreciated. Bruce Tietgen 218 W. Fourth Street West Dundee, IL 60118
Our old friends from our Lady of Lourdes Cadets of Paterson, NJ will be celebrating a 50th year anniversary celebration at the Hawthorne American Legion Post on Saturday, April 21. Tickets are $25 pp. Please RSVP by April 7th to one of the following: Richard Swan - 732 829 9660, Jim Nargiso 973 296 5504, Lou Storck 201 314 2537. The Holy Name/Garfield Cadet Alumni send congratulations and best wishes.
The next rehearsal of the alumni corps will be this Thursday, April 5 at the Garfield VFW on Outwater Lane from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. We will be working on our program for the upcoming Buglers Hall of Fame show in Bridgeport CT on April 21. We also will have rehearsals on April 12 and 19.
I don't know if you heard about this story. Father Jim was the priest who has been saying the Hall of Fame memorial Mass on the DCA weekend for the last few years up in Rochester. Although he never played in a drum corps, he was a huge fan. He lived near Roosevelt Stadium and used to watch the Dream Contests when he was growing up. I believe he became associated with the Cadets. He was a very nice man and told some great stories. I always enjoyed the Mass at the Rochester Plaza right before the Alumni Show. There were people from several corps in attendance including Garfield and Sky. You might want to pass this along if they haven't already heard. (Editor's Note: Father Jim was not only a long-time friend of The Cadets, but an inspirational icon who personally spoke to The Cadets on many occasions. He was loved and he will be missed. FHNSAB...)
Hey Ian! Whats up? This is a fan of yours by the name of Nathaniel Brusch. I am an avid follower of the cadets, and it is my staunch belief that you guy's 2011 show was the best in marching history(ever). I love the split drumline/corp demons/angels thing. I listen and have all the all access videos and the drumline vids. I even managed to find out who you were so I could ask you something. What exact sticks did you guys (the snareline) use besides the Colin McNutts? Were they the AV10 MS1 or MS2s? And where did you guys get the cool shiny metallic reflective tape? I have some too, but I don;t think it's the same kind. Thanks, nathaniel Brusch. Nathaniel.Brusch@cox.net
Hello all, The Holy Name Church's 100th Anniversary Dinner will be held on Sunday, 4/22 at 3:00 p.m. at The Royal Warsaw on Midland Avenue in Garfield. A group of us thought it might be nice for the Alumni to secure a table or two at this very special event and big part of our history. There is no pressure to attend. We thought by attending it would be a nice representation of our group of Alumni. I am sending this to my group of friends and then any of you who wish to pass it along to your friends, please feel free to do so. The information is below. You can send your check ($60 pp) directly to Greg Cinzio's Mom (make out to Most Holy Name Church), at 378 MacArthur Ave., Garfield, NJ 07026, but please email me and let me know if you will be attending so I can keep track of the # of people for the table / tables. Also, please mark on your check or enclose a note stating "Alumni Table" to ensure that we are all sitting together. Thanks, Cindi
George--Speaking for the 1969 Girls, we were only too happy to be there--it was a joy to hear all the old music so magnificently played. As for me, I still get a chill hearing "Johnny"--not only is it a stirring piece of music, but it conjures phenomenal memories--thanx to all of you for maintaining the tradition! FHNSAB...
There will be no rehearsal of the alumni corps this Thursday. Our next rehearsal will be on Thursday March 8 at the Garfield VFW on Outwater Lane from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. Thank you all for a job well done at last Saturday's show in Hasbrouck Heights. Get well wishes to Walt Taormina who has been very ill and was unable to make the show. As of today Walt said he is begining to feel better, so that is encouraging news. We all missed you Walt. Hurry up and get well ! A big thanks to ex-Cadet Drum Major Jim Messina who did a wonderful job conducting the corps at the show. Three cheers for Andy Swiderski and Dan O'Reilly coming all the way up from South Carolina and Washington DC to do the show. Even further thanks to the 1969 Girls who were in attendance with their support and to cheer us on. Special thanks to John Urspruch Sr. and Jr., Jim Stanko and Rocky Carbone for joining in to tighten up the horn line. It was great to see Fabian Izsa at the show. We love you Fabe, Thanks for your support. Lastly thanks to Jim Stanko's lovely wife Mary Ann who made the videos of the show that we will be sending out shortly. FHNSAB...
(Editor's Note: For those of you who might be unaware of it, every Tuesday at noon a group of alumni from the Holy Name/Garfield Cadet era meet at Barcelona's in Garfield for lunch and some socializing. I thought perhaps our readers might be interested in George's report on last Tuesdays luncheon. By the way, ALL are welcome to join the group anytime you might be in the area) Now, from George: It was a leaner than usual turnout yesterday with some of our regular attendees faces missing. ( Bart, Dave, Marie and Tommy A. ) As always the pizza personally designed by Jim D'Amico with " the works " was as good as ever. The talk was about Whitney Houston's death, the grammy's, rotten movies on TV and some sports. Also Jim Russo's upcoming operation and soloist Kurt Hawkins taking a year off from the Cabs. Doug Tenis, looking as trim as ever, was overjoyed when I suggested suitable replacements in Pat Vazquez and Gene Marotta. Walt Taormina brought his lovely wife Alice along, and she added a hugh helping of class and dignity to our sometimes raucus group. Even Iggy showed up for 20 minutes and had the floor for the entire length of his visit. We were all disappointed when he left so early for a business meeting. Hope you all have a good day, see you next Tuesday. Please don't forget the Alumni Corps is performing at the Skyliners show on Sat. afternoon Feb. 25 at the Hasbrouck Hts. VFW. The show starts at 1:00 pm. FHNSAB...
I am very saddened to have to pass on to you the news of the passing of "Rip" Bernert yesterday afternoon. Rip joined Archer-Epler in 1950, while his association with the Audubon Bon-Bons dated back to 1938 when his parents founded that organization, and Rips association with "his girls" continued to the present, spanning nine decades. His contributions to the drum and bugle corps activity are staggering - I can honestly say that I don't know anyone else who had a bigger impact on so many facets of the activity. We have not yet heard about funeral arrangements, but will send out that information along as soon as we hear anything. In the meantime, please help us reach out to others who who may have known Rip. (Editor's note: The Cadet Alumni who knew and remember Rip extend our most sincere sympathy to his many friends, his family, and to a corps we all admired very much, the famous Audubon Bon Bons. May he rest in peace).
Can anyone provide us with the status of Jim Mennhardt (early 50s Cadet)? We have received conflicting reports and we could like clarification. Thank you. FHNSAB...
Dear Alumni and Friends, The Alumni corps will be performing on Saturday afternoon February 25 at the Hasbrouck Hts. VFW which is located off Rt. 17 South. The Show starts at 1:00 pm and is sponsored by the New York Skyliners and the Buglers Hall of Fame. This is a good opportunity to come out and hear some vintage drum corps music and meet with old friends. We look forward to seeing you there. FHNSAB...
Correction Bob de Maria Member OLOL Cadets from 1958-1963..
Sad News: Bob De Maria Member of Our Lady of Lourdes Cadets of Paterson, 1964-1968, passed away on Tuesday Feruary 7th. He Will be missed by family and his many friends. Bob was well known and respected by many Cadet alumni. R.I.P.
My fellow alumni: Site information for the Cadets2 camp this Saturday (and Sunday if you wish). Set the GPS for South Mountain Middle School, 709 West Emmaus Ave, Allentown, Pa. 18103 - we'll see you there! The following alumni have indicated that they will be in attendance: Cindi DeVivo Greg Cinzio George King (tentative) Bill McCullum Ken Shedosky Jack Day Dave Shaw The plan is to arrive in Allentown by noon so we have time to set up a small display in the cafeteria. When the kids come in on their lunch break we can jump around informally from table to table introducing ourselves, asking their names, instrument, if they're enjoying themselves; and of course to answer any questions they might have relative to the alumni. If Eric would like someone from the group to say a few words Cindi will handle that. You will not be able to hear them play in ensemble (that happens on Sunday), but you will be able to listen to various sections rehearsing around the school. Any alumni (and marching Cadets) in the area on either Saturday or Sunday are welcome to be a part of this show of support to our newest young Cadets. FHNSAB...
Just a reminder that there is no rehearsal tomorrow. Our next rehearsal will be on Thursday February 16 at the Garfield VFW. We will send out another E mail reminder over the weekend. We are also trying to procure the hall for an additional rehearsal on Thursday the 23rd so we can run through our program for the I&E show. We will confirm if the 23rd is a go at the rehearsal on the 16th. For the I&E show on Saturday February 25, we will wear black shoes, black pants, maroon alumni corps shirt and white gloves. We will go over further details at the next rehearsal.
Gathering on the Field-In a special way we felt the passion of the Giants in their championship game on the very field where a few months before the Cadets won their tenth world title. We are very proud of the Cadets and the Cadet family! Words escape me to fully appreciate these events.It is just good to connect with the Cadets who wear the badge with Holy Name and Garfield on their shoulder. It was great to gather in our hearts on the same field of Champions. Peter Macaluso, 50-51, HNSAB
One of my favorite drum corps memories is seeing the Cadets in 1958 .. in Chicago for the AL Nationals, with the SHORTS uniforms. The pic of the color guard in shorts (on the website) is good. But, you don't show a shot of the FULL CORPS in the shorts. Would any Cadet alumni have a picture (best if a field shot) from 1958, with the shorts uniforms? That would be great.
Please note there will be no alumni corps rehearsal this week. Our next rehearsals will be on January 12 and 26 at the Garfield VFW on Outwater Lane from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. Both brass and drums will be rehearsing. We will be working on our program for the upcoming Skyliners I&E show in Hasbrouck Hts. on February 25. We are also taking orders for Holy Name Jackets. We plan to do a production run right after the holidays. For those of you who have not already ordered and would like a jacket please send your size and monogram instructions to gefreki@aol.com. The price will be $75 to $80 depending on the quantity of the production order. We would like to wish you all a merry Christmas and a healthy New Year. Thank you all for your efforts and hard work through out the year.
Dear Cadets' Alumni and Friends, The next rehearsal of the alumni corps will be this Thursday, December 15th, at the Garfield VFW Hall on Outwater Lane from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. Brass only on these dates, no percussion. This will be our last rehearsal for the year. Our rehearsals in January will be on the 12th and 26th. We will send out email reminders to current members before hand. ALL ARE WELCOME TO JOIN AND BECOME A PART OF HISTORY. We rehearse, but we also enjoy ourselves tremendously. Whether you can still play a horn or drum, or if you need to do some work to renew your talents, or you just want to be a part of The legend, or you'd like to help out in a supportive role, or you'd just like to visit to say hello...YOU'RE WELCOME! Our door is always open. FHNSAB... The Holy Name - Garfield Cadets Alumni Corps: Still dreaming our dreams, and still entertaining.
I am Tony Arena, the Treasurer of the Reilly Raiders Sr. Drum & Bugle Corps and representative of the Host Corps and Co-Sponsor with the Buglers Hall of Fame the North American Philadelphia Regional I&E and MiniCorps Competition to be held on March 3, 2012 Saturday at 1:00 pm Knight of Columbus 235 Limekiln Pike Glenside, PA. 19038 This year’s competition will be comprised of two separate divisions: Drum Corps Division and a Scholastic Division (Brass Players Only!) The entrance fee for Band competitors is FREE ! Even though there is no entrance fee for band competitors you still MUST complete an application form with the Buglers Hall of Fame (BHOF). Tickets prices are as follows: Adults $10.00 Sr. Citizens, Students with ID & Veterans – FREE Group rates 15 or more $7.00 each I would like to personally invite your group to participate in our second annual event! For application information and fees visit the Buglers Hall of Fame website at : www.buglershalloffame.com For any additional information please contact me ! Tony Arena 23 Oswego Avenue Audubon, NJ. 08106 home # 856-672-1164 work # 609-292-3700 cell # 609-417-4097 email tonyarena@comcast.net Please RSVP either way if you are or are not going to attend.
Holiday wishes to the Cadet alumni Best wishes to our fellow maroon brothers in the Cadets from the Imperials alumni! We wish you all a Merry Christmas, filled with the joy of family and friends. May your dreams be realized, your goals achieved and your family remain close during the coming year. Of course, best wishes to the Cadets and the new Cadets2!!
I remember the Cadets whwen I was with the Shoreliners out of Neptune New Jersey in the 1950's. Your sound was special then and I am sure it has only improved over the years. Congratulations. Editor's Note: Thank you for your kind words Ron. The 1950s were indeed a very special era.
Seeing the uniform is the visual explanation of "shall always be."
Skokie/Chicago/ DesPlaines Vanguard 1961-69. lead soprano and Drum Major 67/68. Admired your corps always! (editor's note: the admiration was mutual.I saw you perform as Skokie Vanguard, Chicago Vanguard, and DesPlaines Vanguard...and I consider myself very, very lucky to have had that pleasure.)
Most of us remember Drum Corps World, an important corps magazine for over 60 years! Drum Corps World has ceased to be a PRINT magazine, due to rising costs and limited subscriptions. However, the publisher, Steve Vickers, has continued the magazine as on ON-LINE (Internet) offering. Actually, it is quite good. Lots of interesting reports, pictures and features .. including LOTS of stuff from the 1960 and 70s. You can sign up for a FREE subscription to Drum Corps World at www.drumcorpsworld.com You might want to give this a try
Here is the way I see it. Comparing ole school drum corp, with DCI drum corp is like comparing a 69 Camaro to a 2011 Camaro. The bottom line is. The 69 Camaro was great. Nice body lines. Great running engines. Cool. Dynamite, just like the drum corps back in the day. Then there is the 2011 Camaro. Also great. Very nice body lines. Great running engine. Cool Dynamite , just like the DCI corps out there in 2011. You can compare them, but the bottom line is the horn lines were great, back in the day, and the horn lines are great-er, now in 2011. Spoken like a true horn player, thats all that I know. The horn lines of the DCI Corps in 2011 were just plain awesome. I think the crowds at the shows this year would agree. Oh and one more thought, the 2011 Camaro, I am sure has alot more engineering and technolgy in it , than the 69 Camaro, even though, and awesome ride. Congratulations Cadets 2011.We are all proud. XX
George Hopkins Just finished final meeting ... Cadets small ensemble ready to play for the UN Security Council on Wednesday. Thanks to Gino and Melissa for the prep!!!
A famous man once said that nothing is certain but change. Everything in life changes from the clothes we wear to the music on the radio to the foods we eat. The change is not always for the best--e.g "New" Coke--but it cannot be stopped. Drum corps were once a way to explore and revel in patriotism. The military influence was obvious in the "American section" and the obligatory "Presentation of the colors." But the world around drum corps was becoming less and less enamored of all things military--the ongoing war in Viet Nam was tearing at the very fabric of America, and patriotic activities were becoming less and less popular. Color presentations were shortened reflecting the general climate. In addition the influence of both the American Legion and the VFW had become burdensome with clear favoritism seen on a recurring basis. The rules and requirements of these two organizations caused stagnation in the activity. It was inevitable that a revolution would turn drum corps on its ear. It is now 40 years later and the changes continue. And in order for the activity to remain relevant there will be changes continually until 40 years from now. The past always looks better through the filter of 40 years--you really did look fab in that mini skirt!--we are all beginning to sound like our parents "we walked to school all 15 miles up hill in six feet of snow." Sorry, my fellow oldsters, it's time to put on your big kid panties (or diapers) and deal! Get over it--it's not coming back--we are not traveling by horse and buggy, we're using cars that can be started from a distance, that wake us when we nod off, and that park themselves. And we are seeing drum corps with beautiful music, strange drills, and odd scoring--but it's still our maroon, and so we are all Cadets--FHNSAB...
To me Drum corps of the old days were the best. Marching in the 60's & 70's, company fronts, high leg lifts, inspection, same uniforms. That is it. Although today is more "entertainment and show," I miss the old style. Put a disc from the old days in your car,turn up the volume and you feel like you are back there. Todays' music for the most part is boring to me and does not have the marches we had.. Just my opinion.....FHNSAB (DS- Yes, the old days were good and we were good as well...but time passes, things change, and if we want our corps to continue to offer to young people what it offered to us, we have to be able to separate yesterdays memories from today's realities. I do understand and respect your viewpoint though. Sometimes, as we get older, change seems to challenge the comfort of our memories. Today's Cadets live in a different world than we lived in though, and our support or lack of it might make the difference between whether the inheritors of our corps, present and future, have the opportunities to make their own memories. Some of us, I guess, can enjoy both what we remember and what we see now, while for others it is more difficult or even impossible. All of us, however, whatever our feelings on yesterdays drum corps versus today's drum corps, share at least one thing. Our love for OUR CORPS, OUR CADETS, and hopefully we will not allow stylistic preferences to separate our past from our present. For 77 years we have all been bound together by our history, our heritage, and our values. Let's keep that bond strong and alive. FHNSAB...)
Thank you for sharing that Dave. John Mehrtens. Hawthorne Caballero Alumni Drum Corps
Hi Holy Name Cadets. I am Joanne Borck, and I wrote the piece my father-in-law, Dave Borck, has shared with you. I marched in the '60s in a small Illinois corps, the Saint Alexis Vikings, and during that time corps was my life. I lived to march. My husband, Bruce Borck, marched with Norwood Park Imperials (Illinois), and yes I married the cutest brother. Our daughter sold souvies. Our son marched with Phantom Regiment and later joined me to march with the Royal Aires reunion corps. Yes, I am one of those fortunate people who got to do it again and march not only as an adult, but I marched with my son. I have done most of it, bus mom, cook truck, nurse, and sewing crew. My family made plumes out of boas in our garage and if you look there are a few feathers still floating about. There is no part of corps that is easy but that is not why we do it. I cannot explain why we chose to love something that was tough, and the same goes for the kids that do it now. I just know that it helped make me who I am today and taught me how to set goals and achieve them and work with just about anyone. It teaches the same things now. When you meet someone who has marched, no matter what age they are, there is an instant shared bond because we just know what it takes to do corps. Thank you for all the years of wonderful music and marching you have given to the world.
Interesting viewpoint. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Dave...great perspective!
Brilliant, Despite all of George's criticism he has it right about what the Cadets are all about and it ties right into this special piece
Very well done and hopefully it will bring the hard heads to a reality where the different generations can understand each other and why evolution and technology play such an important role in each era. I think the proudest moment for us all is when we see the corps in the traditional uniform with Holy Name patches coming down the street with flags waving and drum majors out front in gold trim. Anything they do after that doesn't matter. The one thing that binds us together for all the 77 years is the uniform because it is the one constant in the entire equation. It is the initial visual effect and tradition that gets us all. I can recall a few years ago in Hawthorne when the corps appeared at the reviewing stand. There wasn't a dry eye in the house ( the corps hadn't even done anything yet ) and when I uttered these words, " absolutely magnificent " you should have heard the comments from the people standing near me. " You got that right ", " Amen brother ", " now that's drum corps " and other words to that effect. So I will personally do all I can to get the hard heads to be more involved in our activity so the can see for themselves that magnificence that we speak about. Thanks for all you do to keep the maroon blood flowing.
Good story, and correct. What old drum corps was then, it was then. The modern stuff has evolved to what it is today - like it or not. Each generation of ' drum and bugle corps ' can only compare itself within its time, at least in my opinion. While I do not follow today's DCI participants closely, what I have seen of it, in snippets on youTube or at some related event in person, I can honestly say that the musicianship displayed by these groups is stellar to what it was in the days I participated. It's not that we weren't good, because we were and truly laid the groundwork for drum corps' evolution just as each succeeding generation does, but we could not compete with today's ' Class A ' groups. The marching percussion sections are fantastic, and the ' pit ' sections are phenomenal. The horn playing is as though it has come from an orchestral foundation rather than a military-type background patterned after WWI military bands. While there are certain parts of modern corps that I personally am not in agreement with, I can say I am astounded when I see the field movement by these groups while they maintain musical control, and create the emotional feeling that matches the theme presentation by that group. It's a wonderful atmosphere to be part of, a fulfilling activity that gives the greatest satifaction and just so much more I will not even attempt to add here because anyone who has been involved with it, or is still in it today, truly knows.
Dave, Like yourself I marched back in the early 60’s with the Cadets. Even up to this day I have to hear the same “flak” from various fellow Cadets (I marched with), and fellow competitors about how this current “state of the art” is not real drum corps. That is “bovine scatology” at its highest……….Yes. back then we had as much energy, zeal, enthusiasm, competitive fire and passion as the young men and women have today. But today, these young Cadets have much more talent for the “state of the art” programs being designed and arranged than we did. THAT IS THE WAY IT SHOULD BE………………………………….EACH YEAR THE ACTIVITY GET BETTER AND BETTER. That is progress my fellow alumni. Hopefully one of these days, some of my friends “get it”.
Hi Dave I don’t always make it through all of your emails, but I did this time. It was really an excellent letter about Drum Corps of different generations and it really reflected my feelings about the activity. I have always felt that changes in the activity are not always what I have done, but I have accepted them with little complaint because I do feel that the activity must be regulated by the participants of the activity. It’s that simple. I find that after more than 40 years of following the activity I am rarely disappointed. Maybe it is the changes that have kept my interest throughout the years… The people who turn out the best are the people who make the best out of the way things turn out!
I received this yesterday from a good friend who marched with The Norwood Park Imperials (Illinois) right around the same time I was marching with The Cadets. I thought I would share it with my fellow maroon and gold alumni. DS REAL DRUM CORPS - ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE9-5-2011 "First, a story from an RARC (Royal Aires Alumni Corps) member: Several weeks after DCI in 2002, I was at work and talking with the mother of a patient. Somehow we got on the subject of Madison and she said she had just been there for DCI. I asked if she had been at semi-finals and saw RA and she had and enjoyed it. Well, her dad had been there too and had marched in the '40s in drum corps. In fact, he was sitting in the lounge and she wanted me to go talk with him. So away I went, very full of myself because here was a 70-something year old man and I am just betting the Royal Aires Alumni Corps had given him the thrill of his life. WELL, WRONG! When I started talking to him about seeing the real way drum corps should have been, like back in the perfect time of the 50s and 60s, he looked at me like I was crazy! He said we knew nothing of REAL drum corps with TRUE MILITARY MARCHING and REAL INSPECTION! We were the ones who started ruining the whole thing! Wow, I never looked at it that way before. I thought when I had marched, drum corps was at its peak of greatness. His comments gave me a whole new perspective on what we did. In this old drum corps' member's eyes, Truman Crawford was a 'traitor' to old drum corps and 'he moved us along the path to ruination!' The truth I guess is: EVERY drum corps generation feels that way about THEIR era … and that the new drum corps isn’t “real” drum corps. SO, what IS drum corps?? Drum Corps is passion, sweat, tears, triumph, defeat, hard work, laughter, 'one more time and get it right'. It puts you into situations that you never dreamed of and you think you'll never survive, but not only do you survive ...you thrive and grow. It gives you the ability to face anything that comes your way for the rest of your life because you 'did' drum corps and you can pull out that last reserve you didn't even know you had and face whatever is out there. Drum corps gives you the chance to learn what true passion is for something you love. How you cannot wait for the weekend to go to camp or practice and see all those people again, even some you might absolutely hate but learn to work with to put the show on the field. Drum corps gives you friends for life, who have seen you when you aren’t at your best, but are still your friends anyway. There is no other feeling like standing on the field in those moments before you start your show, whether it is on a starting line or in the middle of the field, and are ready to enter that magic world of the drill and the music and the passion one more time. So, do not talk of how much better we were …. as it is not the field programs, the drill, bugles, drums and dancing or even an American Flag section that makes it drum corps. It is you and me and those who went before us and our sons and daughters and those who come after us that make it drum corps. Drum corps is a living thing, an activity that evolves like everything else. I am proud of what my part was in drum corps in the 60s and 2000s. I am also proud of being a traveler with a corps and sewing, nursing and working the cook truck. I loved every minute of it - even when I questioned some of the crazy stuff I saw. Drum Corps is US! " Written by Joanne Sunko Borck who marched flag with the St. Alexis Vikings (Bensenville, Illinois) in the mid-60s, and later marched in the Royal Aires' Reunion Corps (RARC) in 2002-2003. Her (deceased) husband, Bruce, marched baritone in the Norwood Park Imperials (Illinois) in the 1960s, and their son, Colin, marched baritone in the Phantom Regiment (1999-2001), later also marching in the RARC. Our thanks to Joanne for auithorizing us to share her thoughts with The Cadets' Alumni. It might be added that both our corps hold the color maroon in particular reverence.
Regardless of your political leanings, remember to FLY THE FLAG on Sept. 11 to honor and remember the innocent victims of this horrible terror attack, as well as our dedicated troops. FHNSAB
A belated but heartfelt "Congratulations" on your well deserved DCI Championship. Although I was in the hospital at the time, I was cheering you & my Cavaliers on. As a Cavalier Alumnus and Honorary Holy Name Alumnus I couldn't be prouder of both Corps and the enduring Friendship they enjoy. My very best to you all for an exciting 2011 season. Looking forward to 2012. And Gold looks much better with Maroon than Blue. SPLOOIE!!! and, as always, FHNSAB!
The alumni of the Imperials congratulate the Cadets on yet another great season .. tremendous achievements, great program and another World Championship. It took a lot of dedication, hard work and team work ... things the Cadets are known for. Our alums who saw the Cadets this year raved about the show and the spirit shown. Besides, we are always happy when a maroon corps wins! :) Best wishes to the Cadets and the new Cadets2 for 2012!!
Daniel L Richardson - Phantom Regiment Congratulations to The Cadets on your World Championship. You put on a great show and worked very hard this year as you do every year. Very well deserved!! Dr Dan PR (Editor's note: For those of you who don't know Dr. Dan, he has been a guiding light at Phantom Regiment since their organization. We in turn would like to congratulate Phantom Regiment on yet another amazing show and amazing performance. The Cadet Alumni salute you).
Thanks Chris. When I was with Garfield in the 60's I HATED loosing. Gladly we did little, but when we did it was usually to the Cavaliers, the only corps I could tolerate loosing to. Was then and still is ONE DAMN FINE DRUM CORPS!!!
Something I posted on both Cavies and Cadets facebook page today.. A VIEW FROM BOTH SIDES: As an alumnus of the Garfield Cadets, working as their seamstress for the past 4-5 years and after spending a great amount of time this summer with the Cavaliers working on their uniforms, I consider myself one lucky gal to be associated with both corps.... As I stood in the tunnel below Lucas Oil Stadium I witnessed the Cadets pass by the Cavaliers as they entered the field for their finals appearance. As soon as the first Cadet passed the applause started...by each and every one of our Cavaliers, and their staff, and management, and volunteers. Then it got louder and louder. They yelled, they clapped, they stomped their feet for these young men and women, wishing them great success on this night. The Cavies stood side by side cheering and yelling for them as they passed by in the traditional Cadet form. It was loud, it was gracious, it was class on every level. On the outside the Cadets held true to thier traditions of not breaking into smiles or even acknowledging the accolades being bestowed upon them at the moment, But don't be fooled by this, because as one of them, a Cadet through and through, I shed tears of pride for my new Cavalier family and was humbled that they would show such raw, unadultered compassion and excitement for their fellow competitors, The Cadets. They felt it too...I know they did. It was impossible not to. I am proud to be a Cadet, and I am just as proud to be welcomed into the Cavalier family. Splooie.... For Holy Name Shall Always Be. Whatever the fraternity, whatever the competitive outcome, we are all one big Drum Corps Family.
Dave Please share with your distribution list as you see appropriate. It was great to see and spend time with you guys on this weekend. On behalf of the alumni of The Cavaliers, please allow me to express our sincere congratulations to the entire Cadet family for a great and hard won DCI title for 2011. While we had hoped to be banging it out for tenths of a point at the very end and come up with the right performance at Finals to win it ourselves, it was not to be this year. However, we are also as proud of the 2011 Cavaliers as you are of your 2011 Cadets, and for the same, and right, reasons. Throughout this year, the marching members of our two corps represented our legacies with effort, grace, and class that was an example to all of us who sometimes forget that the competition is secondary to the long term value provided to these young men and women. The Cadets staff and design team are also to be congratulated for a magnificent and entertaining show and for preparing the corps so remarkably well. Enjoy the well-earned fruits of your victory with our best wishes and friendship. Then get back to work and support your corps any way you can, because we'll be working to beat you again in 2012!! I would never presume to use your fraternity's sign off, "FHNSAB", but please accept a respectful "SPLOOIE!" in your honor from ours. Chris Hartowicz President, Cavalier Alumni Association
David: Its a wonderful thing to see "The Cadets" AKA Holy Name AKA Garfield as world champs ! As a alum of the Chicago Cavaliers 1961- 1966 , of course I wanted my guys to win ! The next best thing was "The Cadets"winning ! I saw the second competition this year and loved "The Cadets" Angels and Demons show ! I picked them to win it all at that time ! Lets hope that our 2 corps reach the level of camaraderie we enjoyed in the 50s and 60s it was a great time for 2 great corps. Best, Jim Costello (the other one)
Congradulations to the 2011 DCI Champs
I just wanted to say congratulations on a great season so far, Cadets! You all have been my favorite since I first saw you in 6th grade, and your corp encourages me to pursue my goals and become a band director. Thanks for the inspiration! (:
Information on funeral services for our friend and fellow Cadet, Bob Bella Rosa: Raccuglia Funeral Home, Court & Sackett St., Brooklyn, NY, 718-855-7737 ... Sun. 8/7 & Mon. 8/8 (call for visiting hours). A Memorial Service will be held on Tues 8/9/11 10AM at Sacred Heart St. Stevens Catholic Church, Summit & Hicks St. Brooklyn, NY. There will not be a funeral . Bob is to be cremated. Colonel Joe Brancati will play taps at the services. FHNSAB...
It is my sad duty to report the death of this Drum Corps Icon. Bob Bella Rosa passed from this earth this morning. Details on his wake & funeral will be posted as soon as they are received. Semper Fi, FHNSAB...(Editor's Note: This truly great and much-loved Cadet left a mark on all who knew him that will never be forgotten. He was a very proud and always faithful Holy Name Cadet. Those of us who knew him personally, and those who had the honor of marching alongside him, know that he was the ultimate symbol of a byegone era in drum corps history. There will never be another like him again. We now say goodbye to Bob (The Kid) Bella Rosa, and just as he always closed his communications, we add "Gabarina and HNCC").
Bob (The Kid) Bella Rosa, a Cadet forever, is back in the VA Hospital (he had been at a rehab center for a short while). While at the rehab center he developed an infection and fever, and it was necessary to administer a blood transfusion. We ask all his fellow Cadets and his many friends in other corps to please keep him in your thoughts and prayers. FHNSAB...
I am an ex-Cadet....It's true.. From 1946 thru 1948... I am 81 years old and I saw a lot in my years with The Cadets. I traveled the country and I was a world champions several times. We appeared in the Orange Bowl and played for President Truman...I have had drum corps in my blood... Later I became a Hawthorne Caballero.. and won several world championships with them. Memories bring tears to my eyes. Luck to you all, and most especially to my Cadets. FHNSAB... Al Vargo alv4283@cox.net (EDITOR'S NOTE: Al, you have the respect and gratitude of 77 years of Cadets for your contribution to our corps. We are very glad that your memories remain with you, and we hope that the tears they bring are tears of joy as you remember your years in the maroon and gold. Your fellow Cadets salute you!)
Jenny: Please offer your father (Bobby Bella Rosa) my best wishes for a speedy recovery. I marched with him in Holy Name and the N.Y. Skyliners. Sent him a get well card C/O L.I. College Hospital but it was returned to me.
My Father (Bob Bella Rosa) is A LOT more alert then he has been this whole time. Friday he is going to be moved to a rehab facility near our home to begin the long road ahead. He has a clear chest and they feel the pneumonia has cleared up with the help of several antibiotics. Once he is in rehab we will be able determine what his prognosis will be. So for now all seems to be slowly moving forward.
I am saddened by the passing of Tommy Maat. I recall him as the anchor the snare line which featured Biily Ridings and Bill Blazowski. What a loss. He was a leader and a good natured guy-a great Cadet. I admired him and am grateful to have marched with him. Peace, Rich "Scotty McGarry."
It is with immense sorrow that I advise you of the death on July 14th of our brother Cadet and friend, Thomas Maat 59-63. Tom marched in the Garfield Cadets as a much admired and respected snare drummer.Visiting hours will be on Tuesday, July 19, from 5-8 PM at Shook Funeral Home, 639 Van Houten Ave., Clifton, NJ. Services will be that evening at 7:30 PM, with interment on Wednesday morning at BGWCD Veterans Memorial Cemetary, Arneytown. FHNSAB...
Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. My dad is A LOT more alert then he has been this whole time. Friday he is going to be moved to a rehab facility near our home to begin the long road ahead. He has a clear chest and they feel the pneumonia has cleared up with the help of several antibiotics. Once he is in rehab we will be able determine what his prognosis will be. So for now all seems to be slowly moving forward. FHNSAB...
Health Report on Bob "The Kid" Bellarosa I contacted and spoke to Bob's youngest daughter, who works at a medical rehab facility in Brooklyn, NY. Her name is Jenny Corujo. Jenny informed me that her dad had a major stroke in the left side of his brain, causing paralysis to his right arm and unable to speak. At times he is aware of his surroundings and gives signs letting all to know he does not want to hooked up with tubes. At present he has pneumonia which for a person in his state can be fatal. Movement and antibiotics are the key to fight this condition and Jenny is fighting the medical staff, at this hospital, to follow through. She will convey to Bob that all of drum corps who know of his exploits in this activity, are praying for his well being. He is at the Long Island College Hospital, 339 Henry Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231
Those of us in the "green world" are thrilled to see The Cadets knockin' them dead out West. It's about time the Maroon gets the recognition from the judges they so richly deserve; I know the fans have always loved them. And we all know that the Cavaliers/Cadets friendship stretches back more than 50 years now and will continue for years to come. Whatever happens in Indy, it seems that Gold goes better with Green or Maroon, while Bronze is a lovely trim with Blue. SPLOOIE!!!, FHNSAB!
Hi, I'm Jenny, Bob's - Bob Bella Rosa's - youngest. My Dad had a major stroke on May 22 and is currently in the hospital. I felt it was important to let you all know and hope that you will pass this information onto any of his friends and fellow Cadets. At this point he is unable to speak or walk and there is no prognosis. Feel free to contact either Bobby Jr or myself for updates. (Editor's Note: Bob is a much beloved and respected Cadet from the late 40s and early 50s. After aging out of The Cadets he went on to a storied career teaching and marching with many corps, and publishing a number of drum corps publications, most notably Eastern Review and Heritage Magazine. He is also well know for the huge collection of drum corps memorabilia he has amassed. It was always his hope to open a drum corps museum so all these artifacts could be on permanent display as a tribute to the activity he loved so passionately. Please keep Bob in your thoughts and prayers as he battles this demon. FHNSAB...)
Dave; the corp is winning audiences at the shows I have been at here in Blue Devil country. I talked to many BD fans and they are in awe of Cadets' show. The kids are working as hard as ever- no let down and are not gloating about their success- they are truly CADETS. FHNSAB...
Hi Dave: How are thing's going .. it's been awhile...reading all your reports about the Cadets it sounds like that keeps u pretty busy...it also looks like u have a great corps on your hands this year... but what else is new the Cadets are always great...on our way to Grand Rapids this week-end will see Troopers .. Blue Coats....Cavaliers..plus three or four more.. Last year {2010} we started to host a show of our own Dave ....2013 is Preston's 75th ann. and we would like to make it a big one ... Dave do u think your Alumni Corps would be interested in coming up....it most likely would be in August.... we have been in touch with Boston Crusaders and they are interested....We would love to have Garfield / Holy Name up here. Pass this around and let me know... HOLY NAME / SCOUT HOUSE will always be
Hi, my brother David and I belonged to the Barrington Baritones 61-63. Mr. Sherwood was the director and sponsored by the VFW. I just stumbled on this site while planning a trip to Wildwood. My brother was 4 years older and was the real enthuisiast. He went to all the competitions and had so many records from the competitions. Anyhow, it was nice to recall the Garfield Cadets, Bon Bons, Blessed Sacrament, Caballeros.
