JoSaints

Beautiful example, Vickie ... gives me chills and brings back lots of memories ... jo

Kelly's is still a mandatory stop-and-play site along the Wildwood Parade route ... the Elks convention is a big draw for senior / all-age / alum corps, and always gets good play in the DCA forum on DCP for those who'd like more info on the Kelly traditions B)

If memory serves, trailing actually referred to the National Colors -- see my earlier explanations of "lateral." If the Colors were "behind" other silks, they were considered trailing and a penalty would ensue. I think the penalty for out-of-distance weapons was "unguarded colors" or something like that. I could be wrong on this -- others, please correct as needed. Color Presentations were in the context of the nationality of the corps, so yes, the same rules were used. Nationally-appropriate music was played during the color pre, and for US corps, that meant things like Americans We, Yankee Doodle Dandy, God Bless America, and the like. Kel, would you be so kind as to jump in here with musical traditions for Canadian corps? Thanks / merci! jo

And Scott, being from Cranford, I'm sure you share those experiences with me ... Of course, there was also the unwritten rule that I'm sure Patriots also observed along with the Saints -- all but the National Colors would present arms as they passed Kelly's ... jo

Kel, thanks for filling in the blanks on this from the insider's point of view! You reminded me of another Never EVER that got one of our winter guards (Phase III) smacked with over 30 points in penalties (yep, THIRTY) -- if you're the bearer of the National Colors, Never EVER hold the silk when it's in your sling -- the penalties were racked up on the length of time you held it as well as the frequency with which you did this. Phase III would have placed third in the show (behind our Saints and Sematics Guards) ... jo

Spent some time yesterday with Uncle Tony and Aunt Lorraine Fastuca -- make sure to check out Saints Stories at http://joparentesaintsinterviews.blogspot.com/ for the interview!

No ceremony, no plaque, no nothin' ... I aged out on September 11, 1976 at NJ Legions in Wildwood. I can still remember just wandering around after we came off the field feeling sad that the moment wasn't recognized ...

You're quite welcome! For as much of a pain the rule was, there was still something gratifying about having a color presentation that brought the people in the stands to their feet ... some corps (and guards) treated that section of drill as a throw-away (after all, it was during the "tick" system era), but many of us put as much design effort into the color pre as the rest of the show. Some corps even used "fake" National Flags (i.e. a US flag with a 76 on the blue field with traditional stripes) that could be integrated into the show without violating Flag protocol. Among the most memorable -- Garfield's peace sign during the VietNam War era ... jo

Thanks for the vote of confidence ... I probably edited that posting a dozen times as other tidbits started flooding my brain ... The brain cells holding all those rules from guard and corps days could really be put to better use at this point of my life! jo

The answer to this isn't as simple as it sounds, because the rules changed a few times over the years ... as did the organizations that enforced the rules (local circuits vs AL vs VFW vs DCI vs DCA vs RCA ad infinitum). My simplified (believe it or not), hybrid explanation: For most of my experience (late 60s to 1976), the Colors Section required at least 2 members comprised of the National Flag and someone carrying a weapon (rifle, sabre, pistol). Under some rules, a Sponsor Flag (AL, VFW) was also required. This sometimes required an additional weapon, but mostly not. The Flags were never abandoned -- translation: they were carried in a sling or posted with the bearer directly behind. In a lateral line, the National Flag was always to the right of all other flags (measured by the direction of its bearer), and the weapon had to be within a certain distance at all times (I believe it was 4 feet front-back-side, and never separated unless by another weapon, but don't have quick access to any rule books right now). In addition to the lateral line rule, there was also a forward-back rule, which meant the National Flag always had to be in front of (or in an equal line to) all other flags, measured laterally. Finally, the National Flag could be no lower than any other flag on the field at any time, and could be of equal height. This measurement changed from "when in use," (meaning that the tallest member of the guard had to bear the flag or use a taller pole within spec size) to "when measured at posting," which opened up the world of flag work to tossing, arm extentions, etc. Keeping all this in mind, the Colors Section could only remain stationary for certain amounts of time, and marking time was usually a requirement of that. This meant that the Colors Section had to stay within the boundaries of the fields or floor and move from corner to corner (or wherever) without violation of the side-to-side and front-to-back lateral lines by members of the Flag Line marching and turning directions all over the place. The "safest" positions were facing diagonally into a corner (no flags could get in front or to the right) or facing forward along the sideline in a position furthest right along the boundary (no flag could get to the right). Changing directions when a Sponsor Flag was in presence was a bit tricky, and usually required column or pivot moves. Every time we designed a new drill (corps or winter / summer guard), we would have a couple of the Timing and Penalties Judges from the local circuits come in to look over everything strictly from a T&P perspective. I feel like I just channeled my dear and great friends Walter Kelly and John Collum in spelling all this out ... thanks for helping me relive this memory! jo

