The Story Of The Cadets: YOU ARE THERE

[David Hill]

Sixty-five years after its radio premiere on CBS -- which was 13 years after the original charter of The Holy Name Cadets -- today's launch of the online book, "Story Of The Cadets" recreates "You Are There," by blending history with modern technology, taking an entire organization on a historical time warp, and reporting the great events of the past.

In reading, seeing, and hearing -- through audio clips of interviews, music, and story-telling -- of the organization's founding, its history, and its present, "Story of the Cadets" becomes a "you are there" way to relive the storied, multi-champion's trip through time.

It is available at theholynamecadets.net, beginning tomorrow.

Co-authors Greg Cinzio and Dave Shaw had the organization's archives unlocked for us all. Using written and oral histories, photography, audio and video recordings (there are no performance videos), the "maroon world" of The Cadets comes to life as a "live" documentary, both written and enhanced with interactive media. In doing so, it also becomes the most compelling experience and education in drum corps' history.

The timeline of any organization takes its share of twists, turns, shake-ups, and change. In this unvarnished look at the Cadets' trajectory from parish program to independent organization -- replete with its highs and lows -- the reader "is there" to see how, and why, this unit evolved from a community-based effort to its current status as a leader in the marching arts.

From "In the Very Beginning" to "The War Years," "The Separation from the Church," through "The Early DCI Years," the first half of the story, and the book, provides a comprehensive, and illustrative, outline of the business -- and heart -- of the organization. Early practices remain today, providing guideposts even in the twenty-first century. For me, this is the strongest half of the book. Certainly for those of us whose history with either The Cadets, indeed with the drum and bugle corps activity, only reaches as far back as the development of Drum Corps International, if not the early 1960s, the question "Why doesn't the activity return to its roots?" is answered.

The second half of the book becomes a primer in competition, offering "Transition back into National Prominence," "DCI Trendsetters," "The Modern Era Cadets," and "The New Millennium." Designers talk process, teachers emphasize motivation, directors explain scoring and placement, and all along, in every era, performers exude pride and appreciation in the experience;" in being "a Cadet."

The last three years of competition, a fascinating triad of 75th anniversary, toy soldiers, and the tenth championship seasons, complete the "book." Appendices provide bullet-point timelines of directors and corps officers, milestones, and repertoires. But for the primary audience for the book, alumni, the first appendix, "The Cadet Experience" will resonate the most.

"The Story of the Cadets" should resonate with anyone who lives, and who values, the drum corps experience. For in its "You Are There" presentation, each of us can relive the 77 year history of the corps and the organization. Indeed, we can all share in the feeling of the corps hymn: "For Holy Name shall always be …."

This is the season opener before the season opener! Experience it, beginning tomorrow, at theholynamecadets.net

David G. Hill

(Full Disclosure: A review I wrote of the 75th anniversary production is included in the book.)

[onceuponatime]

www.theholynamecadets.net The on-line Story of The Cadets is now live. There is no charge for access and no required registration of any kind.

[onceuponatime]

In response to the large number of young people marching this summer who are and will continue to be bus-captives for many hours, we have heard your plea. The on-line book staff of "The Story of The Cadets" is investigating different down-loading options that will permit you to download the book to your hand-held devices. We would very much like to find a mechanism that will work for both the visual and audio, so some time is being invested in narrowing down the possibilities. We will not, however, drag out the process so long that the season is gone before a downloading procedure is available to you.

Suggestions that might prove helpful will be very much welcome. Please forward them to gjcmedical@aol.com.

Safe travels and good fortune to all from The Cadets' Alumni.

[onceuponatime]

Attention all Cadets (and any members of other corps who might be interested): we are very close to having the on-line "Story of The Cadets" ready to be downloaded onto your Ipads, Ipods, kindles. laptops, etc. Ben Pouncey will be our conduit for information when we have everything wrapped up, so you will be able to accomplish the download yourself. Finally something to do while you're driving through endless wheat fields in the middle of the night.