Close Encounters of the Cadet Kind

[Tom Pheysey]

Where and when have you had one?

I'm not talking about running into someone while slumming around on staff for the Podunk Vally Regional Marching Panthers. That world is populated with plenty of alums from all over DCI. I'm talking about those odd encounters in the real world, like discovering your barber was 2 corps away from you on the field at finals retreat, or your babysitter marches in the same guard you were in way back when.

I had one in the late 90's. I was working for the NJ Symphony Orchestra, and I hired a guy who had marched soprano in the park-bench-and-lamp-post show (year?). Turns out we both played at Reagan's '84 inaugural as well, albeit with different groups. That he put his Cadets experience at the bottom of his resume is the main reason I interviewed him in the first place, and he turned out to be a damn fine worker indeed.

[Ross Kramer]

years ago, when I worked for CBS, I was bs-ing with my boss about different things, like family, golf, etc. And towards the end, as I was rushing out to a meeting, he mentioned that he knew I would do good work when he hired me because I was a Cadet. Now, I never mentioned to anyone I worked with that I was in drum corps, and he never would tell me how he knew. But was I stunned! And also grateful, that being a Cadet factored into the hiring process!

Also work-related, regarding a vendor I have known for 20 years - who is now a good friend. One day at lunch, we were talking about our backgrounds, and somehow I mentioned drum corps - not knowing what kind of reaction I would get. Right away, he said "where did you march?" and I said "Cadets". He said, "you were a Cadet?" Turns out he marched in Pride of Cinncinatti in 1984! I distinctly remember a show in Lexington, KY where after the show, Pride was playing in the parking lot after retreat, and a bunch of other corps members were enjoying the heck out of it (I can STILL hear that tune in my head)! Well, my friend also remembered that night, and told me what fun it was for him to play for all the spectators (including me).

[Michele Imbrogno De Rosa]

During the mid 90's, I worked in a retail store as a manager. While interviewing a candidate for employment, I noticed she attended Irmo High School in South Carolina. For those of you who don't remember Irmo, it was/is a beautiful, at the time new school we stayed in several time over the years; I think their mascot was a hornet! I commented on her attending Irmo, she said "Yes, I did attend" - "are you from SC?" (At the time we were having the conversation in Wayne, New Jersey!) I said no, tried to give the abbreviated what is drum corps story... . Anyway, she stopped me and said, "Were you a Cadet? I said yes. She said, "You know my brother - Chris Buck!"

[Ross Kramer]

great story! I marched next to Chris for a couple of years....what a great guy!

[Dave Shaw]

I once bumped into John Hannigan at Nakita Airport in Tokyo, and he didn't even buy me a drink. If you ever spot him there don't expect much. Be prepared to buy your own.

[John E Schneider]

After one of the Cadet camps last month I was driving my future daughter-in-law to Philly Int'l. A bus pulls up along side me and off load some Cadets. I rolled down the window and yelled at them. When they realized I was a Cadet and not just a regular nut, they were real happy to be recognized. I told them to "Kick A**" this Summer and that the entirety of the Cadet family was behind them. I hope that the new Cadets realize how important they are to us and that without us their importance would be diminished. It is always better to be part of a greater good than an individual one. "Those who do not remember their past are doomed to repeat it." - Georges Santayanas

[George Lea]

It's 1986 and I'm flying out to the midwest to attend DCI Championships in Madison, WI. Robert Mayer (1982-1983) and I were wearing our jackets on the People's Express flight out of Newark, NJ. On the plane one of the flight attendants says "so, you guys are going to finals? I marched in the Cadets color guard last year <1985>". What were the odds.

The day after Christmas, 2001, I'm at Newark Airport to catch a flight to Buffalo, NY to spend time with my girlfriend. The place was jam packed b/c of security. As I'm standing in this line from hell and missing my flight as a result, who do I run into but Jonathan Schwartz as he was flying back to California for "Blast!"

In 2002, my same girlfriend from Buffalo, NY and I attended DCI Championships (also in Madison, WI). After returning home she told me a story about telling her neighbor about where she had just come back from. He says, "...you went to finals???" Turns out her neighbor was a lead soprano with Phantom Regiment in 1977 and played to solo in Pagliacci.

[Mickie and Duane Evans]

I moved to Washingtonville, NY at the end of 1978--and left NJ behind to raise a family. Then one night I went to a dinner-dance with Duane where there was a live band--and when they intro'd themselves, one was Billy Traina--that's the first small world--the second was a couple of years later in a small hole in the wall local bar. I was out with a bunch of friends--all getting time away from kids and I glanced across the bar to see someone who resembled Paul Wall--so I just said "Paul?"--he turned--he's living about two miles from us!