March Moments 2009: March 45 - 1975, Last Chapter

March 45 - 1975, Last Chapter
by JoAnne Parente

(Editor's note: What a run this has been ... more submissions for this little project known as March Moments than ALL other trivia and other submissions in the past, combined. Tomorrow is age-out day - watch for it.)


This is a March Moment I've saved until the very end. For me, it's about saving the best until last.

My absolutamente most favorite marching moment, hands-down, was the May 1975 NJA Guard championship finals at the Wildwood Convention Center. Given all the hype leading up to the show, it could have been anticlimactic. If you were there, you know nothing could be further from the truth.

We knew at some point early in that winter guard season that it would be our last. We had just come off a summer season which was a clear turning point on national competitiveness for the corps, and we collectively decided that we needed to focus more attention there.

As defending champs, we took the floor last. The Sematics were on just before us (and in third after prelims), and a good number of horn and drum line members were in the stands to cheer us both on.

Instead of our canned music (For Once In My Life for those who might have forgotten), we entered the floor to Jimmy Brady, who stood up in the stands and played us on to a jazzed-up version of When the Saints Go Marching In. Needless to say, EVERYONE in the convention center went wild.

Right up until the very end, most were skeptical that we would really just walk away from it all. We finished as champions - and I was even asked to write about it some five years later for a WGI Championship program.

What a day.
What a time.
What a guard.
What a corps.
What a family.

1975. Gotta love it.


Comments or questions about our March Moments series? Click here to submit, or if that doesn't work, send them to joparente DOT saintsdrumcorps AT gmail DOT com.

March Moments 2009 : March 14 - Indoor Shows, Chapter 1

March 14 - Indoor Shows, Chapter 1
by JoAnne Parente


This moment came to me courtesy of Jimmy Pic, who sent along some audio files of the corps from the 1973 Season.

Marching in the NJJCGEA (National Judges Junior Color Guard and Ensemble Association - NJA for short), a good number of our shows were split in two. The first half of the evening was devoted to the color guards, with the time after intermission filled with ensemble competition.

Listening to the NJA Chapter 3 and All-Chapter audio recordings, I was flooded with memories of how supportive we all were of each other. Whether it was any of our three guards or the ensemble on the floor, the rest of us were all there in the stands. We collectively knew when to hold our breath and watch or listen, and when to scream appreciation for a part of drill or music that was difficult or critical to the outcome of the performance.

Up until now, I don't believe I've thought all that much about how often many of you just traveled to shows to cheer the rest of us on. The Saints Guard had the most shows of all during the winter season - even when Sematics, Phase III, and the ensemble weren't competing (like when we marched out of circuit), you all made the bus trip with us.

Support breeds confidence. Confidence breeds success.

Thanks for being there.


Interested in submitting your own favorite memories for March Moments? Click here to submit, or if that doesn't work, send them to joparente DOT saintsdrumcorps AT gmail DOT com.

All for now - corpsdially yours from jo!