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There’s a reason that part of my signature has “if I have seen further It is by standing on the shoulders of Giants” The past two years I’ve delivered some history during history night and I always include the past corps dedication and drive and fight to get us to where we are today. I always gave speeches on the bus rides to shows, but for finals I decided to talk about those who came before us. I talked about the 16 corps and how they almost fell out of finals but fought and didn’t. How the 99 corps made it for the first time. The trials the 82 corps went through and the rebranding. The corps hall fire. The split for Most Precious Blood and how our performance tonight in the top 2 was only possible because of them. I had spent a lot of time talking to Aiden, the DM for 16, and that season was on my mind a lot and I told the corps that this finals performance was dedicated to that 2016 corps and their fight and drive to stay in finals. I was very fortunate to have marched in an era of Boston where we were competitively successful, but I know that it was only possible because those before us paved the pathway for this to happen and for them they have my eternal thanks and respect. I volunteer every year since I aged out to make sure the corps gets on the road as best they can to continue the legacy of those who came before me, and now that I aged out, those who marched with me and are now aged out

I won’t speak for every alum but we are the oldest corps to have not won a title in DCI. And the next oldest corps to not win isn’t even close. It’ll be the culmination of the hard work every Giant before us put in Winning is cool but it isn’t everything. Getting second in 22 wasn’t the highlight of the season for me. It was watching the corps grow and evolve and perform their hearts out. Breaking records was just the cherry on top

Just wanted to say Merry Christmas to everyone on DCP. I hope everyone has enjoyed their holiday with loves ones. I have had a great day! Spending time with my brothers and my dad is special. I think they are a little annoyed that I have been blasting Cavies 91, but Christmas is just once a year.

I grew up in Plainfield and knew of Ron Nelson from Joliet before I knew about Drum Corps. Time to get out your Rocky Point Holiday everyone..........as an aside, Merry Christmas everyone.

Per Drum Corps Museum, the Kilties first performed Auld Lang Syne in 1960, appropriately as their closer. The corps would end their shows with Syne 18 times during their junior corps existence, which came to an end in 1982. When the corps returned to the field a decade later as an alumni corps, Auld Lang Syne did so as well. https://medi-nerd.com/2023/12/26/12-corps-of-christmas-racine-kilties-auld-lang-syne/

And the sops didn’t frack at the end

94 Years Old. That's a great run! So much more than just Rocky Point Holiday! I have very much enjoyed playing and conducting several of Ron Nelson's excellent compositions for band and thought I would share the following. Here are several pieces by Ron Nelson that were performed by various drum corps. Take a moment to check some of them out on YouTube. Aspen Jubilee Rocky Point Holiday Sonoran Desert Holiday Passacaglia (Homage on B-A-C-H) Courtly Airs and Dances Epiphanies (Fanfares and Chorales) Medieval Suite Savannah River Holiday Lauds (Praise High Day) Morning Alleluias (for the Winter Solstice) Resonances I Te Deum Laudamus

The front ensemble led off with a brief quote of Christmas Time Is Here from A Charlie Brown Christmas before the horns began playing Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas. This was another true Bluecoats ballad in a long tradition of them, complete with a gorgeous soprano solo in the middle of the song, leading into the final impact of the show. https://medi-nerd.com/2023/12/25/12-corps-of-christmas-1996-bluecoats-have-yourself-a-merry-little-christmas-auld-lang-syne/

Real drum corps people tossed aside the Guy Lombardo and put the Kilties Auld Lang Syne on full blast at midnight at New Year's Eve parties (of which there were many in my time).

It’s a darn shame that there is no good video of 1974 because that’s probably the best brass line they ever had.

Yes, both seasons were magical but 2000 was incredible. Beautifully designed show and highly entertaining. That's the year I fell in love with BAC. My other big favorites are 2001 and 2012. That was such a great show. Last year's is probably my number 1 favorite because it was such a great design and was so entertaining. On The Waterfront is probably my favorite drum corps tune and that guard was so amazing.

Since my early vinyl recordings of BAC and ST.KEVINS I'd always believed that one of them would be national(world) champions...Hopefully this year, BAC fulfills that long awaited goal...peace

agreed on many levels, but i think it'd be as magical as 99 or 00 if they finally got one

Big time snow in Omaha.

Merry Christmas one and all.

Dare I say we had a green Christmas this year?

I can understand that. They’ll get there. If they maintain what they are doing, it should happen. It just make take several years. It is so hard to win these days because the Blue Devils are always going to be on the top of their game. They don’t need to have the undeniable show in any given year to win, but everyone else does. Look at what its taken to beat them since 2007 - it’s taken the show of the year - that undeniable winner, and we haven’t seen that, in my opinion, since 2018 Vanguard. That’s what it’s going to take to win - a 2008 Regiment, 2011 Cadets, 2013 Crown, a 2016 Bluecoats or a 2018 Vanguard. It’s a tall order. Boston has really stepped up their design game since the pandemic, so 2022 and 2023 are a very promising foundation for perhaps a future champion. I used to get so upset over placements but when your corps falls from a 1988 champion to being a pretty insignificant non-finalist, it gives you a new perspective. In 1989 when we finished 7th it felt like we finished last. To me, it was the lowest of the low, because it was. No one below us was going to beat us and we lost to everyone we considered our main competition. It felt like we got last place. I would be elated today if the Scouts finished 7th, or 10th, or 12th for that matter. Celebrate where Boston is today. They are the best they have ever been (yes, I think 2023 was a step up from 2022 even though they dropped in placement). They’ll get there - enjoy the ride.

I love that you respect the dedication of the alumni that came before you. That’s great!

This. If winning was the only thing, I wouldn't be the supportive alum that I am, since we placed 26th when I played sop in 1980.

It was so bad, it was good. Like Plan 9 from Outer Space.

I grew in that area. My sister still lives in Plainfield. Rest in Peace.