Dave I just finished this piece for you and all those who have been a significant part of my life. I didn't give it a title because I would like to leave that to you and those who have found me worthy enough to be a part of the Cadet legacy and family: The invisible line that binds us all Somewhere in an old photograph two people once strangers pose As if they knew that this moment was fleeting Leaving only this snapshot as a record of the commonality of their purpose The inevitable bond that exists as we prepare each day in the quest for perfection Whether stepping on the field for the first time or for the last time Taking the lessons learned into our daily lives Never forgetting those brothers and sisters who have help shape our lives Bringing us to the final appearance Where the stars are our audience and the final judgement eternal. In remembrance of Lou Reda Mike La Neve Bill Ridings Dan Maxi, ect. FHNSAB...
The songs so beautifully sung by Amanda Males (Jeff's beautiful and talented daughter), at the memorial mass last Saturday will be posted on her youtube page @ acm110384. I requested that she also post it on her facebook page since many Cadets seem to frequent that site. FHNSAB...
It has just come to my attention that our brother Cadet Tony Tantillo and his wife Shirley are suffering from the untimely demise of their son last week. There is a financial problem due to the unexpected loss and insufficient preparation for the care of his wife Maryellen Tantillo. Anyone wishing to make a donation to assist with this problem should send their donation to Maryellen Tantillo, 141 Washington Ave., Elmwood Park, NJ 07407. FHNSAB...
Just home from a beautiful mass at Holy Name Church--so happy I made it--wish everyone had been able--FHNSAB
Maggie, I am so sorry about your Dad's passing. and the pain you and your family are now enduring. Please know that you will be in all our thoughts and prayers as you travel this dark road. Please also keep in mind tthrough your tears that even the darkest days eventually give way to sunshine again. We will miss you at the mass on Saturday. It won't seem the same without you. FHNSAB... Dave
Hi Dave, It's Maggie Temple. I have sad news . This year I have to miss the mass at Holy Name. My father passed away unexpectedly at work the 19th. It was a Ruptured aneurism . June 11, we are having a military entombment burial for him. Before he retired as a Mechanical Engineer for General Dynamics. He was a First Lieutenant in the Army Signal corps. I am gonna miss the Catholic Mass. Hope to see you all this summer. Love, Maggie. FHNSAB...
The Cadet family grieves with Tony and Shirley Tantillo on the loss of their son Anthony.. Tony marched Cadets 43-52, and is still an active and much loved and admired alumnus of the maroon and gold. Our thoughts and prayers are with you Tony and Shirley.
Tony & Shirley Tantillo's son Anthony C Tantillo, age 51, passed away on June 3. Viewing at Alesso Home, 91 Union Ave., Lodi: Mon 4-8, Funeral Tues 10, Liturgy at St Annes, Fair Lawn 11am. Donations to Family appreciated.FHNSAB...
to my grandfather Uncle JOE... Adamo , miss you so much today and thinking of you.... I am marching another season with Cabs Alumni CORP... I just want to thank you for all you did for us in our family and your extended family.. The Holy Name Cadets, Garfield Cadets.... you were a true inspiration to this wonderful organization called Drum corp... xo you Pop
So many of these names resonate with me, none more so than Richie Chiricella, that superior young man, and Susan Erben whom I saw grow from a bright young girl into a brilliant woman. George Hilger sent me a letter (which I cherish) telling me that it was due in large part to my example that he became a teacher. I am of course unworthy of that. He would have been successful at whatever he did. He was that kind of guy. I remember Karen Kopacz as an intelligent and sweet young woman, and Vic Rolleri as a dedicated and most reliable Cadet who always did his job and generously helped others with theirs. Mike Dewey was as solid as they come and could make me laugh on cue, and Randy Meyers was one of the most likable students I ever encountered. Todd Paton and Louie Reda were in the corps during difficult times and both represent the best of the best, Cadets who knew the meaning of teamwork and what it could achieve. John Van Dillewyn and his corpsmates were the reason the Cadets finally climbed into contention in the modern DCI era. All of the people on your list made a major contribution to the drum corps, but they would have done so for any community of which they had been a part. May their memories be honored. I will be there in spirit, believe me. Frank (reference to the memorial mass at Holy Name Church on June 11th)
Father of Greg Handler 78-82. I think he would love this 2011 show. (Editor's note: Greg is listed on our Rest in Peace page. Now he belongs to the ages, but he will always be part of The Cadets. FHNSAB...)
Thanks for the warm reminder of what it's all about. You do it so well. Steve ~ Cadet #14
Hi everyone .. Jim is right ... it is the 25th anniversary spring show with the Garfield Cadets as guests ... later that year we were the Cadets guests in Garfield NJ ...we were very good friends with the Cadets .. they were also here in 1958 as Holy Name and we were there in 1959 .. all u have to do is read the story Dave Shaw wrote about us to find out what he thought about Scout House ...here is a man who marched in one of the most famous jr. Drum Corps in the world and he could not say enought nice things about us .. if after reading this and u are not proud to march in or have marched in PRESTON SCOUT HOUSE BAND / ALUMNI DRUM CORPS ..................... (Editor's Note: You have every reason to be proud. Scout House was and still is a great drum corps. To this day I proudly wear the "old boys" jacket that was presented to me. The Maple Leaf forever).
Dave, I have no idea what the Cadets would do without you. You are a treasure. Thank you for putting the proper perspective and priority on what it TRULY means to be a Cadet. As Memorial Day approaches, I can’t help but remember the long roll that I would play as they read off the names of those that sacrificed all…the greatest measure, so that I could have the privelege to stand there and enjoy the freedom that was paid for in their blood. FHNSAB... (Editor's Note: I remember those Garfield ceremonies at the monument as well. I always felt sorry for the drummers during those endless rolls).
Dave, I'm sure there are Alumni members who can not be there or who will be there and not want to stop on their way. If anyone would like In Memory Flowers delivered to the church, I can offer a single White Rose with Greens and Baby's Breath in a water tube and individually cello wrapped with a white bow and a card with the sentiment they would like to say for the discounted price of $3. each (tax included) and I will deliver them to the church if anyone is interested. They can contact me via e-mail JNikischer@aol.com or call my cell a 973-955-3404. They can send me payment through the mail or I can send them a bill after. I would need to know by June 9th. Joey Nikischer, FHNSAB ...
You remain a consummate wordsmith. I will be playing taps over the next few days at a Civil War reenactment. It was written by General Dan Butterfield and his bugler, Oliver Wilcox Norton, exactly 150 years ago this summer at Harrison's Landing in VA. Those 24 notes represent the single most played piece among all buglers and trumpeters ever since. It connects us all. Best, Frank
I am proud to be a Cadet and glad to know there are many of us who share your thoughts Dave....Thanks again for everything you do and say to keep us all together, even during these difficult days. I wish the Corps GodSpeed this season and wish I could be there on the 11th. I know the guys and gals of our Alumni will do the job right and get the kids off to a great start this summer. Stay well Dave and I hope to see you this summer. FHNSAB... Bill
Well said, Dave. A truly amazing perspective. I hope this can be put somewhere on our webpage. It should never be forgotten. FHNSAB...Jack
Beautifully written. I have a blue star hanging, My son Richard is now in Afghanistan for the next year. (Editor's Note: We'll keep him in our thoughts and prayers. Thank him and thank you and his family as well for his service to our country).
Thank you for sharing your kind sentiments; I couldn't have said it better. For Holy Name shall always be… Duncan MacQueen Sgt 1st Class, US Army, Retired Solo Soprano, 1970 Editor's Note: Thank you for your service to our country. FHNSAB...
Memorial Day!! Take time to remember WHY this holiday exists and remember to say "thanks" to the veterans for all they did! Especially remember to honor those who died. Be sure to fly the US flag in a place of honor. Then, remember all the fun we used to have on Memorial Day weekend! The first appearances of the summer .. many local parades,sometimes the first early corps contests. Best wishes to the current Cadets as they prepare for the 2011 season.
Great performance at the CAVALCADE! I see the Samaras are alumni members.Kenny and Carl, where are ya? Brian Fallon Cavalcade Emcee & Rudibass .
Like your site great web page Bruce Witmer Preston Scout House Alumni
Please note that the Holy Name Garfield Cadets Alumni Corps will be performing at Secaucus High School on Saturday May 21. The show is sponsored by the Blessed Sacrament Golden Knights and starts at 6:00 pm. Tickets are $10 and there will be 10 alumni corps performing. This is a great show and a wonderful opportunity to come out and cheer on your Alumni Corps.
To all the mebers who voted for my brother into the Hall of Fame I thank You on behalf of my parents, sister and my brother Pat. Thank You again from the three Scotty's. Hoot man. 1957 til present.FHNSAB...
I am very proud for my son, Jordan, to be a part of such a fine organization. This is a life-long dream for him. The many years of practice and lessons have paid off. We look forward to watching him "live his dream". Best wishes for a great tour season. Shine On!!! EDIORS NOTE: Thousands of alumni once stood where your son Jordan now stands, and everyone of us has our hand on his shoulder as he sings the Holy Name Hymn for the first time. Have a wonderful summer Cadet!
Sadly, I was informed today of the passing of fellow Cadet Pete Castellano's father. Pete's dad's gift was making music and he played his trumpet professionally well into his 80's. Please keep Pete, his mom, and his family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. May perpetual light shine upon him and may he rest in peace.
I learned today that my good friend Pete Castellano's dad is gravely ill. Sadly, Pete told me that it is only a matter of time. Pete marched with me in the Cadets snare line in 1978, 1979, and 1980 and then in 1981 while I was an instructor. He then went on to win the DCI Snare Individual World Championship in 1984. Pete's dad spent his life playing trumpet with some of the great big bands in the swing era and beyond. He has a love for life and music that defied his age (I believe he played professionally well into his 80's). Pete and his mom and dad were always there for the Cadets, offering us their food, home, and swimming pool no matter when or how many came before and after rehearsals. They always made us feel like we were part of the family. So I ask all of you to keep Pete's dad and his family in your thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.FHNSAB...
Our Thoughts and Prayers go out to Lou Silvestri,Bill Riding and for Cindi's Husband John for a speedy recovery!..FHNSAB...Steven and Gerald.
Sorry to hear of Cindi's husbands condition. My prayers are with him and his family along with wishes for a speedy recovery.
My local newspaper the Courier News, Hunterdon County Edition, carried the news of the passing of our Cadet Brother Louis P. Silvestri.(59-67). As he was residing in Florida , I thought it odd that it would appear here. Actually unknown to me, Louis had lived and worked in the Flemington area for a good number of years, was the service manager at the auto dealer where my wife took her vehicle and was very involved in community / civic activities. His passing is particularly sad to me,in that as we were able to see one another at the 75th, he had been, for a good number of years, hiding here in plain sight; and as I have been on a number of search committees , this was a missed opportunity for me to reach out and share many tales of our Cadet era and to have him join our alumni activities. Visitation will be 2-4 PM Sat. March 19 at the Bruce Van Arsdale Funeral Home, 111 N. Gaston Ave., Somerville NJ, 908-725-3111. FHNSAB...
I was deeply saddened to learn of Bill Riding's ad Lou Silvestri's passing. I was fortunate to know both of them as they came into the Cadets in 1959. We were fortunate to get Bill involved in the Atlantic City Championship reunion in 2007. He even recruited his son, Tre, to serve as "official photographer" and we have those great memories to cherish. Then I had a chance to see Louie at the 75th ... after almost 50 years. Time flies and friends pass. But we are all better for having enjoyed the friendships we created. May they rest in peace. FHNSAB...
Thoughts and prayers to Louis Silvestri's family--true to his Cadet self, he was always a truly nice guy--I have many fond memories of him. The world has lost a bit of sunshine and heaven has gained a twinkling star--RIP Louis--FHNSAB...
Lou Silvestri....... A great Cadet and friend we lost, my thoughts and prays are with him and his family. As time goes by for FHNSAB... My friend and fellow Cadet.
Hi guys…. Cindi asked me to let you know what is going on with her husband, John, since she is spending every minute possible at the hospital and cannot be in contact with you directly. After going for some tests because of chest pains, John was immediately admitted into Wayne’s St. Joseph’s Hospital. The test results showed that two of John’s arteries were 100% blocked and a third was 60% blocked. He is being moved some time today to Paterson’s St. Joseph’s Hospital and is scheduled for triple-bypass surgery tomorrow. The doctors feel that had this problem not been found in the way it was, John would have had a massive heart attack / stroke before too long and we probably would have lost him (or at the very least, he would have had major heart damage)…..SO as difficult as this situation is, Cindi & John feel this was really a blessing in disguise. When he gets home, he will be out of commission for about 8 weeks and Cindi will take him back and forth to Cardiac Rehab during that time. I know Cindi would appreciate if you would keep John in your prayers, and I will shoot you updates as I learn of any. Stay well my friends, FHNSAB... Renee
Dave, just received an E mail from Lou silvertip's fiancee Bonnie, Lou passed away on February 28 2011, Lou sent me an E mail on Feb 10 to inform me he was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic Cancer which advanced to his liver, I called him that day and he was in good spirits he had just started Chemo.It was a shock to get the E mail today from Bonnie . Lou was cremated in Florida. Please pass this along,Thanks Dennis Mura FHNSAB... Lou Silvestri 59-68 Enlisted: U.S. Air Force 1965 Basic Training: Amarillo, Texas Aircraft Mechanic School: Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas Honorable Discharge: 1968 Stationed: Otis Air Force Base, Cape Cod, Mass Vung Tau Air Force Base, South East Asia(Vietnam) Rank: Staff Sargent
I have just been advised that the husband of Cindi DeVivo 69-73 will undergo open heart surgery today. Please join me in offering your thoughts and prayers for a safe conclusion and a rapid recovery. Keep Cindi in your thoughts as well. Like so many others, she has had a very rough year. FHNSAB...
On behalf of the Holy Name - Garfield Cadets Alumni Corps I would like to express our deepest sympathy and condolonces concering the death of Bill Ridings. I first met Bill as a rookie in the early 60's. His spirit and energy were incredible. He brought that same enthusiasm to the 2007 reunion in Atlantic City. He was very excited as we planned the Alumni Corp's participation for the 75th in the Meadowlands. Bill was an exceptional Cadet and we will miss him dearly. FHNSAB...
I happened to be in Europe during the time of Bill's passing and had not been on this site for a month or more. 'Just happened to call Linda this morning to check on his condition when I learned of his passing. Bill was a fighter, always with the positive attitude. We worked together on the 75th Decades Committee for the decade of the 1960's and I can tell you all that he was so driven for our reunion to succeed. Then of all things, he began his first bout with the horrible cancer and had to miss the evnt. I feel so fortunate to have spent some time with he and Tre in San Antonio over the years. May his soul rest in peace with all of our departed Cadet Brothers and Sisters.. FHNSAB...
I knew of Bill Ridings as a great Cadet but I did not have the privilege of getting to know Bill until the 75th anniversary year. As we prepared for that great event, Bill and I started communicating via Email and Phone. After the first phone call it was as if I knew Bill all my life. I was very much looking forward to drumming with Bill during the anniversary weekend. Bill notified me of his condition but assured me that he was going to be fine. The Cadet was pouring out this great, positive attitude and I was convinced he would beat the odds. Bill was called home to be with many other Cadets that have gone before him. He was a great Cadet,a great person who will be missed in our hearts. FHNSAB...
I have just spoken with Caryn at the Cadet offices in Allentown, She advised that any donations in memory of Bill Ridings be sent to: The Cadets,601 W. Hamilton St., Allentown, Pa. 18101. To the Attention of Andrew Barlow. Please indicate on a note to Andrew that it is in memory of Bill Ridings. FHNSAB...
Those of you having difficulty signing on to the Ridings memorial web site "My Dad" , I am giving you here a more complete address:: http://www.photographictendencies.com/bill/ FHNSAB ;
Billy Ridings, great human being: joyous, kind, decent. A role model for every person who ever marched with the corps. It was a privilege to know you. FHNSAB...
Bill Ridings' son, Tre, has set up a memorial website to honor his Dad. http:photographictendencies.com/bill/ You will see photos , information, a guest book to sign and more information to come; including the date, location of an upcoming celebration of his life. FHNSAB
The drum line of the Holy Name Garfield Cadet Alumni Corps offers our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Bill Ridings, who lost his battle with cancer on Saturday, Feb. 19. May there be comfort in knowing that our bond and brotherhood, neither time nor death can dissolve, for Holy Name Shall Always Be. http://www.photographictendencies.com/bill/
The last fourteen months has seen an inordinate number of Cadet brothers, sisters and extended family members taken from us. It has been emotionally bruising as these events seem to be recurring without pause, allowing for a period of reflection on our relationships with our departed cadets I want to update our cadet family as to the condition of our Cadet brother, Bill Ridings '60-'63 His wife, Linda, has informed me that his condition has taken a definitive turn for the worse. His chances of recovering are not favorable and his status is now day to day. I have just taken a phone call from Linda who advised me that Bill passed from this earth Sat. 2/19/2011 at 1PM. His attitude had been up-beat and determined since his first surgery in the spring of 2009. He could not travel to be with us for the 75th Anniversary activities, so he couldn't perform with the Cadets Alumni and the Cadets en-masse. But he and Linda were thrilled to see both the 2009 and 2010 shows in Huston. The coming days will be difficult for his family and we should, again, offer our thoughts and prayers .. Linda Ridings will contact us as to the funeral /service arrangements. She asks that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made, in Bill's name, to the Cadets Drum & Bugle Corps. FHNSAB...
George or Dave: Please update me on Fabian Iza, his condition if you have any information. I hope all is ok with Fabian. ? Owen Mcgarry Editor's Note: Owen, I just found out about his illness. I will call today to check on him. FHNSAB...
The next rehearsal of the alumni corps will be this Thursday ,Feb. 24 at the Garfield VFW on Outwater Lane, from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. We will also go over the details for the Feb. 26 Hasbrouck Heights Bugler's Hall of Fame show. We will be going on at 3:40 pm so please plan on being there at 2:00 pm so we can warm up and do a brief ensemble. The uniform is black shoes and pants with our maroon polo shirt. We will use music stands. For those of you with GPS the Hasbrouck Hts. VFW is located at the end of Field Ave. which is one block off of Rt 17 South and Henry St. Also please make note of the following upcoming dates for our next performances; March 26 at the Garfield VFW. May 21 Blessed Sacrament Show, Secaucus, NJ. See attachment below. Very special get well wishes to Fabian Izsa. As many of you know Fabian is also a long time member of the Caballeros and a great guy. Fabe you are in our thoughts and prayers !
I regret to inform you of the demise of Monsignor Edward M. Matash on Tuesday, Feb. 15th. Msgr. Matash marched in the Cadets in the 1940s, and co-officiated at the corps' 75th Anniversay Mass at the Church of The Most Holy Name in 2009. Visitation will be on Monday, Feb. 21st, at St. Joseph Church, Ave E & 25th St, Bayonne from 3-7 PM. Vigil Mass at 7:30 PM. Visitation Tuesday morning 9-10 AM at St. Joseph Church. Burial at St. Mary's Cemetery, Saddle Brook, NJ. For Holy Name shall always be...
Msgr. Edward M Matash died Tues the 15th. Msgr. Ed honored the Cadets at their 75th Memorial Mass in Garfield. We remembered his deceased twin, Al, beside whom I marched in 50-51. For over 50 years Msgr. Ed sent us our first Christmas Card. Msgr. Ed shall always be remembered, and may his family and friends be assured of our prayers. FHNSAB
Will the Cadet who contacted Msgr. Reilly regarding a mass at Holy Name Church for his deceased parents please contact Monsignor again. He inadvertently misplaced your contact information. Pleast accept our condolences on the loss of your parents. FHNSAB...
Best wishes to Rill Ridings! I hope that he "bounces back" soon and is back drumming!
LINDA : I DON'T KNEW IF YOU KNOW WHO I AM, BUT I AM AUNT NELL,S DAUGHTER AND CONNIE KARDASH'S NIECE, I WILL PUT BILL'S NAME IN THE HOLY NAME CHURCH IN GARFIELD . GOD BLESS BILL. WE ALL LOVE HIM. SPEEDY RECOVERY TO HIM. FHNSAB
I was informed by Pete Macaluso '51 at the last alumni meeting in Garfield that a memorial service is being organized in our area for our revered Cadet, Ray Scarpa, who entered into eternity last summer. Details will be made available as they are received. FHNSAB...
To Dave Shaw: Thank you so much for passing on Lou's dream-catcher to our family. I saw so many wonderful friends at the wake, but you were the most memorable. I will always remember what you have given us and for that, I thank you.
I spoke with Linda Ridings today and wanted to give the Cadet family an update on the condition of our Cadet, Bill Ridings. It is somewhat both positive and disappointing.The cancer in Bill's throat and lymph glands seems arrested and may be in remission. The side effects of the chemo and radiation have resulted in breathing difficulties and a weakened condition. The feeding tube has been left in place and a breathing vent opened in his throat. He has been moved to intensive care as he has developed pneumonia and is on antibotics and sedatives. When Linda visited the other morning , the nurse said she could not get him to wake. Linda tapped his hands and face with no response. At a loss for what to do next, she opened her cell phone and connected with U-Tube and by luck, found the Cadets 2010 show. When she put the phone next to Bill's ear. He slowly began to smile and eventually opened his eyes. Linda wants all of us to know how much he loves the Cadets. and his drum clinic in Houston. Bill is fighting with every ounce of energy he can muster and we should give him another round of prayer and communications of support. If you need his address pls contact me. 908-832--7149 Kshedosky76@embarqmail.com FHNSAB
Lois, I am deeply sorry for your loss, knew and remember Bill well as I do you, June and Jim. Bill was a great Cadet, I recall Bill and Jim providing me many times with some mature and inspirational leadership, don't know to this day if you instigated any of that, but Thanks anyway to you too!
By accident today, I came across the website for the Holy Name Cadets. My husband, William E. Donnelly, was a proud member of The Cadets (french horn) from 1960 - 1966. He passed away on April 18, 1998, and it would be an honor to have his name placed in memoriam. (Editor): Rest in peace brother Cadet. For Holy Name shall always be...
Most Precious Blood Crusaders-soprano horn,1946-1954. I can still hear "Lights Out" and "on the Trail" to this day. Holy Name was always my favorite Jr. Corps. I remember names like yours, Joe Collasso, Rudy (tenor drummer), Carmine & Jimmy Domico as well as Don Angelica. Great people, great times. (Editor's Note): I have a great photo of Most Precious Blood given to me by Ed Rooney. Thanks for your kind words and all the shared memories.
I'm afraid I have even more sad news for the Cadet family. Jim Messina, our drum major in the early 70s and a continually generous contributor to and supporter of The Cadets over the years, lost his beloved Mom, Stella on January 28. For those of you not fortunate enough to have known Mrs. Messina, she was a loving, caring person with an extraordinary gift for enriching the lives of everyone she touched. We extend our most sincere condolences to Jim, his Dad, his brothers and sisters, and all his family. Visiting hours will be Tuesday, Feb. 1, 5-8 PM, at Mastapeter Funeral Home, 270 Atlantic City Blvd, Bayville, NJ, with a prayer service at 7:30 PM. The funeral will be held on Wednesday at 9:30 AM at the funeral home, with burial to follow at 11:30 AM in the Brigadier General William C. Doy.e Veterans Memorial Cemetary in Wrightstown, NJ.
Joe & Rudy Bonin: I have been in California for the last few weeks and I just recently learned that Herbie has passed away. Herbie was one of those people you come across in life who was a true gentleman; always had a smile and was a joy to be with. I had the honor and pleasure to have marched with him in the '50's and he was one of the special "Boy's of '57". Many a time Herbie would stay at my home when we came home late from a contest and we would lie awake for a long time re-living the contest of the night before. Yes, he was special alright and I'm sure that he too, like other cadets who have gone before him, are once again part of a great corps in God's kingdom. I will miss Herbie. I will miss him very much. FHNSAB ...
Still looking for Tom Smith from the Cadets...Marched in 85, 86 time frame. Please email me at makin.gd@pg.com Thanks
Joe & Rudy Bonin: My condolences for the passing of your kid brother, Herbie. Tried to reach hin on the internet but he didn't return my e-mails. I marched with you guys in the late 40's & early 50's. Rest in Peace my friend.
Just spoke with Joe Bonin , who has advised that the viewing hours for Herb Bonin are Sun 1/16 2-4 PM and 7-9 PM An accomplished musician, (Baritone section Sgt / leader), devoted Holy Name Cadet ,and a supportive alumnus. An unexpected ,and stunning loss for the Cadet family. FHNSAB KShed
To the Bonin Family - Your loss is ours. Herb was one great Cadet and his loss leaves an enormous gap in our ranks. I marched with Herb in the mid 50s and always looked up to him as someone to emulate. He left the corps in 1955, I think. But when we got together for the 50th anniversary of our 1957 National Championship, Herb was one of the first to sign up. Then, when we celebrated the corps' 75th anniversary all the Bonin brothers - Joe, Rudy and Herb - attended this historic event. Through all these years, Herb has remained the gentleman-Cadet we all knew and loved. May he rest in peace. FHNSAB...
Dave, I am sorry to say that my dear brother, Herb, has passed away last evening. As you well know, he was HOLY NAME FOREVER. The wake will be at the Barnaget Funeral Home on West Bay Ave in Barnaget, NJ. on Sunday Jan.. 16. I don't have the times but you can find it online thru the Funeral home site. I am in Florida at the moment but am flying in tomorrow. Please, if you can, would appreciate you getting the word out to cadets who have known him. You can contact my brother Joe for further details, His cell phone number is 973 634-3216. FHNSAB... Thanks Dave, Rudy
Hi Dave, I received a call telling me that Herb Bonin suddenly died yesterday (Wednesday) possibly of a heart attack. Herb was an ardent supporter of the corps and a fine, trustworthy person in addition to being a life-long friend. FHNSAB... Bob Bielen
Dave - I would like to share what I have recently learned about Jim Messsineo. He died while on vacation with his wife Barbara when his heart gave out while scuba diving. There may be a memorial service later. - Tony Vaccaro.
I just received the news from Bob Bielen that our friend and fellow Cadet, Herb Bonin, passed into eternity on Wednesday, January 12. I do not have any information on services at this time, but I will share them as soon as they become available. Rest in peace my fellow Cadet and friend. FHNSAB...
I am saddened by the loss of Jim Messineo. We marched next to each other in the Hawthorne Caballeros in the 60's. He was a fierce competitor and could always see the positive in people and events. We also could try Jim Costello's limits, to everyone's amusement. A ray of hope and good has left the world. I extend my deepest sympathies to his cadet family as well as to his wife and friends.
We are saddened to report to you the loss of Jim Messineo on December 10th in Sacramento, CA. Jim marched in the early 1960s. We have no other information at this time. FHNSAB...
To Buddy Izna and family...very sorry about the loss of your son...you might not remember me, but we marched next to each other in 62 and 63...of course, your brother was there too...
A relative died a few years back and in his things was a military St. Christopher / St. Raphael medal. The name engraved on the back of the medal is Jim Mallen. I believe it is from WWII when the relative served in the military. The name Jim Mallen came up on this site when doing an online search. Please contact me if you believe it may belong to the Mallen family listed here. jonee08@aol.com (Editor's Note): Thank you for contacting us. The Mallen family connected with The Cadets advised me that they did not have any family members serving in WWII.
Snare Drummer with the Most Precious Blood Crusaders 1947- 1954 . We use to put up Garfield when the came up to Boston and Garfield put us up when we went down to their show. those were great years in drum corps. (Editor's Note): I still have a formal photo of Most Precious Blood posed, I believe, on the steps of the church, given to me by Ed Rooney. Great Corps! Great People! Great Friends! You're right about those being great years.Just to prove how old I am...I remember you Walt.
Oops! The message below SHOULD have read that the Tuesday Cadet Alumni lunch club would meet at Barcelonas TODAY, JANUARY 4 at 12 noon. We will continue to meet there for lunch at 12 noon every Tuesday. Ten alumni were present today, and we would like to extend our thanks to Marie DiDomenico for her generosity in picking up half the check for the entire group. ALL are welcome to join us at these weekly social gatherings. You do not have to be an Alumnus of The Cadets.
In the event that you have not heard, The Sub Base in Fair Lawn (Jim D'Amico sons place) closed its doors for good last Friday. The Tuesday Cadet Alumni lunch club will gather at Barcelona's on Harrison Ave. in Garfield (around the corner from Holy Name Church) beginning today, April 4th, at 12 noon. Until further notice this will be the site of our gatherings every Tuesday.
Bill Kardash ...... Could you be so kind as to send me a copy of that picture that you have of George and my brother Joe ? i would love to have him see it. e-mail it to me at njjrs@yahoo.com Thank you. Eleanor Slinger
Judy and I would like to thank the Holy Name Alumni (lunch group) for their kind thoughts and prayers in our time of sorrow. It meant so much to see all of you pay respects to our beloved son. We also want to thank you for the beautiful floral arrangement that you sent.
Eleanor ... I'm glad to inform you that Joe was a Cadet, too. He was only in the Cadets for a year or two. The photo I referenced below was 1954, not 53 as I mistakenly indicated. So Joe was there in (at least) 1954. I recall Ted was a Cadet, but I believe he left before I joined in 52.I understand that Joe is now "Msgr. Joe", so I am suitably impressed. Pls give him my regards. Happy New Year, too!
We are sorry to inform you of the death of Kenneth Adamo, son of Cadet Tom Adamo and his wife Judy. The arrangements are for the viewing on Thursday 2:00 to 9:00 and the burial on Friday. Marrocco Funeral Home, 470 Colfax Ave., Clifton, NJ. ( near Broad St. and RT 46 behind Hertz Rentals ). You can enter Marrocco Memorial Chapel then click on search for the obituary and more details. I would suggest we be there for 2:00 pm because of the affiliations with the police and fire departments it might be very crowded in the evening. I will take care of the flowers tomorrow and sign the card " Holy Name Lunch Group ". If I left anyone out please forward this to them. If you have any suggestions please call me on my cell at 201 207 7266.
To the Garfield Cadets of 1960: Before this year slips by, congratulations to my brother Cadets as we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of our 1960 win in Miami and the FIRST American Legion Junior National Championship for the "new" Garfiled Cadets and the first step in a "three-peat". This win was especially sweet as many had written us off ... until they saw and heard the incredible music selected and arranged by Don Angelica. Indeed ... Everything's Coming Up Roses ! May the New Year bring all of you health, happiness and the time to reflect on the memories we all share. FHNSAB...
My Dad, John Ruggiero played for the cadets in 1936. He was very proud and always talked about the cadets and great times he had. I have been watching some of the videos on you tube and I sometimes wish we did not moved from NJ. Anyway, I enjoy watching the videos. Are The Cadets going to be in any parades this new year? (Editor's Note): Sorry John, The Cadets will not be in any parades they have announced.
Bill, by chance do you mean Ted Slinger ? Both are my brothers but i don't remember Joe being in the corps. njjrs@yahoo.com
welcome home Priscilla. So great to see your post. Of course we remember you! George will always be in our memories. I'm sitting here with tears in my eyes just thinking about him. What a great Cadet and leader and what a loss for all of us. I have a great photo of George, Joe Slinger and me from 1953. Not sure when we will meet again, but my daughter lives in Charlotte. Pls keep in touch and Merry Christmas.
WOW! What a great website - it brings back so many great memories of the Garfield Cadets. My name is Priscilla (De Vries) Hambly and I dated, all through Pope Pius XII H.S., a former Drum Major, George Petrencak. Maybe some of you who were around in those years (55-59)remember me -- I do remember some of you. I have never forgotten the (then) Holy Name Cadets and how proud I felt being associated with them through George. I can remember going to Holy Name Auditorium and sitting there listening and waiting for practice to end. Those were great teenage years. The Holy Name Cadets were great then and are still great today. All that ended suddenly with his untimely death, although I have never forgotten him or the Holy Name Cadets. Now that I have found this wonderful website, I will be checking to see if the Cadets will be performing anywhere close to my home in North Carolina. I do come to the NJ Shore every summer, so maybe I can attend the concert in Clifton. Again, thank you for the wonderful memories - it brought back so many happy times, but also some very sad times. (Editor's Note) Hi Priscilla. Thank you for sharing some of your memories with us. I marched Cadets with George, and I remember you. Not a second of that time, good and bad, have ever been forgotten. If you would like to send me your email address: dshaw40@gmail.com I'll send you a copy of The Cadets' schedule for this summer. The Clifton show will be held at the new Rutgers Stadium in Piscataway this year on August 7.
I wish you all a Merry Christmas and need to give you an update on our friend and former Garfield Cadet Snare Drummer and Little Falls Cadets Drum Major Bill Ridings. Bill has been battling cancer and has been undergoing quite a bit of medical treatment during this Holiday Season. It sure would be nice of you to send him a card to keep his spirits up and remember our drum corps friend that have had an impact on our lives even though for a short while. If you know of anyone I missed please forward this note and Bill's address so more can stay in touch with him. Bill's address is: Bill Ridings, 18306 E Cyprus Hill Circle,Cyprus, Texas 77433. Thank you and have a wonderful Holiday Season. FHNSAB... (Editor's note: prayers are being said for Bill at Holy Name Church.
Ken has advised me that he was speaking with Bill Ridings in the past few days, and that Bill is dealing with some extremely serious medical issues. Ken suggested that Bill would really appreciate hearing from his Cadet brothers and sisters. Phone calls are very difficult for him at this time, so written communications are the best way to go at present. BillRidings2@aol.com 18306E Cyprus Hill Circle, Cyprus, TX 77433
To my dear friend Buddy Izsa, I am so saddened to here of your loss,my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. God Bless. Owen (Scotty) Mcgarry
I just found out that Buddy Izsa's son, Damien (37 years old) passed away this morning from cardiac arrest. Funeral services are as follows: Wozniak Home for Funerals, 80 Midland Ave., Wallington, NJ 973-779-4664, Date: Thursday, December 2nd, 2010, Time 4:00-9:00 PM (no break in between). Funeral Service: 9:30 AM at the funeral home, 10:00 AM Mass at Holy Name Church.
Yes, happy holidays to ALL Cadets. Mr.McGarry calls 1962 the best year, after 1957. I suppose that is subject to a lot of personal opinion. :) As an observer of the Cadets, here are some more GREAT YEARS to add (for various reasons): . 1958 - determination . 1959 - resolve . 1960 - return . 1961 - excellence . 1963 - great show/ music . 1984 - creativity Probably more too FHNSAB
Sorry to hear of the Santo family's loss. Although I was never a Cadet Dr. Santo & his brother Dennis and I go back to the days when they lived a few doors down from me on Lanza ave. Garfield,N.J. where we grew up. I remember he taught me how to play ping-pong at the Garfield YMCA.He was instrumental in my going to school to become a chiropractor and now have been practicing for 43 years on Cape Cod. Dick was a chiropractor's chiropractor and will be sorely missed by the profession.Prayers for Dick's family .Rest in Peace Dick !
Happy Hoildays to all ! FHNSAB!!! 1962 the best year next to 1957.
Our Prayers always for Richard 'Doc' Santo and All the Family.....rest in peace....and also quick recovery for Ken Shedosky+Walt Taormina!....FHNSAB!!!....Peace always.....
Dear Cadet Alumni: I just got the word a little while ago, that Dr. Richard Santo (known to all as "Doc" Santo), former Director of the Corps, passed away this morning. He died in his sleep at home in Florida. Funeral arrangements are being made. I'll forward the funeral information as soon as I receive it. Truly a remarkable man, Director, and friend. He will be truly missed. FHNSAB...
