The first weekend in July saw the SQUIRES in competition for the first time. Corps history was made on July 3rd at an afternoon contest in Hamilton on the Colgate University campus. In front of a very small crowd the corps performed well and managed what we thought was a very respectable second place to Canadas Marching Saints. We were surprised (read flabbergasted) and pleased to be announced in second place roughly one point from first. While the buses were leaving Hamilton rumors of a mistake on the score sheets and our placing first began to circulate. Traveling down route 12 to Endicott for the evening contest corps spirits had risen to a near frenzy. When arriving in Endicott the revelation that we had indeed won the earlier contest sent spirits sky high. We marched the show of our young lives and waited as patiently as we could, not quite knowing what to expect. At the retreat ceremony as the announcer read the results, most members will probably remember (whether real or imagined) the sound of sixty-eight hearts pounding in anticipation as the places were revealed. An instant of stunned disbelief was followed by a flood of unabashed joy as the second place announcement left the SQUIRES alone in first place. For a drum corps that had never won much of anything it was a defining moment. It was not a close win (over five points). Best color guard was more icing on the cake. We couldnt get hold of ourselves. No one seemed to mind. We stopped for fast food, spent half the night repeating, I cant believe it and got home around 4:00am.

The following two weeks were spent in preparation for the SQUIRES first major trip to the World Open in Lynn, Massachusetts. Practices were devoted to shortening the field show. Class B rules for presumably younger and less experienced groups, had a shorter time requirement. It was also customary to shorten the routine further for preliminary competition. Major fundraisers included a tag day where corps members collected donations for tags with the words Boost em to Boston. Folks all over the Glen were wearing them. An Ice Cream Social in Lafayette Park capped off the tag day.

On Thursday, July 15th the SQUIRES headed for Lynn and our first contest of this scope. Twenty-six corps were competing in Class B for five finalist spots. We left the Glen with high hopes but due to our inexperience and young age again didnt really know what was in store. Upon arrival we attempted to practice but the distractions of travel, the strange (to us) location and the hundreds of locals swarming the practice field on bicycles made it just about impossible.

This being the first overnight trip for the majority, few corps members got much sleep. On Friday morning, as the corps arrived at the venerable Manning Bowl, morale was high but so was apprehension. The site of the stadium itself was overwhelming to many. We apparently did a good job. The quote of the morning was from Hardy, who up to this point had been very difficult to please. Great show but dont expect too much. That was somehow reassuring. We did well and could go home pleased with our efforts.

We changed clothes and went back into the stadium to watch the rest of the show. Our score was a respectable 63.05, near the top but there was a long way to go. As the afternoon wore on the possibility of making the finals began to materialize and it came down to the final announced score. When that came (a 60.60 for the Watertown, MA Cadets) the nearly dumbfounded SQUIRES found themselves in fifth place, the last qualifying position. World Open finalists! In what was turning out to be a storybook summer the corps was once again awash in emotions. We made a quick trip back to our housing, tried to rest and returned to Manning Bowl after supper. The thrills were multi-dimensional. We performed another good show to a very large and appreciative crowd. My Wife the Dancer received a standing ovation and we actually moved up two places to finish in third. The young SQUIRES were having the time of their lives and the best was yet to come.

The return trip was as might be expected. Most of us slept. About ninety minutes outside of Watkins Glen, at a stop in Windsor near Binghamton, corps president Willie Franzese brought up the idea of performing when we arrived in the Glen. Anyone who heard the suggestion thought he was out of his mind but what could we say? About ten miles from the Glen in Alpine a small group of well wishers at the junction displayed a homemade sign welcoming us home and before we new it there were quite a few cars following the buses in caravan style. Someone on the bus, listening to a radio, thought he heard some mention of the corps but couldnt quite make it out for sure. By the time we got to Montour Falls the caravan had grown and fire trucks had joined the caravan. Sirens were blaring. By now we knew something was afoot but really didnt have much of an idea what. It was a typical Sunday with Franklin Street basically deserted as we entered the village, horns honking and sirens blaring. But instead of stopping at the usual drop off at the Municipal Building the buses headed down Fourth Street to Lafayette Park.

At the park we were again stunned to see wall-to-wall people with signs and placards congratulating us and welcoming us home. The Mayor, the PAGES and most of the rest of the villagers were on hand. Red carpets were rolled out and rose petals were showered on the members as we got off the buses. Hugs, kisses and tears were in abundance. A victory concert was performed in a scene of Americana that would have been the envy of Norman Rockwell.