Navillus WP

First rehearsal of the 2012 Defenders Alumni corps yesterday. The tradition formula for DAC programming it to commemorate some the Holy Family Defenders & Defenders of Plymouth County. Then, we recreate some of the "benchmark" numbers of the heyday of Old Time Drum Corps. For 2012 we added a ballad commemorating Anaheim Kinsmen's 1974 arrangement of "So Very Hard To Go." (This video was our first run-thru.) It was dedicated it to hopes for the quick recovery of Kingsman Ron Cain, their Lead Soprano of this song. Other commemorative numbers include "MacArthur Park" as performed by 1972 Madison Scouts, "Legend of One-Eyed Sailor" by 1975 Blue Devils. (Filmed by BFD-TV's Dave Halter.)

In the 70 VFW National prelims (Miami) we got a few tics for "Irish pennants" (loose threads on a unifrom seam), "excessively-worn heel counters" and "improper side-dressing" on our black oxford shoes. I got a tic for improperly lacing (right-over-left on one shoe, left-over-right on the other). Some of us watched other inspections to see if the inspectors were being equally as "chickensh!t" with other corps, only to find out minor inspection tic were canceled for everyone. (Only 1.0 major penalties counted.)

Gone out in the mail today to Rick in Cali, Gil in Naples FL, Heather, in NY, Murph from Winthrop.

27th Lancers Alumni Corps at 1994 DCI World Championships in Foxboro, MA The story behind the 27th Lancers memorable performance at the 1994 DCI Championships in Foxboro, MA. Building a drum corps of huge proportions in a little more than a year's time is recounted through photographs, home video and personal stories culminating in the entire "show stealing" final performance http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5877723053704824367#

Shipped to Rick in Japan, Johnny in Cali, LInda in Georgia, John in Townsend MA, Greg in OH, Fitz in Marblehead, Teddy in West Roxbury.

I won't turn sixty until April. That makes me almost average .... I think.

Ironically, in 1970 I participated in my high school graduation ceremony. left early to jump into car to drive to Revere in order to just-barely catch a bus departing for Shriners. In 1971, four of our corps-mates graduated from Boston High School (a non-traditional public high school) and jumped in a car to meet the corps buses in Sturgridge, MA that had already departed from Revere on the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90) headed for Shriners.

Eric and Suzanne: going out to you in tomorrow's mail. -WPS-

I'm so old ........... (how old are you?) that I don't buy green bananas. (groan)

George Bonfiglio was a special person to every person with whom he associated. People make judgements about him without knowing him personally are risking making hasty conclusions. Was he perfect? No. Did George make mistakes. Yes, but never for spiteful or narrow-minded reasons. "George B" could inspire people with lofty statements and observations. He was famous for a few of them, most of which were significant in the context. One of them is appropriate to the context of your post: The biggest reason anyone would dislike you is because they wished they could be more like you. At the time we knew exactly what he was saying to us: act with the conviction that you are being someone worth emulating.

When people ask me if I'm cool with it, I tell 'em I brought a sweater.

Linda from GA: going out in today's mail to you.

After aging-out, I entered into education and eventually school administration. Even in my current semi-retirement, I've dealt with the choices kids make for well over 30 years. Five principles (pardon the pun) have shaped my approach with adolescents. Every adult and student with whom I've had dealings understand them, because they appear in a big sign over my desk: The trouble with most trouble is ..... it mostly started out as FUN. Love the sinner. Hate the sin. The measure of character is not the mistake, but what was done about it. People who are good at making excuses are often not good at much else. Get the facts, and get the facts straight. Other people's opinions are just their opinion. I read this whole thread and have filtered my reactions through these principles. I'm not going to second-guess either the corps or the people involved based upon hearsay. Kids make mistakes: some are doozies, some have far-reaching implications. We weren't there, we haven't heard from the principal parties.

Jim, John, Lauren, Jack, Tomato - going out to you in today's mail. -WPS-

Aint THAT the truth.....

Thanks, Tim. It was a heck of a ride..... -WPS-

God bless you, my son.