Thanks to all Cadets who served the country in the armed services, especially those who gave their all with injury or death. FHNSAB
Two of our Cadet alumni have had health setbacks that have their alumni friends very concerned. Walter Taormina, a former drum major, just endured serious back surgery. As soon as we receive additional information you will be advised. Bernie Shedosky, Ken's wife, advised us last night that Ken underwent open heart surgery this week. He is currently in the ICU unit at Morristown Hospital. Bernie will advise us when he is strong enough to take phone calls or accept visits. Please remember both Walt and Ken in your thoughts and prayers. FHNSAB...
We received a letter from Barbara Geary, cousin of Tom Albano, CG Captain for the 1949 National Champion corps of Cadets. She included a formal group photo of The Cadets which we hope to be able to post on this website for all to enjoy. Barbara mentioned how much it would mean to Tom's family (Tom is now deceased) to see his service as Color Guard Captain recognized on this site. I'm sure they would also enjoy hearing from any of you who remember Tom from his days as a Cadet. You can contact Barbara at jjbbgeary33@yahoo.com FHNSAB...
The Holy Name - Garfield Cadets Alumni Corps will be performing at an alumni corps show at Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn on Saturday Oct. 9. The show starts at 3:00 pm and we are scheduled to go on at 3:30 pm. Admission is free and the show will take place at the performig art center on campus. Directions; Verrazano Bridge to the Brooklyn Belt Pkwy East to exit 8A. Follow signs to the college. Come out and cheer your alumni corps on. In addition the Alumni Corps rehearses every Thursday evening at the Garfield VFW from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. Enjoy a night out and come down to listen. If you would like to play we would be more than happy to help anyone get their chops back, be it brass or percussion.
We continue to receive numerous inquiries about an alternate website, www.holynamecadets.org. When you access this website, you receive a message that the website is "under construction." This, unfortunately, causes some confusion because people surfing the web come across this website and assume that it is THIS website that is under construction. We have no connection with the alternate website. Our site is, as always, www.theholynamecadets.org. It is very important that you use "the" preceding "holynamecadets" to access this site. Our correct address is www.theholynamecadets.org. We apologise for any inconvenience or confusion caused by the existence of this other site. FHNSAB...
Here's the info from Keren Cinzio Funeral Arrangements: Friday, October 1st - 2-4pm and 6-8pm Gentile Funeral Home 397 Union Street Hackensack, NJ (201)-487-1010 Service at funeral home on Sat., Oct 2 at 11am Bereavement gathering, everyone takes care of their own expenses, at Solari's Restaurant 61 River Street Hackensack, NJ (201)-487-1967 also if you have any pictures of Vandy please forward to SuZaLa1213@aol.com as soon as possible as they are putting together posters for the funeral. Greg C. FHNSAB
I just got the news from Dan O'Reilly about the passing of John Van Dillewyn. John was involved in a motorcycle accident that placed him in a coma for a couple of weeks. He passed away yesterday morning. John was a Lead Soprano player during the 1975 and 1976 seasons. He always had a extremely positive attitude while in the corps and a wonderful sense of humor. He will be missed. May he rest in peace. Details of the funeral arrangements will be forwarded as soon as they're received. Greg C. FHNSAB
I am sad to say that Michele Renee Inglese Nance passed away this afternoon. Love and prayers to her and to her family. Rest in peace my friend and Cadet guard alum. I'll never forget that we started the drum corps journey together. Always in our hearts. FHNSAB
Message for John Avella: Just listened to a CD sent to me by George King. called Garfield Cadets, the comeback kids. You and I did a solo in Intermission Riff in1960, in the concert. Awhile ago I bought the CD Bugles Up from the Fleetwood Records web site, and also wrote a little article on their site, to go along with the Bugles Up Album. When you get a chance, go on the Fleetwood Records web site, and look for the Bugles UP CD and check out the comments. Dave Shaw wasn't the only great baritone player we had in our day. You were right up there with the best.Just listen to your solo in Intermission Riff. Wow.and we were just kids. You also played one heckova three valve baritone in high school. Hope all is well. Chick DeVito FHNSAB
Baritone 1962-63
I have been informed that the email I forwarded to our mailing list containing a link to Scotty's photo slide show of the season as shown at the corps' banquet has presented some problems. Some received multiple copies of the email, some just one, and others none at all. I apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused to anyone. I sent out the email from a public computer, so perhaps that was the problem. Thank you for your patience. FHNSAB...
It is with deep sorrow to know that Ray Scarpa 47-52 has passed. A Drum Line Sergeant with Holy Name pride! Though ill, he planned to be with the Cadets for the Christmas Party. At Giant Stadium last year he had a pair of drum sticks secured in his belt, and as a Cadet he had a Drum Line picture ingeniously installed in his Chevy dashboard. Our prayers for Joan and Ray's family and friends. Ray is always present in our hearts.
Congrats on the 76th Anniversary and 2010 Season!!! What a Wonderfull Organization and Wonderful People!! Classy all the way!!!!!!!
If God understood DCI, (which many of us don't as well) tonight would be a legendary combat between The Cadets & The Cavaliers! SPLOOIE!!! and as always...FHNSAB
WOW!!! What a great article in the Clifton Merchant Magazine on George King(August issue). Congratulations Kingmo, you richly deserve the recognition.
It is my sad duty to inform you of the passing of Cadet Ray Scarpa 47-52, legacy Cadet and drum line sergeant. He was the friend of many and an inspiration for all. For Holy Name shall always be...
Another Alum coming to NJ Aug 8th. Patrick and wife Lorrie, Zampetti
Message to Martin O'Donnell; Thank you for what I believe is a well-intended post. My failure to approve either your post or your brother's post is because neither falls within the intended purpose of this site. This is not a discussion forum. It is a private site intended to encourage contact between Cadet Alumni of multiple generations. There are a number of discussion forums where your message would receive the attention you feel you would not receive by directing it to George Hopkins. May I suggest you open a discussion on Drum Corps Planet, www.dcp.com, or www.facebook .com. Just to be perfectly clear, I am not blocking your posts due to the content.
To Jim O'Donnell: Thank you very much for your recent post request. Since the subject matter is primarily directed to George Hopkins I would like to request that you send the message directly to him at hopkins@yea.org. That way you can be certain it will be read. Your deep feelings for The Cadets are very much appreciated.
Hi Dave ...Another alum from out of state attending the Aug 8th events: Christopher Del Vecchio, Lt j.g., US Navy- Active/ Submarine Fleet
Seems that August 7 & 8 will be GLORIOUS days for the Cadets and all their alumni and friends! :) Win or lose, they work hard and do their best! Great tradition. FHNSAB
Dave: more out of state alum's planning to attend on Aug. 8th: Alex Callahan , Diane Samara-Volkart, Alan "Chick" Devito, Joan Joly, Jim Stanko, Greg Johnson, Rick Marino, John Molloy.
I marched with the Cadets in 1980. I have been unable to find any videos or phots's from that timeframe. How can i dig up this information? (Editor: Try going to www.cadets.org and register as an alumnus there, and then go to the forums selection on the bar, select alumni forum, and register there (it's a separate registration). Once registered on that forum (Ning page) you can post your request as well as any photos or information about yourself you want to share, and I'm sure you'll get a response from fellow Cadets. If the meantime I'll post this on www.theholynamecadets.org. If you want to be placed on the Holy Name Alumni website for periodic announcements and news updates send me your email address and I'll register you: dshaw40@gmail.com FHNSAB...
A heartfelt thanks to all who participated in the Military Recognition Program in 2010. Those recognized were truely deserving, and it is gratifying to see 17 of our Vets recognized this year. Many thanks for a job well done. JRK.
Hey Dave-0... The following are those cadets who I know (so far) that will be coming from out of state to attend the Aug 8th events: Don Koch, Stuart Tomeske, Dennis Mura,Charles (Chuck) Rodema, Bill Kardash, Paul Arthur (NJ) John Avella (NY) ....... Regards, KShed
John Avella ... you are amazing! Great reports and great work for the Cadets. Say hello to Hugh Mahon too!
(Editor's Note - this was sent to The Cadets by a spectator who was present at a parade in Illinois on July 4th) - The Cadets, Nice words from a fan: "Saw the Cadets at a 4th of July parade -The members marched in absolutely pristine style in the blazing sun, over train tracks, without another audience member for a block. Then they put their horns up and played the prettiest sounds I have heard all summer. It was a moment with no other witnesses, but it was among the most beautiful things I've seen in the last 20 years of drum corps. "(Editor's addition to the preceding comment) - Several years ago Joan Borden RN, a longtime volunteer for The Cadets, made the following observation: "I believe if The Cadets were marching down 5th Avenue in New York City at four o'clock in the morning without a single person watching, they would still be The Cadets; proud, disciplined, and perfect in every way".
(Editor's Note: Another example of an alumni-volunteer, John Avella, giving back to our corps). "We pulled into Sioux Falls, SD (never thought I would ever be in SD) early morning 4am- no one had time to shower, I looked across the parking lot and there was a Sheraton. After breakfast I walked over and asked for the front desk manager and told her who we were and that I needed a room for 6 of our volunteers to shower. She gave me a suite for the price of a regular room with lots of towels. During that day 8 people took showers and relaxed. It was a great break and was really appreciated. Mahon split the cost of the room. Of course Mahon and I slept in that room instead of the RV. The bottom line is volunteering is not about the volunteer's tribulations, it is about the Cadets who bust their ass every day in the hot sun (in Omaha it was 106 degrees) and drive themselves to be great. It is our job to support them and make their life as easy as possible. As tough as it was, I miss it. The energy and intensity, and the pride you feel for these kids is unmeasurable. FHNSAB...,John
(Editor's Note: John Avella just returned from ten days on the road, along with Greg Pych and Hugh Mahon, volunteering with The Cadets. I'm sure he will have more to add after he rests up a bit, but I thought you would all be interested in hearing his first thoughts since returning). Dave; quite an experience, except for the -2 star accomodations it was terrific. One of my comments to George was that on show days they work the kids too hard. The schedule is brutal, especially working the food truck. The roughest part is getting to a site at 4am unloading the food truck (which takes an hour) going back to bed for an hour and a half and then starting breakfast. It was exhilirating to be a part of the corp, the kids are fantastic, they must come from a different planet because they don't represent the unmannered vision of the typical American kid. Typical of this was when we were in Minneapolis and the janitor of the school came to me and said "these kids are great, they thanked me for doing my job". Because of the Tornado warnings we moved dinner inside the school and he was shocked that this was the first time this year that the kids ate on tables instead of curbside or under a tree. The volunteers don't get enough credit. You should write an article about a day in the life of a volunteer. The Cadets performance is getting better every day. All the critics agree their show is spectacular and as soon as they perfect it they will be #1. Talk to you later. John
This becomes harder and harder as the 76 years of our history are studded with the loss of brother and sister Cadets. Now we mourn the loss of Cadet Lenny Shmegelski who marched in the 1940s. Viewing hours will be at the Aloia Funeral Home, 180 Harrison Ave., Garfield, NJ on Sat., 7/17 from 7-9 PM, and on Sunday, 7/18 2-4 and 7-9 PM. The funeral will be on Monday 7/19, 8:30 AM, at the funeral home. For Holy Name shall always be...
It is my sad task to advise you of the death of Cadet Richard Konyak, 55-59. Rich was co-captain of the color guard in his final years with The Cadets, and served in the U.S. Army from 1961-1966. Visitation will be today, Thursday July 15th, at Bizub-Quinlan Funeral Home, 515 Lexington Ave., Clifton, NJ from 2-4 and 7-9 PM. Funeral services will be on Friday, July 16th, at 11:30 AM at the funeral home. For Holy Name shall always be...
It seems that shortly after Bill's visit with Ray Scarpa in the Carolinas, Ray suffered another health setback. We send him our best wishes for a speedy recovery. FHNSAB...
"Dave, have made arrangements for another golf outing (scramble) in Indy this year on Friday 8/13 at 0900 about 5 miles from downtown. You guys were pretty focused on your 75th last year but would any of your alumni be interested in participating? Give me a feel and I'll push something out to you. It'll be at Coffin Golf Club if someone wants to look it up. Golf/cart/lunch and a few prizes for $50 each. Let me know." (EDITOR'S NOTE - If any Cadet Alumni would like to share a few hours of golf and camaraderie with The Cavaliers' Alumni in Indy please contact me and I'll put you in touch with Chris: dshaw40@gmail.com)
I just returned from a trip to the Carolinas during which I had the opportunity to visit with Ray Scarpa 47-52. I'm happy to report that he is much improved. I told him all his fellow Cadets have been praying for his recovery, and have been very concerned about him. He expressed his appreciation and hopes to have the opportunity to visit with us all again very soon. FHNSAB...
YEA! and the Cadets mourn the loss of a great friend, Sue Erben, Cadet Alumnus, YEA fundraising director, and wonderful human being, on Friday, June 25, 2010. Sue lost her life in a horrendous accident precipitated by a truck driver who has been charged with homicide. The Cadets will dedicate tonight's performance to the memory of our fellow Cadet, Susan Erben. Funeral arrangements have not been announced at this time. George Hopkins, CEO of Youth Education in the Arts, made the following statement from The Cadets' tour outside Normal, Ill. YEA! is grief stricken at the loss of Susan. Sue was a key member of our team, and as the director of fundraising, she has supported a huge increase in giving over the past 15 months. A Cadet alumnus, she loved the corps, the young men and women she served, and the mission she pursued on their behalf. She loved making a difference and we loved having her as part of our team.” Hopkins said, "Despite this tragedy which causes us pain beyond description, The Cadets and YEA! Staff are in the middle of the busy summer tour season, and true to Susan's memory and example of dedication and commitment, operations will continue on the road as well as in preparation for events in the coming two weeks." For Holy Name shall always be… Though we continue with our responsibilities, our thoughts and our prayers are with her family, her many friends and admirers, and her fiancée, Jim Dugan. May you find peace where now only sorrow abides.
Once again, the Cadets organization demonstrated real class by helping the Cavaliers. :) FHNSAB...
The recent kindness & generosity of The Cadets in helping The Cavaliers in a time of need does not go unnoticed. We were, are, & always will be your Brothers. FHNSAB!
Lou Reda 70-72 was laid to rest with full Cadet honors on Wednesday, June 23, 2010. A historical uniform worn by various Cadets from 1960 through 1970, with a single white rose and black mourning ribbon pinned across the tunic was prominently positioned next to Lou as he lay in repose. Next to the uniform was the 75th Anniversary poster with the words “75 years, a million memories…only one in the whole world” inscription. Bill Traina 66-68 played a very emotional snare drum tribute to honor Lou who had played snare in the 70-71 Corps of Cadets. It was an emotional moment, beautifully done and gratefully received by Lou’s wife and family. Cadets from different eras, some of whom had never known Lou, and some of whom had traveled significant distances, were present to honor our brother Cadet. For Holy Name shall always be…
I marched with Lou and remember him well. As fine a Cadet as any. I wish I had info on his family but do not. Unfortunately I will not be able to attend the viewing, as I have committed to another viewing of a co-worker tomorrow. Please pass along my condolences. FHNSAB...
Calling all Valley Grenadier Alumni... join us for a reunion weekend! Our plans start Friday night August 6th and end Sunday night at the Cadets show in Clifton. Please contact Kathy Whartenby at kfw21@optonline.net for complete details. Also check out our Facebook page under groups - Valley Grenadiers Hope to see you there!
Dave, Lou was a great guy, and a hell of a drummer. He went out of his way to help me along as a 15 year old rookie snare drummer back in 78, and I'll always remember him for that. I am also unable to get to the viewing, but I will also visit the website, and I want to thank you for being there for Lou and his family. FHNSAB...
I saw the cadets perform their show in Charleston, WV last night. Carolina Crown did a great job, but I believe that The Cadets had them beat. I love the show. It is the most original I have ever seen.
Dave, Lou was the snare instructor for the Corps in 1978 when Jim Mallen was the head drum instructor. Seeing Lou Reda in an obituary really hit me hard because Lou is only a few years older than me. I hope that his family can soon find some peace and relief of the pain they are feeling now. I am not able to attend but I have visited the Santangelo Funeral Home website and left a comment. Here is the link: http://santangelofuneral.com/obituary_view/74042?candle=new You may want to pass it along to other alums that would like to leave a message of mourning or condolence. FHNSAB... PS: see you on August 8th.
Louie Reda Passed away June 19th at home. Visitation will be Tuesday from 2-4 and 7-9 at Santangelo Funeral Home, 635 McBride Ave, Woodland Park, NJ. FHNSAB...
Lou Reda, former Garfield Cadet, drumline partner '70-'71, passed away this morning. Steve spoke with him in length this past Wednesday..He was in high spirits, speaking highly of his memories of great times with the Cadets. He shared all the love and admiration experienced as a Cadet. His last endeavour was music teacher for 4th through 6th grades at School Number 5 in Passaic, NJ, with Donna as his colleague. He shall be greatly missed. Keep Lou in all your prayers..FHNSAB We will post arrangements when available.
Lou Reda passed away this morning at 4 AM He marched snare 1970, 71 & maybe '72. FHNSAB...
Subject: Paul Jackson: To The Cadets' Alumni, I, unfortunately, have some very sad news that you may not know. Paul has been battling Leiomyosarcoma (a rare, very aggressive cancer) for five years. He had limited success with some treatments over that time, but, recently, the disease has rapidly progressed. The latest report did not sound promising at all, as it appears the cancer has grown by 50% throughout his body. Paul has a Caring Bridge website page where he is posting info and updates (and you can post messages for him, too). You can find it at http://www.facebook.com/l/eef57;www.caringbridge.org/visit/pauljackson. He also has a Facebook page, but it appears he doesn't check it that often. If you want to find him by region, he is now in Charlotte, NC where he was directing band until his illness forced him to take a leave of absence. Please share this info with others who knew Paul as I imagine many friends of his would like to offer support and prayers on his behalf. I wondered if one of the Cadets' alumni might want to let the Cadets' management know, too. When we were at USC, Paul was always very proud of his time with that organization. I'm so sorry to be the bearer of bad news once again. CaringBridge / pauljackson / Welcome http://www.facebook.com/l/eef57;www.caringbridge.org ( EDITOR'S NOTE: once again this terrible and cruel disease has attacked one of own. Please direct your thoughts and prayers to this young man, a member of our Cadet Family. Though you might not have marched with him or known him personally, he is Holy name, a brother Cadet. For Holy Name shall always be... )
I appear to have lost my email address for Bob Hightower. If anyone can help me with an address I'd like to contact him. Thank you. dshaw40@gmail.com
We received the following communication from Joe Burdzy. I attempted to contact him through the email addresses given without success. Perhaps some of you might have better luck. Anyway, we now know he and Sandy are both well, and that's good news all by itself: Joseph Burdzy, June 2, 2010 at 1:53am, Re: looking for an old Cadet. Dave Shaw, You found him! I don't use Facebook very often. Please reply to Joecop@triad.http://www.facebook.com/l/5ec8f;rr.com I check that e-mail every day or jburdzy@co.http://www.facebook.com/l/5ec8f;guilford.nc.us, this goes directly to my phones e-mail. I live in Greensboro NC and Sandy lives in Waterloo Canada. FHNSAB...
Great Show at the Hawthorne Parade on Monday.
Dave thank you for that tribute. My recovery was in good part all about attitude. As a Cadet I learned there isn't anything you can't do. Take the 57 season when at the beginning of the season we luckily fielded a corp. But yet, we never doubted that we could win and we did in Atlantic City at the American Legion championship. Take 59 when we were no longer the Holy Name Cadets without our uniforms, horns or drums. so what -we had each other and the corp spirit and legacy to focus us and we knew we could survive. We moved on and in 60 and 61 won the American Legion championship. It is great to hear even now how our present cadets talk about the spirit and legacy that motivates them to greatness. We are a family with an immense bond that drives us for success on and off the field. Holy Name Shall Always Be...
John Avella is a great example of perseverance! His return to triathlon after his severe injuries is a great example and encouragement to us all to deal with health issues! Thanks John and best wishes!
Many of you probably remember that not so very long ago our popular fellow alumnus John Avella was wiped out by an auto while he was out training for his triathalon run. His injuries were extensive and serious, but John is never deterred and he immediately shifted into a healing and strengthening mode. This past week John competed in his first triathalon since his accident, at a world renowned meet in St. Croix, where he finished the entire series of events. Yet another example of a Cadet being a Cadet. You did us proud John. FHNSAB...
EDITOR'S NOTE: THANKS TO DAVE BORCK FOR HIS MANY KIND COMMENTS REGARDING THE CADETS, AND FOR SHARING COMMENTS MADE BY OTHER NORWOOD PARK IMPERIALS - ILLINOIS, FROM TIME TO TIME). Some Imperials were discussing their favorite corps uniforms on our alumni forum. Not surprisingly, the Cadets uniforms are among the favorites of the (maroon!) Imperials. Here is one comment made .. which goes beyond mere uniform: I agree with David's assessment of The Garfield Cadets uniforms in the 60's. There is more than the uniform to evaluate and it was my pleasure to meet with the members of that organization and stunned by their dedication to their corps. Not only did they have great uniforms but their support group put together astonishing capes for the color guard to wear when off the field. I think the Cadets of the 60's have carried over their crowd pleaser show to current years, original, solos, great M-M, unlike some of their competition.
Barry Swain Passes: Dear Friends, I greet you today with a heavy heart because I have received confirmation that Barry Swain passed away on Friday, April 30th after a courageous battle with cancer. In a private service, Barry was laid to rest. He served proudly as a caption head and Visual Chairman with National Judges Association, as well as a distinguished judge for many years with DCI and DCA. He taught and served as a friend, counselor and critic to many that respected his opinion, valued his honesty and trusted his judgment. Barry will be remembered for his many stories with and about acquaintances, friends and judges that made many evenings memorable. He left no final request except to be remembered fondly for the gentlemen that he was. Kindly keep Barry in your thoughts and prayers. Respectfully,Tim Kondziela, National Judges Association
Congratulations to Doug Tenis on his recent induction into the New Jersey Drum Corps Hall of Fame. An installation banquet was held last weekend in Sayreville, NJ. Doug is actively involved in so many varied activities that it would be impossible to list them all, but his limitless support for The Cadets and The Cabs Alumni Corps is legendary.
Congratulations to Art Mura on being inducted into The Cadets' Hall of Fame in the new Legacy category. A comprehensive list of his lifetime of accomplishments and his devotion to The Cadets can be seen at www.cadets.org. Thank you Art. You give new depth to our definition of "the Cadet ideal." FHNSAB...
The Alumni corps will be performing next Saturday evening May 15 at the Arthur F. Crouch Performing Art Center - Secaucus High School at the Cavalcade of Music sponsored by the Blessed Sacrament Golden Knights The show starts at 6:00 pm. Also performing will be the Skyliners, Caballeros, Reilly Raiders, St. Kevins, St. Ritas, Selden, Park City Pride, Swing House, Mass Brass and the Golden Knights. it will be a good show and general admission is only $10. This is a great opportunity to come out and cheer your Alumni Corps on. We look forward to seeing you all. FHNSAB...
As I watch the posts on the HNC Guest Book, the news and the photos, I am always amazed. :) The Cadet alumni display an amazing "esprit de corps", MORE than most corps. (I am envious). But, this seems to be NO SURPRISE given the tradition of training and development of members when they are in the corps. Of course, the Cadet alumni also have a major advantage: their corps still exists and is active in competition. Many corps alumni don't have that advantage and this does seem to decrease alumni interest in activities.
A friend of mine saw this on DCP and sent it to me through FB. I haven’t seen it myself, so I don’t know who it’s from? Good stuff. I've got to say, marching to pre-show warm up in two's while still only in half uniform......and having every corps we passed stop what they're doing (unloading trucks, getting their equipment together, warming up, etc) to watch us pass.....that was fun. And that wasn't even in full uniform. It's tough to explain how it feels wearing that uniform, as thousands have before you (although I confess sometimes they smelled like thousands had recently worn the one I was in!). It's an odd exchange, the individual gives up some of their individuality and acts like "A Cadet" and in return, they instantly gain the honor and history that all those who wore the uniform before them worked hard to establish. The responsibility to continue that was a tangible thing to me....even as a chucklehead 16 year-old. It's part honor, part "I can't believe they're letting me do this." Needless to say, it far surpassed "fun." Fun is an easy and quick thrill....that, well, that was an astounding experience. And of course, every corps is going to have their own traditions and values; their own hypes. Behaving in uniform as generations of Cadets have before...well that's just one that is important to Cadets. Have no fear though.....they're having the time of their lives!
I was trying to add your RSS feed to my reader, but it didn't work. =/ Any ideas on other ways to subscribe to your site. -Bruno EDITOR'S NOTE: Our webmaster will see if he can help resolve the problem, but positive results can't be guaranteed. Sorry for your trouble
I join with Bill and many other Cadets in my great sorrow at the loss of Jim Barilla. When I first joined the Holy Name Cadets in 1950 Jim and I bonded immediately, and our friendship remained intact throughout our marching years. His influence on me as a person and as a Cadet was immense, and I will be forever grateful. Thank you Jim. Rest in Peace. For Holy Name shall always be...
I was saddened to learn of Jimmy Barilla's passing. While I hadn't seen him in many, many years, we had a chance to reconnect at the 75th Anniversary and again at the 2009 Christmas Party. Because so many cadets in the 1950s and 60s came into the corps at a young age, our role-models were the older cadets who helped train, teach and guide us. Jim ("Dr Fang") was a kind and generous friend who helped us all to succeed. His unorthodox way of playing soprano bugle still has me scratching my head. He marched with the Cadets in winning the American Legion Jr Natl Championships in 1950 and 53. May he rest in peace.
kenny and Carl Samara,.......WHERE ARE YA? fallon brian@MSN.COM----BSGK....'61..64
It is great to be back, I had gone to a rehearsal of the alumni corps. and the sound I heard, took me back, to the first time I heard the corps,and signed up that night. The sound I heard this rehearsal, I was hooked again. You kids were magic then, and still wave that magic wand of sound. thanks for a lifetime of memories. For HOLY NAME shall always be...
This is really cool. Never seen an online guestbook before. Then again, that is not suprising from the Holy Name Cadets. Ya'll are awesome! :)
We regret to inform you of the passing of Cadet Vincent Barilla (known to his fellow Cadets as Jim) 48-56. Sadly this information was received too late to enable us a final visitation. He was a good friend, a good Cadet, and an inspiration to all who marched with him. For Holy Name shall always be... BARILLA Vincent C., 74, of Pompton Lakes, died Monday, April 19, 2010. Born in Garfield, Vincent was the youngest of nine children born to Geswaldo and Carmella Barilla. Growing up in Garfield, he married Grace Paul, and together the couple settled in Pompton Lakes in 1962. An electrical contractor, Vincent was self-employed. He was the President of the West Hudson and South Bergen Electrical Contractors Association, the Vice President of the Wayne Adult Community Center, and a proud alumnus of the Garfield Holy Name Cadets. He is lovingly survived by his wife, Grace; his brother, Joseph Barilla of South Jersey, his sister, Lu Billets of Ringwood; and many nieces and nephews.A funeral service will be held 10 AM Saturday at the M. John Scanlan Funeral Home, Pompton Plains. Interment will follow at St. Nicholas Cemetery, Lodi. Visiting hours will be Friday from 6-9 PM at the funeral ome.scanlanfuneralhome.comIn lieu of flowers, donations to the American Diabetes Association or the National Kidney Foundation would be greatly appreciated by the Barilla family.
I am glad to hear that John Baumfaulk should be going home soon. A living Legend within our proud organization. FHNSAB...
(EDITOR'S NOTE: This is an article written by a very proud Cadet Alumnus. We thought you might enjoy reading it). Seventy six years ago two altar boys of Holy Name Church in Garfield, NJ, borowed a bugle, and what followed was the Holy Name Cadets; now the second oldest continuously performing drum and bugle corps in America, and holder of championships too numerous to list. Their struggle and near demise is an astonishing story that became a legend. The famed Cadets in their West Point inspired maroon and gold uniforms provide the experience of a lifetime for the many thousands of young men and women across the country and abroad who wish to be a part of this history and legacy. Each recruit auditions for membership, and those successful begin many strenuous weeks of rehearsal. Cadets age- out at 22, and this year a large number of the 2000 Cadets are new. Thus, in a sense, the Corps' history continues to grow as each year it recreates itself. This year their theme, is deliberately spelled "Toy SOULdiers" - a beautiful reminder of a living past and an unforgettable present! MUSIC IN MOTION: The Cadets exemplify what dreamers have said is at the heart of our life experience: CELEBRATION and SPEED. Our rhythmic universe is in an accelerating cosmic dance and the Cadets innovators in the science of SPEED. (Dance is the basic primal art form and is with us on our mother's lap, even before we learned to walk). CELEBRATION is the word that expresses what is inherent in our universe as our own experience of life; motion, sight and sound, color and music. It is inspiring to feel the inner drive to be a part of the Cadet processional march. We seem uplifted, because we too are in a procession and the largest part of our brain is related to music. The Cadets are planted like sentinels, a sounding board for a universe that is essentially melodious in nature. FHNSAB...
The next rehearsal of the alumni corps will be this Thursday April 22 at the Garfield VFW on Outwater Lane from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. We will be working on our program for our upcoming performance this Saturday April 24 at the Bugler's Hall of Fame show in Bridgeport, CT. As this is our last rehearsal before Saturday please make every effort to attend so we can tighten up the show. On an exciting note a color guard is currently being formed with the purpose of performing along with the Alumni Corps at the Cadet's show in Clifton on Sunday August 8. The plan is to fly as many championship flags as possible along with a full honor guard including an American flag with rifles and sabers etc. This is a great opportunity for any of you who would like to participate in the show. For details please E mail Cindi DeVivo at cynthia.devivio@yahoo.com
I am so sorry to hear of John Baumfaulk's health problems. As my first bugle instructor and drum major, I always looked up to John as an extraordinary and talented person. I most certainly will keep him in my prayers, and ask God to guide all those who are responsible for his healing. Al Mura...FHNSAB
Yesterday John (Baumfalk) was moved to a skilled nursing facility in south Orange County with the goal of getting him strong enough to go back home. They have no idea how long he will be at this facility, but the expectation is at least 1-2 weeks. It will all depend on how hard John works to build up his strength as right now he is a fall risk because he is so very weak. Sandy and Mari, his step-daughters, have just finished making arrangements with a Hospice program to eveluate John and see if he is a candidate for their care. Unfortunately at John's age a simple cold can be dangerous so the sooner he can get home the better for him. I will continue to keep you advised on John's health. I thank you and all the Cadets and Alumni for your prayers and good wishes for John. FHNSAB...
Heard from Ralph & Judi, they visited John in the hospital yesterday and he was doing better, but the Doctors are still concerned and unsure of the cause of his condition so they will continue to keep him in the hospital. Judi will keep me up to date after their next visit. The Prayers are helping, so please keep them up.
Best wishes and sincere prayers for Cadet Baumfalk as he has health problems. To me, he is a great example of the Cadet spirit ... positive, can-do and wiling to help. He showed these traits in New Jersey and again in California. A fine leader and teacher.
Yesterday we were advised of the untimely death several days ago of Cadet Nick Saputo 02-03 from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. The outpouring of grief over Nick’s loss at such a young age has generated a massive number of “memories from the heart” on his memorial page on facebook. Rest in Peace Cadet. FHNSAB...
David, I shall light a candle at Mass tomorrow for the full recovery of this member of our Cadet family. For Holy Name shall always be...
ADVISORY ON JOHN BAUMFALK; OUR FOUNDING CADET, OUR FIRST DRUM MAJOR, AND OUR FIRST HORN INSTRUCTOR: This communication was just received from Judi Van Houten, a member of John’s family . Charlie Sydoryk, 65-70 is keeping in close touch with the family to monitor the situation. "Dave: I wanted to let you know that John is currently in the hospital. At this moment he is OK, but the doctor is concerned about his overall health. Ralph and I visited him on Friday, and are going tomorrow. John's step daughter Sandi advised that we go to see him soon, and we are. We had been told they were going to put him in a Re-hab facility to build up his strength, but now he is not doing well enough for that. I'm not going to go into details, but many people are watching out and I hope praying for him right now. John celebrated his 92nd Birthday on March 24th. Please ask the Alumni of the Holy Name Cadets to pray for John Baumfalk’s recovery. I'll email you when I have updates. Thank you for all you have done for the Cadets and John, Judi Van Houten
Just been notified that Johnny Baumfalk was admitted to the hospital over the weekend. His Nephew and Niece have asked us all for Prayers for John's health. I don't know of the specifics however I am available to the family for whatever their needs are. Will post more as I learn of additional info that will be shared.
My Parents Arlene and Joseph Nikischer have been nominated for the Holy Name/Garfield Cadets Hall of Fame for the years of work they did for the Cadets I need as many letters of recommendations from Cadet Alumni as possible. I just found out the deadline for them is April 11th. I need to reach out to as many people as possible NOW! Please send a letter on their behalf to Eric Santo at his e-mail Eric289@aol.com asap. Please also pass this on to any other Cadets that you know. Please include the years that you marched.Also let me know that you received this e-mail and if you will be able to get a letter out before the deadline. The minimum is 4 letters but the more the merrier. Thanks so much. FHNSAB...
I am overwhelmed at the incredibly positive response of Alumni and Corps leadership to the institution of a military recognition awards program. A heartfelt thank you to all involved. If you are a veteran, please respond to Dave Shaw's E-mail. You deserve the recognition. dshaw40@gmail.com
The alumni corps is scheduled to perform for the following events: April 24, Bridgeport, CT. Bugler's Hall of Fame Show. North American Championship. Holiday Inn 1070 Main St. Bridgeport. May 15, Secaucus, NJ. Blessed Sacrament Golden Knights show. Secaucus High School Performing Art Center. July 4, Maywood, NJ. Parade. August 8, Clifton, NJ. Cadet's DCI Competition. Clifton High School Stadium.
Regarding Frank Dorritie's planned visit, due to circumstances beyond his control he will not be able to make the April 22nd rehearsal and gathering at Barcelona's. However, he will be here on April 8th, 2010. So, mark your calendars: Date: Thursday, April 8th 2010, Time: 5:00pm-6:45pm (before going to rehearsal) Location: Barcelona's Restaurant, 38 Harrison Ave., Garfield, NJ 07026. FHNSAB...
Dave, One of the problems getting old is losing those people we once knew. I marched with Whitey oh so many years ago. Can't say we were the best of friends, but I do remember him well. As the list of Cadets from those years (1959 -60- 61 - 62 - 63 -64 - 65) shortens, It triggers memories of fun times, good friends, hard work, and many a mile in a bus. I often wonder about what has happened to those fellow cadets' lives as we grew - what they did when they finally "grew up". Moving west, kind of lost track of many a friend. I still smile of the hours we spent on the back porch, and I was sorry I could not make the reunion - another lost chance. Well,hope all is well with you and thanks for letting me know "what's happening" back there. If I ever get back east I will definately shout at you. FHNSAB...
Dave, my prayers and thoughts go out to Whitey’s family. I marched with Whitey ( I believe Whitey was a baritone) in 62. After all these years I just found out Whitey’s first name was Peter – go figure. It was always “Whitey” to me. If memory serves me correctly, Whitey was a “picture postcard” for the Garfield Cadets. He was tall, good looking, good posture, blond hair, and loyal Cadet. Dave, St. Peter in heaven is forming the Pearly Gates Cadets: He has Don, Les Parks, and Jim Costello as the core instructors with Pete Kooyenga, Rich Chirichella, George Petrencak, David Welch, Bob Varga, John Tokar, and many other sadly missed Cadets as members. God bless them all. For Holy Name shall always be………
There is less than ONE MONTH left to get your Cadets Hall of Fame nomination and support letters into the YEA offices!!!! If there is anyone who you feel deserves the singular honor of being admitted to the Cadet Hall of Fame, then now is the time to act! All nomination and support letters MUST be received by APRIL 11. Send to caryn@yea.org
The next rehearsal of the alumni corps will be this Thursday, March 18 at the Garfield VFW on Outwater Lane from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. We will be preparing for our next performances on April 24 in Bridgeport and May 15 in Secaucus.
