Parade World

By Harvey Berish
DCN Aug. 29, 1962

Arriving in New York for the State American Legion Convention I was greeted by a driving rain and wind storm .... however true to form the corps showed up and marched with few legionnaires (what happened to the old spirit??)

In the one New York city division (actually they became mixed) the following corps appeared one behind the other ... 1 The KINGSMEN closely followed by the Queensmen, Selden, Loretto, Skyliners, the Catskill Continentals - the Mariannettes and others..... All in all it was a "dream" parade except for the weather. The New York papers gave the parade poor coverage however the Kingsmen were given a spread in the Mirror and they also appeared on a T.V. News clip (this was mainly because they were one of the few groups to wear their uniforms and so were most colorful compared to the other corps that marched in street clothes to avoid soiling them.)

I came home to loads and loads of mail one letter in particular about the Harbor Knights of Egg Harbor, N.J. was interesting. This Senior corps is going all out and have just purchased brand new uniofrms that are guaranteed to draw comment. I will have a photo shortly.... They are still trying to enlarge so any one in that area interested may call the Rudolp Elmer A.L. post for info.

A note about the Corvettes of Closter, N.J. .... They are an all-girl corps directed by Mr. Louis Peckover and they're making great strides. Right now the corps is trictly a parade corps a parade corps but they too have intentions of hitting the field soon.... They are the corps everyone has been looking for... Yes the Corbettes play the STRIPPER .... your search has ended coffee lovers (er I mean corps lovers)...The corps was just T.V. taped for a show on delinquency prevention.

Today's feature is rather unusual ... I hope it will be accepted in the right way.... This corps is fighting a winning battle, in an area that is virgin territory for Drum Corps..... They are in Rock Springs, Wyoming... The Rock Springs Jr. D & B corps is a division of the Jr. Police and consists of 42 boys and girls ranging from 9 to 16 years of age.

The Rock Springs corps has marched in many parades in their area including parades in Green River Wyoming the Sweetwater County Fair parade the Carbon County Fair Parade and the Rick Springs Homecoming parade.

The Corps is under the direction of Al Fanelli assisted by Bill Smith and Art Reese.... Mrs. Millard Shoopman is the girls majorette instructor.

I wish this corps luck in their area ... I hope they can perform miracles as do some of our other corps that are truly alone in their area. Perhaps someday they will make National competition and we will all get to know their names ... like Enid Legionettes or the Greenville Presidents or some of the other fine corps that shoot up to the nationals from a small out of the way place (corps wise) and prove that they too have been working!!

Time to sign off for this month... Thanks for all the cards and letters. I have many yet to open...