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Does anyone know the status of St. Kevins? I've heard some rumors, but I'm not sure they are correct. Are they still in operation?

Sac is on third.

I've started an alumni drum corps page on Facebook. Check us out, and if you like it, give us a "like" Thanks. https://www.facebook.com/#!/AlumniDrumCorps

I've started an alumni drum corps page on Facebook. Check us out, and if you like it, give us a "like" Thanks. https://www.facebook.com/#!/AlumniDrumCorps

I started drum corps in 1958 with the Haddon Heights (NJ) Vagabonds. Marched with the corps through 1964, then left to join the Marines. After 45 years absence, I joined the Blessed Sacrament Golden Knights Alumni, and I am having the time of my life. Sometimes folks suggest going to alumni corps is trying to recapture lost youth ...frankly it's better today than ever.

The lineup plus other shows are listed on my website: www.alumnidrumcorps.com

The initial 2012 practice for the Blessed Sacrament Golden Knights Alumni Corps is scheduled for Sunday January 8th 2011 at the Nutley NJ Elks Lodge 242 Chestnut St Nutley NJ. Practice starts at 1:00 PM. All former members, friends, fans and potential members are invited to attend. See you there.

The December 11th practice site for the Golden Knights Alumni Corps has been changed to: John L. Ruddy VFW Post #7363 6 Broadway Ave. Clarke, NJ 07066 Practice starts at 12:00PM and a holiday gathering will follow. All former members, friends, fans and potential members are invited to join in the fun. See you there.

Blessed Sacrament Announcement The Blessed Sacrament Golden Knights have a long and legendary history highlighted by 9 National Championships, numerous American Legion and VFW NJ State titles and 11 National Dream titles. The corps also won the first World Open Championship in 1963 at Roosevelt Stadium Jersey City NJ. As we all know the corps disbanded in 1973 and resurfaced in 1975 for a short period as a senior corps. The current alumni corps was formed in 1991 and continues today under the direction of junior corps alumnus Art Farrell. The corps is currently working on the 2012 show which will include a stirring 6 minute color presentation featuring “old” BS favorites. Music arrangements are by Gary Dickelman who doubles as the horn line instructor. Drum arrangement and instruction are provided by Bart Carrique with the color guard under the instruction of Cathy DuBois. The Golden Knights practice the second Sunday of each month from 1:00-5:00PM at the Nutley NJ Elks Lodge 242 Chestnut St. Nutley NJ 07110-2329. Optional mid-week sectional practices are scheduled at various locations prior to scheduled performances. As always the Golden Knights strive for the best show possible with an emphasis on fun and old fashioned drum corps camaraderie. The corps schedule and additional information can be found on the corps web site bsgoldenknights.org Upcoming practices are as follows: *Sunday November 13th *Sunday December 11th-Short practice followed by a Christmas Party. There are openings in all sections and the Golden Knights welcome any potential members or fans who want to drop in, watch and say hello. The 2012 Blessed Sacrament Golden Knights are planning an expanded American Flag Section/Honor Guard. The corps extends an invitation to all former members of the corps to re-join and become a part of this section and to any other interested parties with drum corps and/or military experience. The 2012 schedule and show will posted in upcoming announcements.

I think "corpsreps" could be a starting point to form a list of all of the Alumni corps that are presently in existence These are just some of my thoughts. All constructive contributions will be entertained. I've identified about fifty alumni corps. Links on my website: www.alumnidrumcorps.com

You are absolutely correct. I never get tired of seeing this presentation. It more than works, it is spectacular.

I think many of your observations are correct. I would venture a guess that many "alumni" corps started out with that intention, but finding enough true alumni members proved difficult. My corps today probably has less than half its membership who played with the original corps. The rest of us played with a few dozen different corps over the years. I think many corps hardly use the term "alumni" today. I'm not so sure alumni corps have "taken" parades etc. from competing corps. I suspect that alumni corps are simply more willing to do them. In the past three years, I've been in a lot of parades and have almost never seen a competing corps in the parade. Perhaps they want too much money? Socializing is a big factor in an alumni corps. We love it, and it's an enhancement to the drum corps we love. Remember, many of us are in our 50's, 60's and even 70's. We're "old corps", and see the alumni corps as offering us a lot on many different levels. Lastly, it certainly does cost a lot less. All things considered, it probably doesn't cost us individually much more than marching with the old junior corps did. It's a bargain. One other thing I'll mention: Many of us "seniors" grew up with the "old style" drum corps and just can't relate to the DCI/DCA style. Alumni corps give us the kind of drum corps we like. An indeed, alumni corps are growing, and that's a good thing. I list close to 50 alumni corps on my website www.alumnidrumcorps.com

Looking for reviews on the show. The corps I got to see were great. Anyone to do a fulll review?

Don't know all that much about them, I'm sure others on here can answetr better than I, but these are guys from the old Garfield/Holy Name cadets from the 50's and 60's. According to their website, they have no official connection to the DCI corps. They practice in Garfield, NJ.

It's the alumni corps.

Blessed Sacrament Golden Knights show May 21, Secaucus, NJ -- Ten corps. Website : www.cavalcadeofmusic.net

May 21st -- Cavalcade of Music, Secaucus NJ 6pm. The Golden Knights present an evening of spectacular drum corps. Ten corps will perform in the beautiful Arthur Couch Performing Arts Center. For a complete rundown and information see the show website at www.cavalcadeofmusic.net

Amen to that. The food was great.....And so was the show :-)

The show was very good. One thing I found pretty cool -- Reilly rolled out a new song that might be teased out as "The Singing Drum Major". Really good. Watch for it in their show.

If you're interested in alumni drum corps, I have a website that may help the boredom: www.alumnidrumcorps.com

Plymouth was indeed an outstanding day. The parade was great, with very cooperative weather, and the show was excellent, from what I saw. If anyone has videos, especially HD videos, please post them on YouTube. Those of us who were in the show only got to see some of it, and it would be great to see all the corps.

It's not the kids who run these activities. One might hope that the adults might be somewhat motivated to honor traditions. It's not respecting me, it's respecting the flag and those who gave them drum corps. So to answer, the kids didn't do it, the adults did. Shame on them.

I appreciate the answer, although their reasoning seems pathetic. If it were not for the vets who started drum corps, these kids would be playing ping pong somewhere. I find it even more ironic when a corps like Jersey Surf has a whole patriotic theme, complete with red, white and blue banners and leaves out the flag. In the term "color guard" the "colors" are the American flag. I guess "changes" like this strike me as completely disrepectful to the original activity. That's one reason why I will absolutely never refer to these bands as drum corps.

I'm one who does not care for the DCI corps, but that aside, I have a question: Why do these corps no longer carry the American flag? I'm not even suggesting they do a color presentation or anything like that which was a big deal in the old days. It just seems to me that carrying the American flag might be one drum corps tradition that they should have kept.

It was a great emotional show, especially when all the corps joined in with Yankee Rebels playing "It's a Grand Old Flag". If anyone took videos, please post them on YouTube. It would be great to watch.