Legendary Drum Corps International Hall of Fame member George Bonfiglio, passed away Friday evening after declining health over the last several years. One of DCI’s founding fathers, Bonfiglio led the 27th Lancers Drum and Bugle Corps of Revere, Mass. for nearly two decades and was the very first chairman of the DCI Board of Directors. Starting the 27th Lancers in 1967 with wife Patsy, who passed away in 2008, Bonfiglio directed the group until the corps disbanded in 1986. He is a Korean War Veteran and taught elementary school in Malden, Mass. for more than 25 years.
For those of you concerned about Cindi DeVivo, she is still focused on family health issues, and cannot at this point play the expanded role in alumni activities announced several months ago. She continues to have our thoughts, our prayers, and our support as she deals with a combination of challenges that would overcome the strongest among us. FHNSAB…
As al point of information, the April and possibly May and June alumni gatherings are currently on hold pending location of an alternative meeting site. The alumni corps informed me that they are unilaterally appropriating the VFW for additional rehearsals on our first Thursday of each month dates. I sincerely apologize to those alumni who look forward to our monthly gatherings. Hopefully a new location can be secured in time to continue meeting on a regular monthly basis. We have in the past attempted to conduct our social gatherings on one-floor and alumni corps rehearsals on another floor, without satisfactory result. An additional complication is that the VFW is currently in negotiation with the City of Garfield for the city to purchase the current VFW site for construction of a new police station. Therefore, it is quite likely that down the road both the alumni corps and the broader alumni base would need to relocate to alternative sites. The alumni base is currently attempting to locate a site that can accommodate us on a once-a-month FRIDAY evening schedule. Ideally we would like to find something in the Bergen-Passaic Counties area of New Jersey with bar and food facilities. There are plans under discussion to encourage wider multi-generational participation, along with more diverse entertainment components. You will be notified of any new developments as they occur. Suggestions are always welcome: dshaw40@gmail.com
The next rehearsal of the alumni corps will be this Thursday, March 11 at the Garfield VFW on Outwater Lane, from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. We will be working on Shangri La and the other tunes in our book. We will also have some exciting news to share with you concerning the alumni corps' participation this summer with the Cadets at two of their shows. Have a good safe week and we look forward to seeing you all on Thursday night.
Well, I went to the website for Demoulin and was impressed. The new Cadet uniform looks fine ... and may have new benefits of construction, materials, etc. Demoulin looks to be a fine supplier and one with a lot of creativity. The partnership will be useful to both the Cadets and the firm. Nice going Cadets
We have lost a great friend and corp member. Our prayers go out to his family. RIP Whitey. FHNSAB...
It's hard to believe when friends like these are taken from us. It's harder to understand why certain things happen in our daily lives. This loss explains what just occurred to me. Just a few days ago, for some reason I was looking through an old high school year book and turned it open to two separate pages.......one was Whitey's Senior Graduation picture, the second, a picture of him catching a pass in our biggest rivalry football game against Clifton HS. I've sent copies of the two to Dave in hopes we can somehow post them so we can all recall what and who we were. Whitey, was someone I looked up to growing up on Hudson St and was one of the reasons I became a Cadet. God Bless you, Whitey and may you Rest in Peace. FHNSAB...
We all have special friends with whom we shared special memories as Cadets. Sometimes we marched together, and sometimes the friendships formed transcended age differences. I have just received notification that a former Cadet who played an important part in my life has just passed into eternity. Pete (Whitey) Kooyenga passed from this earth on February 25th. He will be missed more than words can express. Visitation will be Monday, March 1, 2-4, 7-9 PM at Santangelo's Funeral Home, 300 N. Main St., Lodi, NJ. Interment will St. Mary's Cemetary in Lodi where so many of our Cadet family now rests. He will be missed, and his memory will be honored by all who knew him. For Holy Name shall always be...
Please be advised that tomorrow's show at the Garfield VFW is ON. The alumni corps will meet at 2:00 pm in the basement of the VFW. Just in case we get another blast of heavy snow overnight please check your E mails tomorrow morning. We will do our best to notify you of any changes. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Please be advised that considering the heavy snow storm tonight's rehearsal of the alumni corps ( Thurs. 2/25 ) at the Garfield VFW is canceled. For the Saturday I&E show we will meet in the basement of the VFW at 2:00 PM to warm up and run thru our routine. Our scheduled time to perform is 3:55 PM. Please check your E mails periodically. Should there be any changes in the Saturday show we will do our best to put out an E mail ahead of time. Thank you.
The next rehearsal of the alumni corps will be this Thursday , Feb. 25th at the Garfield VFW on Outwater Lane from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. We will be working on our program for the Skyliner's' I&E show that will be held at the Garfield VFW on Sat. afternoon, Feb. 27. We are scheduled to perform at 3:55 pm. The uniform of the day will be the maroon shirt that we wore at the Meadowlands, black pant and shoes. We will go over all the other details at Thursday's rehearsal. Frank Dorritie, the arranger of Ragtime Medley, will be with us on the 25th as guest brass instructor. For any of you on the Cadets' Alumni Corps e-mail list who are not currently playing with us, please come out and have an enjoyable afternoon this Sat. at the Skyliner's show and cheer your Alumni Corp on. The doors open at noon. There will be a brass clinic at noon held by Cadet Alumnus Alan Chez. The show begins at 1:00 pm. Enjoy the show.
EDITOR'S NOTE- PARENT REPORTS FROM THIS WEEKEND'S CAMP Kimberly Yulsman Brooks My son is in the snare line and we were at today's "show and tell." They sound GREAT!!! The music is terrific and all the kids are working hard. Stephanie Tempone My son is a trumpet player and we were there for "show and tell" too. Wow! Amazing sound and awesome music. Loved it
What time does the show at the VFW on the 27th start--and is anyone else coming--and what is the charge--in other words, some details would be great--FHNSAB
The Holy Name - Garfield Cadets Alumni Corp will be performing at a show sponsored by the New York Skyliners and the Buglers Hall of Fame on Saturday afternoon Feb. 27. The show will be held at the Garfield VFW on Outwater Lane. The corp is scheduled to go on around 4:00 pm. Please wear your colors and come out to cheer us on and enjoy a good old fashion drum corp day.
1960 Cadets who "Climb(ed) Every Mountain" remember this year how it feels when "Everything's Comin' Up Roses."
The next rehearsal of the alumni corps will be this Thursday, Feb. 18 at the Garfield VFW on Outwater lane form 7:00 to 9:00 pm. We will be going over our program in preparation for the Skyliner's I&E show on Feb. 27. Important note: Frank Dorritie, the arranger of " Ragtime Medley " will be at our rehearsal on Feb. 25 to assist the horn line as we count down to the show on the 27th. Your attendance at the next two rehearsals is very important so please do your best to be there. Thank you. FHNSAB...
Dave - Thanks for the update...amazing stuff - did you realize there are more percussion instructors this year Presently with the Cadets than we had drummers in 1965 - as I recall we called ourselves "The Fabulous Fourteen." That was the year we had 4 snares and 4 tenors - quite a stretch for a drum line - most Corps stayed with 3 x 3. We thought we were such pioneers back then, but I wouldn't have traded it for anything. It was these small changes that helped make our Corps grow to new heights and we did help make it a better place to spend a summer season. The other Corps that had 4 x 4 were the Royalaires from Chicago which I had the pleasure of marching with two of their snare drummers in the 1969-70 season in the United States Marine Drum & Bugle Corps. I think Truman Crawford had a lot to do with getting some folks from the Cadets and the Royals to the DC Corps. I certainly learned a lot from Truman...a great Marine and Horn Arranger/Instructor. God Bless the Corps during its' upcoming 2010 Season and thanks again for all you have done for the kids. FHNSAB...Bill Gaeckle 1965,66,67, 1972,74,75,76 (EDITOR'S NOTE: For those of you who have never had the honor of knowing Bill, he symbolizes everything we value about being a Cadet).
I'll be thinking of you all on Thursday--but I'll be somewhere in the between Miami and Cozumel on the water! Have a good time--and I'll stop at 8:30--FHNSAB
Dave- you're right... Don't forget 2010 is 50th anniversary of first AL Natl championship in Miami as Garfield Cadets. FHNSAB... Bill
1979-1982...It was the best time ever!!! Good luck to all future cadets!!! FHNSAB...
Another sad loss for one of our own. The Mother of Beth Linkletter McGarril has passed into the rest eternal. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Beth during these difficult days. Know that your fellow Cadets care very much.
This is an Open Letter "Thank You" to the many members of the Cadets who attended the Visitation and Funeral Services for my mother over the past weekend. The outpouring of support was deeply appreciated and very humbling. Dozens of Cadets, some with wives and families accompanying them, came to pay their respects to Mom. Still others attended the funeral Mass and final cemetery service in absolutely dreadful weather conditions. But in a weekend packed with emotion, nothing was more meaningful than to hear the "Holy Name Hymn" sung by those attending the Visitation on Sunday. Mom loved the Cadets and I know she was pleased to hear that beautiful melody sung in her honor. Thanks to all from the bottom of my heart.
The next rehearsal of the alumni corps will be this Thursday Jan. 28 at the Garfield VFW on Outwater Lane from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. We will be preparing for our performance at the Skyliner 's I&E show on Feb. 27. We have only 4 rehearsals left until then so please do your best to attend this rehearsal. Our deepest condolences go out to Cadet Alumnus Bill Kardash , Soprano 52 - 61, on the loss of his Mother. FHNSAB...
FYI...The report from the HNC website was posted to the Imperials website today. This is a tribute, not only to Mrs. K, but to ALL "corps mothers". Gosh, it is really beautiful.
I know I share the sad sentiments of all the Cadets who were touched by Mrs. Kardash. She (Mrs. Kardash) was a gem. In those days the uniforms had to be immaculate and good fitting or you failed inspection, she was always there to make sure we looked great. She was also very forthright with her comments, take it from one who always got her son in trouble. No matter what she loved us all. Bill we love you and feel for you right now. FHNSAB...See you Sunday. John
I would like to express my sorrow on the passing of Mrs. K. My best wishes go out to Billy and his family on the love of a very great and wonderful lady and Mother. I grew up in the Garfield Cadets and Mrs. K. was a like a mother to all of us. Again my heartfelt sorrow go out to you Billy and your family. Lou Silvestri 59-68
Hi everyone, My name is Matt Haines. I am a former Cadet (drum major in 2004, asst. director in 2005), as well as a former staff member of the Troopers and Capital Regiment. I'm so excited to see that four drum corps are in the final round (and doing really well!). I'm not suggesting you don't vote for all four drum corps if that's where you want to see the funding go. They've got great, creative ideas on what to do with the award and, as a former music major/drum corps participant, I absolutely appreciate what the arts can do for those who directly participate, those who are in the audience, and the world as a whole. I'm writing because, I'd like for you to consider giving the organization I work for, The St. Bernard Project, your fifth vote. http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiv...post&ref=mf Located in New Orleans, we rebuild homes for the survivors of Hurricane Katrina. In New Orleans today, nearly four and a half years after the storm, roughly 10,000 individuals are still crowded into temporary housing; 12,000 remain homeless (double the pre-Katrina number); and countless others are scattered around the country hoping to one day return to their home. There are hardworking families here who are trying to get home...they just need a little help. With the assistance of volunteers and donors from around the country, the St. Bernard Project is trying to be that help. Since March 2006, we have returned 258 families back into their storm-damaged homes. With this funding we can do the following: - rebuild 100 more homes for the survivors of Hurricane Katrina; - create 21 new construction jobs each year for returned war veterans; - add 2,000 hours to our Center for Wellness and Mental Health (a HUGE issue in post-disaster areas) for 300 new clients As we've seen in New Orleans before, and as we're seeing in Haiti right now, the disaster relief system is something we need to invest in. Nobody should have to live the way some of our clients live. With your help we can continue to correct this solvable problem. Thanks in advance for your support. Please vote for the St. Bernard Project at http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/charities/486661?src=wallpost&ref=mf Sincerely, Matt Haines
Dave: Have a few personal tickets for sale to the game Sunday in case you know of some rabid Jets fans who are looking. PRIMO seats; 2 seats section 141 40 yd line row 5 face value $450, 2 seats section 141 40 yd line row 8 face value $450,4 seats section 339 40 YL, 1st bal row 3 face value $425. Want to make a few bucks, but will be competitive. Give anybody you think would be interested my email and/or cell. Thanks!
Dennis Magarro ‘60, who many of you will remember as the musical sparkplug DJ of our Christmas Party, as well as a member of our alumni corps, has just shared some information with us that he granted permission for us to share with all of you. It is not good news. Once again we are called together to offer support to one of our own as he faces some very difficult times. On Jan. 16th Dennis was diagnosed with an extremely serious medical condition which will require many weeks of extreme and debilitating treatment Incredibly one of his primary concerns is how this will impact on the alumni corps. To quote Dennis, “I will try to continue as long as I have the strength. Once treatment begins I am told I will be very sick and weak, but I will stay active as long as it’s possible. FHNSAB…” Please rally around this brother Cadet who has always been there when needed for his corps. Messages may be sent to: cddennis51@aol.com. Keep him in your thoughts and prayers, and email him to let him know you are doing so. We are with you Dennis.
I received a classy e-mail from The Cadets that was sent out to all their alumni and fans asking them to vote for the four corps. (EDITOR'S NOTE: This is in reference to a chase program to benefit non-profits with significant financial contributions based on voting by facebook members. The Cavaliers, Phantom Regiment, Colts, and Carolina Crown have already won $25,000, and are in the final voting for a million dollar first prize, and/or $100,000 for placing 2nd-4th. The Cadets did not receive sufficient votes for financial award. Go to facebook.com for additional information. Good luck to all of the four corps finalists.
Beautiful site!. Thanx for helping bringing us all back into the fold. EDITOR'S NOTE: Welcome home Cadet).
Just a reminder that the next rehearsal of the alumni corps is Thursday, tomorrow night at the Garfield VFW on Outwater lane from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. We will be working on our program for the Skyliners I&E show on Feb. 27. Please note that next Thursday, Jan. 21 there will be no rehearsal. Our next rehearsal after that will be Thursday, Jan. 28. Thank you. FHNSAB...
We regret to inform you of the passing of Pete Emmons' Mother. Pete was only on staff with the Cadets for a short period of time in the early 1970s, but he made a deep and lasting impression on the Cadets with whom he came in contact. We express our sincere sorrow and condolences to Pete and his five sisters in Casper. We hope they know that our thoughts and prayers are with them. FHNSAB...
We are sorry to advise you that Mrs. Connie Kardash is currently hospitalized. Mrs. Kardash is a long-time Cadet Quartermistress and, alomg with her deceased husband John, a longtime benefactor and supporter of The Cadets. We hope and pray for her speedy recovery. Bill Kardash, 52-61. has promised to keep us updated on her condition. Prayers would be appreciated.
(EDITOR'S NOTE: We salute and honor this young American hero). Andy Toppin, 21, was critically injured while serving his country in Iraq. He received life-threatening injuries when an EFP (Explosively Formed Penetrator) struck his vehicle during a Military Police mission. Andy was quickly transported to the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, and is being treated for severe burns to his arms and face. His legs suffered significant damage that required partial amputation to the right one. The Blue Stars and Blue Stars Alumni Association has established the Andy and Ashley Toppin Recovery Fund to help Andy, Ashley and their unborn baby in this time of need. If you would like to make a donation to help this young family, please send a check as follows: Make check out to: Andrew and Ashley Toppin Fund, please write "Attn: Walt" in the memo line. Send to: U.S. Bank, ATTN: Walt, 201 Main St. Suite 100, La Crosse, WI 54601. Andy's prognosis is encouraging and despite his injuries, his future is bright. As a trumpet and mellophone player, Andy marched with the Blue Stars from 2005 through 2007. His parents, Suzi and Bill Toppin, were active supporters of the Blue Stars, and in 2007, sold souvenirs throughout the "Power & Grace" tour. Andy's sweetheart and wife, Ashley, is also a Blue Stars Alumnus, marching in the color guard in 2006 & 2007. Andy and Ashley are expecting their first baby in April 2010. Ashley recently communicated to concerned alums that, "He is very, very weak still but in a way ... very strong. We still need many prayers for my husband." The Toppins are grateful for all of the well wishes, and most important, the prayers for Andy. Andy's mom, Suzi, said, "He's always been a hero to us, but he did an amazing job over there and they all are so proud of him! Keep him in your prayers, light a candle ... it's ALL helping!!!" Update, as they are available, will be posted on blustars.org and in the Blue Stars' Forum.
Dear alumni corps members and Friends: Thank you for a very productive rehearsal last night. Please be advised that we made an error in the rehearsal dates that were announced. We WILL have rehearsal next Thursday, Jan. 14. There will be NO rehearsal the following Thursday Jan. 21. A reminder will be sent to our mailing list. We apologize and hope this did not cause an inconvenience. FHNSAB... On a sad note our deepest sympathy goes out to Jack Day on the loss of his father.
Happy New Year ! Its been three weeks since the alumni corps last met and we have new music to work on prior to the Feb. performance in Garfield. I'm asking all to make this practice Thur. evening. I would like to see exactly where we are on members as well as begin to make the plans/performance schedules for 2010. Again, please make every effort to attend this weeks practice. I would like to see ( at least once a 100% effort on attendance. We need to decide ( as a group ) what appearances would make sense for our Alumni Corps. FHNSAB...
Happy New Year everyone. I just saw that we lost an alumnus from the 1970's era. Randy Meyers passed away yesterday, I don't knw from what. He was a member in the second half of the 1970's. He was a baritone player. I played with him from plebes to the end of 1979 when I quit. Sweetheart of a guy. His obit is at Moore's Home for Funerals in Wayne NJ.
Looking for an old friend...Tom Smith was a Garfield Cadet...Any info is greatly appreciated...makingaryd45211@yahoo.com EDITOR'S NOTE: Gary, what year(s) did he march?
I just finished reading the Cadets history book you wrote with Greg Cinzio and wanted to say it's amazing. I'm not sure if you didn't identify the 1995 contra player in the bottom right photo on page 135 on purpose or because you weren't sure who he is. In case it's the later, his name is Brian Sleeper. Also, I enjoyed reading your Cadets updates throughout the past season and want to thank you for all your hard work at keeping alumni informed. FHNSAB, Adam Ray Cadets Contra 1994-95
On Christmas Eve I was able to speak to Ray Scarpa at his home in Florida and he wanted me to thank everyone for their warm wishes; their prayers and their get well cards. He is progressing slowly but most assurely. He also wanted me to wish everyone a Merry Christmas
Want you to know that the book arrived today and I couldn't tear myself away from it. You people did a marvelous job and it will grace my drum corps room . I am looking forward to thanking you in person.
Best wishes to all Cadet alumni for a Merry Christmas and a great New Year. Hope that 2010 is as much fun for Cadets as was 2009! FHNSAB!
Just a brief note to remind all that there is no alumni corps practice this Thursday night. I want to take this time to wish you all the Best for The Holiday Season. We have some performance opportunities in 2010 and look forward to sharing some of these expectations with you all soon. Stay well until we meet again on Thursday evening, January 7th at the VFW Hall in Garfield.
I just spoke to Tom Betterbed. He wants to be put on the alumni mailing list & I'm sending him all the links and things to the alumni page.
Great party Saturday night and was happy to see most people made the effort to attend in spite of the weather. Job well done by all who made this happen for the Alumni.
Good afternoon gentlemen (as Bob Knapp would say). We now have all the music the alumni corps drum line is playing available for download, thanks in no small part to Jack Day and Brian Callahan. To expect a complete drumline turnout for every practice date is desirable but understandably unrealistic; HOWEVER, the idea that the "sacred memory" of the past should be left intact and, that trying to relive the past will somehow diminish or tarnish those magical days is just this side short of horse_hit! Doing rudimental drumming again in a drumline is an endeavor that has a specialness and reward all its own.The Les Parks solos are timeless and it's surprising how well all those tight little "diddles" fall together. The past shows up in wonderful ways too, not only in the conversations but, for example, we were working out a nifty ending to Stars and Stripes when someone said,oh, that's the part Mike LaNeve (RIP) wrote! Then, you play the part and some quite wonderful feeling takes hold. No gentlemen, this is not just a bunch of oldtimers attempting to be young again....this is a unique brand of excellence. I might add that the horn line we have the privilege of playing with, not only sounds great but are very dedicated to turning out a product worthy of the Holy Name/Garfield Cadet tradition. Out in the land of Texas, on Friday nights in a heated barn, two former Garfield Cadet snare drummers are practicing these very parts and, I'm told will be expanding to 3 snares and two tenors WITH the purpose of joining forces with us over the summer. Bottom line, I invite you to pick up a pair of fat drum sticks, run down some warm-up exercises and get back in line. It's a part of your life your arms and your soul have been missing! FHNSAB...
The next rehearsal of the alumni corps will be this Thursday, December 10 at the Garfield VFW on Outwater Lane, from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. We will be working on a new tune, " Ragtime Medley " and will ensemble together with brass and drums later in the evening. This will be our last rehearsal for 2009 so please do your best to be there so we can close out a sensational year on a good note. Thank you.
For those of you who may not be aware, Ray Scarpa (a drummer who marched in late 40’s early 50’s) had a serious medical setback on Friday, November 20th at his home in South Carolina. The problem will require extensive therapy. He is in good spirits as reported by his wife, Joen. He is in a hospital near his home and they have begun therapy there and will keep him in the hospital until December 23rd, at which time he will go home for Christmas. After Christmas, he will begin intensive therapy at a re-hab center. Please keep Ray in your thoughts and prayers for him to make a full recovery. FHNSAB...
Cindi, Thank You to you and all the Girls for putting such a wonderful event together. It was FANTASTIC! I know all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes. Walking into that room was like walking into a Christmas Wonderland and seeing everyone again, all the years seemed to all melt away. Great Job to everyone involved! Happy Holidays to all! (Editor's Note: Special thanks to Joey and his family for donating all the beautiful table centerpieces and the pointsettas framing the dance floor. FHNSAB...) Joey Nikischer
Well, Cindy and her committee hit it out of the park yet again--and a good time was had by all--even Santa had a memorable evening-- my many thanks for all the hard work that went into the Christmas party last night--and to those who missed the fun--you were missed--FHNSAB...
Sorry to hear of the passing of Cadet Phil Kowalski. Gosh, I will miss his great corps stories posted on this Forum. My condolences to the family and all Cadets.
Unfortunately my father Philip J. Kowalski 50' -54' passed away on Dec 3, 2009. The corp was one of my fathers' fondest memories. Please let all those involved in the "Holy Name Cadets" know of his passing. His Funeral will be held at the Preston Funeral Home at 153 South Orange ave, South orange New Jersey 07079. Public Visitation will be held on Monday, Dec 7th at 2-4 Pm and from 7-9 PM. A small service will be held at the same location on Wednesday, Dec 8 at 11:00 AM. FHNSAB... Sincerly yours, Kris Kowalski
I'm not sure how much this has been discussed or talked about, but The Cadets are offering bus service from ALL OVER the place in order to make it more affordable for kids to get to camp. The prices are extremely low, with service from Columbus, OH, Syracuse, NY, and Charlotte, NC costing only 40 bucks and everything else closer in to camp is less. I don't know about anyone else, but I spent way more than that driving to camps from Central PA last season and wish I had this a year ago! I think we all know that lots of potential members of all drum corps tend to "cut themselves" for a variety of reasons, but man would this make it easy to get to camp! The routes cross near many college campuses and cover a huuge quadrant of the country...looks like a pretty cool way to give more people a chance to be a Cadet...just thought I'd share as an excited alum.
Steve Jacobs, I marched with Spirit of Atlanta in '83. Cadets used our horns in Ohio, I don't remember why, then played for us after the show- a very moving experience. Later that season we played Georgia together in Tennessee. If anyone from '83 reads this, please shoot me a message, I'd love to say hi, because I was your biggest fan the rest of the year
I also Loved this book. Thank You Dave and Greg.
Gregory Cinzio: The Cadets' book is a walk-off grand slam! What an amazing story and a phenominal effort by you and Dave. FHNSAB...
Gosh! You guys are having SO MUCH FUN! :) 75th anniversary and events! Christmas party! Special history book! Alumni corps. Plans for 2010. Looking at this all with extreme jealosy! But happy for you! FHNSAB...
To all alumni corps members and prospective members: Please note, I did receive the new music chart for " Rag Time Medley " and would like to get started on this during Thursday's practice. Please try to attend........it's a new number and as all agreed, we need to get at least one new tune within current repertoire. Again, please try and make every effort to attend.
Just spoke to Gary Scarpa who had planned on coming to the party on Saturday with brother Ray. Unfortunately, Ray had a serious health setback last week and currently is hospitalized. Gary indicated Ray is making progress in his recovery. Hopefully, Ray will have a full recovery. FHNSAB...
I recently bought a copy and think it's great! Steve Solombrino, I.C. Reveries: 66,67,68,69,70,71,72,73,74: Blue Angel/Reveries 75: 27th Lancers 76,94,95 - Lead Soprano (Editor's note: Steve is fondly remembered by Cadet Alumni of that era not only as a great horn player, but as a friendly competitor whom we very much respected).
HELLO HOLY MANE, You Old Lion, You.The book is a fine piece of work. Many Thanks to you and the co-author. I've read your work since you wrote for the DrumCorps News ( or World) and if there had to be a final tribute to you and your devotion to the Corps, the book is it. Unless of course you have another opus germinating somewhere. I'm proud to call you my friend.
I recently bought a copy and think its great! Steve Solombrino. (Editor's Note: for our younger alumni, Steve was a very much admired top soprano in the days of the I.C. Reveries and 27th Lancers...we very much appreciate his assessment of "The Book": I.C. Reveries: 66,67,68,69,70,71,72,73,74, 75 - Blue Angel/Reveries 75 - 27th Lancers 76,94,95. Lead Soprano).
The next rehearsal of the alumni corps will be Thursday Dec. 3 at the Garfield VFW on Outwater Lane from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. We all send our get well wishes to Vic Jaskot who is recovering at Hackensack Med. Ctr. from successful surgery. Vic said as soon as he can play he will be back in the mellophone line with our alumni corps. Best wishes also to Tony " Bart " Bartello who is also recovering from a recent medical procedure.Finall don't forget the Christmas Party on Saturday Dec. 5 at 7:00 pm at the Garfield VFW. Happy Thanksgiving to you all. Have a safe holiday and please remember our troops in your thoughts and prayers. FHNSAB...
I tried to carve out an away day to read through “CADETS” completely, but I wasn’t successful. The pictures, stories, and details kept giving birth to more forgotten memories, faces, and additional nuances of the situation that it was hard to read through the joyful and sentimental tears and the sense of blessings…The array of photographs alone makes the price of the book worthwhile. The very readable pages of text and vignettes are a treasure trove and testament to 75 wonderful years of character and characters which have made the corps so distinctive…Knowing how overwhelmed I have been with the flood of feelings and memories, I can only imagine the emotional dynamics rising in the corps’ newer members and in the general public perhaps hearing the stories for the first time…Do you realize how you have crossed the generational experiences and created something which will also inspire the generations to come?...The “Spirit of 76” will be no different from the “espirit” of ’34, ’57, ’83, and ’09 . For Holy Name shall always be….
Hey Dave, Cesani here, it breaks my heart to not be able to get to all the Cadet alumni stuff going on. Reading all those names, people I haven't thought of since '64 !!!. Scotty Mc Garry, Jim Messina, Jimmy D'Amico, Hugh Mahon, Jimmy Mallen, Fabe Izsa !!!! His brother Marc, was in the drum line with me. Anyway, Last week I was in Houston TX with my wife visiting her brother. Bill Ridings & Brian Callahan live in Houston. We got out the drums and the charts and after a couple of run-throughs it was like it was '63 all over again !!!! Being all in our 60's now we were sitting with drums on stands, but WE STILLGOT IT!!! I got my Cadet history book today. Fabulous thing...so MANY memories. THE PHOTOS !!!!. I'm in several, my face obscured by the chin strap and low- fitting shako. But I know it's me there. I also got my retro Holy Name jacket a few weeks ago. I wear it as often as I can. Thank you for what you all do. I feel SO PROUD to have been a Cadet. Please tell everybody hello and that i'm still playing, teaching drum lines, old but still dangerous !!! For Holy Name shall always be...
Tony Bartello's wife Barbara e-mailed that he is doing well following his medical procedure. She said she hoped to be bringing him home today. We all join in wishing him a complete and speedy recovery. Vic Jaskot's wife Vail has also informed us that he is resting comfortably after his medical procedure, and will hopefully be able to receive visitors after this weekend. For more information contact George King (Gefreki@aol.com). To both our fellow Cadets: FHNSAB...
Greg & Dave: Just received my copy of "The Book" and as everyone has already commented, WOW! Stunningly Beautiful artwork (Editor: You can thank Kevin Ullrich for that). Needs a Hardcover for the Coffeetable, though. Thank You, all who contributed their photos! Also, I didn't expect my July 4th vignette would be turned into a descriptive mini-history of the late '60's. My memories of that performance are still vivid and in color! Someone has obviously reorganized my emotional outpourings into a coherent story. Which brings me to my next point..............everyone of us has a significant memory(ies) of our time in The Corp. I, for one would enjoy spending a winter evening reading a short story from everyone who could possibly spend an afternoon or evening putting two fingers to a keyboard. One rule, let's keep personal relationships offline, our spouses & children don't really need to know everything we got away with ;) ie; (Who set St. Kevin's patio furniture in the bottom of their pool in Cleveland?) I think they wear green uniforms? Lastly, to our brothers who are undergoing health issues, my prayers for your speedy recoveries. FHNSAB...
My copy of "The Book" arrived yesterday and it's amazing!!!! A must have for all alumni and fans of the Cadets! There are a ton of rarely seen or never before seen photos. It is a professionally made product. So good that it could expect to pick one up at any Borders or Barnes & Noble. For Holy Name shall always be...
I suspect that more than a few Cadets are tired of hearing from me. BUT, the recent posts about the 1957-58 era brought back memories of the FIRST time I saw the HNC, at AL nationals in Chicago 1958. Of course, they were then the GARFIELD Cadets, having lost their church sponsorship. But, they came to Chicago at the last minute, under very trying circumstances, to defend their title! Virtually homemade uniforms! Borrowed instruments! Total class! Great performance. Great brass. Drums were unbelievable! Spirit and pride. To me, the greatest Cadet memory. But then, they came back in 1960 after a hard rebuilding year. The Cadets always seem to come back!! FHNSAB...
Vince Ferriola spoke the truth about Dave Shaw. I'll bet that, if you prick his skin, the blood you get will be pure MAROON! :)
Hello Mr. Dave Shaw...this is the first time I'm e-mailing you, but I thought it was about time...I do have Holy Name in my favorites in my e-mails, and do follow all you write. I was in the Paterson Cadets in the 50's, and moved over to Garfield in 61, playing with them until aging out at the end of 63. I remember all you guys, Ernie Filipelli, Bob Peterson, the Arthur's, Don, and you. Bill Kemmerer Jr. and Sr, and of cource aunt Nellie.....those were the times. I live in Florida now, and travel one week a month to LA for consulting work...so I haven't in recent years had a chance to get back to Jersey...the work will end one day, and I hope to be able to join you guys in your many festivities. I am in LA right now, but just had to take a minute to say a few words regarding you...they are, Fantastic, terrific, heart warming, unbelievable, and there are other words that can be used, but I'll stop there....the job you do will never, ever be forgotten...you continue to blow my mind with all you do...all heart and soul.....I have just ordered the book, and it should be home when I get back, but from what I have heard and read, I know I will thoroughly enjoy it, and display it for everyone to see...my time in the corps in the early 60's will never be forgotten. And to you..I am sure there are a few, and only a few, who have to say, who is this Dave Shaw?, but I am one of the many who can say, I know him...THANKS...FHNSAB…
Joe--Most Precious Blood Crusaders --Pretzels came to Holy Name in 1957 & 58.He had played with St. Joe's Of Newark, N.J.prior to Holy name.His real name is Bob Stemmer.Pretzels was a great addition to our line as we needed a third snare drummer in 1957.I spent countless hours with Bob as he made the transition from St.Joe's to Holy Name.Bob was a great guy and I wish he was still with us.I was a member of Holy Name in 1953 and I have great respect for MPBC.Your Corps was a class act and the time spent at your homes that year was very special. Thanks for the wondweful memories.
I have just received information that by sheer coincidence Cadet Alumni and Scout House Alumni will both be holding their respective Christmas parties on the same day, Saturday, December 5. It was definitely a trip down memory lane to see our two names linked in a message again. To many of our younger Cadets and Alumni, perhaps Scout House is a name you have never heard (go to the History section on the bar menu on this site for more information), but to Cadet Alumni of 1958 through 1963 the memory is of a special time in our lives when our corps and Scout House stood shoulder-to-shoulder with each other through good times and bad To those of us who were Cadets during that era we share a special bond with the boys of Scout House, and memories of good times and good friends. In more recent times we have had many Canadian Cadets wear the maroon and gold, and we are very, very proud to remember how far back our links to our northern neighbors extend. So to all our friends from Scout House, as well as The Toronto Optimists, De La Salle, our own Canadian Alumni, and all the others, Merry Christmas. The Maple Leaf forever!
I am fortunate to hold a leadership role in a large organization, and every day I am striving to find ways to encourage excellence in my area of responsibility. When I spent a little over a week with The Holy Name Cadets on tour during the 75th anniversary season, I actually lived Excellence, and saw firsthand what results can be when there is total commitment to goals and complete alignment in values. My time with HNC was better than any leadership seminar I could have attended. The days were long, the work was physical and tiring, the quarters were quite close, but seeing what these young people accomplish and what can be achieved when everyone works together was truly inspiring. I met several great individuals from around the world, and was amazed by the teamwork and camaraderie of the Mobile Kitchen crew who worked together in tough conditions under significant time constraints to provide for the needs of the Corps. The job was demanding, but the satisfaction was immense. It was privilege to contribute in a small way to the success of a truly World-Class organization, to be a part of something much bigger than myself, and to share in our son's experience with The Cadets.” John LaPrade, Charlottsville, VA, Food Truck Volunteer, 2009
This is Bart’s wife Barbara requesting prayers for Bart on Friday. He is going into the hospital for a serious medical procedure. Please keep him in your prayers. Thanks, Barbara (Editor's note: Barbara can be contacted at arbbeb@verizon.net)
I just got a call from Vic Jaskot’s wife Vail that he underwent surgery today (11/17) for a very serious medical procedure. The operation was successful and he is resting comfortably. She said he might be able to accept visitors as early as the weekend and will keep us posted. For additional information please contact George King” Gefreki@aol.com
Vic Jaskot will undergo an aortic heart valve replacement tomorrow, Tuesday, November 17th at Hackensack Hospital. Today he is having an angiogram to allow the doctors to make certain what they can expect before they open him up. He plans on going to a rehab center somewhere in Hackensack after they release him from the hospital probably in 4 or 5 days after the operation. You might want to ask the alumni, especially the “boys of ‘57”, to keep him in their thoughts and prayers. FHNSAB...
Just to update everyone: Our history book is now in its' third printing. They are flying off the shelves in Allentown. On a different topic: the attendee list for the maroon and gold alumni Christmas party on December 5th is up to 125 people as of 11/15. Anyone who thought that things were going to slow down following all the mind-blowing events of our 75th Anniversary year were mistaken. The first year of our next 75 is going to be full of great events, emotional fireworks, and lots of excitement. Don't miss any of it. The first audition/experience weekend for prospective new Cadets is scheduled for Nov. 20-22. For all the young men and women who will be in attendance, thousands of alumni are ready to embrace you. For Holy Name shall always be...
