TomKaye

Showing my age but of the once 59 drum corps in the state of NJ, some named after towns were : Audubon Bon-Bons, Eatontown Royales, Dumont Police Cadets, Bayonne PAL Thunderbirds, Secaucus Meadowlarks, and of course, the Garfield Cadets. From CT. I remember the Milford Shoreliners and the Bridgeport PAL Cadets. Do the NY Knickerbockers count ? The drum corps not the b-ball team. They were NYC based if I recall.

I took my same unwieldy vaccination card to Staples. They reduced it to wallet size, laminated it, and I'm all set. Two bucks well spent.

Thanks for a job well-done Bob. Rest in Peace dear friend and mentor.

Very Saddened to read this. Apart from being very talented, Brian was a good man. My condolences and prayers for him and his family. May he Rest In Peace.

CMCC Warriors Riversiders Bronx Kingsmen OLPH Ridgemen Polish Falcon Cadets

I haven't commented on DCP in ages and couldn't find my password. Mr. Ryan ----drop me a line at tomkaye at verizon and I'll give you my phone # and a possible contact on Jersey side of Delaware river. No guarantees.

Best wishes for Sun Devils' success this 2013 season Benny, as well as in the future. Good luck with this Inverness show. May you guys raise many $$$$$. Be well, Tom.

Saw you guys perform in Bayonne on 6/22. Great job. Impressive looking and sounding group. Whether you decide to remain an all-age exhibition, or eventually become a competing drum corps, best wishes for continued success. You really did it up right and are a class act. I think I met you & Frank at he end of the show. Keep up the good work. :thumbup:

I'm an admitted dinosaur, and totally unqualified to judge or critically comment upon today's drum corps offerings. I do know what I like however, and I like drum corps from the 50's, 60's, 70's.... right up to the present day. Last nite in Bayonne, NJ at the Bridgemen's TOS, in my opinion,there was something to interest & entertain every drum corps fan, 21st century, or 20th century percussionist relics relics like myself. ( I'm retired from drum corps and last played in an alumni battery in 2009) I applaud and congratulate all of the performers, from five (5) DCA Alumni Corps, two (2) DCA competitive corps, one DCI World Class corps, and the host Bridgemen Alumni corps, for a job well done. It was a night of economical drum corps entertainment rarely if ever equaled in today's environment. One could actually afford to take a family to this show. From beginning to end, it was a nite of quality drum corps performances from everyone. If you're anywhere within driving distance of Bayonne next June, don't miss the Bridgemen's Tournament of Stars. I'm a homer; grew up and marched there, but thanks Bridgemen admin for doing this up right. The weather was great. The corps were great. The fans were appreciative and totally got their money's worth. The combined Bridgemen, Skyliners & Saints offering of "TAPS" in tribute to our departed brother Gary Karpinski, was first class. Can't wait to see next year's TOS offerings. Best wishes for continued success to all the participants last evening.

Good thing someone on here still has good vision. Thank you.

Thanks much for posting this great video. From 6:21 on in retreat, it looks to me like, L to R..St. Andrew's Bridgemen who were in exhibition, Cavies, Kilties,Lucy's,Royal Airs,Troopers, BSGK. In the Senior ranks, my eyes tell me, ( and they deceive me sometimes ) Hurcs, Cabs, SKY, Reading & Les Dips. I performed ( if you can call it that ) with the Bridgemen that day. I remember standing next to some 7 foot tall Cavaliers, snickering at us, and one of our 15-16 year-old sopranos ( a Gus Wilke protege ) said blank them, stay at attention. One day we're gonna beat those guys. I didn't get to march, but we did, in 1973. ( Regardless, I have been a fan and always liked the Cavies since 1966. Not so much this year. ) Wish them continued great success. As far as the backs turned on BSGK, I could be mistaken but it looks like Les Dips. I'm thinking it was probably inadvertent, as why would they have any problem with GK's ? Thanks for the memories, BSGK and all the corps who took the field that day in August, 1966. Hard to believe it's 46 years ago !!! Wow. It was my honor and privilege to perform with BSGK's Alumni corps for a few years, in memory of the great Bobby Thompson. Be well all. Tom.

