Once again, we caught up with director John Martin, following the Flares' surprising performance at the Div I Quarterfinals earlier. Here's what he had to say:

"I am totally shocked. If you had told us at the beginning of the season that the Flares, a first year Division III corps would be among the top twelve corps competing in the Finals, I would have laughed at you. This corps has put in an amazing amount of effort with practice, rehearsals, and performances, and they have come out better than could be expected. No matter what happens now, I am proud, and so is the rest of the staff. I'd like to wish all corps competing in the Finals good luck, and hopefully we will show the world that Division III isn't something to be taken lightly."

A job well done to the Jackson Flares thus far! You have impressed alot a lot of us! Welcome to Division 1

I guess that VanocolateŽ must have been pretty darn yummy.

"Holy Enola Gay, Batman, we dropped a bomb on their #$@!" Exclaimed 1st Mellophone April Morse after Finals tonight.

The Jackson Flares Div III corps competed among giants tonight in the Division I Finals, and came out amongst the top three. The first year corps started out sloppy, but slowly and surely made its way up in skill level, and came out of nowhere to grab a third place spot in Denver. Director Martin spoke with us earlier:

"Okay, last night was amazing. We were stunned. Now we are so happy, that we truly have no idea what to do! We took a handful of kids that were proficient in marching, and pretty good with their instruments, and managed to whip them into a world-class corps. The staff has worked hard for over a year in preparation for the season, and the kids have gone many a night without sleep (for sake of practice) over the past three months. There are not words to describe the feeling of elation that we all have right now. All I can say is thank you to The WaterPur Company in Greenwood, FL and Forest River, Inc. in Goshen, IN for their sponsorship, thanks to our instrumental sponsors (King, Vic Firth, Zildjian, and the sponsors through the GM Organization). Thank you to the GM Organization for providing so much entertainment and help for the corps, and thank you to the fans for supporting us through a great year."

We would also like to take this time to announce that Martin plans on introducing a new corps next year for Season 3, The Cadets of Jackson County, to be based in Cashiers, NC (a beautiful mountainous region).

Once again, thank you to the fans, and a special thanks goes out to DLO and DLOFDC for providing a wonderful activity for friends and family alike.

***NEWS FLASH***

The new corps Martin planned on introducing has been redesigned. The new corps (The Cadets Of Jackson County) was originally planned as a feeder corps, but Martin has since taken a que from some past corps and is going to stick to a uni-sex corps.

Unlike past corps, this new program will be all female. The caption heads may or may not be subject to this policy on gender, but as of right now the corps is looking for the best of the girls in both playing, marching, dancing, and instructing.

The corps will still be based out of Jackson County, NC and the schedules for the camps will be posted very soon. Stay tuned for information on try-outs and camps for both the Jackson Flares, and the new all-female corps (we will be taking suggestions for names for the corps through PMs to Nex, feel free to send any and all suggestions. Some of the best names come from people who only want to joke around).

So long for now, and check back for more info on camps.

The all female corps for the next season now has an official name. We proudly present the Shelby Davis Memorial Drum & Bugle Corps. We named the corps such in memory of a 5th grader at Riverside Elementary in Marianna, FL who was killed last week when she was run over by her school bus. Our hearts go out to the Davis family, and we ask that you keep them in your prayers as they cope with their loss.

Camps for the Jackson Flares will be held at the new Marianna High School Facilities in Marianna, Florida. The first camp will be Dec. 3-5.

The S.D. Memorial auditions will be held at Huntingdon College in Montgomery, AL Dec. 10-12. We shall be using the Cloverdale facilities for the weekend.

Scheduling information for each section (for both corps) will be given via email and snail mail, as will all other appropriate paperwork. Please have everything ready, along with your $50 for the weekend. Make sure to bring an instrument (if possible), and don't forget your sticks or mouthpiece. All items necessary for Guard auditions will be provided, with some minor exceptions detailed in your paperwork. Remember to your prepared piece worked up, and come ready to have fun.

Thanks all,
John Martin

(Seriously though, Shelby Davis was a 5th grader at the local elementary school who was killed when her bus door closed on part of her backpack and dragged her 1602 feet before running over her. She held out for a day or two, but her entire lower body was crushed and her organs just gave out. Please do keep her family, including her 13 brothers and sisters, in your prayers).

The GM Organization will also be sponsoring the Shelby Davis Memorial Drum Corps. Pearl and Adams have already stepped up to donate and sponsor some of their equipment. Yamaha will be handling the brass section and thanks to Fred J. Miller the uniforms are being discussed as of now. We will like to congratulate the new corps for coming out and we wish good luck to them.


The Jackson Flares will also have sponsorships along with innovative percussion doing their mallets and sticks.