My son, John Louis Schneider, II returned home safely from Baghdad, Iraq late last Spring. Please thank all the Cadets for their prayers and thoughts of support. FHNSAB... #47
The book is awesome, great work.
FANTASTIC! received my copy of the Cadets' book today, iI is beautiful. I recall when the concept was being proposed and here now it is, your vision is a reality, so much hard work and energy. The book is a wonderful contribution to 75 years of Cadet excellence. When asked why Im proud to part of the corps it is large part because of people like you. I am so proud to have helped you. With Gratitude, Scotty McGarry. FHNSAB...
I was just informed by Greg Cinzio that orders for our new history book have been flooding into Allentown. We are now into our third printing. Christmas is coming. If you hope to obtain a copy for a holiday gift order now. www.cadets.org or www.yea.org. The price of the book is $25.
I was in the Garfield Cadets in 1963 thru 1964. a very short period of time . I was 17 and had just moved to New Jersey with my parents from Waterford, New Iork where I marched with the interstatesmen. My experience with the Cadets left a lasting impression on me to this day. a once in a lifetime memory. My mentor then was Bill Kemmerer. A great man. the Cadets are an everlasting legacy that every member should be proud of. It will make you a better person in life. Best wishes and continue the tradition of the Holy Name Cadets forever. FHNSAB...(EDITOR'S NOTE: Floyd: if you would like to be included on our news reports and announcements send me your email address - dshaw40@gmail.com - and I'll add you to our mailing list. Glad to hear from you.)
It is with sadness that I share with you the death of Phil Roberts, father of Rick Roberts, '83, alumni anniversary corps '09. Calling hours are Wed 7-9 at Barton-McDermot Funeral Home 9 Pine St Chestertown, NY. Donations may be made directly to North Warren Rescue 3232 Cougar Lane, Chestertown NY 12817. FHNSAB...
Saturday in Chicago a Memorial Service in Honor of Donna Jendras was held at Our Lady Mother Of The Church. A truly huge number of people attended, many of whom were her friends & neighbors from her days AFTER Drum Corps. What was most amazing was the number of Cavaliers, Royal Airs. Norwood Park Imperials, Skokie Vanguards, Alamo Rangers, Chicago Mounties, & other Corps/Color Guards too numerous to mention. It was a glorious sendoff to one of the Bluest of the Big Blue and a terrific tribute to one of the Greenest of the Green, my dear friend and marching Brother Bob Jendras. I know that even if you could not attend your thoughts & prayers were with the Jendras family. Please know that ALL of you from 1948 'til the End of Time are my most treasured Brothers! I love you, and as always...SPLOOIE!!! and FHNSAB! JohnO '59-'63 Chicago Cavaliers
Back in 53-54 did you have a snare drummer named "Prazel" for Holy Name Cadets? Don't know if i'm spelling correctly. I was with Most Precious Blood Crusaders?? Going way back!! Thanks Joe (Editors note, we did have a snare we called Pretzels in the 1950s. Sadly he is now deceased. Our Alumni have lots of good memories of Most precious Blood, and the good times we spent in each others' homes. To our younger Cadet alumni, Most Precious Blood was the original name of the Boston Crusaders. What a greatl history your corps has! Bob Peterson, can you add anything to this gentleman's inquiry?)
OMG! This book is so awesome!
Hi Greg, Kevin, and Dave: It was like Christmas morning when the history book was finally delivered in the mail yesterday. I cannot begin to express with words the phenomenal job you did with the Cadet History Book! The memories, photos, text, and pure emotion of your time and talent are not to be compared to anything I have ever seen. Thank you for preserving and revering the Cadets we all love. It bonds us all forever. You have given every Cadet past, present, and future a gift that is most precious. Thank you so very much! FHNSAB...
The next rehearsal of the alumni corps will be this Thursday, November 12 at the Garfield VFW Hall on Outwater Lane from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. Please note that our annual Alumni Christmas Party will be held on Saturday, December 5 at the Garfield VFW, starting at 7:00 PM. There will be a hot buffet dinner, DJ and dancing, Beer and Soda, and a cash bar for mixed drinks. The cost is $25pp payable at the door. So come on out and have a great time with your fellow Cadets.
My copy of "the book" arrived yesterday. I had been in Portsmouth taking part in the funeral of a friend of 40 years and returned just after dark. "The Book" was in my mailbox. I spent the next three hours with it. I just spent another hour. Its the kind of thing that inspires repeated reading and a lot of remembering. My guess is I'm not the only one who recalls the people ..the smell of a chin strap and the taste of a mouthpiece ..valve oil ..the thundering sound of marking time ..the intake of breath as the corps moved off the starting line ..the fastest 13 minutes of the week ..the sweat ..and the cheers of the crowd as the corps marched single file along the track in front of the stands. It takes one to a deeply satisfying ..emotionally evocative ..warm ..and ..frequently ..tearful place. Infinitely readable and graphically as exciting as a Cadets' Show! (and there is no higher compliment in drum corps). It's like everything the The Cadets do ..every marching one of them ..an example of what the pursuit of personal perfection achieves for a team. Anyone who's been anywhere near The Holy Name Cadets knows that the focus required to practice and perfect is a learned skill. For the past two summers as a public radio correspondent ...watching and listening to George Hopkins and his remarkable staff as they teach and work and relate to the corps ..there is no doubt that the overarching consideration is not to win but to educate ..to provide young men and women ..with life skills ..understandings ..and appreciations that will influence everything they will do in life. The winning is the result of the education its the icing on the cake. It is evidence of the continuity of the Cadet experience since 1934. Everyone involved in Cadets ..The Book ..should be congratulated and thanked. This evidence of the past ..the good years and the bad ...the building years and the championships they produced ..is tangible proof that "Holy Name Shall Always Be..."
(We just received this sad news from the Norwood Park Imperials Alumnui of the son of an Imperials Dad, and an American serviceman serving his country. I believe I can speak for all Cadet Alumni in saying that our hearts are filled with sorrow at this tragic loss. To his parents and those who knew and loved him, we mourn with you). From: Sheryll and Jeff Pearson:" Hi my friends, it is with a heavy heart that I will tell you that my son, Michael Pearson lost his life on November 5, 2009, in the shooting at Fort Hood, it was a great loss to what he had to contribute this world." (This brings the world situation much closer to home. Jeff, Michael's Dad, was a soprano in the Imperials in the early 1970s. God Bless all those who wear the uniform of our military for their service, and far too often for the supreme sacrifice of their lives).
What a great Job on the history book.... Enjoyed every page... Love it... Thank you... Now everyone should purchase one... Well worth it.. and then some....
While all the kind comments regarding the book directed to Greg and myself are much appreciated, everyone should be aware that the visual masterpiece that I consider this book to be is due to the talent and very hard work and long hours of Kevin Ullrich with assistance from his brother Todd Ullrich. Without the Ullrich brothers all we would have is a bunch of words and a ho-hum book. I thank them both for making Greg and I look so good, and I thank Greg for being the man with the dream and determination that gave this book life. FHNSAB...
I just finished reading the book from cover to cover--what a ride-- we are all so blessed to be a part of our beloved Cadets--it's a legacy without compare--and I am convinced that all the trials and tribulations of our past will serve to make certain that Holy Name shall always be--many thanks to Dave and Greg for all their hard work
The book is great. I have never seen such a well laid out history. And the pictures are priceless.
OMG! Guys, the book is MAGNIFICENT!!!! I received my copy in the mail today and can't put it down. I love it! Everyone who worked on it did an amazing job. Congrats and kudos to you all!
I got THE book last night--unbelievable--what a beauty--kudos to all who put it together--I think it should be featured at Barnes and Noble with a book signing and everything!
Good grief! You are not going to be able to keep up with the demand for this excellent book! :) From all reports, this is a true classic. Best wishes! Another achievement for the Cadet Team! FHNSAB
I was just informed that the second printing of The Cadets' new history book is now in the works. Backorders will receive first priority when the books arrive (probably by the middle of next week). If you have not ordered yet you should consider doing so. This second printing isn't going to last very long. Go to www.cadets.org or www.yea.org for additional information on the book and how to order.
There will be no rehearsal of the alumni corps this Thursday Nov. 5. Instead the Cadets alumni and friends will gather at the Garfield VFW at 7:00 pm for the first of our monthly winter social events. Copies of the new corps history book will be available for everyone to see, with a limited number of book available for purchase. It 's a magnificent piece of work. Please do your best to attend to enjoy some pizza and see good friends once again. Our next rehearsal will be on Thursday Nov. 12 at the Garfield VFW from 7:00 to 9:00 pm.
The postman just delivered "THE BOOK." The anticipation has been worth the wait. Unbelievable. I did a quick run through the book to view the vast array of detail and images. It's by far the most comprehensive and attractive historical document I've seen on any aspect of the activity . . . and I've seen many over the last 40 years or so.The printer did an incredible job with the halftones -- nice and BLACK and WHITE. To me, that's the most outward sign of an excellent printed piece and they did it right. If I didn't have some pressing project deadlines this weekend, I would sit down and read it cover to cover. I will spend some time this evening and over the next few days absorbing the content. My most hearty congratulations on a product that is absolutely reflective of the organizations' 75-year history and tradition. I'm thankful to receive a "hot-off-the-press" edition and that the two of you -- and Kevin Ullrich -- were entrusted with this task. Well done. I have a feeling you should have printed 1,000!
Gosh ... from the descriptions so far, this history book has to be WONDERFUL! A classic, not just for Cadet alumni, but for all drum corps fans. Congratulations to all. FHNSAB
The Cadets' history books just arrived at the office, and I don't even know what to say...WOW!!! Indescribable...a job well done by Dave, Greg, and everyone else who took on the project!!
Congratulations to Doc, Greg, Dave, Kevin and Todd on the new Cadet history book. It is a masterpiece and a work of art. Just wait until you all see it. It is something else. Thanks for all your efforts and hard work.
I am on a committee who is putting together a reunion for the Valley Grenadiers Drum and Bugle Corps. The favor I am asking is can you do an e-mail blast and/or a Facebook blast to folks in your address book so we can find past members etc? Our reunion is being planned for next summer. Thanks for your help with this. I know my fellow drum corps people will not let me down. Just have them e-mail me with their contact info: FOURWILLDO@aol.com
Our history book is now available for purchase. The first shipment arrived at the office in Allentown today, and the reaction of corps staff was very enthusiastic. Go to www.cadets.org for a description, and ordering information. Here is a sample of reaction from Cadets’ staff when the books were delivered: Caryn Goebel This book is terrific! Justin Heimbecker The Cadets history books just arrived at the office, and I don't even know what to say...WOW!!! Indescribable...a job well done by Dave, Greg, and everyone else who took on the project!! The book price is $25, and since the first order was for a minimum quantity you are advised to place your orders ASAP. You will not be disappointed by this book. It is a fitting tribute to our 75 years of history, with a treasure trove of photos included. Additional orders will be placed as interest warrants. We anticipate that this order will sell out within days.
Doing well in Florida.
Ralph--We were talking about you at the reunion--how are you??
I still remember the enjoyment I experienced from the years when I was a member of the Garfield Cadets. Ralph La Corte printer4@verizon.net
Attn Cadet Thomas Baker: The email address you sent me with your request does not appear to be a correct address. Please advise me of any necessary corrections to the address: tomrja@yahoo.com dshaw40@gmail.com
Glad to hear that Bill Ridings is "on the mend" and drumming again! Best wishes for full recovery and happiness. Have a great time with the alumni corps. FHNSAB
The next rehearsal of the alumni corps will be this Sunday, October 25, at the Garfield VFW on Outwater Lane from noon to 4:00 PM. Please note there will be no rehearsal this Thursday, October 22. We have scheduled this Sunday rehearsal for those of you who would like to participate but can't make our usual Thursday evening rehearsals. So please make every effort to attend this Sunday and enjoy playing some great tunes and seeing old friends again. We look forward to seeing you all.
Dave, Thanks so much for the note of encouragement. The healing process is progressing very well. I took a 3 week hiatus to regain strength and endurance and went right back to work. I know that the multitude of Cadet prayers were instrumental in that positive outcome. So on to the future: Brian Callahan and I volunteered to work the USSBA show in Spring, TX last Saturday. 6 hours of hard work but a rewarding experience. Tim Gallagher of YEA ran the show. Jim Mallen (drum judge Joe Mallen's son) from NJ judged GE. We will be working more shows as we encourage future Cadet applicants. Brian and I are practicing each Friday night. He is writing much of the 2010 alum show percussion book. I am again counting the days until August 2010. I promise to be there in line with Brian, Art Mura, Bobby Peterson and the other snares. God Bless and take care of your back, FHNSAB...
We're blessed to have so much success we cant remember it all!
1959! Agree with Cadet McGarry. 1959 was not a championship year for the Cadets. But it was a BUILDING year for the corps. Building in terms of skills and performance, yes. But also building in terms of attitude. They were successful with BOTH! :) I saw the Cadets on the starting line at 1959 AL Nationals. They followed the Imperials in performance. They displayed a great esprit de corps and confidence. FHNSAB!!
I was saddened to hear of the passing of Charlie DeBlieck. My memories are mostly of Charlie during his Cadet years from 1956 until he became Drum Major in 1960. Those were transitional years for us as we seemed to be on an emotional roller-coaster. We regained our footing in 1960 and Charlie was there to lead us. Charlie and his buddy, John DeOld came to Holy Name from Paterson's Our Lady of Lourdes. I was disappointed that Charlie wasn't able to attend the 75th but have great memories of seeing him at the 50th Anniversary of our 1957 National Championship. There is a great photo of Charlie in Atlantic City. Go to "Photos" and look at the Atlantic City pictures; he's in image #73, with Dave Shaw. May he rest in peace.
I believe that 1959 was one of the most significant years in the history of the corps. In my opinion the year was pivotal for the survival and success of future corps. We did not win any championships, however when I reflect on all the hard work, dedication and spirit that was put forth by the members, volunteers and staff to insure that the corps flourished then I believe that is cause for celebration. (Editor's Note: Amen)
I know there are a lot already, but 2010 is the 5th anniversary of the 2005 world championship with the highest score in DCI history and our latest championship.. I say it's time for another. Love the updates.
Even though I'm not an alumni, but have been a huge fan of Holy Name as I was growing up and competing, I will be one of the many who will purchase the book. Congratulations to all who have made another huge addition to your history and tradition.
Thanks to all of you who participated in the alumni show last Saturday in Brooklyn. We received some very encouraging reviews and you should all be proud of your performance. Our next rehearsal will be this Thursday Oct. 15 at the Garfield VFW on Outwater Lane from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. IMPORTANT NOTE: There will be NO rehearsal next Thursday Oct. 22; However, we will be rehearsing at the Garfield VFW on Sunday Oct. 25 from noon until 4:00 PM. We plan on doing one Sunday rehearsal each month during the winter. For those of you who work or drive a long distance and find Thursday nights to be incovenient please take these Sunday opportunitites to be part of the corps. We look forward to seeing you all.
Finals were in Atlanta Georgia. The Garfield Cadets glowed golden like Gods as they introduced the world to the next level of Drum Corps winning the world Championchip. We had a stunning year ourselves in the Freelancers. We gave the guard 20 sopranos and taught them how to play ballzondo whole notes to the opening "You're still a young Man" by Tower of Power. We were arguably the loudest Corps of the year. We also did singing/vocals as a first, at least to us in our era. Back in the Day, California had 5 of the top 12 , and a few more in the 24. (Editor's Note: The Cadets of that era remember with great respect and admiration the truly great Sacramento Freelancers. They are missed very much).
Come and join your fellow Alumni for the 1st Annual Alumni Holiday Bash! This Holiday party is being hosted by the 1969 Original Girls Colorguard on Dec. 5th at the VFW in Garfield, NJ (home of the Alumni monthly meetings). Price is $25/per person to be paid at the door (bring your spouse or a guest too)which includes a hot buffet, beer and soda, music by a professional DJ and of course the nostalgia and warm feelings that go along with celebrating the season with your oldest friends, the Alumni of our family of Cadets. There will also be a cash bar provided. We can’t wait to see all of you! Please respond by email by Nov. 20th with number of people in your party to: cynthia.devivo@yahoo.com (Cindi Carozza) or pattiwho@gmail.com (Patti Lovas) FHNSAB...
The next rehearsal of the alumni music ensemble will be this Thursday, Oct. 8 at the Garfield VFW on Outwater Lane from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. We will be working on our program for the Brooklyn United show on Sat. Oct. 10. This will be our last rehearsal before the show so please make an effort to attend. For those of you who will be car pooling to the Brooklyn show we will leave from the Garfield VFW on Sat. at 2:00 pm. We will go over all the details this Thursday at the close of rehearsal. For details of the show and directions please go to this web site; www.brooklynunited.org IMPORTANT NOTE: There will be a Christmas Party for Cadets Alumni & Friends on Sat. Dec. 5 at the Garfield VFW from 7:00 to 11:00 pm. The announcements will be e-mailed to everyone this week. The Alumni Corp will be performing at the party so please mark your calenders. Thank you,
I spoke to Inez at the funeral today and told her how the entire Holy Name family was with her and Charlie. She told me of the joy they experienced in Atlanic City two years ago celabrating the 57 corps and how much he loved Holy Name.
We sadly inform you that Charlie DeBlieck, 56-60, DM 1960, has passed away. The wake was yesterday (Sunday), and the funeral service is at 9:30 today, 10/5/09 at the David DeMarco funeral home in Monroe,NJ. Rest in peace. For Holy Name shall always be...
It is with great sorrow that we inform you that Charlie DeBlieck, Cadet Drum Major 1960, has passed on to the life eternal. May he rest in peace. For Holy Name shall always be...
Please be advised that the Holy Name - Garfield Cadets Alumni Corp will be performing this Saturday October 10 at Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn at the Brooklyn United Alumni drum corp show. For details and directions please go to; www.brooklynunited.org. The show starts at 3:00 pm The Cadets Alumni Corp is scheduled to go on at 4:20 pm. Please come out to cheer the corp on and enjoy a great drum corp evening.
For all Cadet Alumni; we received word from Charlie Sydoryk that John Baumfalk weathered his trip to the 75th Anniversary celebrations without any problems. His family has informed us that it was a thrilling experience for him. Thank you for attending John. To have Cadet #1 present was an inspirational experience for everyone.
Hey Pete Emmons, would you have any idea where Jodi is in the earth, I would love to say hi!...oh and by the way...hi.
My sincerest condolences to the Mura Family. I recall being invited into their home on several occasions and having the Mura family regale us with the early history of the Corps, and being invited to watch the 8mm movies of the Corps in the late 40's and 50's. That sharing of their personal and private experiences added so much to my(our) "Family experience". FHNSAB... I've had the distinct privilege of meeting Charles and Marc Mura, marching with Roger and know how much that family has contributed to our history. Thank You, Mura Family.
The next rehearsal of the aumni corps will be this Thursday Sep. 24 at the Garfield VFW on Outwater Lane from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. We will be working on the tunes for our next show in Brooklyn on Oct. 10. We look forward to seeing you all. FHNSAB...
Please make a note of the following dates for the alumni corps to meet on t Sunday's from 12-5pm: Oct. 25th, Nov. 15th, and Dec. 13th. We have a performance coming up soon......so please make every effort to attend the remaining three Thursday night practices. Thank you. FHNSAB...
The next rehearsal of the alumni corps will be this Thursday Sep. 17 at the Garfield VFW on Outwater Lane from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. Both horns and drums. We will be working on the tunes for our next performance in Brooklyn on Oct. 10. Thank you,
Congrats on completing 75 years! I have great memories from my one year with the corps. Living in Texas, I just haven't had the chance to get back for any of the events in 27 years, but I follow along every year. Way to go Holy Name!!!
(Reference Alumni Meeting with George Hopkins at Holy Name Church 9/10/09): Dave...that was really nice last night...a fitting ending/wrap up of the 75th year. You even got a mention....several in fact! What a year...makes you glad to be alive...glad to be a part of such an amazing organization. Thanks for all your efforts that made it possible...you are quite an amazing guy. Here's hoping that it all continues. I had to laugh that in the little bulletin that was on the tables...they said they would use the Holy Name format again for the 100th...I'm not sure I'm gonna make that one...lol. FHNSAB...
I just want to thank you for sharing all of the events of your truly amazing celebration. I’m only sorry I was not able to attend any of the festivities. Even though my time with Garfield was short, I have fond memories of those days.
DeLUCA, Fillemina Mae (nee Ruggiero-Mura) age 91 of Kunkletown, PA, formerly of Garfield, died on September 7, 2009. She was a parishioner of Most Holy Name Church, and the wife of a founding member of the Holy Name Cadets. She is predeceased by her 1st husband Charles Mura in 1973 and her 2nd husband Louis DeLuca in 1995. She is survived by 3 sons , Cadet Dennis Mura, Cadet Roger Mura and his wife Lauren, Gregory Mura, a sister Ann Renna, 8 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. The funeral is Saturday, September 12, arriving at the Aloia Funeral Home, 180 Harrison Ave., Garfield (973-340-7077) at 8 am followed by a 9 am mass at Most Holy Name Church, Garfield. Interment St. Nicholas Cemetery, Lodi. Visiting Friday 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Condolences/Directions visit aloiafuneral.com
Congratulations on the season(s) recap.. I was very touched as I read and found myself right there, back in the action. I think you covered all of the bases wonderfully, I know for sure the ones I was fortunate to be part of and have no doubt others felt the same. You do such good words Cadet Dave! Thank you so very much. FHNSAB...
Amen, Dave Amen. Thanks for summing up all of our feelings. FHNSAB...
Thanks Dave for a fantastic job in wrapping up the unforgettable 75th year. It was also great seeing you at the reunion, and congrats once again for a truly remarkable job in coordinating events, and then in Indy. FHNSAB...
David, great job! Fanny and I are in our hotel in Vegas celebrating our fifth wedding anniversary (which is why we missed last Thursday) and getting ready to ride a Harley to Zions park in Utah. I just had to read your last installment before we have breakfest. Thanks again for all your work this year (I know it's for a love of the corps) but its still work. We'll see you at the next meeting. Oh, I really got a kick out of being quoted in your article.
I was at Allentown and Montclair but was unable to do Giants Stadium on Sunday. Thank you for painting such a vivid picture with your words. I can begin to understand what it must have felt like to be there. You are the best!
B R A V O & a standing "O" to the grand poobah of all alumni. FHNSAB...
I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for your diligent reports throughout the summer and of course your moving recaps of the entire year. Due to responsibilities and aspects of my life that need to be a priority right now, I wasn't able to attend any of the 75th Anniversary events or even see a show other than Quarterfinals on the movie screen. Of course this meant that I depended on your recaps all the more and you never disappointed. Thank you for the time and thought and energy you dedicated to keep us all informed. It was so appreciated. FHNSAB...
Hi Dave, Can't thank you enough for your summary on our 75th year. I, as I'm sure many others, really appreciate it. Thank you.. thank you... thank you! :-)
My complements to Dave Shaw's six part 75th Anniversary special. My wife and I were not able to attend any of the programs and were delighted to be brought up to date with the entire seasons happenings. It brought tears to my eyes. My Grandson went to the Giants Stadium Show and reported to me. He find it hard to believe that I was a Cadet over 50 years ago. Great piece of writing Dave. FHNSAB
The chronicle of "The Amazing Year of 2009" is just GREAT! I think that Dave Shaw has captured the emotions and reactions of all Cadets in his series! :) Of course, all in his concise and brief style!! :) You might consider taking all of these segments and putting them into a hard copy book, maybe with pictures etc, available for Cadets and supporters. A fine remembrance of a great year.
A Big Thank You for the Get Well Gift sent to my Uncle Charles De Blieck (57-61) Drum Major 60-61. St Peters Hospital New Brunswick,N.J.
My son, John Louis Schneider II, (named after his Cadet grandfather) returned safely home for Baghdad in June. I want to thank my fellow Cadets for their prayers for his safety and beg them to continue praying for ALL our uniformed personnel around the world. I’ve been blessed, dear God bless all those other families. (Editor's note: Welcome home John. We thank you for your service. We are very, very proud of you. God bess you, and God Bless America).
Hello Fellow Canadian Cadets: It might seem a bit early to try and plan a get together at the Holidays, but every year when I come home I never think about it until a few days before and it is too late because the calendar fills up. Joel, Seth & I are planning on being in Kitchener from December 16th until December 21st. I wanted to see if people wanted to get together on Friday, December 18th. Not knowing the area anymore, I wanted to see if anyone had any ideas of where we could meet in Waterloo or Kitchener. A casual establishment were you can have a beer and a burger if you would like. With it being a Friday night, if someone has any ideas of a place that is not so popular so we can make sure we can get in. We could meet later in the evening to make it easier as well. Ok, sorry for the long winded email. So... Long Lost Friends Get Together :-), When: December 18th, 2009, Where: TBD (Open for suggestions), Time: 7:30 pm until ...., Please feel free to forward and invite anyone that I have missed. I can only figure out how to send this to 20 people and there are definitely more people that need to be invited. FHNSAB...
Ken- Dan DeRosa!!!! :O)
Looking for Dot Sadloch Nosal....pls email me at:msmith6700@bellsouth.net
I want to offer my deep appreciation to the following who memorialized this incredible year of celebration and rememberance.Their photos that were taken and posted to the cadets ning website have captured the joy of this anniversary year which can now be preserved for the ages. Lori MciLveen, Diane Samara-Volkart, Dave Rice,Bill Traina, Rich Scotty Mcgarry,Tony Leps,Joey Adams, Todd Ullrich, Margeen Estelle Gearhart,Jeff Kozol, Patti Lovas-Trojanowski, Deanna Queen Imbro., Caren & Joe Frech. I probably have forgotten someone so I will offer my apologies KShed. FHNSAB...
Our next alumni corps rehearsal will be this Thursday September 3 at the Garfield VFW on Outwater Lane from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. We will be preparing for the Brooklyn show on October 10 so please make every effort to attend. Important note. There will be no rehearsal next Thursday September 10. As you may be aware there is an important meeting that evening with the Cadets Alumni and George Hopkins and staff at the at the Holy Name Church. Pat Vazquez will be sending an E mail shortly with more details.
Still high on the summer of 2009. I will be there on the 10th. I feel like I used to when the summer was over and I was aching for that first winter practice to see everyone again. The Cadets were everything to me. (Thank you Dave.)
Before the year is over I wish to congratulate the HN G BC Cadets on 75 years of outstanding dedication and performance. You have a right to be proud of your accomplishments and I am sure that there is little dissimilarity between what we have taken from and given to the activity in our respective corps. I do wish you would have done a full show for the championships not only because it would have been great to watch but it was so much fun to work with all the alumni of all eras that the show itself was a by product of the affection that was built between the generations by working together. I believe that drum corps needs the Cadets, Cavaliers, Madison and the Troopers as pre DCI stalwarts to anchor the direction it heads in. Thank God the Troopers seem to be back and I am sure that with the new staff changes Madison will be soon to follow. May we always be fierce competitors on the field and respectful friends when it is all said and done.
Thanks, Dave, for sharing that story! It is so amazing that Al Mura was there for all of The Cadets' 75 years and was able to reconnect with the corps!
I grew up bleeding Maroon and Gold. My Grandpa, unfortunately, passed in Nov '58 before I was able to meet him, but was fortunately enough to hear of the Championship win of the '57 Holy Name Cadets from his hospital bed. You see, my dad is Tony Bartello, Drum Major of the 1957 Holy Name Cadets. Our family traveled to MANY competitions throughout my life from Clifton stadium to Wildwood (labor day weekends) to watch them march. I lived for it. I LOVED it. My dad was a judge for years and I would go with him on weekends and sit in the stands watching him with his clipboard run around the field. Drum Corps was such a part of our lives and still is to this day. Sitting in Giants' Stadium next to dad during the competition earlier this month and watching the tears run down is face as they performed, will remain with me forever. The unbelievable feeling as his 21 year old grandson (my son) welled up watching his grandpa's face is a moment beyond all emotion. History coming full circle.........thank you Holy Name Cadets for playing a LARGE part of my dad's life and helping to mold him into the honorable, admirable and respectable man that he is today. For Holy Name Shall Always Be to all of us Bartellos....forever xo
ATTENTION HOLY NAME: There will be A SPECIAL ALUMNI GATHERING-OF-THE-MAROON ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 7-9 PM. This meeting has been scheduled at the behest of our director, George Hopkins, so he can present a report to the alumni on our 75th Anniversary year and a glimpse into the future of our corps.This special meeting WILL NOT BE HELD AT THE VFW IN GARFIELD. It will be held on the LOWER FLOOR OF MOST HOLY NAME CHURCH at the corner of Passaic Street ( main thorofare) and Marsellus Place (side street off Passaic Street). This is a very special meeting that George has proposed to continue to build on the close bond that developed between the corps and the alumni over the past several months of our 75th Anniversary year. We appreciate him volunteering his time to travel in from Allentown to meet with us before he departs on a very full two month schedule with the USSBA. We know this is a very busy time of the year for everyone, but this is a rare opportunity to meet directly with George for an in-depth look at his plans for our corps as we proceed into the future. PLEASE MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO ATTEND. If you have any questions about the meeting or if you require additional directions please feel free to telephone me at 201 703 1293. For Holy Name shall always be…
Well It has been a few weeks since the 75th Reunion weekend and needless to say, I am still up there. Kinda like when you come in first at the Dream Contest in Roosevelt Stadium. Everything was awesome. First I would like to thank George King and the Alumni corps for the opportunity to be part of the Alumni corps during the 75th Celebration. I would like to thank all the guys in the Alumni, Jimmy D'Amico , and the Instructors, because you are the ones that showed up for the practices every week, making the corps what it is, while a wannabee like myself, sits in Florida with my Selmer Paris trumpet, with the third valve tied down, wondering how in the heck you guys sound so good. And sound so good you did. Being right there , hearing you guys in person , was just over the top. The whole corps was just awesome.The horn line was fantastic, the drum line was great, and the cymbal players flashing the cymbals on you tube, was terrific. Just listen on youtube and try to imagine how good we sounded if you were sitting in the crowd. I couldnt be more proud to have had the opportunity to "march" with a bunch of professional drum corp guys, that played their hearts out that night in Giants Stadium. What else can I say? You guys were Great. " Besame" was awesome and "American Salute" was fantastic, ole time drum corps, in G.. Thank You again for the chance to be a part of it. You guys are awesome. FHNSAB...
I first off wanted to thank you for sending out these chapters of our once in a lifetime summer. With each end I find myself wanting more and awaiting the next email. You write beautifully and truly capture the magic that happened this summer. This was my fifth summer marching, third with the Cadets, and I can honestly say it has been hands down, the best experience of my life..EVER!! This summer was full of so much emotion. It was an honor to be surrounded for three months by so many people, alumni, members, staff, volunteers, fans, all who hold so much passion for the same Cadet organization. I have never felt so close to a whole drum corps as I did this year. So many of us are keeping in touch and making plans to visit one another, more than usual. I will never forget my summer as a Holy Name Cadet for it will stand out among the rest forever. This summer has also changed me as a person. I find with every decision I am forced to make I bring out the Cadet in me and think of what Hop would encourage me to do. I think all of the lessons he has taught are starting to click. I have always listened to him but this is the first time that when I feel myself getting angry at something I hear his voice and his words of wisdom calm me and make me realize that things will be ok. I have not told him this yet for I am just realizing this now as I am writing. Now that I have trailed off from my point of writing, which was to thank you and let you know you are a phenomenal writer and that I truly enjoy these posts, I will thank you once more and hope that you have a great day!! I am sure I will find myself emailing you once again soon. Thank you!! FHNSAB...
There is another audience for all the anniversary events and celebrations (outside of the Cadet family). That audience is the rest of the drum corps world ..especially the many admirers of the Cadets. It is also safe to say that this audience was mightily impressed by the Cadets and their alumni during this anniversary year! --------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- 2009- Observations from a Cadet admirer I have been an admirer of the Cadets for many years. I first heard of the Cadets and their rich history when I first joined drum corps in 1957. Saw their amazing trip to Chicago in 1958 to defend their National Title. Witnessed their painful rebuilding year in 1959 and the subsequent return to the top echelon in the 1960s. Then, I saw this cycle repeated again in the 1970- 80 era and again in the 1990’s! Through it all, the amazing dedication and spirit of the Cadets shone through! Now, it appeared again in 2009 … with even more pride and emotion, as the entire Cadet family celebrated the 75th anniversary of this amazing group called the Cadets. I knew some of these Cadets when I marched… and have since met more as a result of the HNC website. Their dedication to maintaining the history and traditions of the corps is exemplary. The pride and emotion of the Cadet alumni was evident as they reconnected with each other, through all the celebrations and events of this year. Perhaps it is that shared love of the corps, along with the total focus on excellence and a shared belief in “the corps” above self which makes the Cadets unique. In addition, the Cadets seem to rise above mere competition with other corps... they truly respect and support other corps! Yes, many other corps have traditions and history. And, they also have alumni groups and share strong emotions about their corps. But, they never seem to reach the same level. Perhaps it is my “maroon” vision which makes me think that! J RegardT
more about Cadet traditions .. this was posted by an Imperial alumnus on our website .... "Many people don't like their management but the Cadets honored their history by using the Holy Name Cadets name this year. I thought that was very cool.....and they had a great show this year."
Dave; the bottom line of the 75th celebrations is huge interest in the corps. It has brought me all the way back and ready to help the corps in any way I can. I have let it be known that I will probably spend some quality time working on the menu’s and buying for next year with Pych. Several alumni have said if I go on tour they want to go also, so that is in the plans,. Of course the problem for me is I may have to rent a luxurious RV with a driver so I don’t miss my beauty sleep. I know that if any alumni who participated in the 75th isn’t totally committed to the corps after this year, they must be dead from the waist up. Thanks for putting in words how we all feel. Great job. You have captured the critical moments of this past year. Dave you are a special person with a special gift and people recognize it. FHNSAB...
Dave, these reflections are wonderful, they capture the joy of our 75th anniversary. Just a reminder, a week before you, Ken, and Al Mura traveled to Johnston, I was there presenting the corps with its annual history event. The presentation included a comprehensive 30 minute video and a comprehensive display of historical materials. I believe this event helped give the members a richer understanding and appreciation of who we are as Cadets. (Editor's note: Scotty single-handedly kept our history and traditions alive with each new wave of Cadets for many, many years, In addition he is ever-present with his camera, catching on film the treasured moments in the lives of individual Cadets which he incorporates into his yearly update of his history video. There is no way he can be adequately thanked for all he has done, but we would like him to know he has the gratitude of all Cadets for his part in keeping us "one corps, evermore." FHNSAB...)
Awesome Dave...great and historically IMPORTANT work. Someday we will have no original Holy Name Cadets to see and hear and learn from. You are doing all the right things and we are all thankful.
Are WE keeping the NAME ? It should stay HOLY NAME CADETS for good. FHNSAB...
Dave - I read the first part and understand your pride....you have certainly earned the respect of all the Cadets, past and present as you write your words...decribing the years events. There are not many who can put down on paper these emotional words about the young men and women we have grown to love this HOLY NAME year...I wish they could keep the name for all time and we wouldn't have to worry about what town they meet up or practice in or call their present home...Holy Name would be their Banner and everyone would know who they are. Actually if someone says the CADETS - everyone I know of thinks of the Holy Name Cadets from Garfield, NJ...that is where I will always think of them so fondly as I had some formative years in that surrounding area. I look forward to Part 2 and trust the Cadets will have many great seasons ahead but the 75th will have a lot more meaning to many former members. You have truly done a Great job Dave over the past years keeping everyone focused around the Corps. God Bless You. FHNSAB...
