American
Legion Junior Drum and Bugle Corps in the 1930’s
Connection
to present day
Note: Normally full names are not used in
these stories but this time they are because thhese people deserve credit
for what they did.
This is about a base drum and a friend of a friend
of a friend connection
Started when Gayle Lawson, a friend of my
husband, told us about a bass drum
Gayle is, among other things, active in the
Kearney American Legion
His friend, Mark Dissmeyer, had talked to his
neighbor, Morris VanVleet, who had talked to a friend, Bob Dingman.
Bob had found this
bass drum in the Laconia Antique Center in Laconia, New Hampshire
All of them, including the
Legion membership, agreed this drum should be brought back to Kearney
Mark talked with
Charlie St. Claire at the antique store who also agreed it should be home.
A deal was made to purchase the drum and have it shipped back to here.
Mr. St Claire did
not have any information on how it came to be in New Hampshire.
It is currently in an
office at the American Legion while Gayle and Mark make plans to build a
case with a Plexiglas front so it can be displayed at the Legion.
Formation of the
Jr. Drum & Bugle Corps
A. Some background information about drum
and bugle corps
Drum
and bugle corps descended from military bugle and drum units.
Traditionally, they served as signaling units for military personnel going
back before the Civil War and up through
WWI
With the
advent of the radio, bugle signaling units became obsolete and surplus
equipment was sold to veterans
organizations (such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion)
They became major
organizers of drum and bugle corps, formed of both civilians and veterans
Other
organizations also formed drum and bugle corps
Mainly made up of adult
men, but then junior corps were formed also – boys jr/sr high age
The corps performed in
community events and local celebrations.
Over time, rivalries between corps emerged and
competitions evolved.
B. Corps in Kearney/Buffalo County
1932 – State American Legion
convention held in Norfolk. Parade included 15 drum and bugle corps
1933
– American Legion state convention held in Kearney (always at end of August)
Contest Tuesday evening, open to public as well as convention goers. Always
a large crowd
Hastings won for 2nd year in a row.
Picture in paper – 15 bugles, 7 snare drums, 2 bass drums, 1 pair of cymbals
(25 members) plus drill master
May 1934 – Fire department had a
drum and bugle corps
Band
leader at the State Industrial School was working with 32 boys to develop a
drum and bugle corps
But
they were not the only drum and bugle corps in Kearney
C. Who was this
group that formed the American Legion Junior drum and bugle corps?
After the American Legion convention in August 1933, efforts began to form a
boys drum and bugle corps
Boys
ages 12-18 were eligible to join
First
problem was acquiring instruments.
Some boys owned instruments, others borrowed them
What started as a 10-piece corps soon grew to 30
By the time their picture appeared in the paper in November 1934 there were
22 drummers and 23 buglers for a
total of 45
At first financial support came from the V.F.W.
But soon the American Legion took over sponsorship.
Early in August 1934 the Legion bought equipment for 23 of the boys; 22
already having equipment.
They
also provided parade outfits of blue satin shirts, gold sashes, white
trousers and helmets.
Bob
Dean was drum major and drill master, H L Blackledge was sponsor.
They marched in the parade at the 1934 convention in Grand Island but did
not participate in a contest
They
planned to participate in a contest the following year but nothing came of
those plans
1936 Contest
Wednesday, July 22, 1936 – Big honor
for the drum & bugle corps
Nebraska Republicans went to Topeka, Kansas, to see Alf Landon officially
receive his notification of nomination
to be the Republican candidate for President.
A special train of Republicans started in Kearney at 6:30 a.m., with stops
in GI, Hastings, and Fairbury, along
with trains from Lincoln and Omaha, all went to Topeka
The group starting from Kearney included the 46-member American Legion Jr.
drum and bugle corps.
At noon
they stopped at Marysville, Kansas, where the drum & bugle corps gave an
exhibition drill.
They
also lead a street parade of Nebraskans when they arrived in Topeka late
that afternoon.
The
notification ceremony was that evening at 8 p.m. Then they returned home
that night.
[to be continued next month]
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