devsabre

Sky Ryders

Sam, Sorry I post so infrequently. Yes, I was a Blue Knight and we had a very rich tradition within the crops. We had plenty of hard core 70s drum corps fanatics. We may not have been very big but we were good and the base and local populous loved us. After so many years in DCI I was surprised to find a very real drum corps in the military. At the time there was not a drive to get rid of the Blue Knights name, it’s sad that took place. I’ve noticed your posts for a few years and that you were a Blue Knight, I have not noticed anyone else that had been part of the corp. It would be good to see more Blue Knights surface. I marched in one of the Lackland AFB Band Flights during basic training as well, did you get that opportunity as well?

Air Force - 22 1/2 years active duty/retired 1981-1982 - Keeler AFB Biloxi MS 1982-1985 - Offutt AFB, Omaha NE 1985-1988 - Camp Smith Marine Corp Station, Honolulu HI 1988-1992 - Offutt AFB, Omaha NE 1992-1994 - San Vito Air Station, San Vito Italy 1994-1999 - Falcon/Schriever AFB and Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado Springs CO 1999-2003 - Peterson AFB, Colorado Springs CO Retired in 2003 17 years in the intelligence community, 4 years in communications

The strangest part of my joining drum corp was the fact that I joined without ever having heard of the activity or been to a show beforehand. I was blessed to march in drum corp even before marching band. Short story: I moved to Salina, Kansas in November 1976 (at the time I was 14 and in 8th grade). My family was still looking for a home, living in a hotel when Bill Siebert came and asked my mother about Drum Corps and if I might be interested. I had never heard of or seen a drum corp before. I went to a rehearsal with the Silver Sabers the following weekend and joined on the spot. Thank you Bill! My first show was during the 1977 season in Wisconsin (not sure of the city). After we performed we sat in the cheap seats at the back of the stands. I remember seeing the Pioneer, Wausau Story, Marquis and Phantom Regiment. All of them were good, but Phantom was incredible that year; they totally blew the crowd away. I immediately fell in love with them. Before seeing Phantom, I thought the Sabers were as good as Drum Corps could get. We had been in numerous DCM shows with Corps at our competition level, we won many and we were close 2nd to many. It was a great season for the Sabers and for me. I was the “classic” wide eyed rookie with one exception...I had no previous exposure to the activity. I did not know how good any of the corps could/would be. I knew no history and had no idea who Phantom, Devils, Santa Clara or Madison were. My first exposure to the “big time” Drum Corp came at DCI Midwest prelims Whitewater, WI on 5 Aug 77. This was a defining moment for me partially because of the setting (home of the first DCI championships). It was a very chilly prelims morning with a light ground fog hanging over Warhawk Stadium when the Garfield Cadets stepped off and rocked my world. I swear the cold made the stadium sound crisper more solid. Little did I know that Garfield was only the beginning. That morning, I saw (for the first time) Colts, Garfield Cadets, Cavies, Kilties, Guardsmen, Madison, 27th, Bridgemen and Phantom. Wow what a ride, I came away from prelims completely awestruck. 1977 was an incredible drum corps season. 4 marching seasons, 12 instructing seasons, and 31 years later...I’m still a drum crops junky!

Based on good old screaming from the stands, blow your face off, goose bumps city Drum Corps. Finals placement not a factor! Favorite show (*honorable Mention) – selection difficulty 27th Lancers: 1981 (1975) - easy Anaheim Kingsmen: 1974 (1972) - easy Blue Devils: 1979 (1991 and 1999) – brutally hard Blue Knights: 1999 (2004) - easy Blue Stars: 1975 (1978) - hard Bluecoats: 2008 (1990) - hard Boston Crusaders: 2000 - easy Bridgemen: 1978 (1977) - hard Cadets: 1984 (1993 and 2000) – brutally hard Carolina Crown: 2008 (2007) - easy Cavaliers: 2000 (1995) - hard Crossmen: 1978 (1993) - hard Glassmen: 1999 (2000) - easy Madison Scouts: 1995 (1975) – brutally hard Phantom Regiment: 2008 (1996 and 2003) – brutally hard Santa Clara Vanguard: 1987 (1975 and 1999) – brutally hard Spirit of Atlanta: 1980 (1979) - easy Star of Indiana: 1990 (1993 and 1991) - hard Suncoast Sound: 1985 (1989) - easy Troopers: 1974 (1985) - easy Additional incredible corps and shows (I realize you want to cap your list, but this may jog some memories): 21. Freelancers: 1977 (1989) 22. Velvet Knights: 1992 (1988) 23. Seneca Optimist: 1977 24. Kilties: 1975 (1977) 25. Muchachos: 1975 (1974) 26. Oakland Crusaders: 1975 27. Guardsmen (Ill): 1979 28. North Star: 1978 29. Sky Ryders: 1982 (1986) 30. Colts: 1999 31. Argonne Rebels 1973 (1976)