TO: 27th Lancers Alumni & Staff (1968-86), and "Once-More-in'94" Participants & Staff (1993-95) Bumper stickers are 7.25" by 4.75" FREE-OF-CHARGE to all former Two-Seven members & staff. Alumni: if you haven't already done so, e-mail me (Bill Sullivan) at < take.a.knee.men@gmail.com > with your mailing address. Limit: 2 per alumni/staff member. Specify "Olde English" lettering or "Plain Font" lettering ( or one of each.) Layout & production was donated by our corps-mate Peter Mullin and the folks of Label Tech Inc. of New Hampshire. Peter cleaned up my design idea, and his company printed them up. If there are any left after all alumni & staff have been served, the left-overs will be presented to the committee planning The 27th Lancer Alumni Association's 45th Legacy Reunion to be held 19-21 OCTOBER 2012 in Danvers (CoCo Key Hotel & Water Resort, soon to be a Double Tree Hotel.) We are doing this project to keep the Lancer Legacy legacy alive, as a "Pay-It-Forward" honoring the memory of Patsy & George B. I'm not the man I might have been without their influence at an important juncture in my life. TO REQUEST two bumper stickers: email me at < take.a.knee.men@gmail.com > with your mailing address and indicate whether you want one of each style, or two of either "Plain" font or "Olde English" font. TWO-SEVEN!!

Rifuarian: I agree in part with your statement: well-known "facts" can - in reality - be hastily-drawn conclusions which often find their origin in half-correct or incomplete info, not uncommonly generated by self-appointed "experts" or sel-anointed "insiders." The reason I reacted so is my sensibility is I have little regard for some of the regulars who post in DCP who anoint themselves as experts on matters and events in which they have only hearsay info. In particular, I'm still smarting by some posts in other threads regarding the respondent-poster's opinions about George Bonfiglio which are based upon someone's interpretation of statements (and opinions) garnered from other sources, irrespective of their level of credibility. A while ago when I attempted to set one DCP self-anointed expert straight (having known George personally, and having direct conversations with his family), the DCP frequent-contributor indicated he's an expert because he spoke to someone who toured with Two-Seven. In this thread, posts detailing speculations about what happened (or didn't happen) in 2000 should not be the basis of forming judgements. Moreover, the BD's (in any capacity) have no obligation to be drawn into someone else's thirst for juicy stories and melodrama.

You read my mind. It never fails to amaze me what people think they are "entitled" to hear about something that's none of their business.

Gotcha, Jim. Rifles NOT ALLOWED in Opening Ceremony. YES ALLOWED in closing ceremony.

Drumno5 posted this refernce to "judging peculiarity" elsewhere ... " We had a kid drop a stick - 0.1 penalty. The judge handed him the stick a few seconds later, which he took and resumed playing. Onto retreat later - we win the show. Then - a half an hour later when we're back at the buses packing up - the chief judge/contest director (or some other big wheel, can't remember who) comes running up and says that we've been assessed an additional penalty of a full point because the kid "took" the stick from the judge's hand rather than "receiving" it from him (whatever the heck that meant). They took back the first place trophy and gave it to the corps that had placed behind us. What a rip-off! "

Fanfare: The 27th Lancers Olympic experience By Michael Boo | boomike@dci.org Friday February 24, 2006 - 8:35 AM Barbara (then know as "Bunny") Hopkins marched in 27th Lancers' color guard from 1976 through 1980 and participated in the corps' famed presentations at the 1980 Winter Olympics opening and closing ceremonies in Lake Placid, N.Y. Considering the current Winter Olympics are wrapping up, she thought this would be a good time to reflect on those special moments from 26 years ago. (Page 1, para. 2) In those days, we got together twice a week throughout the winter for regular rehearsal, so putting together a plan for the Olympics was very doable. We also had enough time to contact the out-of-state members and recruit a few alumni for the cause, including legendary drum corps and winter guard judge Mary Berkley. We flag line people had to teach the rifle line the art of flag handling, ("weapons" weren't allowed in the arena), but they picked it up quickly, pleasing our instructor Peggy Twiggs, who was just inducted into the DCI Hall of Fame back in January.

In '71 or '72 we marched in a contest at Ironbound Stadium. We stayed in the gym of St Joseph's school. Prior to the wekend of the contest there was a period of "urban unrest" but I forget why. It affected spectator attendance at the show. We were not allowed on the streets for any reason, and the area was crawling with State Police and local police.