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 The Saints
Drum and Bugle Corps, Fords NJ, was organized by Raymond Chmieleski and held its
initial registration on May 23, and 24, in 1967.
The first
rehearsal was held on July 21, in 1967 in Our Lady of Peace Cafeteria, the same
location as the initial registration. Prospective members at the time were all
inexperienced and had the option of joining the horn line, drum line, color
guard, or twirlers.
Due to the size
and age of some of the applicants, as well as lopsided registration into the
drum line and color guard, members were repositioned where the needs of the
corps and the abilities of the person were best met. By the third rehearsal, the
“Little Guard” was formed.
Practices continued weekly throughout the winter with the drummers in the
cafeteria stockroom, the twirlers on the stage, the Horn Line toward the front
of the eating area, the Big Guard in the rear, and the Little Guard along the
side aisles. Dues were 75 cents weekly, and every other Friday meant another
newsletter boasting of progress made in the order of uniforms and equipment, or
with a brief biography of one of the Board members.
With the
arrival of Spring in 1968, the Saints were ready to go public. The corps
attended Mass in uniform the morning of the first parade, and then proceeded to
Clara Barton School, Edison, to start the first of hundreds more parades and
events.
The Corps
Directors, were Raymond Chmieleski, Joseph Palasak, Ralph Fair, Joseph Rocco,
Raymond Kadash, Walter Kelly and Herbert Person.
The Drum Majors
were Ginny Boyle, Sue Hickey, Sue Brady, Chris Kasha, Mary Cassidy, Bob Matelski,
Jane DePinto, Debbie Pajak, Mona Lisa Fiorentini, Chris Quadt, Priscilla French,
Edna Tarrant, Marlene Grega and Mike Wargo.
Drill
Instructors were Frank Kubinak & Ralph Fair. Colorguard Instructor was Rose and
Tony Cataneo, and Horn Instructors, were Anthony "Sonny" Cataneo from 1967-1969
and Tom (Bucky) Swan & Gus Wilke in the year of 1969-1976. The Instructors for
the drum line were George Lopez, Robert Peterson, George Tuthill & Walter Kelly.
The Saints were
Garden State Champions in 1974. In 1975 D.C.I. Associates Finalist at U.S. Open
and American International. The Executive Director of the corps was Ralph Fair.
You can read a full detail of the drum corps that was written by, JoAnne
Parente.
Download the Adobe PDF file
"The Saints First Reunion by:
JoAnne Parente" on this
page.
Enjoy the site!
Sincerely,
Mark (Rocky) Chiocchi
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