onceuponatime Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 June 11th in Garfield, New Jersey began with a Cadet memorial military mass at Most Holy Name Church in Garfield. These special masses involve a great many people, some actively participating in the execution of the mass, and others working behind the scenes to ensure its' success. The Cadets are fortunate that Holy Name Church has a Pastor, Rev. Monsignor William Reilly, who understands the deep psychological bond that exists between the church where it all began, and the many thousands of Cadets who have called themselves Holy Name Cadets (and all do) both before and following the separation. Cadet Alumni returned to Most Holy Name Church for the first time in 50 years in 2009 for a memorial military mass in celebration of the corps' 75th Anniversary. It was a very moving experience, and in the years since, these services have continued to help connect Cadets past with Cadets present. Many people are unaware that The Cadets were never a singularly catholic corps. Over our many years of existence, both church affiliated and independent years, Cadets representing many different religions. nationalities, and cultures have worn the maroon and gold. Why a military mass? Because in 1939, following official approval from West Point to duplicate their dress uniform in the colors of Most Holy Name Church, a strong social bond developed between many West Point Cadets and their counterparts in The Holy Name Cadets. It was primarily social and unofficial, bonded by shared values and life styles. The meeting place was a now long-gone German beer hall located just off Times Square in Manhattan. The Cadets from West Point were periodically granted 24 hour passes, and they would meet up with their friends from The Holy Name Cadets to enjoy a few beers, a little singing, and a little comradeship with young men from outside their constricted military world. The connection today, though now existing in memory only, is something Cadets continue to honor. On Saturday, June 11th, that connection was renewed, as Cadet Alumni gathered to honor and remember Cadets who now belong to the ages. It is an occasion full of pageantry and symbolism. Three buglers, Cadet Alumnus George King, Cadet Alumnus Vince Randaisi, Cadet Alumnus Larry Ignazak...and a single percussionist, Blessed Sacrament Alumnus Bob Messineo, played an opening fanfare from the choir loft, It was an original composition meshing our Holy Name Hymn with fanfare flourishes. The procession entered to the sound of the fanfare, led by the clergy, the Reverend Monsignor Reilly and Deacon Rich McGarry, a Cadet Alumnus and current staff member of the corps. The music played by organist Liz Cantrel and sung by special guest vocalist, Amanda Males (daughter of Cadet Alumnus Jeff Males), and joined by all present, was "America The Beautiful." Following the clergy in the entry procession was our revered American Flag, carried by Cadet Alumnus Ken Shedosky. He was followed by Cadet Alumnus Tony Tantillo carrying a sabre representing the two sabres, now missing, presented to The Cadets by two West Point Officers in 1940. Tony was followed by two uniformed 2011 Cadets, Anthony Monteiro and Taylor Yozwiak, members of The Cadets' the pit section, with one carrying a shako and plume to be placed on the memorial table, and the other a mounted Holy Name Cadet shield and photo of the original corps, also placed on the memory table. The Cadets were followed by Cadet Alumnus Tony Bartello, the Cadets' 1957 drum major. 1957 was the season when the the last national championship was won under the name of The Holy Name Cadets. Tony was followed by Cadet Alumnus Al Mura, our drum major in 1940, the year of The Cadets' first national championship, and his brother, Cadet Alumnus Art Mura, a junior drum major in the early years and later an outstanding percussionist and percussion instructor. Al and Art were founding members of the corps, and as such they represented all the founding members of the corps, a number of whom were present in the church. A memory table was located directly in front of the altar. As the clergy ascended to the altar, the American Flag bearer placed the flag in the stantion positioned to the right of the altar. The sabre was then symbolically passed from the Alumnus to one of the uniformed 2011 Cadets. After exchanging salutes The Cadet placed the sabre at the foot of the memory table, as the second uniformed Cadet placed the crest and symbolic shako on the table. The two current Cadets then saluted the older alumni moving through the honor party The Cadets had formed on either side of the aisle. Al Mura, a revered founding member, former drum major, and former music instructor for the corps, then lit the memory candle on the table. Directly in front of the altar was a huge flower arrangement contributed by Cadet Plebe Alumnus Joe Nikischer and his family, longtime supporters and members of The Cadet family. Directly in front of the memory table was a basket displaying a complete Cadet uniform with a huge black ribbon of mourning. Surrounding the basket were innumerable single white roses, each dedicated to a single deceased Cadet by their family, or by a fellow Cadet. The roses were also adorned with black ribbons, and each had a card with a personal message. Most read, "In Memory of Cadet ---- ---- 60-63, FHNSAB... In Loving Memory… Cadet Karen Kopacz, 1975-1982 Cadet George Cherrick, 