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1997 For me that means Crossmen. I went to Finals in Orlando by myself in '97. I flew down, spent the days in Disney and the evenings watching the shows. After Finals I went to dinner with some other folks I had met in the stands, we talked and laughed for a while, and I mentioned I had a 2:00 flight the next day. Someone suggested I could go get on standby for an earlier flight, which sounded like a good idea. So I did. I managed to get a seat on a 9:00am flight the next morning. When I took my seat I noticed the girl next to me was wearing a Crossmen jacket and had her medal around her neck. I told her how much I had enjoyed their show, and we struck up a conversation which lasted all the way to Bradley airport in Hartford. She told me about her summer, and school, and her dreams. Just before we were landing we hit some turbulence, and she grabbed my hand. The world stood still. As we pulled into the terminal I screwed up the courage to ask her out on a date. It may have just been my imagination, but when I did I swear that every other conversation on that plane stopped. It was like everyone was holding their breath. Lucky for me she didn't shoot me down in front of everyone. She agreed to go to a DCA show with me that weekend. There's a lot more to the story, but what it all comes down to is we're going to have our 20th wedding anniversary this summer. Unfortunately we're going through a very difficult time right now. She has an extremely serious medical condition that we are frankly just trying to survive. If any of you have any spare karma to share we could sure use it right now... For me 1997 will always be about the Crossmen.

You were in Drum Corps. You can do this!

My wife quit three years ago. My close friend is quitting now during the pandemic. Blessings and strength to you. It can be done!

You’ve taken some big steps. You know you want to quit. You know it’s bad for you. Do you have a support system - someone to call when you’re having a craving? Use your support system. And know that with time, the cravings will lessen. They will. And you can do it. Just one “no” at a time. We’re pulling for you !

@Super Don-O I've been on the receiving end of more than my share of good karma the past few years, so I gladly pass some on. I hope it gets to you intact b/c it is some very good stuff.

In so many ways, yes you’re right, medicine has advanced. And we are so lucky for that. We don’t have to worry about an outbreak of polio every summer. Or TB (although...that’s changing). A heart attack or blockage is not a death sentence. But in some ways things haven’t advanced much at all. Covid is an example. Unfortunately. I am praying a vaccine will be developed. Just saying it won’t surprise me if it isn’t, and this thing goes away “the old fashioned way” by burning itself out. And the sooner the better on that.

