Pennsylvania Report
By Fay & Francis O'Donnell
DCN Aug. 8, 1962

Congratulations to Vasella, Archie, Westmoreland Esquires, and Meridain Woodpeckers' and Houston post 3 color guards, who were crowned Pa. American Legion Champions the evening of July 20th at Philadelphia's Olney High School Field.

The Scores and prize money:
Juniors
Vasella - - 83.866 ($400)
Bracken - - 79.733 ($300)
Mann Rangers - - 72.066 ($200)
Palmer Chessmen - - 71.600 ($100)
Media Fawns - - 64.866 ($50)
Argonne - - 59.866

Senior Class "B"
Westmoreland Esquires - - 76.700 ($650)
Bangor Yellow Jackets - - 71.033 ($400)
Latrobe Colonials - - 69.183 ($300)
Milton Keystoners - - 68.250 ($100)
Tyrone Gardner Guards - - 67.166 ($75)
Warren Cornplanters - - 65.250 ($50)

Senior Class "A"
Archie - - 86.050 ($875)
Reilly - - 84.266 ($750)
Pittsburgh Rockets - - 83.283 ($500)
Hershey Chocolatiers - - 57.650

Color guard contest was held in the morning with these results:
Juniors
Meridian Woodpeckers - - 89.9
Liberty Bell - - 88.85
Mann Rangers - - 87.85
Bishop Eagen - - 82.6
Seniors
Houston Post #3 - - 90.8
Rawnhurst - - 88.0
Olney - - 86.7

Judging duties for the evening were evenly divided between Mid-Atlantic and Penna. All-American Associations. Although the contest got underway at 7:04 P.M., delays were caused by the flowery introductions of the corps and the introduction of Miss American Legion and the state commander.

The first corps of the evening, Palmer Chessmen, is also known as "Li'l Bangor" as all of their instructors are from the Yellow Jackets. The Chessmen present several marches with "Hail to the Chief" as their color presentation. To break the red and white of their uniforms, their color guard carried several flags which feature the chess-piece made popular by Palidin on varied colored fields. Incidentally, Bob George is mighty proud of his 13 year-old snare drummers!

Vasella's major, Jerry Powell, is noticeably attired in a white satin shirt and red trousers. And while we're mentioning things that are new - - the color guard has two new flags, one red background and one black, both with intersecting white diagonal stripes and a fleur-de-lis decorating each triangle of color. Must mention their tropical influence in music of "Mangoes" and "Bali Hai" plus the Dixie Land feeling produced by "Robt. E. Lee".

You may recognize Argonne by their regular name, Rising Sun. The all-girl color guard and guidon section is almost as many in number as their buglers. About their most recognizable numbers are "Whispering", "This is My Country", "Wait Till the Sun Shines, Nellie" and "Going Home". Even though this corps is much larger than before, there's much work needed here.

This night Media Fawns had a substitute drum majorette, Joan DiAntonio, replacing Roe Apenbacher, who was unable to march due to a leg injury. The Fawns' repertoire is appropriate for an all-girl corps starting with "The Man I Love" fanfare into "I Enjoy Being A Girl" and "My Hero"!! The girls feature "Stardust" at concert followed by "Don't Blame Me", "I'm Just Wild About Harry" and "Blue Hawaii". This was the corps' first appearance at a State Legion contest.

Bracken Cavaliers' color guard is a show in itself. The outstanding work with their silks may have gone unnoticed as the girls are behind the corps proper part of the time. The audience seemed to appreciate Bracken's efforts, in particular - - "Love Letters".

Mann Rangers' new black, white and gold shirts are much more effective when you see then close than at a distance. To think that a Western Pa. corps had their hands on the Rangers' "Bill Bailey" and they sent it back! Turns out that this is just about the brightest part of their show. Their opening tune sounds suspiciously like the "Bugs Bunny" theme (actually titled "This Is It")! Seems that "High Society" may have lost something from last season.

What a difference a year makes! Tyrone's Gardner Guards have replaced most of their music, have a new drum major - - Robt. Albright, Guard commander - - Charlie Buck, and lots of new faces in the corps. With musical changes in the form of "Hello, My Baby", a concert of "Stranger In Paradise" and "Autumn Leaves", "King Cotton March", "Battle Hymn" fanfare, "Ghost Riders in the Sky", and "Varsity Drag" you would hardly recognize the Guards if it were not for their uniforms. To avoid open ranks, the corps has cut their bugle line to 24.

Before you ask, we'll tell you that the black armband worn by Esquires is in memory of George Lentz, a member of the color guard who passed away earlier this season. For a corps that changes its concert several times a summer, Esquires have hit on the winning combination in "Lover Come Back to Me". In addition to concert, the corps presents "Love Me Forever" and "I am Loved". Looks like they may have taken over the LOVE theme used by Tyrone. Bill Urban's color guard looks better every trip out! You may recognize their drum majors as being ex-Rockets for they are Lloyd Simpson and Bob Stephan.

Gold, white and brown silks (new this year) complement Warren Cornplanters' uniforms which are significant of the Indian's buckskins. In keeping with the Indian theme, the corps includes "Apache", "Moon River" and "God of Our Fathers" in their repertoire. They've dropped "Tonight" in favor of "Exodus". You may be interested in knowing that the Cornplanters traveled the longest distance to compete (310 miles one way!)

In the large part, Bangor Yellow Jackets have retained last season's music and even their drill looks familiar! If our memory serves us, their opener, "Another Opening, Another Show" is about due for retirement. Their "Rhapsody in Blue" concert is coupled with "Embracable You". It's from '61's show.

Milton Keystoners are slightly smaller than before with only 24 buglers, 7 in drum line and 8 in their guard. Yes, they're wearing the shocking pink shirts and white Kaiser Wilhelm helmets both of which caused a sensation when the corps appeared at Erie last July! They're colorful to say the least! Fortunately the corps has retained the "Sheik" as it brightens the entire show.

"Aida" excerpts "On the Banks of the Sacred Nile", "To the Glory of Egept" and "Triumphal March" are becoming identified with Latrobe Colonials. The corps now has 3 drum majors - - - Jeff Loux, Gene "Greep" Miller, and Jim Beidler. The Colonials have the largest guard of the "B" corps. Incidently, if their rifles look unusual it's because they're original flintlocks! The Colonials are one of the few corps to try the twist (other - Reilly and Esquires).

Definitely the smallest Senior "A" corps of the night, Chocolatiers have 20 buglers, 9 in drum section, and 9 in guard. About the only thing new is their white shirts for color guard. Remember that the class "A" in Penna. Legion refers to percentage of Legion members and not size of corps.

Exhibiting a drive seldom seen, Pittsburgh Rockets presented one of their better shows of the past few years. Their repertoire is varied in that it includes the classic "Swan Lake", popular "Climb Every Mountain", and old standard "Sugar Blues" concert with Riggie Laus solos. Some of the spectators that we know were all in favor of putting their money on the "boys" from Pittsburgh. You will be surprised when YOU see the Rockets as others may have been when they saw the corps at Philadelphia.

What can be said of the remaining two corps, Arcie and Reilly, that has not already been said in other columns and accounts of contests? Both were running hot this evening! Both have their followers whether they be Legionnaires or corps fans and it seemed that they were waiting for their favorites as the stands really came alive when these two appeared!

Of course, the parade the following afternoon climaxed the contest. The parade champions are: Meridian Woodpeckers in Juniors and Hanover Lancers in Seniors. Altho Meridian was unopposed, Lancers had some opposition in E. Stroudsburg Keystone Grenadiers and Wind Gap Blue Eagles.