This ^^^^ ----I believe, and agree with 100%. And, to quote someone else: "For one, execution is a big part of the sheets, and lets face it: Jersey Surf isn't coming near the level of execution as Blue Devils are." I love the Jersey Surf show. I enjoyed many others over two nites at DCI East, my only live viewing of WC corps this year. One can see from my signature, I'm a relic, but I also love the Blue Devils show. On Friday nite in Allentown I watched in amazement from Section R, upper deck, 50 yard line. The Devils were outstanding, without a weakness in any area. As much as I also enjoyed Crown's show, and as well as they performed, there were some visual flaws. Crown's brass had a slight edge. BD were I thought, just a notch above CC in every other facet, especially CG & percussion, where that night anyway, I thought it was, BC, BD, followed by CC. In my opinion, ( and I believe all DCP posts should be read with this preface ) unless BD absolutely falls flat on their collective faces on Saturday, they are worthy and most deserving of a 15th DCI Championship. I wish I could see them live one more time. Best wishes to all the competitors in Indy. Drum Corps !......It's all good, no matter the era.

We had that same weather 60-75 minutes ago, approx 60 miles west of you. It's a light rain now. I'm guessing clear over Metlife / Giants stadium an hour from now. Friends are at the stadium. Cell phones must be off.

Rest in peace George. Say hello to Eddie Holmes, Fred Dooley, Jerry Seawright and a host of other great drum corps Directors, who so positively influenced our youth.

I thought so Liz, but wasn't 100% certain. I've never met Jeff, but enjoy most of his commentary. Be well, T.

AMEN. The emphasis is mine. A while back, someone stated in regard to DCA Championships, Submit a Bid. My comment to you folks who wish to have input, ..... Submit a Nomination Form for next year's class of inductees. Thank you.

Bump..........for a worthy cause. Drum Corps. It's all good.

P.S. Sorry to hijack this thread, but best wishes to Spirit of Newark, for success in whatever course they pursue.

I'm an ocasional reader and very rare poster on DCP. I was and am still proud to be involved with an alumni team, with bringing back the Bridgemen. To quote Grumpy : """I believe when Bridgemen re-formed that their intent was to put a competing jr. corps back onto the field, but don't know if that's still in their plans or not.""" Before any rumors start, as is so common in these forums, that was never true in 2002 when we started the comeback effort, nor is it true today.

Looking forward to this event and have ordered our tickets. Not only is the food great, ( donated by several great restaurants in town ) but the donated raffle prizes are most generous and useful too. Last year, my wife won a basket of lotions, oils, soaps, shampoos & bath products, along with a gift certificate for detailing at a local car wash. She got to bathe in luxury, and I got detailed, waxed & washed too. We also won a bottle of wine, so we did good. Don't know what the prizes will be like this year, but it's always a fun nite. Come on down to beautiful Bayonne and help support the Bridgemen. ALUMNI DRUM CORPS........It's all good. Peace.

Mike ---- I'm an occasional reader & a very infrequent poster on DCP. Apparently, the word of Gene Cerreta's passing on 12/26/08 has not gotten circulated. Please see below. I first met Gene through Mackenzie Post and the Bridgemen more than 40 years ago. He & Gussie were great guys and positively influenced a number of Bayonne yoot. May they both Rest in Peace. Please visit the Notice for Eugene Cerreta. http://obits.nj.com/Link.asp?I=LS000121874882X

Hi Doug --- I'm an occasional visitor to this site, and rarely post. The POW camp in Bayonne brings back memories. It wasn't on 1st street, but on Isabella Ave. and 5th street, on property now occupied by the Cal Ripken Baseball field, and the Park behind the houses there on Isabella. In my memory, the camp consisted of perhaps a half-dozen or more plywood buildings about 60 feet long by 12 wide by about 8 high. The property was surrounded by a 10 foot fence which some downtown Bayonne kids cut a hole in. All the windows had been busted out and any lighting or plumbing fixtures had been removed. I had my first cigarette in those abandoned buildings at 9 or 10 years of age. Whatta dope I was. Now I'm a non-smoker thank God. I too remember the Sunday dinner stories about the Italian POW's once confined there. An old lady from the neighborhood told us about cooking for the boys. There may be something on the Bayonne City website. I think the buildings were destroyed in a fire around 1960 or 62. My smoking had nothing to do with that.

Bluecoats88 ::: You were born when the Bridgemen last completed, and I notice that you live within easy driving distance. You too can be a Bridgemen and help preserve the legacy, as well as honor other competitors, when future Bridgemen Corps reprise great moments in Drum Corps History. It's not about who wore the original uniforms or when. It's about entertainment, having fun, and recreating the camaraderie and friendship or fostering new relationships. Drum Corps......It's all good. P.S. --->Whomever you sat next to in Allentown was either misinformed or mistaken.

B1 Blessed Sacrament Golden Knights, Newark, NJ ---- see their history at www.bsgoldenknights.org B8 --- Blue Rock, Wilmington,De. --- Fond memories of a great corps.