For some reason, I didn't go to any competitions in 1997. The only live drum corps I saw was the Crossmen's preview show, which was not a bad show to see. Apparently I missed plenty of awesome. Blue Devils (excerpt one) (excerpt two): When I was in 1992 Crossmen, the baritone section tried to march a rotating block. It was backfield and not the focus of anything, for good reason. When I watch the 1997 Blue Devils entire hornline rotate multiple blocks as if it were easy, I feel like some kind of drum corps impostor. This show is refined, classy, powerful, and executed to near perfection. And the story of Casablanca was imaginatively and compellingly portrayed by the guard (who won the non-judged auxiliary caption). 1st, 98.4. Cadets of Bergen County (excerpt one) (excerpt two): I actually prefer this show to both the 98 offering and to the Blue Devils. For some reason I just find it so cool. The GE judges did too, as they topped both BD and SCV by a full half-point in GE. Often this is enough for a win, but BD outpointed Cadets in every other ensemble and performance caption to the tune of 1.3. Nonetheless, this was the year Jeff Sacktig really came into his own in the visual department. 2nd, 97.6. Santa Clara Vanguard: Vanguard tied the Devils for first at Quarters. This show is so dark, so mysterious, so evocative. It really was the beginning of Vanguard getting their swagger back after a few years in the wilderness (if one really can call 5th to 7th place 'the wilderness'). In any case, Vanguard came from far behind at the beginning of the season and tied BD for GE at finals, and gave us some incredible dissonant moments with 'Fog City Sketches.' 3rd, 96.9. Phantom Regiment: I always felt that it was so audacious to put 'The Ring' on the field. It would have been very hard, with any show, to top 1996's incredible story. Some pretty amazing things going on, but I'm not sure that using one flag was the best idea. A little too much black and gold, and a little less visceral emotion, but a show that is probably neglected and shouldn't be. 4th, 94.2. Madison Scouts (Closer): Unfortunately, I don't know that I've ever seen the whole 'Pirates of Lake Mendota' show. I know that the ending was a crowd favorite, as the DM did a 'show the flag' callback and then took a shot of the audience with a disposable camera. In 2021 the drum major ought to take a selfie. A try for a little bit more of a thematic program yielded a similar competitive result, but also a similar crowd-pleasing result, and isn't that what 90's Madison was about? 5th, 93.9. Crossmen: Another show that captured the hearts of the drum corps audience. Mark Thurston had moved on, but the drumline he'd trained worked well with its new staff and scored a 19.5 finals night, with some really exposed arranging. The color guard came into its own, and the hornline swung hard. What a championship weekend, as Crossmen tied the men of Madison for fifth at quarters, dropped to seventh in Semis, and then topped the Cavies for sixth at finals, 93.0. Cavaliers: A very fascinating silent drill at the beginning (and end) of the show which probably would not be out of place at all in the 2020s. But the highbrow concept show didn't especially connect, and there were little ticks in execution which mightn't have been nearly so evident had previous editions of the Cavaliers not been so flawless. 7th, 92.8. Glassmen: The first of the 'Gold' shows. A strong drumline and recognizable yet non-straightforward arrangements of George Bizet music led to an 8th place finish, 90.0. Blue Knights: Music from the movie 'Ben-Hur' powered the corps to ninth place. Some nifty brass arranging and a drumline which was scoring right with corps who were scoring four or five places ahead overall. 88.2. Magic of Orlando: A corps with a guard costumed to the nines, breaking the fourth wall with the audience, playing their parts, serious enough when needed, and full of effect. But the Velvet Knights weren't on the field in 97. Instead, this was the Magic of Orlando, mystery touring their way to New Orleans at Mardi Gras, and placing tenth as the late great Velvet Knights might have, 85.7. Bluecoats: There are times, like the second corps in at Finals, when you want straight-ahead jazz. The Bluecoats were there in 97 to provide for you. 11th, 85.6, with a notable 9 in brass performance. Carolina Crown: Every newer corps needs to get its 27th Lancers on. In 1989 it was the five-year-old Star of Indiana. In 1997 the eight-year-old future champion Carolina Crown (not that anyone was thinking that at the time, not anyone we would have listened to anyhow) did its Brit thing and came in twelfth, 85.0, which is really a high score for twelfth place. I will leave it to you all to talk about other corps, and share your experiences of being a fan, teacher, or performer, in 97, a summer I took off.

I saw Phantom play this live in Normal, IL early that year (first show?). Can hear it in my head like it was yesterday.

Highest score ever for Crossmen, right? And the definitive corps take on "Birdland"?

Loooooooooove that Vanguard show.

Sending as much positive energy as I can, your way Mr. & Mrs Super Don-O

One of the best drum corps How We Met stories ever. Prayers and Best Wishes for both of you.

Your story hit the heart. Thank you for sharing it. All the best to you. Karma for you both.

awesome story and karma, prayers and juju...and any other good kind of vibe i can think of sent!

I marched BK in 97. Fun summer! There have been several marching bands take musical ideas from our show that summer. I remember the first show we had with SCV. Boise IIRC. I remember thinking “they’re back!” I absolutely love that show! Everything about it is awesome. The drum writing and performance of the Casella/Gusseck era was in full force. Those guys were good! The opening statement from Cadets hornline and that drumline was jammin. Another show that I loved watching all summer. BD was killing it right from the start. You just had a feeling that they weren’t going to be stopped. Those guys were so freaking good. Crossmen were so much fun and Hannum has that drumline rocking too. We went back and forth with Gmen all summer. They had a really nice show that was the start of an upward trend that ultimately landed them in the top 5 a few years later. Bloo had a fun show. We saw them a few times that summer.... Crown played Terpsichore.... Spirit had updated arrangements of all the Ott classics.... Colts had a fun show.... We were somewhere in IL and were sharing a housing site with a small corps that I don’t remember. I only remember that their dads were smoking brisket and BBQ’ing for their kids and my mouth was watering all day lol BK fed is well, no complaints, but they weren’t smoking briskets for us! Ahhhhh fun memories of rooking out in 97!

New info....not sure when she'll put it up, but I have reason to believe 08 Regiment is coming soon.

Funny (in an ironic way). I thought part of the argument for amps was it would decrease the number of marimbas needed. Idea was they would not have 2 people playing same part to be heard. And dynamics BITD? That’s the old fashioned thinking of working with the shortcomings you had. Now appears thought is use amps instead of natural talent

Thought this might be some sort of rage thread against Will Pitts. Phew.

Here's some fun... a look at last year's April camp

Love this!