I played in one of those lines and we were very clean by finals night. I would have to agree those lines you mentioned were also National Champions and all the Float lines that followed in the 1980`s were also very good. I think St. Joseph`s of Batavia NY were right at the top at 1968 VFW and may have beat the Kilties at that show in drums. Another thing, although the Kilties won VFW corps the Royal Airs had a penalty that put them in 4th, without it they won the show!

Wow, you are old! Hey, were your drums carved out of trees and was your tap off "ugg, ugg, ugg, ugg"?

Just kidding! Hey Hangman do you remember a corp that was in the VFW league by the name of the Dundee Scotts from Dundee Ill.?

My dad was a post commander of a VFW back in those days '67-'75, and his post sponsored them. I remember going to watch them with my dad, also my dads post did a ton of parades with them around the Chicago area. I see you're from E. St Louis, I probably have seen you since you marched with the Knights.

Anyway, all you guys were the inspiration for me to get into DCI, well, that and my dad pushing me into it (dads are so smart!). But I can remember going to the VFW's version of I&E with the Scott's, those guys had some killer chops back then! There was this one guy who did this thing where he back sticked a flammed six stroke something another, anyway it was cool for that time!

Oh hey, SCV I watched you when you marched center snare in the Troopers and you guys really did splits back then? You were light years ahead of any one! Ha I have even seen Hardimon and Float march. Wow now I sound old!

Yes I was in both 1973 and 74 and did some of the writing for the line. Jones was a snare drummer in his youth and still liked to write parts and be with the drumline along with his great M&M programs, both years we won M&M at DCI and in 1973 tied SCV for High Drum Execution at finals. So 1973 was the cleaner of the two lines and also better overall corps.

Yes the snare line did the alternating rolls in the first drum solo and that was all Jones idea. We were good friends he even got the Premier Pipe snare for me. He made up a story about some guy that ordered it and didn`t want it but I figured it out he also entered snare solos in his day and I think he did place 2nd one year.