"In the Day" Holy Name was (like we Chicago Cavaliers) an all male Corps. So I have not had the privilerge of meeting my Cadet sisters. Please don't take this the wrong way Ladies, but I love you guys! FHNSAB! And God bless you all for insuring that your tradition continues! You, we Cavaliers, and Madison are all that remain from..."That one brief shining moment that was known as Camelot."
Dave, Thanks for sharing that Cadet's letter. 25 years ago ..50 years ago ...75 years ago ..Holy Name Cadets are the same generation after generation. Is it the maroon and gold? Is it the music? Is it the drill? or is it just being together working toward the perfect, memorable, once in a lifetime performance ..regardless of the score ..which only really matters in sports. For Holy Name Shall Always Be...
Hello everybody! I'm Brazilian guy and I love drum corps! I would likt to know if I can play with you Holy Name Cadets. I'm 21 years old.. since now thank you so much. waiting for reply. (Editor's Note: Felipe, anyone who meets the age requirements and passes the audition process can be a Cadet. Additional information on auditions can be obtained from The Cadets' website: www.cadets.org. Good Luck!). God Bless you! Felipe
We have been informed by Walt Taormina that the Garfield VFW will be holding a church affair this Thursday evening. THEREFORE WE WILL HAVE NO ALUMNI CORPS REHEARSAL THIS WEEK. Our next rehearsal will be Thursday August 27 and we will send an E mail reminder early next week. Thank you.
BTW, KUDOS! to John Ogle for his INCREDILE contribution to this website! He and I have shared memories "of the day", and I treasure those consevations. May you all lift your Shakos to John for his dedication to Holy Name. I am a Chicago Cavalier, pompous & arrogant (remember '61?) and am unacustomed to bowing to anyone..but have to acknowledge John's accomplishment in this Internet realm - and I salute Holy Name for having THE greatest 2009 performance of ALL! You should have won!
Spent hours (literally) on the phone tonight with Chicago Cavalier Alumni,, sharing stories and just reminiscing. One thing in common..we loved you and always will FHNSAB!...and of course, SPLOOIE!!!
Couldn't notice that The Cavaliers are not included in your "Respected Friends" . Why? We were the 1 Corps that loved you most! The Cake we presented you in Denton, TX was proof of the Esteem & Love w still have for you. We are a part of your history (1958 Chicago) as you are part of ours. Then why are we NOT a "Respected Friend"? Friends? We were BROTHERS!!! FHNSAB!...and, of course - SPLOOIE!!! (Editor's Note: John, the "Respected Friends" page is to honor corps no longer in existence. The Cavaliers certainly do not fit into that category, and hopefully never will. Rest assured that The Cavaliers are indeed respected friends of The Cadets, and always will be. And yes, the cake you presented to us is yet another reason to cement the mutual admiration and friendship we share.)
If any of you were at the Meadowlands or have seen the Alumni corp videos and would like participate please come down to the Garfield VFW on Thursday nights. We rehearse from 7:00 to 9:00pm and the door is open to everyone. Guaranteed to get your maroon blood flowing again. We are preparing for our next performance on Oct. 10. Please join us and have some fun. FHNSAB...
While Besame Mucho and Tonight will always bring chills, the number which brought me to tears was Johnny--for me that was THE song--I still can picture the American section coming forward as the horns played--I suppose I will always miss the color presentation.
I finally had a chance to listen to John Ogle's great review of the 1959-62 Garfield Cadets and it brought back memories deep inside my soul. Thanks, John for a great gift to all of us who were part of the Garfield Cadets during those years. Some of the songs I hadn't heard for decades but I found my right thumb "twitching" as the songs evolved. "Tonight" and "Besame Mucho" will always be two of my favorites. I remember the friustration of 1959 followed by the great successes of 1960 and 61 (I left before the 62 season). Glad to see many of the Corps at the 75th Reunion. Now I want to plan the seed for a reunion of the 1960 Garfield Cadets ... next year will be the 50th Anniversary of the FIRST national championship of the Garfield Cadets ... since we won this one in Miami's Orange Bowl, I propose a reunion THERE. In the coming months we will begin to reach out to members of the 1960 Cadets, along with anyone else who would like to be there. Let us know if you are interested . FHNSAB...
Belated Congratulations on a wonderful season and a DAZZLING performance at DCI Finals. It was truly an exhibition on what Drum Corps REALLY is! You should have won that night - no question - with Cavaliers & Santa Clara battling over 2nd & 3rd. God bless you all, FHNSAB! And of course...SPLOOIE!!! John "GoGo" Opager FMM Chicago Cavaliers '59 - '63 Honorary Holy Name Alumnus 2008
You know ... HOLY NAME CADETS sounds like a very fine name for a drum corps! Especially if it were from Garfield, NJ! I couldn't resist that :) BUT, it was great to see the name again this year!
Liebermann has two n's! My email is devans2@hvc.rr.com--you can also find me on facebook and the Cadets alumni site--might have known you'd lose everything! Some things never change--Diane is Samara and she's on the alumni website at yea.org--
Apologies to Judy for misspelling her name on her post. The correct spelling (I believe) is Sgammato.
My question and/or request...why stop now. The corps is continuing down the road to their 76th anniversary, continue the stadium gatherings and alumni corps. Frank and I are still overwhelmed by the Giant's Stadium tent gathering, the only 75th event we could attend. It was awesome to reconnect with so many of our corps family. With the use of Facebook, we can reconnect with so many more that have been out of touch with drum corps...and bring them back into the family. Having annual gatherings would be a way to reconnect all those from out of the metro area, and there are many of us. Just something to think about on this Thursday morning. (Editor's note: We haven't simply ended the first 75 years, we've also just begun the next 75. As our hymn promises: For Holy Name shall always be... The next big thing will be the release of our history book. Get ready to cry all over again). FHNSAB...
continued from previous post: I am still teaching percussion part-time in addition to my architectural practice. I am the principal percussion instructor and arranger for the University of Virginia Cavalier Marching Band. UVA’s Band is led by one of my former students, Bill Pease, a snare drummer with the 1983 DCI Champion Cadets Corps. Chris Garay, another former Cadet also teaches the UVA line. It is amazing to see how thoroughly former Cadets have populated the instructional, administrative, and adjudication communities within the marching arts. I am encouraged that even some of my former students have gone on to excel as performers, instructors, arrangers, and directors within the marching music idiom. I can only hope that the skills and humanistic approach to teaching that I developed and later practiced in the Cadets organization have influenced these former students to some degree, to dig deep within and reach higher. I met my wife through the Corps and for that I owe so much to the Maroon and Gold. Lorrie was a 5-year member of the Cadet’s percussion section and one of the original Holy Bass female members in 1977. We have 4 great kids as a result of our marriage, all of them interested in and performing some form of music and the arts. I can only conclude that my generation of the Cadets must have passed the torch well as I look upon the Cadets of today who continue to excel and add new chapters to the story that we and so many before have written. I continue to pass it along to my current students so that they can learn from the unique and very special experience that comes from being a member of the Cadet family. FHNSAB...Pat Zampetti, Cadets' Member and Instructor 1977-1984, Cadet of the Year 1980, Designed the “G” Logo which is featured in the 75th Anniversary Holy Name Cadets Show.
It has been 32 years since I first wore the uniform and I remember it like it was yesterday. I had dreamed of the day for years while marching in a smaller corps in the Garden State Circuit. The odd thing is that everything I perceived about the Cadets prior to joining, I found within myself once I became a member. To this day, I still approach challenges with the same “failure is not an option” drive and “we not me” approach that I learned while in the Cadets. I was a section leader in the Cadets and won the Cadet of the Year Award in 1980 and I still try to lead by example and enjoy teaching people how to commit to their dreams. After my 4 years with the Corps (1977-1980), I became a member of the percussion staff (1981-1984) and had the honor of working with some of the best creative minds in the history of DCI including Jim Prime, Thom Hannum, and the amazing George Zingali. Due to the fact that we were often renting the same house with other members of the staff, I also had the opportunity to watch George Hopkins transform himself from Crossmen Snare drummer to Cadets drum instructor to percussion arranger to Assistant Director to winning the DCI Championship in his first year as Director. His transformation was critical to the Corps success at a time when the very existence of the Cadets was being challenged. Please see next post for remaining text:
It's been 23 years since I have been a "Cadet" and look at my email address - "cadetrob." (have had this address since almost when the inet started). And I am a Captain mariner now. :-) (Editor's note: Proud to be a Cadet is a sentiment common to all of us. It's little, unassuming things like your email nic that make those words fact. Thanks for sharing). FHNSAB...
Mickie Lieberman Evans Please send me your email address. Lost the paper that you wrote it on that weekend. Also if possible could you send me Diane Summara email address if you have it.
I was a member of the Jersey Cyclones out of Mattawan, NJ. We had marched and competed several times with the Garfield Cadets in the early 60's up until my family moved to Upstate NY. I am proud to say that I have been and always will be a fan of the Cadets. I had the pleasure to see them in the DCI finals that were held in Buffalo, NY and it brought back many memories of when I was in the Corps. Good luck in the future..once a member of a Corps, always a member. Lorri Fournier
I thought you guys were better than the blue devils, great job at finals.
Sandy--It was such a great thing to see you and "Little" Jimmy last week--there are so few people left in my life who remember Patrick and it was a joy to know he is remembered--sorry I didn't recognize either of you guys--but as grandmothers are prone to say--"You got so big!"
Just wanted to thank everyone that was invoved in the 75th BASH AND THE ENTIRE WEEKEND. What a life experience, and to share it with everyone.. WOW...from the honor given to the orginial color guard girls of 1969.. Thank you... so, so much.... I will never forget it.. to the Corps' exhibition and the massed singing of the Holy Name Hymn.. was fabulous.... many tears were included in our song. My husband, John Kennedy, was also so proud and loved the entire experience....we shared... To having my Brother Jim here to share in all of this brought back so many memories of us both marching together... and to think only 4 years ago we didn't even think he would be with us due to his Cancer... Thank you Lord for making him well again ...so we could be together and share this celebration of the 75thAnniversary , we felt very proud for our Family members who loved and devoted many years to the Holy Name Cadets and Garfield Cadets. It was even more powerful to us.. Thank you Uncle Joe and Aunt Sara ( Gram and Grandpa) for guiding Jim and I to this wonderful honor. in our lives CALLED DRUM CORP... great seeing all our fellow members...once again...." For Holy Name Shall Always Be..." I also would like to share something with you all ... after the Corps gave us yhat wonderful concert at Montclair , we were leaving the building and a couple of girls from the 2009 Holy Name guard came over to me and said ... hello and they said to me "WE WANT TO THANK YOU AND THE 1969 GIRLS FOR BEING THE FIRST GIRLS TO MARCH WITH THE GARFIELD CADETS .. WITHOUT US THEY WOULDN'T PERHAPS BE THERE TODAY,, to hear these young women saying that was the cherry on this big delicous desert.
I really enjoyed the 75th. I'm glad I came up from Florida. I figure there were 19 of 48 there from our era, including Al Mura. The total integration of the present day Cadets and the Alumni was amazing. I told the FIRST drum major to put his hand on MY shoulder for the singing of "For Holy Name Shall Always Be..." Very emotional for me.
Despite misinformation that is being passed around recently. and as per a recent email from Bob Petersen '52-'58, Mattly Malkiewicz '56- '61 is alive and well and living in New Hampshire. Bob thanks so very much for clarifing. It was just great seeing you during our anniversary weekend celebration. FHNSAB
I am still flying so high I could never write what I feel in my heart right now. I think I am going to need a week or more to get back to whatever "normal" is. For now thank you all for making this something so special that I doubt if we could ever top it. Remember that most of you will be around for the 100th so use this one as a stepping stone and definitely make that one even better! FHNSAB...
Wasn't this the MOST FABULOUS weekend ever? Loved it! I'm sure you've heard the corps song on YouTube. It's outstanding. If you go to www.dci.org and to the right you will see the "latest headlines" tab, go down a little and click on Field Pass "When the Cadets went Co-ed." It's all audio but I think it's really good. Dan Potter even says at the end before we sing the Holy Name Hymn, "AND I DARE YOU NOT TO CRY!" FHNSAB...
Dave, I can't believe Cindi and I are the only ones that wanted to do this. You are the reason all of this happened, and it was the greatest weekend of my life. So I am forever indebted to you, and so is everyone else, but some of them don't realize it. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. It has been an amazing run and you brought it all back to life. FHNSAB...
Dave, Thanks for all you did to make it a great event. The integration with the present Cadets and the Alumni was outstanding. I am so glad I came. (Editor's Note: All credit goes to George Hopkins, Caryn Goebel, and all the staff that assisted them. They worked magic). I would appreciate Bill McCullum's address and e-mail. I want to send him a picture of him holding the miniature Cadet set at the picnic at Giants Stadium on Sunday. i will email all my good pics to you when I set them up. FHNSAB...
Dave, My only regret is that it took 47 years to say thanks for giving me the opportunity to become a member of the Holy Name family. I will not make the attempt to say all the things in my heart rightnow, but there seem to be no superlatives adequate to express my thoughts. The 75th reunion events were unquestionably one of the most memorable weekends of my life. Yes, life has treated me well, I am blessed beyond any level I could have ever imagined. FHNSAB...
Dave, I'm honored that the piece is on the website. You're right. Its a gift of love. I've had two e-mails asking about CDs. I'm glad to do that for anyone who wants one. They need only e-mail me with their address. johnogle3@gmail.com (Editor's Note: John's audio tribute to the 1959-1962 Cadets can be found at the top of the history page on this website - thank you John). FHNSAB...
I istened to Dan Potter yesterday AM. When all you guys sang Holy Name at Montclair State at the Diamond Bash I was crying my eyes out. I never, ever heard our hymn so beautifully performed. FHNSAB...
We had a terrific time even though we missed the bash. The Tent party was great, and my favorite thing in the world to do is to watch the cadets on the field. Have a great time in Indy, GO CADETS!!!!!!! Safe trip. FHNSAB...
Congrats to the Holy Name Cadets for a great season! It is clear that the Cadets maintained their tradition of quality and sportsmanship! The website congratulatory message to the Blue Devils is an other "touch of Cadet class:" ! FHNSAB
While I was standing in the auditorium at Montclair University, next to John Baumfaulk, our first drum major, and linked to Bob Sipos and Tony Bartello, with the strains of "O Holy Name" filling the room with an incredible sound, I thought "too bad no one thought to record this". Well ... someone did ... and I encourage you to go to www.youtube.com and key in "Holy Name Cadets 75th Anniversary". Then listen to the beautiful rendition of our hymn. I doubt we will ever hear it sung with so much meaning and emotion. This was the absolute highlight of the weekend for me. FHNSAB...
A thought to ponder--in looking at this year's corps, I am struck by a question or two--First, were we ever that young?? Second, did we ever look that young?? And third, do we seem to be relics to the current members?? (Editor's Note: Yes, yes, and no. The 2009 Holy Name Cadets view their alumni with respect and gratitude, and we feel nothing but love and total admiration for them. There are no old Cadets or young Cadets...there are only CADETS...one name, one corps, one history) This is all by way of saying, that our 2009 Cadets are truly amazing.
What a great time at Giant's Stadium this past weekend...seeing so many that have made this Corps great and then to top it off with the Cadets wonderful performance and rightful win as well as the combined Alumni and Present Corps on the same field.....Good Stuff Folks. Many present Cadets will take off that Maroon, Gold and White Uniform after Finals next week for the last time but the "FABRIC" of this Corps will follow them forever. A great "Thank you" to all who made this weekend possible. FHNSAB
THANK YOU, HOLY NAME for giving and old soldier one of the most memorable and emotional weekends of his life. There are too many of you to thank individually, so please accept this thank you. There are also too many aspects to the weekend to capture here. One thought I will carry with me for the rest of my life is, these young men and women of the 2009 Holy Name Cadets stir my pride in knowing the quality human beings they truly are. I am proud once again to have served my country to in some small way further enable them to "carry our torch" throughout their lives. I cannot say how proud I am of each and every one of them. They are the best of the best. Regards to all my fellow Alumni. I hope it doesn't take 47 more years for me to see y'all again. God Bless!!
It's Renee (Lapadura) Strutton; one of the Original Female Guard Members. First let me thank you for your part in making this past weekend one of the most memorable weekends of my life! The only problem is that it went by much too quickly. I am still trying to digest all of it! I cannot think of any part of it for more then 5 seconds without filling up with such emotion that I cannot keep the tears from flowing. Honestly, I have had wet eyes more often than not since Saturday. Cindi sent me the link for You Tube and I just listened to all of us singing our Corp Song last Saturday night. It was unbelievable!!!! I don't know if I can wait another 25 years before we have another event like the Anniversary Bash! May I ask you to add my email address to your alumni contact list so that I can receive your emails? I got your email address from my cousin Lou Ann. She has enjoyed receiving your updates and pictures and I'd like to stay updated as well. Dave, thanks again for all you did in past years, and all you still do for the Cadets and all of us Alumni!!! FHNSAB,...
Describing this weekend is like trying to describe the Grand Canyon... it can't be done.There are no words in the English language that are able to convey the depth of joy and satisfaction this weekend has brought to me...every time I try to put it all into words they somehow come up short...to see everyone again, to have those old wonderful memories rise from the dead, to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, to hear the magnificent corps, to watch that amazing guard...to watch the alumni corps perform with the present corps...I just keep reliving it over and over and over. Thank you to everyone who worked so hard to pull it all together...thank you from the bottom of my heart. Caryn you are the total bomb! FHNSAB...
I met so many alumni that I marched with or knew at Giants Stadium it would be next to impossible to list you all. So To all the alumni I met on Sunday, and you know who you are, i just want to say it was GREAT to see you all again. Seeing you all just added the icing to what turned out to be a wonderful evening. To those going on to DCI's, have a safe trip. To the rest, have a great summer. To those who made this event possible...THANK YOU.
I am still flying so high I could never write what I feel in my heart right now. I think I am going to need a week or more to get back to whatever "normal" is. For now thank you all for making this something so special that I doubt if we could ever top it. Remember that most of you will be around for the 100th so use this one as a stepping stone and definitely make that one even better
An enormous thank you to all those who worked so hard to make this past weekend such a great success. It was a once in a lifetime experience to see all the other oldies but goodies--but THEN to see this year's corps in their breath-taking, tear-jerking, mesmerizing performance--it doesn't get any better--Thank you all, FHNSAB--
Gosh, seeing the comments (and the EMOTIONS) about the Cadets 75th anniversary events gives ME the chills! Can you believe the absolute envy I have? :) Seeing the comment about the LEGION FLAGS reminds me of the times I saw the Cadets carrying them. What a feeling and what a legacy! Congrats to you all. FHNSAB
After singing the Holy Name Hymn with the corps, Danny DeRosa comes over to me . . . tears streaming down his face with emotions, only to make several of us start the crying scene one more time. We compose ourselves, then Walt (I believe that's his name), our cymbal player, comes over to us . . . we all make eye contact . . . and start balling all over again. OK, a little of composure sets in. We're all nice and relaxed, and then Bob Wilke asks me about the Legion Flags - he thought that they were going to be on display in the stadium. When I told him that the Legion Flags will be used by the boy guard to lead us onto the field in the block formation . . . well . . . you guessed it . . . we both starting balling one more time. I have never experienced anything like that in my entire Cadet life. NEVER. Not even after performing in the last show of my Cadet career in Wildwood. I will never forget that experience. Wow. . . Thank you all, once again. FHNSAB...
Dear Dave, Last night's Contest at Giant's Stadium. I can't tell you how wonderful the night was. I brought our grandson, 16 years old, to the event. He loved it. As for the contest itself, all the performances were wonderful, but the Cadets were extraordinary. It was wave after wave of standing ovations from the Mezzanine area and I'm sure everywhere else. What an introduction after all these years.. Thank you for all your very uplifting and articulate news, reviews and heartful moments. I have looked forward to them. I am sorry I missed opportunities to see some of the members. Last eve. while in the tent on Lot 15, while looking for you to tell you all this in person, unfortunately, I missed you. Please accept my gratitude for all you've done for the Cadets, the old timers and, of course, FHNSAB....Ronnie Giardino
Waching the Corp at Giants Stadium was outragous... the Guard was fabulous... outstanding.. it brought chills to me... and a few tears.... TAKE IT HOME DCI...we are so proud of you ...all... and to see all the kids faces performing.... oh .... what can I say... Holy Name Shall Always Be.... forever...
What an awesome Cadets 75th Anniversary Bash!! Caryn Goebel & the Cadets alumni staff put together a terrific event weekend! Loved it & love see you all!! FHNSAB!!!
Took a stroll down memory lane and looked at your photo collections. Spotted my Uncle Gene Clayton when he was 12(now 73). My grandfather is also in the booster photo from 1953! Holy Name was my family's home parish. My father who was 12 years older than my uncle played clarinet( quite well) and made sure that his younger brother was a Cadet! We would plan our summer vactions to visit our Garfield relatives so that we could attend the annual corps competition in Garfield. Great memories, great pics and great traditions! So glad to see that the Holy Name Cadets are back in original uniforms playing Bernstein this year...it doesn't get any better than that!! They will always be # 1 for me!
Just saw you guys in Allentown and you were amazing! I always have loved the Cadets and this year's show was fantastic! Good luck at Championships!
I attended the Mass in May and it was wonderful to see the church filled with young and old cadets and friends.The mass was beautiful right from the entrance.It was just great and the gathering later at the VFW gave everyone a chance to catch up on things. Thanks Again, Anita Bognatz (Wife of John Bognatz)
What a great thrill it was last night to be in the snare drum line with Bob Peterson and Art Mura. With six snares strong and the horn line expanding at every rehearsal, the Alumni Corp is poised for a powerful performance Sunday at the Holy Name Homecoming Show at Giant's Stadium. Jimmy, Pat, George, Jack and all involved, it looks like the dream is about to come true. FHNSAB
I agree with Rick. After all, Holy Name shall always be... Remote User: Rich Skare- Renegades, Comments: 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!
To Peyton who will be in Tennessee tonight, and to Mary who saw the Cadets perform in Ft. Walton Beach, FL; thanks for your very kind comments. It is our policy not to post any messages unless the full name of the sender in included, so as much as we would like to post your messages, we are unable to do so. If you would care to resend the messages with your full name, we would be more than happy to post them. In either case, thank you for your best wishes for the 2009 Holy Name Cadets.
Chris Hartowicz of The Cavaliers’ Alumni has invited Holy Names’ Alumni and the Troopers’ Alumni to join them for a round of golf on Friday, August 7th, 9 AM, in Indianapolis during DCI Championship Week. Official Announcement of Cavalier Alumni Golf Challenge!!! If you're looking for a quality golfing experience you won't find it here, but you will find lots of fun, laughs, food, and Jolly Ranchers. When: Friday August 7, 2009 Shotgun Start 09:00 AM, Where: Riverside Golf Course, 3502 N. White River Parkway West Dr. , Indianapolis, IN. 46222, Web site: http://www.riversidegolfindy.com/index.php, Format: Indiana Scramble (best ball), Cost: $50 per person includes golf fee, cart, lunch (burgers & brats), **SPECIAL** $200 per foursome. Reservations: Please email splooie@aol.com **Deadline Aug 3** No charges, please send check payable to: Chris Hartowicz, 5285 Canary Ct., Carmel, IN 46033, ph 317-442-4278 (mobile). Rental Clubs: Available at Riverside by reservation, call ahead as they only keep 3 sets at the clubhouse but can access more.
For those of you who may not be aware, Carmine DiAmico, cousin to Jim and Sal DiAmico 51-56, passed away over the weekend from lung cancer. Carmine was 72 years old and I understand he spent his final days listening to tapes of the corps and seemed to find great comfort in doing so. May he rest in peace and by now he is either in the horn line (he played baritone) or the drum line (he also played tenor drums) with the great corps of ours in heaven. FHNSAB...
The hospitality and honor shown the Corps on our 75th anniversary by the Cavaliers in Denton TX, was amazing. A huge cake was presented to the corps and enjoyed by Cavies and Cadets after the show. Two great drum corps socializing and celebrating another milestone in our rich histories. Scotty McGarry
The next rehearsal of the alumni corps will be this Thursday, July 23, ` at the Garfield VFW on Outwater Lane from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. We only have two more rehearsals before the August show, so please make every effort to be there. On a sad note our condolences to the D'Amico family on the passing of Carmine D'Amico, a Holy Name Cadet alumnus ( 1950 - 55 ).
We had the opportunity to see our Granddaughter Ashley A. Asel, perform with the Cadets in Erie, Pa. We did enjoy the competition by all Corps in attendance, and the Cadets are to all be commended for their Superior Performance during their time of competition and stood out as the best Corp. Great job and much to be proud of by all........
I've been away from drum corps for few years so forgive me, but is this the Garfield Cadets, Cadets of Bergen County, etc? If so, GLAD to see the old name!!! Brings back memories.
Mr Shaw, Thanks for keeping me on your email list. I love to keep up with the happenings of Holy Name (you will always be Garfield to me). I've noticed on some of the Cavalier forums the relationship between the 2 corps is not what it was. Such a shame ! The 2 corps are so meshed together in the history of the activity. Holy Name has a special place in my heart. We always hung out together and on occasion stayed at each other homes. I remember sitting in the stands with you guys in 61in Miami and watching Sac take the field. A fan could look in the stands and see a sea of maroon and green clad young men hanging out at shows. I now reside in Ojai Ca. and don't get to many shows. My door will always be open to any alumni of Holy Name. Congratulations on 75 years. (Editor's Note: The Cavaliers continue to retain the respect, admiration, and friendship of 75 years of Cadet Alumni. We don't forget the kindnesses and friendships of the past. If that relationship is currently not what it should be; well, I guess it's time for us to get to work on rebuilding it. As you stated, our two corps are "meshed" in so many ways in the history of drum corps. Good luck to the Cavaliers throughout this season and every season yet to come. Thanks for your message Jim). Regards, Jim Costello (the other one)
Dear Alumni Corps: Great practice and attendance last night. I feel we are well on our way to making this a success. As I mentioned last night, the shirts have been ordered ( please don't forgot to provide Melissa your shirt size and do this ASAP). The attached links provide you an opportunity to submit your size as well as submit payment online direct. If for some reason you're not able to open these links, please email or call Melissa ( 610-821-0345 x 115 ) with your information. Payment can also be made when shirts become available when we meet on Aug. 1st. If you have any questions, please contact me direct at 201 317 5805. FHNSAB... We have two Thursday night practices remaining. Please make every effort to attend........ Thank you, Pat FHNSAB Patrick Vazquez Advisor Axellia Pharmaceuticals, Inc 7 Raleigh Lane Wayne, New Jersey 07470 t +1 201-317-5805 f +1 973-696-1243 m +1 201-317- 5805 patrick.vazquez@axellia.com www.axellia.com We have made the Alumni Corps shirt available for purchase on our online store. They will not be shipped to you. This was done to make the registration process a bit easier for everyone on August 1. You are still welcome to pay for your shirt in person at registration. And if you have not yet filled out the shirt size survey, please do so immediately. I want everyone to look their best for the performance and to make sure we order the correct number of shirts. We must order the shirts on Monday to insure they will arrive in time for the performance weekend. Link for Shirt Size Survey http://www.yea.org/site/Survey? ACTION_REQUIRED=URI_ACTION_USER_REQUESTS&SURVE Y_ID=7980 Link for Purchasing shirt online http://store.marchingstore.com/09ctmaroonhnpolo.html Anyone with questions can contact me. Thank you! Melissa Babalonis Youth Education in the Arts USSBA | The Cadets 610-821-0345 x115 Melissa@yea.org
Dave, You are so good at this. We should not forget that Crown, Blue Stars, Phantom, and to be truthful, just about every other corps as well as members of the adjudication community, has the benefit of Cadet alumni and former Cadet instructors within their ranks. I can’t even imagine the number of HS and college bands that also benefit. The University of Virginia Cavalier Marching Band has one of my former students (Cadet snare drummer from 1983) as Band Director and former Cadet snare Chris Garay and myself (former Cadet snare and percussion instructor) teaching and arranging for the drum line. As Cadets, we should all carry ourselves with the mutual respect and maturity that are part of the Cadet “code” if you will. There is a place for fierce on-field competition within this framework but the realization that we are so much more alike than different within the microcosm of the “activity” should inform our actions on a regular basis. I once heard members of the line mocking the unrefined efforts of a small HS band drumline we saw rehearsing while on tour. This struck a nerve with me so I told the members of the line that if you step back from your own immersive involvement and look upon what we do with the eyes of the uninformed general public, we are so much more like those kids than we are different. From 30,000 feet, we are all just playing drums that we carry around on our bodies and our superiority in terms of skill is secondary to our similarity. FHNSAB... PS: keep up the amazing work that you do. See you in August.
Well stated! "In the heat of battle" is a familiar old cliche that is often used to cover a multitude of sins. Although it is corny to say that opinions are like noses, everybody has one, I find criticism that is without merit to be pure opinionism. Emotion is a healthy component of living. If we don't care, we are emotionless. But, caring is not grounds for incivility. I regret that your words were necessary, and they were necessary. I am, however, pleased with the dedication of the members of the Holy Name family who work dilligently to foster the positive side of this wonderful experience we call Drum Corps. See you in two weeks. FHNSAB...
Thank you for the positive perspective on competition! As a former Cadet, this is exactly the kind of attitude that I try to pass on to my young band students at Greenbrier East High School in Lewisburg, WV. I am very pleased to see this attitude being passed on. Continuing to set this example for other corps, and hopefully to the members, many who will become future music educators, is extremely valuable! FHNSAB...
Very well put Mr. Shaw. I marched with the Cadets in 95 and 96. I too agree that some of the comments on this forum are not appropriate and true to our corps values. The messages that were heard and the values that were learned everyday during my time with the corps, are tools that I still use today. You can rest assured that those comments are not comming from the any of the people who had their lives magically changed when they walked through the doors of this organization. Prior military commitments are prohibiting me from participating in this years 75th anniversary celebration. God willing, I will stand proud with my fellow Cadets when we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the most storied drum corp in the world. Thanks you for sending out that message. Continue to keep up the great work. For Holy Name shall always be...
I'm excited about the corps coming back to Virginia on the 29th. They are at George Mason University, which is a great big stadium, with great acoustics. This neck and neck with the Carolina Crown is exciting too. I hope the Crown has all of its folks off of the sick list now. Never thought about how quickly a bug could spread through a corps these days with everyone sleeping on the floor in a big room where a sneeze could become a bomb. Their show is very physical for everyone and I imagine full health is essential. When I saw Holy Name in Suffolk there were blisters and sprains and a couple of colds. The corps now has a medic on staff with a couple of big bags of needed supplies. One apparently donated by an alumni who is a doctor. FHNSAB...
Last night I had the extreme pleasure of singing our beloved Holy Name Hymn with the 2009 Cadets prior to the Houston show where our corps took 1st place. Spent the day with Brian Callahan at the Cadets rehersal camp and spoke at length with George Hopkins about the season to date and the immediate challenges ahead. Excellent conversation. I will miss the 75th event and undergo tongue cancer surgery on 7/28. This contest was my reunion and one chance to see and sing with the Corps live. I personally engaged with as many Cadets as possible and have concluded that the 2009 Holy Name Cadets surely are the best of the best, individually and collectively. As for the show: George will appreciate the fact that my wife Linda burst into tears 4 times. Company fronts are her emotional weak spot. As I undergo my surgery, this night will inspire me to heal and remain connected to the Corps. My prayers are with the Corps for two more weeks of success and achievement. Be it known that 30 minutes before the Corps performs at finals, this Cadet will be humming or singing the Holy Name Hymn with my new brothers and sisters. FHNSAB...
What a great Letter Jimmy.....on behalf of the Orginal Girls....1969 Did I tell you today how much I love you.. lOVE YOU, your one and only sister.... SANDY :)
And that Mr. Van Romer is why we were all in love with you!!!
Holy Name comes to Ft Walton Beach, my hometown! Difficult to explain but I’m sure you can understand how trilled I was to have “our” Cadets compete in my hometown. About 2 months ago when I saw that the corps was scheduled to come to FWB on July 13th I immediately purchased tickets. The corps stayed at FWB HS about 2 miles from my home. I watched them rehearse in the afternoon before they went to the beach and did their laundry. I was so impressed at their attentiveness and respect for their instructors during rehearsal. I was also very impressed by the WSS program. This show has so much energy. These kids are really working their tails off. Unfortunately, Carolina Crown pulled out due to illness. My thoughts and prayers are for a speedy recovery for those kids. The show itself was awesome and a special treat to the people of our community. All the competing corps performed very well. However, being a “bit” biased, I felt the Cadets were outstanding. The show brought the crowd to their feet at least 2 times. With some cleaning up, I believe they are going to be hard to beat in the next few weeks. Time will tell. I did wear my Alumni gear to the show and met a lot of people/fans that love the Cadets. A local talk show host (originally from NJ) remembered Holy Name/Garfield. The one that touched me the most was this lady who asked me when I marched and when I told her she told me that her late husband was Matty Malkiewicz. I wanted to talk to her more after the show but she was already gone. Could she be the Mary you’re looking for? Now I’m looking forward to the BIG Celebration in a few weeks, seeing you guys again, and of course the 2009 HNC at Giants Sadium. Take care and FHNSAB….
Editor's Note: We received a very nice post about the Cadets' performance in Ft. Walton Beach from a poster who simply identified herself as "Mary." We would like to post the comment as intended but the sender neglected to include her last name, and our policy is not to post a comment without a full name. If "Mary" could contact us with her full name we would very much like to post her comment.
I remember well the night the girls came to the Armory for the first time. Without an overwhelming welcome they showed their stuff and that how much of an asset they were to us all. I remember after they finished it was like a new world had opened up to me and I saw another creative part of our activity, ( I might have been one of the few ). It was clear very early on that these pioneer women were going to make their mark in our organization , and they sure did. I never saw such talent nor so many new things being introduced to our corps and was amazed every moment. I remember asking one of the rifle girls to show me some tricks or spins ( My sister wasn't in the rifle line yet ) I think it was either Cindi Carozza or maybe Chris Fantry or both showed me a few spins and tosses and I was hooked. Little did I know at that time that 40 years later I would still be doing guard. Personally I went on to march a rifle line after Cadets..taught several DCI as well as DCA corps as in the Muchachos, Caballeros for several years, Bridgemen , Boston Crusaders and several others as well as many Winter Guard International Guards from coast to coast to this day. I guess I owe it all to that very night a bunch of very brave girls showed up at the Paterson Armory. The 1969 girls paved the way for many in this activity, maybe more than they realize. Yes people like Emma Roberts, Tiffany Barnett, Cheryl Philhower , April Gilligan and many more were wonderful women who's contributions have been and continue to be endless in world of color guard BUT the 1969 girls paved the way for many male instructors also. For me I knew this is something I wanted to do and the creative side of this activity was the direction things were heading. I know for me if not for those first members showing us all what could be, I may not have moved forward into a career that has spanned many many years. Congratulations to the 1969 Female Cadet Guard. It took 40 years but here you are and look what you did. A very warm and heartfelt Thank You. A long over due honor. Congratulations also to Greg Cinzio and Paul De Liberto two other members I marched with and well deserving of their honor. Sincerely Jim ( Jimmy ) Van Romer Cadet # 66 FHNSAB PS: sorry if I misspelled any names
Dear Cadets Alumni and Friends, Our next rehearsal will be this Thursday July 16 upstairs at the Garfield VFW on Outwater Lane from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. Both Drums and Horns. We have only three rehearsals left until August so please do your best to be there. It was great to see Sal D'Amico back on mello phone last week after a little " vacation ". Get well wishes to Joe Triola and Rocky Carbone. We hope to see you in the baritone section very soon. A warm welcome to new members Dan O' Reilly, Lisa and Kurt Ferrari and Rick Roberts.
Dave, the job you're doing for Holy Name's 75th is beyond spectacular. Hope to see you in indy.