1966-1969 Cadet Richard Santo, 1948-1952, Director, 1979-1982 Cadet Pete Macaluso, 1950-1951 Cadet Adjunct Staff, "Aunt" Nellie DiDomenico Cadet John Bognantz, 1948-1959 Cadet Henry Mura, 57-63 Cadet Fred Hartman 44-51 Cadet Major Richard Furman 47-51 Cadet David Welch, 1984-1987 Cadet Drum Major Richard Chirichella, 1965-1971 Cadet Patrick McParland, 1966 Cadet Donna Deska (years marched missing from card) Cadet Robert King, 1961-1967 William “Chief” Kemmerer, Cadets' Director, 1950-1964” Cadet Phil Kowalski, 1950-1954 Cadet Ray Scarpa, 1947-1952 Cadet Bob Messineo Sr., 1934-1941 Cadet Frank Vitrano, 1966-1967 Cadet Major George Petrencak, 1954-1959 Cadet Mike LeNeve, 1956-1968 Cadet James Tantillo, 1940s era Cadet Louis Reda, 1970-1972 Cadet Greg Zwarycz, 1957-1962 Cadet Pete Kooyenga, 1961-1962 Cadet Adjunct Staff Member, Andrew “Ace” Pavlica Charles Mura, Member of founding adult staff Cadet Tony Pezzutti, 1960 Adjunct Staff Member, "Uncle" Joe Adamo Cadet Susan Erben, 1978-1984 Cadet Louis Mura 35-46 Cadet John Tokar, 1961-1976 Cadet Herb Bonin, 1948-1954 Cadet Marcel Mura, 1934-1941 Cadet Bill Ridings, 1959-1962 Cadet Karen Kopacz 75-82 Cadet Herb Burkert, 1951-1957 Cadet Frankie Giglanto, 1947-1952 Cadet Daniel Maxcy 64-67 Cadet Jack Schaffert 66-67 The mass began with a special blessing, and a homily from Monsignor Reilly honoring all Cadets, past and present, particularly noting how in many ways not obvious to most, The Cadets have enriched all they have touched, and honored their corps with the example of excellence they have displayed every day of the past 77 years. Monsignor expressed his belief that there are many ways to serve The Lord, and that what The Cadets do and have done is an example of that service that most do not see, but is there nonetheless. The gifts were brought to the altar by members of The Cadets' 1969 female guard, the first female guard in the corps' history. They included Cadet Alumnus Cindi Carroza DeVivo, Cadet Alumnus Margee Gearthart Estelle, Cadet Alumnus Denise Kolbusz Schlachter, and Cadet Alumnus Patti Lovas Trojanowski. They were representative of all the women who had the courage to be the first to break the gender barrier in The Cadets. The entire first female guard was elected to The Cadets' Hall if Fame several years ago. All the music during the mass was sung by Amanda Males Following the distribution of communion by Monsignor Reilly and Deacon McGarry, the two uniformed Cadets, Andrew and Taylor ,both of whom will be 2011 ageouts, positioned themselves facing either side of the memory table, and as Amanda sang the beautiful song from Phantom of the Opera , "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again", the two uniformed Cadets executed the moving, and seldom seen, "salute to a fallen comrade." There were few dry eyes in the church by that time. Cadet Alumnus Tony Bartello then ascended the pulpit and led all Cadets and Cadet Alumni present in the singing of The Holy Name Hymn. Following the hymn he descended the stairs and extinguished the candle on the memory table, as the two 2011 Cadets saluted one final time. The entire congregation remained standing to sing "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," followed by the recessional music of "You'll Never Walk Alone", sung by Amanda. Photos were taken on the church steps before many of the attendees left for Allendale, NJ to see the Cadets for the first time in their 2011 uniforms and to see their 2011 field program. Following the performance the 2011 Cadets were feted by their alumni at an all-you-can-eat pizza and ice cream sundae party. The traditional gift of caps-for-cadets were distributed, time was allotted to personal individual interaction between the 2011 Cadets and their supportive alumni...then marching Cadets and Cadet Alumni gathered together to sing The Holy Name Hymn as a symbolic reassertion of the bond that exists between all Cadets, past and present. A final gift of "snack packs" were presented to The Cadets as they prepared to depart on their 17,000 mile, coast to coast tour. The Cadets will not be seen again in New Jersey until the first weekend in August, at their home contest in Meadowlands' Giants' Stadium on Sunday, August 7th. The final words from the alumni were wishes that their young counterparts have a safe journey, memories to last a lifetime, enjoyment and satisfaction, and all the success alumni of all corps wish for their own corps. It was indeed a day to remember. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northern Thunder Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 Thanks for sharing. All the Best to the 2011 Cadets! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onceuponatime Posted August 19, 2011 Author Share Posted August 19, 2011 It seems like The Cadets reached out to the angels long before Indianapolis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northern Thunder Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 All it took was me wishing them good luck back on June 14. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LancerLegend Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 An absolutely teary eyed tribute that few other corps could duplicate. How I long to see my corps colors on the field again, but it's not likely. Thank you for sharing this intimate and personal event. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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