ContraLou

Gary, Message with photos sent.

Gary, I tried to PM you but it couldn't be sent. Please send another PM with an EMAIL address that I can send the pictures and details. Thanks

I have a Wilson 4 valve Super Magnum with a MTS case for sale. PM me and I'll send you pictures if you are interested.

Hi Craig, What took you so long?? I thought you might have come to the table before my friend Ghost.. My comment on the alumni feelings come from my friends who are former members of the Crusaders from the 60's & 70's. It's no secret they were not happy. I'm sure you have seen the Emails. Yes the red jackets were not abandoned, thankfully. With so many corps searching for an identity today there was no need to mess with the iconic look of the Boston Crusaders that is so well recognized throughout drum corps for the sake of the "show". We are in agreement on the name.

Now not that I'm in favor of it, but that would be an appropriate name since the Washington Redskins were at one time (1930's) the Boston Redskins after they were the Boston Braves, but I like the Boston Infidels better. Or better yet, why don't we just say never mind to the political correctness crap and leave the name alone. I think the corps management learned a big lesson from their alumni for changing their uniform color to gray. I don't think they would ever consider making an even bigger mistake by fooling with the name. There would be an uprising.

Here is Blessed Sacrament Golden Knights Alumni playing their version at last year's DCA. They're playing it again this year too.

Congratulations on your return and I hope you have much success in the future. I too remember the Columbians from the 63 VFW Nationals as well as the Ambassadors. I have buttons from both corps. I tried to take in as much as I could of the corps I hadn't seen before being that we were the only east coast corps (Spartans) to go to the VFW that year. I remember the instant concerts by many corps in the parking lot after the contest and thinking how impressed I was with them and how much fun everyone was having.

Ghost, Thanks for the memories. Pretty good letter isn't it?? I haven't seen it in years. Although it was issued before I joined SKEK I have an original copy. I think everyone who joined the corps after that letter was written got a copy on their first day. It was not meant to put down the Crusaders, instead it was using the Crusaders as an example of what hard work can accomplish. St. Kevin's at the time was becoming a little too comfortable with themselves and "The Letter" as it has become to be known, was a tool to motivate the members of the horn and drum lines. The color guard is not mentioned because it was the one section that wasn't having problems. There is much folklore about who composed the letter, but A Member doesn't necessarily mean a marching member. Some think it might have come from the Assistant Corps Director or because of the stylish writing pened by the departed Corps Director Ed Rooney himself. I still don't know. The Letter did have an effect on the corps. It helped get the heads cleared and although things didn't start out great for the corps early in the season, by mid summer (The Dream) things did turn around and the corps finished the season very strong by finally pulling ahead of the Crusaders, winning the Dream, finishing high at the VFW Nationals and winning the CYO Championship. Hard work and Determination = Success. And for the record, St. Kevin's didn't beat the Crusaders again after the 1964 season. There's a lot that can be said for the rivalries in Boston with as many corps as there were in the 60's. The Crusader - St. Kevin rivalry was just as much a neighborhood rivalry with the corps coming from different sections of Dorchester as it was a local/national drum corps rivalry. There were off field issues throughout the years. A lot of it due to dating a member of the other corps. Others just due to bad blood, I.E. 67 AL Nationals parade in Boston.

Just checking to see if anyone will be posting comments and or scores from tonights Mini Corps and I & E. Best of luck to my buds in Mass Brass.

Kool Topic.. Regarding St. Kevin's, The Emerald Kinghts feeder corps was named the Emerald Gems (Class B) and their feeder corps was the Emerald Chips (Class C). My wife was a member of all three. Add another unique All Girl corps name, The Suburbanettes from Hudson, NH. The original sponsor of the corps was Suburban Dairy Products.

Easy Rich. I think the low prediction is due more to the fact that it's your teams first year in and are an unknown. Since both Sine Wave and Crunchy will be on early, I expect you will both score very well to set the bar for the corps who are on later in the show. Sometimes going on early helps, I.E. Golden Eagles in 04 and Mass Brass in 08. Can't wait to see you guys in Rochester. We need to meet up with Dennis and Tommy Mic after the show for a contra chug.

I'm sorry to hear this news but can understand the reasons why. I always enjoyed the entertaining shows put on by the Yankee Rebels.