Started in the Saints 40 years ago this month, and aged out still wearing the blue and gold on Maxwell Field in Wildwood at NJ Legions on September 11, 1976 ... jo

In Memory of Betty (Maloney) Goerke It is with great sadness that we share with you the passing of Betty (Maloney) Goerke on Sunday, June 25, 2007. She was living in Florida at the time of her death. Aunt Betty served as corps secretary for many years, caring for all the members of her Saints family in her inimitable way. Among her survivors are her husband, Larry, our former business manager; her son, Jimmy Maloney; her daughters, Beth (Maloney) Simon and Lisa (Maloney) Wagner; their grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Beth, Lisa, and her niece Patty McDonough all marched in our color guards. Larry also helped to manage the Dukes before he became part of the Saints Board of Directors. For information on services and donations in her honor, please see the In Memory Of page on the Saints website at http://www.saintsdrumcorps.com. Feel free to share your condolences for the family by using the Saints Guest Book.

Mario, all I can say is -- WELCOME TO FORDS, suburbia at its finest!

There were so many ... Corps Administration: Hands down, it was Jean and Joe French. Jean was our corps business manager for years, and Joe was always there helping us schlep equipment in his van and other stuff. Jean and Joe owned Fords Sporting, and I worked for them all through college doing lettering on drum corps jackets, Little League uniforms, and the like. They made it possible for me to be able to afford to march and attend college at the same time -- not only financially, but also in terms of VERY flexible scheduling. No need to beg for time off for shows or tour! Instructors: Ralph Fair (for changing my name from Marilyn to JoAnne), Frank Kubinak, and Walter Kelly Other Corps People: Worth Ake, for encouraging my love of writing about all things corps Thanks to these great folks and all the other parents and instructors who were part of the Saints family!

Pebbles, the picture is out on www.saintsdrumcorps.com -- Photo Gallery 7, page 2, picture 1. Looks like Jane DePinto is the one picking up your pants. jo

To be honest, that was kinda the way I felt about the RU Band as well ... it was also a monogamy issue -- the only uniform I ever put on to march was Blue and Gold ... even though my blood runs Scarlet. As far as your other post about Douglass -- I spent a LOT of time off-campus (College of Pharmacy in particular) for the same reasons you visited there JoAnne (Marilyn) Parente Douglass College 1977 Univ of Phoenix Online 2000

Today's update ... There's now a roster of over 300 people who marched with the Saints up on the site, along with many new photos. There's also information about the beginnings of an Alumni Association, so stop on by www.saintsdrumcorps.com. Hope to see you soon! jo

I attended Douglass College / Rutgers University in New Brunswick NJ as a commuter student for my undergrad degree and had considered going out for their band (I marched guard - flag and sabre - my whole corps career). There was no way I could do RU band, winter guard, corps, school, and work at the same time, so I chose not to try out for RU. Aged out of the same corps I started with as a 12 year old when it was formed -- the Saints of Woodbridge-Edison NJ. No regrets about not marching for RU. Considered marching during my grad program, but I received my Masters as an online student ... jo

Garry, congrats on your new undertaking! As the "content editor" for the Woodbridge-Edison NJ Saints alum site, I can tell you it's been great fun for the three months we've been up and running -- people are coming out the woodwork like mad, and we've found / connected to over 40% of our former members in that short period. Considering that the Saints haven't fielded a corps since 1978, we think this is pretty remarkable. Post your information all over the place, including listing as many members as you can in a Craig's List event entry to be picked up by the major search engines. We're discovering that many members are finding us through random searches on their own or relative's names. Check us out at www.saintsdrumcorps.com to get a sense of what the past 90 days have brought us :-) Best Wishes! jo

Amen! Amen! Amen! And that we all be healthy enough to march ... jo

Roosevelt Stadium, Jersey City for the Dream -- whether as a spectator or marching Bridgemen's Show in Bayonne -- it was always early in the season and started around dusk DCI East in Allentown -- 'nuff said

In case there's anyone out there who hasn't been on the saintsdrumcorps.com site lately, Rocky has added some new features ... there's also the promise of some new pictures that AREN'T from my or Karen's collections (finally!) sometime this weekend ... Stay tuned! jo

Fran, I was at that show as well (no clue where either!) ... I gained a lifelong respect for Boston that year because of that singular performance ... jo

Jim, her name was Donna Blanchard -- see my other post to Brian. Same offer to you -- if you'd like a scan of the News Tribune article about the show held to offset her medical costs, just let me know and I'll send it to you offline. JoAnne Parente Saints 67-76

Brian, as a member of the Saints, I remember the tragedy well ... besides competing against the Dukes, I think Patty went to my HS (St Mary's Perth Amboy). My sister stilll had the article from the Donna Blanchard Day show you guys held, and I recently scanned it as part of the work we're doing on the saintsdrumcorps.com site ... I can send you the scan offline if you'd like it for your archives. We share a lot of history -- be assured many of us in the area still remember ... JoAnne Parente Saints 67-76