I am VERY glad to see that Cadet Baumfalk was awarded that honor. I hope that he enjoys his visit "back home" and the anniversary/ alumni festivities. If there is a way, please extend my personal congratulations and best wishes to him. His early work with the Cadets was great ... and he did great work with California corps too. He is quite a fellow. Another example of Cadet character! FHNSAB Dave Borck
I (we) had a most wonderful time at the Wakefield, MA parade on July 4, 2009 when we saw the Holy Name Cadets. The performance in the parade was, to say least, electrifying. The Cadets should be very proud of keeping a very cherished asset--TRADITION. I (we) are what you would consider DRUM CORP NUTS. The term is meant to be considered in the highest regards. The Holy Name Cadets brought back to me, cherished memories of days gone by. It is our sincere wish that the Cadets will have many more years of bringing such beautiful music to a very appreciative audience. THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES.
Congratulations to the entire Cadets organization and alumni on their 75th Anniversary. Your long and storied history is certainly one to be proud of. Have a GREAT year of celebration.
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 with the cadets volunteering, and what a joy to do so. The memories come flooding back along with the pride and determination to keep this organization as it is...respected and wonderful! God bless everyone for being such an integral part of this corps history and future!
It's great hearing the name HOLY NAME CADETS again; one of the greatest junior drum corps of all time, who became the GARFIELD CADETS . I share some history with you having marched PRESTON SCOUT HOUSE 1959 to 1961, and instructed until 1969. I also billeted two cadets in 1963 when you were up for our SPRING SHOW . I hope the pictures I am sending will bring back happy memories for you Keep looking, there will be more. Keep up the good work DAVE. MIKE Mike: The bond between the Cadets and Scout House was something truly unique. Many years have passed, but our friendship has endured. We are planning on writing a history article on our website, describing for those not privileged enough to have been a part of our shared adventures, just how fortunate all Cadets of that era feel for having the privilege and honor of calling you our friends. If we were able to somehow wish you back on the field again, we would do it in a heartbeat. Maple Leaf forever! Dave S.
David, You are truly amazing regarding your successful efforts in bridging the gap between young and Old. I love the fact that you are continuously promoting the Holy Name legacy to the present Corps. Awarding a Holy Name jacket to George with the pocket message was special and important. It may be a "wake-up call" for George, as he has not been someone who reaches out in reference to inclusion.I really appreciate your updates as they are heart warming to someone living 1200 miles away. I can only try to imagine the thrill of seeing the Cadets in Hawthorne and giving out those Caps. It hurts beyond belief to be so far away from all the good that you guys have done and continue to do.Thank you so much for bringing great joy to all of us that share this wonderful common bond that we all cherish;"The Holy Name Cadets "Yesterday And Today. With Warmest Regards to all my fellow Cadets, FHNSAB. Bob
Just a little of my history with the corps: I joined the Plebes in 1969, Jim Costello was my first drum instructor. I graduated to the Cadets in 1972, playing cymbals. No more war, Sinfonians. I remember it all! Ken Cinzio and I were pretty much inseparable in those days, and we marched together in the same sections until 1977 which was my last year. At the end of that season quite a few of us decided not to return. They were all great years and memories that I cherish. I could go on for pages........ It's great to see the mix of people you have attending the monthly meetings, it looks like some one from almost every decade. There was a time that I personally felt that the present Cadets' administration had no appreciation for anything before their tenure and did little to embrace the alumni. Thank you for re-igniting those feelings of what it means to be a Cadet. For Holy Name shall always be... Dan Kocher 69-77
Dave, I'm sure I speak on behalf of all alumni as I again send a special thank you to you and the "secret" webmaster - whomever that may be, in regards to all your hard work and effort through both the website and the alumni gatherings. Time is so precious and spread so thin these days but time spent amongst friends, whether in person or checking on them through the web, is never time wasted. Our thoughts and prayers are with our fellow alumni, as well as the 2007 corps and staff as they embark for tour. God bless... Joe & Caren Frech
I just found out about the site, and I absolutely love it. It's not just because I'm featured on the history page, either. (Let me say that I'm honored and humbled at being so featured. A very well-written narrative). It's great to read the many memories throughout the Holy Name line. I've got a few of my own: first day of tour; Garfield Cadets winning DCI East (Allentown) for the first time ever, the heartache you feel at the end of the season... Thanx for the memories!
I attended the reunion at the VFW post on June 7thand was extremely happy to seee so many old faces and fellow cadets. It was great!!! It's totally amazing to relive some of the phenominal experiences we had as Cadets. I want to thank Doug, Dave , George King and Jimmy D. for getting the Alumni associaton off to such a great start. I hope to be more visible over the coming years. I'll be sure to keep in touch. Thanks!!!Carl Samara '60-'65 P.S. Fabian and King think I can get my lip back in shape in a year, I may be tempted to give it a shot. Only time will tell,
It occurred to me that as I come in contact with more and more Cadets through our web-site, the true meaning of our fellowship is strengthened and tempered to levels I couldn't possibly have imagined just four short months ago. Bob Philhower made a great and quite generous analogy to the esprit de corps of the Marines and how we liken ourselves to that aura of commitment. To be mentioned in the same breath as that incredible branch of the military is an honor to us all. Thank you Bob for your years as a Cadet, your service to our country in war, and as one of the best friends I have ever been privileged to have. Daniel Vincent Panessa
And another thing. Some Cadets seem to think that it was humiliating or embarrassing to lose to an All Girl Drum and Bugle Corps. Those girls from Audubon were good musicians and good looking too.- beat Holy Name more than once, ( I had a secret crush on the right pivot in the front rank drum line) But on their web site www.osmondpostcadets.com they complain that they could never win a competition north of Trenton if Charlie Nabors or Bernie Baggs were the judges. Well from Johnnie De Old's narration it sounds like Holy Name had to be DAMN good to beat those girls in Atlantic City. If only they didn't always sing our anthem substituting 'Holy Name' with 'Holy Socks' maybe they would have won!
Phil, thanks for your post about the Audubon Girls Corps. I only saw them a few times in the late 50's and early 60s. At the time, they were a really GOOD corps. Being a drum person, I was especially impressed by the quality of their drum line at that time. It is never fun to lose, but if the corps that beat you is really good. ?
HOLY NAME JACKET ORDER ALERT: For anyone interested in puchasing a Holy Name Cadet Jacket; we will be submitting one final order for this year. Since these are summer-weight jackets it's necessary to get this final order in the works prior to the drum corps season getting into high gear. Our supplier requires a minimum order of 12 jackets. At the present time we have two jacket orders on hold. If you are considering purchasing a Holy Name jacket it will be necessary for you to do so prior to June 15th. We must have your order and check in hand by that date. If we fail to meet the required minimum all checks will be returned to those placing orders. The jackets are $75, plus an additional $5 to have your name and years marched embroidered on the left-front of the jacket (Cadets only), and $15 more if the jackets need to be shipped. Anyone may order one of these jackets. The only restriction is that only Cadets may have their name and years marched embroidered on the jacket. Additional information and order forms are available on our website: www.theholynamecadets.org You may also place your order at the June 7th gathering-of-the-maroon at the Garfield VFW Hall. See either George King or Dave Shaw to place your order on-site. LAST CHANCE for this year! IF YOU WANT A JACKET FOR THIS YEAR ORDER IT NOW!!
Wow I feel so young! I am a newby by the looks of things, but thought I would leave a comment in appreciation. I always new there was a great tradition at the Cadets and this is something I admired (I still do) during my time with the corps. I think this is an excellent site for the Cadets of more recent years to learn just exactly how much history lies before them. All the old images of the corps during performances has really made me appreciate how things were and how the organisation has evolved over time. I can't wait to read more stories and see more photo's over the upcoming months. Thanks.
Reading many of the comments from fellow cadet has brought back many fond memories. This site is very refreshing compared to other sites that I have seen on the internet regarding the Garfield Cadets ( my time). Will try to make one of your group meeting somtime soon. Danny Panessa, i found you comments very interesting and memorable.
Congrats on your startup, it's hard to believe that you have come so far in four short months..but then again, with Dave, Doug Jim and the Holy name crew, nothing should suprise anyone...the list of names of members is impressive, like a who's who of drum corp, many are friends who I haven't seen in years, reading the emails is a hoot, you can almost feel the excitement way up here in Canada, hell, I haven't been this excited about the Cadets since you were our guests at the Spring Show in 63...so continue with the building, enjoy each and every min,,it's almost like going back in time to when you stood as one on the starting line ....have fun..Bryan
Hi Alums, For those of you who have not yet had the opportunity, I highly suggest that you visit the www.theholynamecadets.org site. It will open your eyes to the fact that there are actual Holy Name Cadets out there telling the story of the corps. I know that during my time with the corps from 77 to 84, the Holy Name Cadets were given a sort of legendary status. It is such a thrill to be able to read the stories first hand. We are all aware of the "most honored drum corps in history" label that is attached to the Cadets, but you don't really have a sense of the 74 years, generations upon generations, of living breathing history, until you hear their stories and get a sense of what it really means to be part of the Cadet legacy. For me it was always both a privilege and a responsibility to carry the torch to the best of my ability. I would hope it is the same for all of us. ...shall always be... reprinted from the YEA website alumni forum with permission of the author.
Well....I gotta say, the reports and posts from this weekend's events have a lot of alumni dabbing their eyes and blowing their noses . What profound feelings we all have for these young men and women. This all makes me recall Paul Arthur's beautiful post on the Personals Page announcing the birth of his granddaughter. He can now see the next generation of his family and know that all those special Arthur family traditions will now be passed down to this new wave of Arthurs. What a gratifying and fulfilling feeling that must be. The connection between our alumni and our Holy Name "grandsons and granddaughters (The Cadets)" is growing closer, the recent postings reveal this. How gratifying to know that the history, the traditions, the small but fascinating little stories about events and personalities will continue to flow to this generation of Cadets. For Holy Name shall always be...
Awesome....really nice for all the generations to realize they are part of the same corps. Jack
Dave, I'm tearing up reading your great emails from over the weekend. I don't exactly know why we all share this strong emotional response but it is a wonderful gift among current and former Cadets. John
Hi Dave -- Wasn't able to make the Hawthorne parade; but I did see the Cadets in Carlstadt Monday morning. Thought you might like to hear -- The cadets performed in front of the Borough Hall after a short ceremony. All was quiet and I heard a woman ask a young staff member with the Cadets "Where are you from?" the young man said "Allentown, but it all started not too far from here as the Holy Name Cadets"
Dave, our legacy continues. You and all former Holy Name Cadets had passed the touch to us (Garfield Cadets) and in turn passed it on to generation after generation of Cadets. Yes your are correct, the "Tradition" continues. Like yourself, I feel special, when I visit the Cadets practices or shows, as the current Cadets show such respect and admiration for us "old timers". I feel so gratified. This reminds me when I visit a U.S. Marine Corps installation and the young Marines show such respect and gratitude to us "old salts". Two great institutions - The Cadets and US Marine Corps - both of which I was a member. As we say in the Marines - Semper Fi Bob
Some thoughts while watching the Memorial Day Parade, Hawthorne, NJ, May 28, 2007. It was exhilarating to hear and see The Cadets perform. Wearing the traditional uniform, which I believe is the sharpest of all, they looked and sounded fantastic! Their performance stirred up feelings and memories back to 1957. I am proud of and gratified to see The Cadets continue to be “first class” performers. After the parade, George King and Dave Shaw provided The Cadets with Holy Name Cadets caps as one expression of the alumni’s support. With appreciative glances and solid handshakes, the Cadets expressed their gratitude for the alumni encouragement and interest. I took this opportunity to share with the Cadets that the alumni are proud and cognizant of their continuing to carry on the respected tradition and reputation of the Holy Name Cadets. As a retired educator, I was specifically impressed with observing youth seriously committed and enthusiastic about the corps’ mission and activities. The Cadets were genuinely appreciative for the alumni support and presence. It was a wonderful day for this alumnus! For Holy Name Shall Ever Be…
Hi Dave, I just had to write and let you know how much I enjoy your communications.You brought moisture to my eyes when I read about the shirts that the present cadets wear. It really makes one realize how the tradition exists today. Back in 1998 I was an extra in the movie " The Legend of Bagger Vance". It was shot just 10 minutes from my home. I thought that it was my 15 seconds of fame. Not by a long shot. I realize now that I had 5 years of fame during my tenure with the cadets. I wouldn't trade those years for all the money in the world. Thank you so much for all you are doing and thanks to the other members of the committee. You guys have rekindled so many memories. For Holy Name Shall Always Be... Ray Scarpa #15. PS I found my drumsticks in the garage. I don't know why, but I've been practicing. Believe it or not, it's coming back.
John , your words have captured our attendence at the Memorial Brass Concert in Allentown,Pa magnificently. It was a profound experience beyond my expectations. As people passed in the lobby, they glanced at the Holy Name Crests on our jackets and then stared again in wonderment as if being in the presence of living historical phenomena and as if , as Dave said ,we were the guests of honor. Words cannot describe the pride welling-up inside my heart. The Cadets of 2007 are fine group of young men and women.During my conversations with them, one can sense how well grounded they are and they clearly have a thirst for their Drum Corp "roots". I asked several of them how they received Rich McGarry's historical presentation at their spring rehersal camp. (They call him Scotty too). To an individual, they used words like ...."awesome" ...'"meaningful" ..."wonderful" and finally "I never knew the extent of our history" I can only surmise that pronouncements like these gave thrust to their decision to place that wonderful inscription (to which they all agreed) on the back of their T-shirts. I was deeply moved that they would honor all Holy Name alumni in this manner. For Holy Name Shall Always Be. Ken Shedosky 1957-61
I was very moved by last night's experience. Yesterday, I went with Dave Shaw and Ken Shedosky to listen to The Cadets in Allentown. The experience moved me so much I have to talk about it. First, just spending time with my old and dear friends Dave and Ken was an emotional experience in itself, it is like the 50 year gap from our previous asssociation never existed. Meeting and talking to the Cadets was inspiring, they are bright winner-focused youth, and talented beyond imagination. They didn't look at us as a bunch of old guys but were in awe of our history with The Holy Name Cadets. I was really moved when I saw the back of their Cadet T-shirts that said "Holy Name Shall Always Be", they were proud and said " isn't it awesome." I don't know about the politics of the last 50 years but this is our Corps, these are our kids, they want to win just as much as we did. I only ask you to talk to them support them and you will know they feel the sense of the living history that those that wore the uniform before them created.
I marched in too many to count, and the amount that we marched in the rain...
Happy Memorial Day to all Cadets ! Remember what Memorial Day is all about! How many parades did YOU march in on Memorial Day in your drum corps days? Same question for Independence Day!! :)
Ken, Thanks for bringing up Bader Field, I forgot the location of the prelims. As to the Paterson Cadets, my records indicate they placed higher than us once in a 1958 contest in Newark on a Sunday afternoon. I still shudder when I think of it. That gave them the idea that, like Holy Name the prior year, they could cop a win in Chicago. I'm sure you recall their venting their frustration and disappointment during the Chicago parade. See you in AC
Dear Cadets… The memories that you are forwarding are incredible! I am taking the liberty of copying the submissions and placing them in our “Memoirs” project file. Thank you all for your thoughts and writings. The Corps obviously means much to all of us and the love we have continues to bring honor to the men and women who gave their all to make our Corps eternal. For Holy Name Shall Always Be! D. V. Panessa
JOHN, WHAT A GREAT AND ACCURATE RECAP OF THE 1957 SEASON .TALK ABOUT TOTAL RECALL (AND AFTER 50YRS!!!). IF I MAY, THOUGH, I WOULD LIKE TO ADD A MODEST EMBELLISHMENT TO THIS FINE RECORD;. THE CONTEST THAT WE PLACED BEHIND AUDUBON WAS HURTFUL AND HUMILIATING IN THAT WE PLACED FIFTH OVERALL , EVEN BEHIND THE PATERSON CADETS. YES , IT DID HURT. THE BUS TRIP BACK HOME THAT NIGHT WAS VERY QUIET INDEED. A LOT OF INTROSPECTIVE SOUL SEARCHING ENSUED. WERE THOSE VETERANS WHO DIDN'T COME BACK FOR THE '57 SEASON CORRECT. WAS IT ALL WORTH IT? I VIEW THAT NIGHT AS THE TURNING POINT OF THE '57 SEASON. WE KNEW ,DEEP DOWN , WE WERE BETTER. WE HAD CORE VETERANS FROM THE '53,'54,'55,'56 SEASONS. A FEW MORE BRASS HERE , A SNARE DRUMMER THERE, ALL THE MISSING PARTS WHERE NOW IN PLACE. WHAT WAS LEFT? ....SPINE ? GUTS? DETERMINATION? OH.....THAT WAS ALL THERE TOO , AND JUST BEGINNING TO BOIL ...AND ON TO A ROLLING BOIL. POSTSCRIPT: THE CONTEST THAT DEALT US SUCH A CRUSHING LOSS WAS HELD AT THE BADER FIELD, ATLANTIC CITY........THE SAME CONTEST FIELD THAT , IN 8 WEEKS ..... WE WOULD BEAT THEM ALL AT THE NATIONAL PRELIMINARIES..... AND SO (WITH WARM REGARDS TO MY CADET BROTHER ,JOHN DEOLD) THE REST IS HISTORY.... FOR HOLY NAME SHALL ALWAYS BE ....KEN SHEDOSKY 1957-61
John DeOld ... what a GREAT and emotional story! Thanks for sharing! :) FHNSAB
Wow, your intel is great! How did you track me down? I wasn't aware of this site, but found it informative and entertaining. Been busy since my 70-71 years. Taught CW Townsmen 74-75?, Garfield 76-77, marched and taught Hawthorne Cabs 72-74, 83-86. My main facus has been HS Bands - Director: Ramsey 79, Midland Park 79-82, Glen Ridge 82-88, Verona 88-02, Verona Middle School 02-present. Enjoying the free time by judging with USSBA.
Prologue. When the bus pulled up in front of the church, “Chief” stood up and said he wanted to say something before we got off. It was 1956 and we just competed in our last contest of the year. It was a disappointing year; we won no major contests and were unable to beat Blessed Sacrament or St. Vincents. With emotion he said he knew we had a poor year and many of us were talking about leaving. He asked us to stick it out for one more year and work to have a better season. We did start working and, to me, that was the start of the 1957 season. I came to Holy Name with Charlie DeBlieck in early 1956 from a small local parade corps. We both played soprano horns so naturally we were given those great sounding big belled brass French horns. We lost a number of members through aging out and started the season with only 21 horns, six fewer than most other corps. We also had two snare drummers, one less than average. We struggled throughout most of the season, once again not beating Blessed Sacrament or St. Vincents. We also lost once to Audubon, the all girl corps. That hurt. New members gradually showed up and by mid summer we had 27 horns and to round it all out a snare drummer from St. Joes showed up. Sometime in August we had our first competition with a full corps. We had a good show and now it sounded better than ever. There were three major contests in a row in September; The American Legion State Championship in Clifton followed by the Dream Contest in Jersey City and finally the National Championship in Atlantic City. I thought we would beat Blessed Sacrament but not St. Vincents in the State (St. Vincents won almost every contest that year). Then, since the Dream was sponsored by St. Vincents and they couldn’t compete we’d beat Blessed Sacrament again, have our first major win of the year and go to Atlantic City with a very good chance of winning. We put on a very good show in the State Contest finishing second to St. Vincents but we beat Blessed Sacrament for the first time in almost two years. We felt pretty confident standing on the starting line at the Dream Contest. Then an assistant drill instructor had us move eight steps to the right to give the appearance to the crowd of being a larger corps. So, the first time our drill took us close to the sideline we either went out of bounds or jammed up squads by stopping too soon. The penalty and the loss of marching points blew our chance of winning. We went to Atlantic City with Charlie Nabor as our temporary drill instructor and Al DeRosa, our horn instructor set to work us all day and into the night. They did. Chief (our director, Bill Kemmerer) picked us the coveted last corps in the preliminary contest. We put on a good show and later found out we had won. That started some celebrations but most importantly we all got the strong feeling that we had a very good shot at winning that evening. The bus ride from our motel to Convention Hall was the greatest display of corps spirit I ever knew, before or since. The singing, the confidence oozing from all of us, the sense that we were going to do it, it all came together during that short ride. We were on next to last followed by Audubon. On the line I was nervous but like everyone else I felt confident that we would put on a great show. While our drummers were tightening their rope drums a man came up and told them how to do it properly. He was told to take a hike. Later we learned he was Mr. Slingerland or Ludwig who owned the company that made the drums. The crowd reaction was amazing starting with “lets go pepper”. We started out with an unusually fast cadence and kept it fast. There was cheering through the entire show especially when we hit the grating at the end of the color presentation. It got louder during “The Thunderer” and the prance step with shouts of “higher, higher”. The noise grew and grew during Don’s solo in the concert and when we finished “And the Angels Sing” the place exploded. The cheering continued through the end with some “OH’s” when some guys collapsed. Heading towards the finish line I became worried that I didn’t hear the 13-minute gun sound. Our fast cadence shaved seconds off of our time on the field. I was in the last squad closest to where the timers were standing and was ready to stay on the field if the gun didn’t go off. It finally did with about eight steps to spare. We were asked to host the retreat and awards ceremony. Fifty years later I can still feel the nervous anticipation as each corps’ score and name was announced. Suddenly there were two left and when the announcer said “Audubon”, well, we had won. We were the first corps to march off and I was emotionally drained. Epilogue. We won a small guide on pennant, which read National Champions. At the mid-winter indoors contest in Newark Armory, when we were on the line and introduced the guide on bearer marched out with the pennant to signify that the field now belonged to the National Champions. We were penalized for having a flag precede the American Flag and lost. Today, when I think about those years I still feel good to have been part of the group who won that championship and worked through the transition to the Garfield Cadets ( or Gators). I don’t see any problem, legally or theologically to the Cadets from wherever change their name back to Holy Name. John DeOld 56-59 John DeOld 56-59
The history of your drum and bugle corps is DEEP ! Excellence on and off the field. Eastern Drum and Bugler Corps at its best. I can not wait to see this site grow and show even more of its history and contribution to the DRUM AND BUGLE CORPS ACTIVITY ( especially during its formative years ) ! PLEASE VISIT OUR SITE ALSO... WWW.STRITASBRASSMEN.ORG
Report from Spring Training in West Virginia The corps had their history presentation last night in West Virginia. The evening began with the corps listening to the Holy Name song as sung at the last gathering of the alumni. The kids were moved not only by the singing, but more importantly by who was singing. They are honored to be members of the world's oldest and most honored corps. The Cadets look forward to meeting with alumni throughout the summer. P.S. They love the Holy Name jacket. FHNSAB
I was in the corps ‘ 45 thru ‘52; rookie years ‘45 & ‘46, then marched in competition ‘47 thru ‘52. We took 3rd place in the 1947 NYC American Legion Nationals. 1st & 2nd were Upper Darby and McCall corps from the Philly area. They were the last two corps of the day to compete. . 1948 Miami: 1st place, American Legion Nationals, 1949 Philadelphia: 1st place, 1950: Los Angeles, 1st place. We toured the Country in 1950. On our way to Los Angeles we stayed in Chicago for a weekend. Some of the Chicago corps (The Cavaliers were one of them ) gave us a big send-off party. We played several of our numbers at the party to thank them for their hospitality. After hearing us play their Director was kind enough to say, "' now I'm convinced we made the right decision not to take the trip." At the Championships in LA we were invited to give an exhibition at the night senior competition in the Coliseum. 1951 Miami, 2nd place, by .383; St. Vinnies won, 1952 New York City, we went on first of 34 corps, ending up in 6th place. Joe Paluh was definately our drum major in 1947 In 1949 or 1950 we gave a surprise exhibition in Yankee Stadium for Casey Stengel's birhday. Just a few memories I'd like to pass on to the alumni.
Good luck Cadets! God, I miss being out there on the field...I guess I miss it so much I'm teaching a DCA corps this summer. See ya in Allentown! Thank you-Wendy Capra Cadets color guard 95
Thanks so much to everyone who put together this site and are getting the alumni together. As a very recent ageout, I can't tell you how much I appreciate the alumni and how proud I am to be a part of all this. Great website!
i always lo0ve the colors and commitment of that corps from the east. being a former marion cadet, 1960-66 and chicago cavalier, 1967, i have had plenty of chances to enjoy and love your corps. may your colors wave forever in the drum corps field of competition.Splooie!
Following the lead of other Cadets from the 50s and 60s, here are some recollections for all to share: I have many great memories from my days as a Cadet, from joining in late 1952; music lessons on a valve-less G bugle every Saturday am with Al Mura; getting my first uniform and marching in many parades; traveling with the Corps to Washington DC and watching as we lost in the AL Nationals; finally marching in my first “contest” in late 1954 (we didn’t call them “shows”, then); diligently polishing my brass horn (NoXon was the polish-of-choice and Phil Kowalski is right .. we all carried Blitz cloths!). The thing I remember most, though, is how FAMILIES were involved. We had a great “Booster” organization and the all-volunteer support staff, the Quartermasters, was always there to keep everything neat and organized. We all knew each other’s mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers. It wasn’t unusual to have a succession of brothers from the same family .. just ask the Muras, Arthurs, Bonins, Scarpas, Raymonds … and more. In fact it was rare for a brother NOT to follow a sibling into the Corps. During (winter) music rehearsal we’d bring school work to cram in while the French horns (or baritones) were learning their parts (this proved an invaluable skill in later life!). Summers were always great and to travel all over the country was a treat many kids didn’t experience. I also remember how we always sang on the bus .. Bart, Bob Peterson, Don Koch, Dave Shaw and more of us… were always in the thick of it. We all talk about the great win in Atlantic City in 1957. I have fond memories of the 1958 National Championship in Chicago, when the newly Christened “Garfield Cadets” got together with the Chicago Cavaliers at a house party they organized for us: they had helped us, along with the Caballeros, by loaning us horns and drums. A strong bond was forged that, for many of us, lives until today. But the highlight of the evening, after eating, drinking and great conversation, was when we realized that BOTH corps enjoyed singing as much as we enjoyed competing! It wasn’t long before we stood up in a circle and belted out song after song. Of course we sang O Holy Name ! .. and they sang their anthem. But nothing can compare with one song that still sends chills up my spine … If I Loved You! … (from Broadway’s Carousel). We sounded like the Mormon Tabernacle Choir! I also remember the great trips in 1959 and 1960 to Stillwater Minnesota and the “Drum Beauty Pageant” (sort of a military ball version of Miss America). Many of us got to escort those pretty Scandinavian girls as they were “presented” to the crowd. The Cadets, and our good buddies the high-stepping Scout House from Ontario were the toast-of-Stillwater Minnesota. Then there was the near run-in with the “townies” who didn’t like Cadets horning in (no pun intended) on their young ladies. But that’s another story …. Ah, youth ! FHNSAB., Bill Kardash 1952-61.
Love the site...long overdue. The YEA! site needs to play this up much more in order to foster a broader relationship between the two organizations and to grow the alumni base. Brian GC81-85
I'm enjoying the website. It's nice to go back to such an important part of my youth. I hope to get updates regularly. I will need some more time to digest the entire website. I'm actually reviewing it from my desk. I look forward to re-connecting with some old friends.
Daniel...best wishes and good luck with your deployment. My son, who is in the Navy, was deployed to the Gulf...his ship was one of those that ended up doing tsunami aid first and then continuned on to the Persian Gulf.
I just spelled my own name wrong sorry! Thanx for your well wishes and support.
Danil: Looks like we have an incorrect spelling of your name on the Salute Page. I'll correct it immediately. You WILL NOT be out of mind during your deployment Cadet. Please, as soon as it's available let us know your address over there. If you don't have computer access in your duty station, send us your APO. You will be in the prayers of many of your fellow Cadets. We are proud and honored that you are one of us. For Holy Name shall always be...
Well, there is nothing I'd rather do in september than meet with fellow Cadets from past and present. I've been away for so long that a trip to A.C. to hear stories and just chat with fellow alums would be perfect. But alas, In August I am shipping off to Iraq for 7 months. Hopefully all goes well and I make it back safe. I will be here until my birhtday on the 21st of August so if anyone has questions about what I do or will be doing, feel free to ask. Otherwise, you all have fun in A.C. and I'll talk to you soon. Danil Regan /cbc euphonium 98-00
Dear Holy Name Cadets… So what have we learned about ourselves and others after meeting with our alumni and membership these past few months? We certainly are all quite different and unique in our educational, work place, and living environment choices. I was surprised as to the myriad of vocations that my childhood friends have explored…from Deacons to construction…education to law enforcement…business to community service; all quite parallel to the typical populations of this country, but supported with a perspective unlike others. These men and women have had the fortune to be part of a successful and tightly bound assembly. Cadets know the meaning of hard work on an individual basis as well as with a group mentality focused on a particular goal…being the best there is. How fortunate that we have had an advantage over all others in our training to become a contributing part of the world community. Our childhood experiences with our Corps have made us well aware of the process and effort needed to be leaders in any industry. I for one am proud to stand among you…Cadets of many generations using our collective knowledge and backgrounds to positively affect those around us. We are the luckiest of men and women to have banded together again to continue our good works. We are the luckiest of men and women for Holy Name is not just a title…it is an aura of light and guidance that surrounds our lives. We are the luckiest of men and women… Past, present, and in the future…“For Holy Name Shall Always Be” Daniel Vincent Panessa
Site looks great! I love reading the history of my corps!! -Patrick Duncan '06-'08 For Holy Name Shall Always Be
Joseph Paluh, was a Holy Name Cadet drum major. he left the cadets in 1947 ( I believe that was the year), when he was appointed to West Point Military Academy. The following year the cadets and West Point were marching in a major parade in New York City. We were able to visit with Joe at the end of the parade. We were very proud to have one of our own at West Point. Holy Name's connection with West Point was legendary. Receiving permission to copy their uniform and West Point presenting Holy Name Cadets with sabers.
I surfed in & was reading a lot of postings. Then my memories started to kick in. The Cadets have molded my life, without me realizing it. Back then, when I was a teenager, with a not so great family at home, the Cadets became my family. I still talk to people about the Cadets as my family. Then when I was 18 the Army took me to become part of their family. I was drafted in 1971. With all the discipline the Cadets taught me in the 60's and up to then, the Army was easy. When I started my own family, I was 21, I knew how to deal with a good family life & I believe I raised 3 great kids. Now I have 3 grandsons & a granddaugther, also all great kids. The memories of my Cadet family will always be with me in my everyday life and for the rest of my life. I know life takes you in all different directions. Mine took me away from the Cadets. I find my luck was bad again as I lived in Bethlehem, PA from 1987 to 2002 & didnt have a chance to go to see the Cadets. Now I hear they moved to Allentown PA. What luck! Now I moved to the southern states. I really miss all the friends I made while I was in the Cadet family. I will always be pround of being a part of the Cadets, especially a part of the 1969 Cadets when the girls came aboard. In 1968, I played the first set of double bass drums the corp. had. I designed them with Danny Raymond and the Quartermaster. I will always be proud of being on the front page of the Drum Corp. News in 1968. Danny Raymond was my inspiration. Since Danny's passing, I have talked to his son, Danny,Jr. I was sad to find out about his passing. I still play & have been in bands since but nothing will ever equal the experience of being a part of the best Drum Corp. in the world. This guest book should be an inspiration also. I am sure as time goes by more & more will sign in it. Keep up the great work!! The Frog... Randy Dalrymple GCDC 1965-1971
i just wanted to say that i love the website!! I am the drum bus driver for The Cadets '01-present and i tell people it's like a family. Keep it up "For Holy Name Shall Always Be...."
How many times in your lifetime do you get to be the best there is. As a 16 year old kid from Garfield, NJ Atlantic City, 1957 was magic. What a feeling when they annouced second place and it wasn't us. You can't describe the feeling. The company front on the grate, lifting our legs as high as we could, (marching in the sand that week helped) then bringing our horns to our chest clashing on our breast plates a magical sound. Trying to play with tears running into my mouthpiece after the scores were announced and we left the floor. These were defining moments in my life and helped me believe that I was a winner and I have carried that throuout my life to believe that there is nothing I can't do. Holy Name Shall Always Be.
I believe, my experance of being a cadet,is why I" sill here. For Holy Name, will always be.
Best wishes to all members. My years with the corps changed my life. For Holy Name Shall Always Be... QB 95,96,97,98,99,00,01,02 hidalgodrums@yahoo.com
I read with great interest the messages posted here from former cadets of all ages who share one of the greatest experiences of a lifetime – belonging to a famous drum corps that began in Garfield, New Jersey as the HOLY NAME CADETS DRUM AND BUGLE CORPS. That’s the way we are, all buddies who wore the best damn uniform of any other drum corps in the world. Now you get a message from an old timer. When I was a Cadet, most of us were just ordinary kids off the street, New Jersey boys who lived near enough to Garfield and the little wooden Holy Name Church to attend practice all year round. (with the possible exception of Bobby Bella Rosa who was a kid but far from ordinary and came to practice all the way from outer state.) (Brooklyn) We practiced in the basement of that little wooden church. Members of other local drum corps who came to our practice from ‘Cathedrals’ that sponsored St. Vincents, St. Josephs, or Blessed Sacrament, (all national champion drum corps at one time) could hardly believe that the famous Holy Name Cadets were sponsored by such a small church. They had trouble even finding the church, tucked in between and not much bigger than the houses on short Marcelius Place in Garfield. But they could hear us. We were loud. We played single valve solid brass ‘G’ bugles that had to be polished for competitions using a ‘blitz’ cloth. I played ‘blasto’ soprano bugle and had a custom J. Parduba & Son H. James New York Cushion Rim Double Cup 5 Star Special Pat. No.2,018,738 mouthpiece. With it, I could blow the ears off of Don Angelica. I still have it. (Can’t play a thing to save myself anymore.) The church is still there, just around the corner from Barcellona’s Restaurant where the Holy Name Alumni are now gathering. The church is now a brick structure. I got married there. Sometimes I wonder if the old wooden church had to be replaced because of structural damage caused by sonic vibrations. We had to pay dues to belong to the corps. 50 cents weekly. This sum was reimbursed as lunch money when we went on trips. You could buy a hamburger and a coke for 50 cents in those days. We also went on paper drives to raise money, collecting paper saved all year for us by supportive Garfield residents. The people of Garfield still support the Corps. When you come to Garfield on the Garden State Parkway, you will see a sign that reads ‘GARFIELD NEW JERSEY – HOME OF CHAMPIONS’. That’s us buddy. That’s why Holy Name Cadets Shall Always Be. Phil Kowalski Holy Name Cadet 1951-53
On Tuesday, April 24th, Dave Shaw, Bill Kardash, John Avella and yours truly had a phone conference call to discuss further plans for the up coming September 3 day reunion event in Atlantic City. To my knowledge, this will be the first large scale gathering of cadets in many, many years and several of us are making a major effort to make it an unforgetTable time. Although we have many specials events and happenings planned, we need your collective help. If there is something special you would like to see or do or have any suggestion that may prove enjoyable for all who attend, please e-mail me at arbbeb@comcast.net. All and any suggestions will be welcomed. Be sure to mark your calendar for September 12th, 13th and 14th. As many of you may recall, that date is also the 50th anniversary of the last Legion Championship won under the Holy Name banner so we intend to make it a very special time in rememberance of that amazing happening. We are looking forward to packing the floor at the old Convention Hall with cadets from all generations. Remember, we need your help - my e-mail address again is arbbeb@comcast.net. Let us continue to show the drum corps world that HOLY NAME SHALL ALWAYS BE!
