Saints

Background:

The Saints Drum and Bugle Corps, Fords NJ, was organized by Raymond Chmieleski and held its initial registration on May 23 and 24, 1967. The first rehearsal was held on July 21, 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 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.

Championship Titles
Garden State Circuit Champions
Virginia Open Champions
Drum Corps International Associate Members (1975)
National Judges Association Chapter 3 Ensemble Champions
National Judges Association All-Chapter Ensemble Champions
Saints Color Guard:
American Legion New Jersey State Champions
All-Eastern Guard Champions
Southeast Open Invitational Champions
Bristol Open Champions
Holiday Open Invitational Champions
Richmond County Open Invitational Champions
National Judges Association Chapter 3 Class A / Open Class Champions
National Judges Association All-Chapter Class A / Open Class Champions

Corps Directors:
Raymond Chmieleski
Joseph Palasak
Ralph Fair
Joseph Rocco
Raymond Kadash
Walter Kelly
Herbert Person

Corps Sponsors:
Our Lady of Peace RC Church, Fords
American Legion Post 324, Edison
American Legion T. Nulty Post 471, Iselin
Police Benevolent Association Local 38, Woodbridge Township
Veterans of Foreign Wars Memorial Post 1352, Hopelawn
Woodbridge Center, Woodbridge
Saints Booster Association
Saints Booster Club
Saints Parents Club

[submitted by JoAnne Parente; May 2007]

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