New Britain herald., 1929-10-05
Why Legion Drum Corps Failed to Win Prizes

Many New Britain people who have taken a just pride in the ad- mirable efforts of Eddy-Glover post, American Legion, to organize and develop it's drum and huglc corps, were eXpectant of hearing that the New Britain organization had won the prize for the best appearance in the national convention parade held the early part of this week in Louis- vile. Ky.
 Without a doubt, the corps is rec ognized as the best appearing musi- cal outfit in the state of Connecti- cut and, for the matter, in the en- tire East. Despite the fact that the New Britain corps failed 10 be awarded the prize for the state con vention parade in Hartford in Au- gust, it appeared that only the judges were not in accord with al most everyone else in thinking that New Britain should have been awarded the first honors, and their decision was apparently influenced by the fact that New Britain had already won other prizes.
 To anyone who has attended national convention of the American Legion, it is no surprising thing to learn that New Britain never even figured in the awards for prizes giv- en in connection with the national convention parade. The competition, especially from the bands represent ing posts in the Middle and Far West, is so keen that only d drum and bugle corps of the most exCep- tional ability and appearance would be able to wrest the prize, much coveted and much sought by the Le- sionnaires, from the western section of the country.
 Almost every outfit attending a convention has it's musical organiza- ton. One band alone numbered 132 pieces with three solid lines of Sous aphones, the big bass instruments with the mellow sounds. The Miami, Fla, band, with it's orange caps and uniforms, consists of more than 60 men and is one of the classicst out fits in existence. The Racine, Wis consin, drum and bugle corps, after which the organization of the local post is patterned, prize winner for five consecutive years, dressed in study of white and black, stands alone even among the premier corps in the running for the prizes. Mem bers of this corps work in q factory and drill every day as part of their regular duties.
 In Philadelphia in 1928, Racine was admittedly the best appearing and marching outfit in the parade However, one of the judges of the procession expressed the good natur- ed sentiment of all the others when he remarked, i've been voting for Racine for the past five years. I'm sick of doing it and I'm going 10 vote for some other band Racine took this with a smile and then gave an exhibition drill at the SesquiCen- tennial stadium for good measure.
 New Britain people should justly feel proud of the organization which represents the Legion post of this city. The members of Eddy-Glover post who made the organization pos sible and the men who form il should be congratulated. There is no other organization in the East that is wholly and entirely Legion to compare with it.
 However, in comparison with the loo or more musical organizations which, for the most part, represent the West. the local organization is just another drum corps. After q few years of drilling and eXpcri- ence, there isn't any doubt that the local posts organization will be among the prize winners. Who knows but that in Boston in 1880, New Britain may be among the first?
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