My first up-close experience with the Brunimen was last year, during and after retreat, when I suddenly found our ranks swarmed with cheerful Statesmen. That certainly left an impression, but nothing could have prepared me for Hornell last month, when, after blowing the house down with our hornline, their drumline marched their street beat all the way out to our truck where the percussion was already loading. They jammed for a bit, and then the hornline joined in for Elk's Parade, and we absolutely partied. I will never forget that. The Empire Statesmen embody everything I love about drum corps. I hope their members continue that spirit with other corps. Our activity could only benefit from that.