Never too late to make history

[GaryD]

Greetings!

It was a gorgeous day in North Jersey today (Sunday, 16 October), where drum corps history was made once again. Today the Blessed Sacrament Golden Knights performed at St. Lucy's Parish, Newark, on the occasion of the Feast of St. Gerard. The drum corps world no doubt recalls the rivalry that existed between the cross-town corps Blessed Sacrament and St. Lucy's during the latter 1960s. "Who would have thought?" - is an understatement!

Alumni of St. Lucy's Cadets were on hand, joking that the rest of their corps was on the roof of the Community Center, ready to pelt the gold blouses with eggs and the like (...all jest, and all in good fun). It was great to chat with our old rivals. The truth be known, several St. Lucy's alumni were also Blessed Sacrament alumni - those who marched with BS in 1970, after St. Lucy's folded at the conclusion of the 1969 season.

If you have never attended such a festival, note that it is a scene straight out of "The Godfather" trilogy, with priests and dignitaries escorting a statue of the patron saint through the neighborhood. But instead of the typical Italian band that accompanies the procession, it was the Blessed Sacrament Golden Knights that welcomed the procession with "National Emblem March," "In the Still of the Night," "Free Again," "Give Me the Simple Life," and "America, the Beautiful."

BSGK was large, clean and powerful on this beautiful Fall day. Veteran snare drummers Bill Lundy, Bart Carrique, Joe Fontana and Mike Teleczewski dazzled the dense crowd with vintage Bobby Thompson drum solos and backsticking, while the amazing lead soprano line did its magic on the many exciting solos. The "Battle Hymn" dixieland quintet was also a favorite today.

The corps is busy preparing for the 2012 season, having already completed two new numbers. It will be an exciting season, as the corps will be performing at the 2012 DCA Alumni Spectacular in Annapolis, Maryland. It's a show you will not want to miss!

Here are a few photos from today's show:

For more information on the Golden Knights, see Blessed Sacrament Golden Knights