Fellow Alumni, I just rejoined the Maroon and Gold Club for the 2007 season. I did it online with a credit card...it was quick and painless. There are many levels of membership so you can participate at a cost that works for you. What a difference it would make if more of us made a yearly commitment to join. There may be some alumni who do not favor the current direction of DCI (I am not one of those) but we are talking about sustaining the legacy of the corps that helped define us collectively and as individuals, our corps, the Cadets. The legacy of the Cadets is bigger than DCI and the administration of the corps. You all know what I am talking about; the Cadet experience informs our day to day work and allows us to tackle the difficult tasks that others shy away from and make them happen. Look at the faces of the current class of Cadets, they are the recipients of our legacy and, in a way, we continue "on the field of competition" through their hard work. You have only to read the posts on this forum to get a sense of the impact that the Cadets have had on all of us. For an even broader understanding of the generation spanning legacy of the Maroon and Gold, check out the Holy Name website. Not only is it bigger than all of us, it is all of us. It would not take much effort on our part to make a big difference for the current and future class of Cadets. I would guess that former Cadet members form the largest group of drum corps alumni in existence. If we use our numbers and our dedication to the legacy of the corps we helped to define, we can make a difference.
when I first started marching in drum corp we were in a show with the Garfield Cadets I was so amazed my them that After the show I had to go over and talk with a few of the members. We started talking and quickly became fast friends. Every year after that I couldn't wait until we were in another show with the Cadets, I looked forward to seeing the friends that I had made. The drum corp I was in at that time was very small and nothing like the Garfield Cadets but it didn't matter to them we were all part of the drum corp family. When I became a member of Des Plaines Vanguard we competed with the Cadets on a higher level and those friends of mine were so excited for me being in the Vanguard but most of all we were all just happy to see one another again. After I left drum corp I went into the Army and we lost touch with each other but to tell you the truth they havenever left methey have always been in my heart and in my mind.. As a member of the Skokie / Des Plaines Vanguard I am proud of every thing that we as a Drum corp had accomplished and my heart will always be a Vanguard. But there will also be a very special place In my heart for the Cadets and to this day I still look forward to seeing them every year. For me it's like seeing old friends. Great web site.
Atlantic City 1957 was the greatest exibition of M & M ever done at a National Championship. The M&M Judge was a Retired Marine Office who snapped to attention when the Corp played Sempre Fideles. As we passed him, I ordered the Color Guard an Eyes Right and Rich Konyak and I gave him a Saber salute, which he returned. If my memory serves me 50 years later, I believe we were first in M&M with a 29.1. The "Chief's" idea to get Charlie Nabor to drill us for two weeks prior to the Contest paid off. The old Marine Drill Master made us believe in ourselves that we were unbeatable on the field. From my vantage point with the Color Guard out front, It was a sight to behold. The OFF THE LINE 54 count company front was as stright as a ruler, which brought a roar from the crowd. A performance that will be remembered as long as there are Cadets.
I have been doing some research. I have been finding a lot of good memories returning as I find web sites full of writings, pictures and a lot of alumni postings every where. I am soo happy to have found them. Some even have movies & sound. My name is Randy Dalrymple. That might not bring back any memories,but I was the first Double Bass player in 1968 in the cadets. Danny Raymond was the instructor of precussion at that time. A few years ago, when I was living in FL. I emailed with Danny's son. He told me Danny was in FL. & working in Disney for some years...small world... He also told me that Danny had passed. I was sorry to hear that . After our conversation Dannys son mailed me a CD of "An evening with the corps." in 1968. He also mailed me a CD with the Cadets, ST.Lucys,Blessed sac. All at the worlds in 1968. I am 54 & the Cadets have allways been a big part of how I have lived my life. I cryed the first time I played the CDs. I have allways felt bless to have been a part of the Cadets & They a part of Me. I regret having to leave the cadets the late part of 1970, but I was drafted into the army & had no choice but to go. By the time I got to where I could be into a corp. again I met up with some old Cadet buddies from my area of NJ & we put together The defunked Garden Statesmen & an old parade corp. ....which skips my mind now..... to get a SR. parade corp. going & had some fun. I then moved my family away from NJ & never played again. Again I would love to say....FOR HOLY NAME SHALL ALWAYS BE...in my heart forever. Sincery Yours, Randy Dalrymple "The Frog" the first Cadet Double Base Drummer in 1968.
Excerpt from the Vanguard (ILL) forum (link for their website is on our "About Us" page. The Vanguard also had a four-banner history: Logan Square, Mel Tierney, Skokie, and Des Plaines. They were an awesome drum corps, and good friends on a personal level as well. "As I remember, we (the VG) had Garfield appear at our show. I'm guessing that it would've been '62 or '63. They stayed in a motel in Niles, and some of us visited them. They seemed to be okay people. Many of us old farts were aware that they almost pulled off a miracle at the '58 Am. Legion Nationals in Chicago. They had been dropped by their church sponsor. (Holy Name) and had to pay their own way, buy makeshift uniforms and use borrowed (from Hawthorne, I think) instruments. They took second to Blessed Sac! As a result, they had our respect and admiration for years to come. Very gutsy." Burkett
The notes from the Vangiurd alum post reminds me that the Cadets have visited the Chicago area quite a few times in their history! And they have always made a big impression, and a lot of friends, each time!
Dear Dave, George and Vic - "WELCOME" as well as "THANK YOU" for getting your website up for all of us old time drum corps guys the chance to enjoy it. Your corps was and is, as you know, one of the most highly respected and loved drum corps icons of all time! I am Webmaster and an alumni of another drum corps from the past, the Vanguard. I know that the Vanguard and the Cadets had a very close association over the years, and remember the Vanguard appearing at the Cadets' show in New Jersey in 1962 (or thereabouts). I also know that our corps director (Jim Unrath) and Don Angelica were very good friends as well. Most everyone nowadays refers to our corps as being most famous as the “Des Plaines Vanguard” (our last reincarnation) but as I am sure you will recall, we also had a long history, having developed from Logan Square, to the Mel Tierney Vanguard, and then to where I guess we first made a name for ourselves as the “Skokie Vanguard’. I confess to entering into “big time drum corps” around the “Skokie” time frame (although I was in a drum corps, just a much smaller one) prior to joining the Vanguard. The Vanguard website is www.desplainesvanguard.com. I heartily welcome you and all Cadets alumni to stop by, check it out, do some browsing, and enjoy yourselves with some additional History on my site. Please make sure and sign the guestbook too. And don't forget my friends at the Royal Airs website, and the Norwood Park Imperials website as well! Once again, love the site! Jay McGuffin, The Vanguard
Tom Griffin served in the corp from Oct. 1953 to 1956 when he entered the U.S.Navy
I was Color Guard Captain at Atlantic City 1957. This is a great tribute to The Holy Name Cadet and the Corp that followed. Looking foward to the 50th Reunion in AtlanticCity.
April 15, 2007 Dear Cadets of all ages… Our resurgence as an alumni group has been extremely exciting over the past few months. The new friends I have made and the re-connections with those who actually shared my experiences as a Cadet have brightened my life in ways I never thought possible. Our discussions have also made me painfully aware of the tremendous loss we have suffered as Cadets with the passing of many of our friends and teachers. Personally I mourn many… Don Angelica, Nicky Raymond, Rich Chirichella, John Tokar Bob King, Danny Maxey and many, many more…all fellow Cadets but more importantly close friends of my childhood. These feelings have directed me towards a project I hope all of you will get involved in…”Memoirs of the Cadets”…a written and recorded history of our beloved Holy Name by those who lived it. My request is simple. I am asking each of you to write of an experience you had. For example, your first show, your rookie year, winning a national competition… the good and the bad. Anything you think will help to perpetuate our tradition as the greatest living drum corps. If you would rather, a voice recording would be wonderful. I have a close friend who is a professional writer who will assist me in compiling our stories. Just think…an historical commentary from the 40’s into the future for our members to enjoy. I ran this idea by Dave Shaw and he is enthusiastic about the project. I plan on devoting the next two years into making these records a reality. Will you help? Send your stories to me at panessanyc@hotmail.com or in person at our monthly gatherings. I will report our progress as the book of “Memoirs of the Cadets” comes alive. For Holy Name Shall Always Be… D. V. Panessa
My name is Chris Castille, I'm a current drum major for The Cadets, and I would like to say a few things... First, WOW! I did not know about this website until a few days ago when I was contacted by Gene Monterastelli...you may have heard of him. The website is amazing...and it is something quite special to see this public rebirth from Alumni. Thank you! Second, I will be sending my own order form for the Holy Name jacket, as will many other Cadets from the 2007 corps. So, be ready to have a slight influx in requests. Also, what is the ETA of these jackets ariving? If soon, maybe there is something that can be worked out for an appearance at one of our upcoming camps for you and any other Alumni who are interested in attending (which although is REALLY a short notice request, its a thought nonetheless). Third, if there is anything that I, or members of the current corps can do for you or those involved with the website, do respond to me! Thank you, and all those responsible for this small undertaking! It's quite the breath of fresh air that helps me to remember where we come from, where we're going, and why we came to The Cadets in the first place. For Holy Name Shall Always Be... -Chris Castille, Drum Major 2006 - 2007
Just read the obit. Joe Fecko marched from 47 to 52. Roger Sidowski marched about 49 to 52 or 53. John Gruber is deceased and marched with me. 49 to 51.
Dear Cadet Alums, My name is Ryan Tinker and I am a Cadet (2005 -- 2008). I play baritone and am the section leader this year. My best friend and fellow Cadet, Chris Castille, sent me the link for the Holy Name Alumni website. All of this is simply incredible. I have never felt more honored to be part of something so meaningful. The history, the people, the music, the friendship, and the nostalgia of it all is overwhelming. Stumbling across this website absolutely made my day. I hope to meet as many of the Holy Name Cadets as I can someday.
This is awesome, I can't beleive it took till 2007 for alumni to get in touch with each other.
I'm positively thrilled that a Cadet has put together a functional alumni group. My time in the corps was simply amazing, and now I'm learning what it is to live the rest of my life as a Cadet. Best to all of you, and hopefully I can make it someday to a gathering all the way from snowy Michigan. I love you all. -- sam 1998-2003, DM
A rusted door and broken stairs were all I found. I expected more…my car followed some unimaginable pattern ingrained in my memory and I ended my unplanned trip at the Garfield American Legion Post. Cracked sidewalks, weeds, and naked tree limbs greeted me…laughed at me. How I longed for the joyous sounds of the friends of my youth. I searched the lot for signs of life. I touched the rusted door to our practice hall expecting some connection, some vibration from the past. I glanced at the wooden stairway…missing, rotted boards with paint worn and weathered. These portals once beckoned me with color and light…smiles and triumphs. We passed through each on our way to victory and defeat. They were a pathway of sorts offering our Corps home, shelter, and direction…a place for trophies and uniforms. I sensed smiling faces swirling around me, horn cases and drum sticks carried in and out in rapid and continuous succession. For a brief moment the door was again painted a bright and glowing maroon, the stairs strong and sturdy. A place where we sat and talked… hoped and dreamed. I climbed the hill where we practiced outdoors when winter faded and once again saw the sparkle of brass instruments in the sun. It was real again, with a wonderful and singular emotional high…those days of my youth as a Cadet. I climbed back in my car and completed my trip to Barcelona’s. The childhood friends I met were all a little older…but the spirit had not diminished. It was fully alive and well. The rusted door and broken stairs were not all I found. Daniel Vincent Panessa
The Cadets are a burning flame. A reminder of how drum corps once was. Though their more recent shows haven't appealed to me, The Cadets are still one of my favorite corps. Thank God for Holy Name.
I am very proud to have been a part of such a rich history. If not for the Cadets I don't think I would have been able to take a life that was on a very fast downward spiral and become the person I am today. Thank you to everyone who came before me and those after. It's been said before and it should be said again... For Holy Name Shall Always Be...
Reprinted from the Cadets' Alumni Forum; edited for space limitations To the 2006 Cadets from a Holy Name alumnus. A few short months ago you completed an extremely difficult and challenging season. You did so with grace, and courage, and patience; with pride, and hard work, and with the trademark excellence that defines our corps. Thank you from this alumnus, and I would hope from every alumnus who has ever worn the uniform (including variations thereof). You did us proud!!! In two years the Cadets will celebrate the 75th Anniversary of our founding. Very few of those years have been without their own challenges and many have incorporated variations on the controversy you were forced to confront this past season. We are all woven into the single experience of being a Cadet. We ALL have played a part in earning our collection of titles, not just those who marched in a particular year. We ALL wear the gold medal of champions, regardless of where we placed in any particular competition. We all sing "Oh Holy Name," in proud unison, regardless of our age or era. In our nearly 75 year history no corps has contributed more to the much-loved activity of drum corps than the Cadets, and no corps is more deserving of unqualified respect based on that contribution. As you have learned though, in the real and somewhat cruel world we live in, what should be is seldom what is. So, as you, and I, and all Cadets have been taught, the ultimate measure of our success is not the 10 American Legion National Championships, or the 9 DCI World Championships we have won; but ultimately our measure of ourselves. We know that many of our competitors have similar rich traditions and histories, and they have our total respect and admiration. We congratulate the Cavaliers, unreservedly, on their 2006 Championship performance, and on their many years of achievement. We thank them too for the many shared experiences over many years that have forged a relationship between our two corps that we truly value. We extend these sentiments and this expression of respect to all our other competitors over our nearly 75 years of history as well. We know that all of you value your identity as a member of your corps as much as we value our identity as Cadets. This salute to our 2006 Cadets is no way intended to mean that we do not value friends and competitors, as we applaud and thank the newest members of our worldwide Cadet family. Alumni of the Cadets stretch from coast to coast, and live in many foreign Countries. We are involved in every field of endeavor imaginable. We range in age from the oldest living Holy Name Cadets to the youngest members of the 2007 Cadets. You will find, as you travel through life, that many of your fellow Cadets will unexpectedly cross your path; and when they do, you will be with family. The Holy Name family. So again. Thanks Cadets of 2006 for further enriching our collective history of excellence. We couldn't be more proud of you and your accomplishments this past summer as we welcome you to the larger Cadet family of those who have preceded you. For Holy Name Shall Always Be...
WOW! To hear of these reunons ans see the website.You folks are on to something great!ENJOY! THIS COULD BE THE START OF SOMETHING BIG! And a lot of fun!
Norwood Park Drum & Bugle Corps.Drum Sargent. 1938-1952. Also Mel Tierney and Skokie Indians. You had a great Corps.
Great night and it was wonderful to see everyone. The tradition truly lives on!
Although it was only a three year period of my life, i cannot think of any other experience which has had such a lasting positive impact on my life. Except of course, for being married for 26 years! Whenever I think Garfield Cadets i get this warm glowing feeling, maybe that's the drugs kicking in once again...just kidding.
Loved the corps; love your site. Visit my site at www.royalairs.org
Reflections…A “special thank” you to those outside our Cadet Family We are constantly challenged to make changes in our lives to serve a number of people as well as ourselves. Those challenges may be met with both enthusiasm and dread…and in many cases apathy. How we as humans adjust to those conditions which redirect our life’s path can spell success or failure. As Cadets of many generations, we have all been influenced by our teachers, our immediate peers, and in a great sense by those who were in direct conflict with our success. How fortunate we are to have been surrounded by our own brothers and sisters in our continual quest to be at our best as individuals while proclaiming and chasing glory as Holy Name Cadets, Garfield Cadets, or in our most present metamorphosis, The Cadets. The name may have changed with the times, but the uniform or more importantly the “heart” of our organization has not. Leadership, innovation, excellence, and brotherhood are our hallmarks both historically and in our presently troubled world. Did you ever take notice or analyze the how and why of this phenomenon? Just recently I was struck by the thought that I had many people to thank for my place in the world community. Most often they were identified as my childhood nemesis…”the competition”. Think how hard we all worked to achieve goals never reached by organizations like ours. Where did the “power” of our determination come from? What inspired us to work with Herculean effort to reach our national and international standing? It occurred to me that I (and we) needed to salute our antagonists… those who would never let us rest or let down our guard…our competitors over the years. What good is achieving a first place finish if it is not married to and compared to excellence? Think of your own most private thoughts before, during, and after competition. You said to yourself “I competed with the best the world had to offer and was able to stand on the pinnacle.” You see…the very existence of our wonderful and quite singular adversaries made us reach for the stars. Their work inspired us to greater heights because we refused to stand in second place. Our Corps name would allow us nothing less. Our heritage fused a path we could never escape…or want to. The Corps by its very nature made us better men and women able to stare down a challenge, meet it with open arms, and prevail no matter the odds. So in closing as we approach our next gathering, I think we may all owe a bit of thanks and a raised glass to those who by their own efforts helped foster our success…St Vincent’s, St. Joe’s, St. Kevin’s, Blessed Sacrament, St. Lucy’s, The Vanguard (Chicago or California), The Cavaliers, Royalairs, Boston Crusaders, 27th Lancers, Blue Devils, Troopers…and the many, many more who pushed us to our limit and beyond…ladies and gentlemen all…friends of my youth and catalysts in our lives. They inspired us to step outside ourselves and become the greatest living drum corps and more importantly better people…the first corps to be awarded entrance into the Drum Corps Hall of Fame…the Maroon & Gold. What an honor it is to be a tiny part of this rich heritage. For Holy Name Shall Always Be…. Daniel Vincent Panessa
Great website. Brings back great memories of the Holy Name Cadets and the early years of the Garfield Cadets. Great corps! Great music. Great uniforms! Loved the corps.I marched in the Norwood Park Imperials, an other maroon corps, from the Chicago area.
Great site!
Okay, so I’m a young one. But as young as I am, I’m extremely proud to say that i am in the family of the Holy Name Cadets. I’m a part of that history that the corps today keeps creating, and the many alumni keep alive. It’s great to see the photos, to hear the stories, and remember back to my days of marching. Reading through your stories I can't help but think back to my few days as a Cadet and the first time I wore the uniform. For me it was a magical experience. And it was so only because of the legacy that was left for me. The tradition that all of you help keep going for so many years. Mr. Panessa, you are a great writer and I love reading your accounts of the years past. I hope to meet you and the rest of the gang some day. Maybe I’ll be able to come to one of your 'maroon and gold gatherings' at some point. I don't know how old this site is, but I’m so excited that it exists and I hope that people will contribute as much history as possible. We all (especially today's newer generations) need to see the photos, hear the stories, and know that there were people, moments, events, competitions, musicians, trips, buses, and Cadets well before us. And we need to know this because it is a part of who we are. And as Mr. Panessa said, this is something that outsiders can never experience. We are all a part of the tradition and we will always be a part of the Cadets, for Holy Name shall always be.
Hey, great site. An alumnus of Garfield 77', it is great to see everyone keeping the spirit of the cadets alive. For Holy Name Shall Always Be!
Great Site! Thanks for keeping the past alive. Tom Maiello - Garfield Cadets 1986 - Director, Raiders Drum & Bugle Corps.
This is awesome! I can't wait to catch up with people!
From the newest class of alumni...thank you for the wonderful site. I look forward to meeting more of my Cadet family in Pasadena. Thank you. Paula - '02-'06 mellophone
Love the site. Looking forward to seeing everyone at Giants Stadium and at Pasadena. CBC 97 98 99
To Whom This May Concern: Thank you from an Alumni. I am honored to be a member of The Cadets. I will be ordering my jacket! Christopher Rutt Mellophone, The Cadets of Bergen County 1996, 1997, 1998
Dan Panessa....I love reading your memories...are you the same person who judges visual with USSBA? If so, you have judged the band I write the wind and percussion music for many times...West Windsor - Plainsboro South, in class II Open. I marched with Garfield from 70-72.
Something Wonderful! Dear Friends… This past weekend I was quite fortunate to catch a fabulous 1937 movie on Turner Classics by the renowned Academy Award winning director Frank Capra…”Lost Horizons”. You all know the story…the lost and secluded city of “Shangri-La”, a utopia founded by a priest high in the cold Himalayas where the people live in harmony, peace, bright sunlight, warmth…and with a population that does not age. How wonderful I feel about our “Shangri-La” created by the spirit of our Holy Name/Garfield Cadet brothers and sisters who perpetuate an aura of light and fellowship years and years after our founding. Moving among you at our past meeting and seeing that our aging was frozen in time and did not diminish our spirit and love of the Corps was a singular and prayerful feeling. It seemed so much like a hidden golden palace where faces emitted a special light outsiders can never experience much less see. A place where even those who have passed from this earth hold life and worth and come alive again through stories and reflection…a photograph of Don as a young man so vibrant…a snapshot of Rich as the incredible drum major lost so early…and others who live again in our hearts and minds defeating death as a part of our living history. I was so awed I really didn’t know where to turn. Talking again with Dave, Jimmy, Ron, Fabian, George, Dan…and more and more and more was a delight I thought might never happen. Yet I existed again with my childhood friends, role models, and teachers. Those who helped direct my path and gave me the power to do some good in this world. Yes…our lost horizon…“Shangri-La” does really exist. It lives in the hearts of all who were fortunate and blessed to wear our uniform and sing our songs. It lives in the spirit of championships and losses. It breathes life because it can not and will not die in our hearts and minds. It is an essential part of our being….our collective soul. There are no words which can completely express my love and respect for all of you. Through this evidence I am now more and more convinced that all of us will meet again at God’s door. I’m sure He has musicians to play fanfares for new arrivals. I’m positive they wear the maroon and gold of our youth. I can see the tall vibrant plumes in the clouds…I know Aunt Nellie is making repairs and checking each uniform. I can hear and feel the music as our drum majors work in perfect harmony high up in the sky to keep expert time for drums, bugles, and flags. And I know the name….who else would God choose to represent His kingdom but “Holy Name”? To all with my heartfelt respect always… Daniel Vincent Panessa
I am so proud of my father. From when I was a small child I wanted to be a part of the cadets, but was not allowed to take part due to the fact that my father was very protective. I still had such an interest from day one, I would go to all of the competitions that he judged for years. After hearing and seeing the history he had with drum corps from the Holy Name Cadets and when he was drum major, I have a VERY special place in my heart for all of you. It will always be a part of my life and my dad's.....ANTHONY BARTELLO!!!!!! I love you Dad, more than you will every know......
Vic, Dave Great Site. "Holy Name Shall always Be."
Great site. Thanks for bringing up so many memories especially Atlantic City in 1957. Frank Arthur (aged out in 1961)
Hi Old friends I love the new website. I wish you the best in starting NU Brass up again. It was a lot of fun and I learned a lot from you guys. Please keep in touch. Dan Hines Waterford, NY
To Dream…As I reflect on the golden moments in my years as a Cadet, many images intertwine and augment the flavor and taste of both sweet and callous times. I recall for instance the smell of the American Legion Hall where we spent so many hours learning and perfecting our music; the small office towards the side entrance we used and the “drum room” in the rear. Those ceilings were so low! I remember distinctly one day practicing in back of the building next door…Don instructed us to play “I Have Dreamed” from front to back at pianissimo. No volume changes, only beautiful sounds and breaths to make us realize that the music itself could speak volumes. What a teacher he was. I remember my “hook” for my uniform and how we always found our complete uniform clean, sparkling, and vibrant (pressed of course) through the work and dedication of “Aunt Nellie”. I was so happy then… Other images come to mind. My first Fleetwood record and the two-sided recording of the Hawthorne Caballeros; the sounds, in my opinion, of the greatest soloist I ever heard through today…Jimmy D’Amico, whom I had the privilege of working with as corps Director during my marching years…I hope he knows the complete respect I afforded him; my first performance at a Newark Bears Game at Schools Stadium in Newark; the year Don resigned and went on to judge us that summer; probably the first effort by a corps to complete a “theme” show with West Side Story the winter after the 1963 season and how that all fell apart after we lost Don. I think our membership was potentially the greatest & largest collection of talent ever assembled (we had the complete show cleaned by February). I remember the early losses in 1964 and the dedication to improve that eventually brought us to a National Championship in Dallas. I remember losing our first show in 1965 and the looks in my brother’s eyes that showed relentless courage…and then never losing again for the better part of the summer. But all paled when I seek and find the image of “The Dream”. The huge venue of Jersey City Roosevelt Stadium that I thought magic in my child's eyes…the packed stands and walkways under the stadium filled with vendors and performers alike. The clear thought that this is what drum corps was all about…entertaining and winning on a grand stage. The sound of St. Kevin’s horn line! What ferocity and clarity they possessed. Our corps…Garfield standing on the starting line with an aura of majesty in every fiber of my body, reaching for the stars, and hearing the crowd roar. The senior corps like the Cabs & Skyliners and the incredible power they both projected. The mixing of hundreds of uniforms in the left field ready area along with the multi-colored equipment trucks…Uncle Joe and Uncle Eddie. I will always remember the ride in…and the ride out of the stadium knowing somewhere in my heart that these memories would always remain with me…never knowing how real they would live within me to this day. To Dream… Daniel Vincent Panessa
My sincere thanks to all who have created this wonderful Alumni concept with the focus on the "Holy Name Cadets"tradition.The Web Site is absolutely wonderful and allows once again to feel the presence of the greatest name in Drum Corps history"The Holy Name Cadets". Being a Holy Name Cadet, as a Lutheran kid from Paterson, who took four buses a night to practice was a life changing experience. There are not adequate words that could express my thanks to Bill"Chief" Kemmerer,Jim Costello,Al Mura,The Support Staff and to all the great guys I marched with from 1953 through 1958.The memory alone from the Nationals in Atlantic City is a miracle that still impacts my life today, 50 years later. One year later in 1958 it could have been the end for the Cadets as the church would not allow the Corps to defend the National title in Chicago.Being true Cadets we prevailed and created "The Garfield Cadets"keeping the tradition alive. My only regret during this wonderful time in life is living in Minnesota will not allow attending monthly gathering. Just the thought of going to Barcelona's and eating Pizza with Cadet friends is something very special.Best of luck with the organization and you have my unending support from 1200 miles away. "For Holy Name Shall Always Be" Bob Peterson 1953-1958 Snare Drummer Drum Instructor--1967/68
Hello Holy Name: Well, the magic has begun. Our first gathering-of-the-maroon at Barcellona's on Tues., Feb. 6th, was a resounding success. It was kind of hard to get a head count since the room was small and packed with people, pictures, and memorabilia, and everyone kept moving around to interact with others; but by our best estimate we had around thirty two Cadet alumni present. Not all signed in as requested, so I am definitely missing some names, but what I have is: Vic Jaskot: 1948-60 Kelley Dolan: 1980 Tim Dolan: 1978 Joe Frech: 1968-75 Caren Blundetto-Frech: 1977-79 Bill McCullum: 1943-51 Doug Tenis: 1958-62 Vince D'Arrigo: 1941-1951 George King: 1954-61 Fabian Izsa DM: 1958-63 Paul Scillia: 1954-56 Rich Evans: 1968-72 Tony Tantillo: 1942-53 Ed Frenzel, Director: 1955-56 Tony (Bart) Bartello, DM: 1948-58 Tony Vaccaro: Friend & Guest Dan & Franny DeRosa: 1967-73 Patrick Vazquez, DM: 1961-67 Ken Shedosky: 1957-61 Jim Murray: 1973-76 Greg Cinzio DM: 1967-77 John Hannigan DM: 1970s Chad Hannigan: future Cadet Dave Shaw: 1950-58 Gene Morratta: Friend and Guest Bob Bella Rosa: 40s-50s Jimmy D'Amico, Director: 1967-69 Cadet: 40s & 50s The most memorable parts of the evening were: There was no breaking off into groups by era. Everyone mixed so well, it was like we had all marched the same years. People came expecting to see old friends, which they did, but they made many new friends as well. The vast array of pictures and memorabilia being passed around. Just when you think you know everything there is to know about the Cadets, you find out how much more there is to learn. What an amazing corps! The emotional singing of The Holy Name Song by four generations of Cadet alumni standing in a close group, had many in tears. The sound and blend was beautiful. After the evening was over the staff of Barcellona's remarked how moved they had been. Following the singing of the corps song, Tony "Bart" Bartello, former DM, lead us in singing a Cadet standard from the 1940s & 50s, "We Are The National Champions." The strong turnout by Cadet alumni from the 1940s, and the energy and enthusiasm they exhibited put the rest of us to shame. Refreshments served were pizza, beer, and soda; with a shared tab of $10 a person. Not a bad price for a memory. Doug Tenis indicated that there will be slight variations on what is offered meeting to meeting. The next gathering of the Maroon will be Tuesday, March 6th, 7 PM, Barcellona's. Each month we hope to have different elements in the program to keep our social gatherings fresh and interesting (suggestions always welcome); but the bulk of the evening, as requested, will remain conversation about our time in the Cadets, time with old friends, and opportunities to reach across the generations to make new friends. For Holy Name shall always be... Dave S., Cadet #40
Hi yall, this is Ray Scarpa #15. 1947-1952. Living down south these days just outside of Hilton Head. Looking foward to the reunion. I'm convinced that Holy Name Shall Always Be".
Our thanks to all those responsible for getting everything together and in order last evening's get-together. The drive to spend time with friends, old and new, is always worth the ride and last night was no exception. How nice to meet so many of the men involved with the earlier years of the corps. Though everyone seemed to thoroughly enjoy each others company and the sharing of stories and pictures, the emotional high was the singing of Holy Name - the tradional way, and to a few of us - just a bit younger, listening to the alumni of the earlier championship years, sing a victory song that was obviously part of their routine as well. Thank you for sharing your experience and your comradery. We look forward to see you all again soon. God bless...Joe & Caren Frech cbfrech@comcast.net
Of Kings and Kingdoms… The historical, emotional, and very fabric of our connections to past experiences is of enormous value to our perception of the world at large as well as our place in it. How comfortable we are in evaluating those events as they affect our lives makes our character and honor alive and real in all we are and all we do. My connection to the corps (those who know me now and also knew me in my marching years can best evaluate my feelings and complete dedication) is unbroken. Love may be a strong word to use in this context but it is the sensitivity I project about our history together and the history being made at this very moment. I totally support the current edition of the corps I marched for as a child. I revel in the wins (so many these past few years) and pain at each loss. Further, I continue to work as an adjudicator in the activity and am current with all elements of the activity. It pains me to see the advertising the corps uses in the present day which virtually eliminates our existence before 1980. Look no further than the listing as “World Champions” for that period…do you see an indication that any of us ever marched on a field in our beautiful uniform and won anything? Did our energy to create the glorious persona of Holy Name, or The Garfield Cadets cease to exist at some point in time? Does the current edition of the Cadets owe those thousands of young men and women some small recognition or a just a bit of thanks? Championship corps with parallel histories never once neglect their past. We have competed with them for the past 50 years. They speak with pride of events and championships in their history. The PUBLISH those facts as part of their professional resumes. Our organization conveniently forgets to do so. It’s as if they were born in 1980. I ask myself why…but can never find an appropriate or reasonable answer. D. V. Panessa dvpanessa2002@yahoo.com
This is great stuff, just GREAT Dave Rice 69-70
Hi from George's cousin Barbara in Virginia. I enjoyed the site, the spirit and the pride! Best wishes to all of you.
Nicole, it's your history too. We're ALL Holy Name Cadets (for Holy Name shall always be); whatever years you marched, whatever banner you marched under...you're Holy Name. If you would like to get on the mailing list to be advised on activities, send your e-mail address to: shaw.d.g@worldnet.att.net Join the fun and excitement!
Thanks for the great pictures! What an impressive history you have to share with us. Nicole Roach Mellophone Garfield Cadets 1987, 1988 Cadets of Bergen County 1989, 1990
I offer my sincere thanks to all who are responsible for this wonderfully great memory site. I, like so many, owe a great deal to the privilege of being a Holy Name Cadet for it taught me how to be competitive in life; how to take set backs; how to be a gentleman and how to carry myself with pride. There are not too many people who can look back on their youth and say "I was a National Champion!" I thank my parents for insisting that I became a member; for the great leadership and guidance of "The Chief" Mr Kemmerer and the instructors that I knew; Joe Huber, Jimmy Costello, Al Murer and Al DeRosa. In fact it was the sixth anniversary of the passing of Jimmy Costello on January 18, 2007 and I'm sure he is missed by all. Holy Name will always be in my heart for Holy Name shall always be. Tony "Bart" Bartello A member from December 1948 to January 1958 Uniform #55 then #6 then #1
MAN,,,YOU GUYS LOOK OLDER THAN GOD !!!!!HAHAHA.. ...ONLY KIDDING.......GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR NEW ENDEAVER....YOY GUYS WERE GOOD !!!!!! PAUL ZITO, ST. ANNE'S '53 - '56
I have a feeling that we're all going to be singing this very often from now on, so just in case your memory is a little blurry: Oh Holy Name My Holy Name They name shall be eternally. Thy name shall spread throughout the land and keep it safe forever more. When on the trail or on the march you'll know that here is Holy Name. March straight and true to victory for Holy Name SHALL ALWAYS BE. If you can sing that without tearing up you probably need a heart transplant! Dave Shaw Cadet #40
Dear Corps Members... How does one begin to express the feelings of joy, gratitude, safe haven, and longing over an event in life? There is no doubt in my mind that I was rescued and more importantly directed on a path which gave my stay on this earth meaning in the extreme…being an educator. The corps provided all this and more. From physical & mental abuse during my childhood, to friends and teachers I can bring back from the incredible memories the corps provided, these are what have brought me this very point in life. I remember distinctly standing at an inspection line in Wildwood, NJ in September, The American Legion States, being confident that my uniform was spotless (as always), my horn ready and willing to pass a white glove test, my military carriage worthy of my membership as a “regular”. I earned that standing as many of us did by winning a national competition, enduring my “rookie” year with as much dignity as I could. I glanced forward to catch a glimpse of Don Angelica, James” Jimmy” Costello, and Les Parks pacing as they all did until we cleared our first hurdle in the State competition. At moments like these I think back fondly to all the friends I made, really closer than friends, brothers really, and to the moms who without question or pause made me more welcome in their homes than I was in mine; to events and people that forged and shaped my mind to the good that can be done in this life; to the person I thought of as what a “real” father should be…Jimmy Costello; to the gratifying existence I was privileged to live through all the friends I made all over the country. I stepped on the field that day playing our fanfare…I can never for one moment remember anything else. I flew over that field outside my own being. It comes in fleeting glimpses but is always surreal…just “frames” of that day in the sunlight. I will never forget the moment we were done. I stood in a long line of men, in every sense of the word, eighty-four brothers and there were tears streaming down my face. I saw the instructors moving like there was a strong wind finally realizing that they were shaking with emotion. I heard my fellow brothers crying as babies from the release of what we had done that year…the valleys and the incredible heights. The last image is always of Jimmy kneeling on the back 50 yard line where he watched all our shows with his hands covering his face wiping away his tears of joy. People like these placed me on the path of education…to give back what I received at a time when I was on the abyss. If I could pass on but a tenth of what I received to the students in my care I will have been the most successful of men. I thank God for all of you each and every day…Daniel Vincent Panessa
It is great to reconnect to the organization that gave me so many proud moments in my life. Dr.John L. Avella (Ed.D)
Wonderful site. Can't wait to see more! Steve Vickers, Publisher Drum Corps World Madison, WI
Vic - you old rascal! great job with the website. It's good to see/hear about how you are all doing. What about a directory so we know where everyone is? We're due for a reunion. best for 2007! Bill Kardash 1952-60 Holy Name Shall Always Be! (Give 'em the Old Pepper!)
It was great to see some of the guys,as I went thru the site. I hope to get up there one of these days to see everyone in person. If you need additional articles or photos let me know. To my cousin Dave can't wait to see you and talk about the good old days. Corky (Neal) Miller #38 Holy Name Shall Always Be. 1957-1964 Bass Baritone (Cape Coral Fl )
It's great to see you all. Hope to join you at a meeting when I come back east. I could use a Barcelona's out here in San Diego. But then you could use our 70 degree weather back there! See ya soon. Charlie Sydoryk ....for Holy Name Shall Always Be.
A top quality site from a top quality Cadet. For Holy Name shall always be.
Victor: You are to be commended on the wonderful job you did with this website. Let's hope it flourishes!.
Hi this is Vic Jaskot, #48, 1948-1960, signing in to let all know that we are looking forward to hearing from you all. Holy Name Shall always be.