Huh.. Who Knew? All this time I thought, with the music we've been playing, we were Mexico's corps. But then again, maybe not, most of us are legal. The credit may go to former Speaker of the House Sal DiMasi who resigned under scrutiny for alleged ethics violations, and was indicted by a federal grand jury following an investigation of influence-peddling involving his close friends. Third Speaker in a row that has been indicted. Chicago has nothing over Mass politics. Sal's a big fan of Mass Brass. We play for food in front of his house during the North End fest. Since he found out we are using the Mass state logo unauthorized, he says that we're his "Boys". In the true spirit of the Boston North End, we owe him.

Hey Rich, Do you have any week night rehearsals? I'll be in town the 15th & 16th & would like to see you guys.

Joe, We're looking forward to the show this Saturday. We'll have plenty of Dorchester shrimp with us for the party. see you there.

Hey Rich, It's too bad I'll be busy that night, otherwise I'd ask for the music. I'd like to play that show as the 3rd bass. That's my wife's favorite show. I can't wait to see and hear it. Best of luck. Take care.

Nice videos, good job. Thanks for sharing.

SKEK had a nice horn rehearsal last night to tune up for Saturday's show. We put the finishing touches to a new song and a few arrangement changes since the Plymouth show. I've been hearing from a lot of former members and friends that they will be at the show Saturday to support the corps and the Boston Firefighters. It's shaping up to be an afternoon of drum corps fun that starts at 1 PM. Get there early, the restaurant and bar will be open for business.

I'm sorry and disappointed to hear that a decision had to be made to cancel the afternoon Mini Corps competition. the officials at MCA tried very hard to assemble a line up of corps to perform but could not secure enough committments to make the show happen. I believe that until just recently there were still hopes of gathering enough corps to have the show, thus the short notice to Five Star. I guess it's just another example of our booming economy. Thanks to MCA for trying and thanks to Five Star for once again stepping up to offer a place and time for the MCA Mini corps to show their stuff. Five Star was the first to make such an offer. They're a first class organization. Serenade in Brass is one of my favorite shows to be in and hopefully there will be a chance to do it again in the future. Like we say with the Red Sox, Wait till next year.

Congratulations on another successful BHOF show. I think you wanted to say, Saturday March 20th for the St. Kevin show. It's going to be a fun day.

Say What? Report for drug testing.

See you this Sunday... January 10, 2010, at 1:00PM Saint Kevin Emerald Knights Sr. Drum & Bugle Corps 2010 Membership Day & Open House You are cordially invited to attend our 2010 Membership Day at The Fore River Club Nevada Road Quincy, MA 02169

It was too bad that the corps' were not shown playing on TV but we were told before hand that we may not make the broadcast. It depended on time availability. The drum corps were just a part of a big production that was precisely timed to the second for TV. Unfortunately, the interviews ran longer than planned. If you have the pre-game recorded, you can hear the corps playing in the background during the Bobby Orr interview. Still, it doesn't take away from the excitement or enjoyment of being part of something so unique and special for the city of Boston. While we were entering the field the drum corps were introduced as the Best of Boston "The Saint Kevin Emerald Knights" and the "Boston Crusaders" and we received a big ovation from the people in attendance. We were positioned in front of the green monster scoreboard. While the Dropkick Murphy's were performing their song I got a chance to talk to the guys inside the scoreboard and take a look at Manny's hideaway. Leaving the field turned into a spontaneous parade down Lansdown street with the 2 drum corps and the Middlesex County fife & drum corps in a combined formation back to the staging area at Fenway High. Seeing the snare drums lined up for the whole width of the street leading the rest of the group was a sight to behold. It was quite a memorable day all around.

Nice additions.. Steve's arrangement of Never My Love is sweet. I'm looking forward to hearing it at St. Kevin's BHOF Show on March 20th. And I hope you keep playing my favorite, Solitaire. Best wishes for another successful year in 2010.

I'll be there and looking forward to it. You forgot to mention; There are NO annual membership fees. There is NO dues. There is NO uniform expense. There is NO instrument fee. It couldn't be easier to be a part of this family orientated drum corps. If you have the time, this is the place to be. It was standing room only at last years open house so it has been moved to a larger facility this year. Come check out the corps to see what we are all about. If you have a horn, bring it and sit in with us for the afternoon. Even if you don't become a member, you'll have made some new friends.