Historic New Britain Drum Corps to Hold Reunion
By Editor at September 15, 2023 | 7:30 pm | Print
The New Britain Grenadiers Drum & Bugle Corps, an organization with a long history in local youth activities, will hold its second reunion on Saturday, Sept. 24 at the Whinstone Tavern at Stanley Golf Course. This is the first such gathering for the Grenadiers since 1982.
The Corps was formed in 1929 as an activity of Boy Scout Troop 4. Its primary founder was scoutmaster, Kermet E. Parker, who for many years was the New Britain Herald wire editor. At the Herald, Mr. Parker also entertained local readers each Saturday with his front page “Out of the Ink: Pot” cartoon that emphasized items of current local interest. Mr. Parker remained active with the Corps into the 1960’s.
The Grenadiers took a significant step up in statewide prominence in July 1942 at the State Drum Corps Convention in Waterbury. The Corps was then known as the Troop 4 Trumpet Band. In its reopening on the many different classifications in the competition, the Herald proclaimed that, “Troop 4 achieved the biggest upset of the entire day by winning the junior bugle and drum title for the first time in its 13 year career. The Scouts’ bugle section was far and away the best in its class …. “
The Corps later adopted the Grenadiers name, and in the mid-1950s left its affiliation with Scouting and retained sponsorship by the Eddy-Glover American Legion Post #6. From that point until the mid-1960s, the Corps entered into its most active phase as a competitive marching and maneuvering (M&M) unit. The Grenadiers were a charter member of the Yankee Open M&M Circuit that provided for drum corps contests throughout New England. They also joined the Greater New York M&M Circuit, expanding its region of regular competition to New York and New Jersey. With the vigor of youth, the Corps would, on some summer weekends, participate in as many four events (parades, contests, exhibitions) held in multiple states.
During this decade of constant travel and activity, the Grenadiers also welcomed competing corps and fans from surrounding states to their annual “Buglers’ Holiday” competition at Willow Brook Park in New Britain. During winter months, the Grenadiers Color Guard, and an apprentice junior Guard, the Grenadettes, competed at indoor contests from Maine to New Jersey.
In 1961 a new leadership took over the Corps. Five fathers of members took over the Corps and with their leadership, devotion & sacrifice took the Corps in a new direction. The five fathers were Harold Ghent, Robert Murray, Louis Negri, Ted Alibozek, & Winifred McKeon.
In August 1961, the Grenadiers boarded a bus bound for Miami, FL to compete in the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Million Dollar Pageant of Drums, the championship competition at the VFW 62nd National Convention. New Britain’s Walter Smith VFW Post #511 sponsored their entry into that event.
Former members, and all others associated with the Corps, who are interested in attending the reunion may contact the Reunion Committee at the email address: [email protected]
