Corvette

The Corvette “All-Girls” drum and bugle corps was organized initially as a self-supporting unit by Louis “Lucky” Peckover in 1961 as a method of helping juveniles in the Closter area.

In the first few years, the corps was strictly a parade unit and received sponsorship in early 1963 from the Leroy S. Mead American Legion (AL) Post 111 of Closter and entered the field of competition the next year as members of the Garden State Circuit (GSC). The original instruction staff included Louis Peckover on drill, Mrs. Peckover on brass and Sal Bleckman on percussion.

Over the next few years, they pursued their competitive ambitions in the GSC, under new sponsorship from the General George S. Greene Al Post 761 of Dumont in November of 1964, while also participating in the 1965 NJ AL state parade. In 1966, the corps sported new uniforms consisting of dark blue shirts with white kick pleats, white blouses and cowboy hats. Tragedy struck the corps twice in two  years when Carol Bleckman succumbed to her injuries in a car crash in June 1966. 

The Corvette girls placed 9^th in the 1967 GSC championships and followed up the next year with an appearance in the 1968 World Open “Class A” prelims, finishing in 41^st position. Once again, misfortune struck the corps when young Debra-Ann Maldonato passed away from a stray bullet in September of 1968.

The corps remained active the next two seasons in parades and exhibitions, sporting new cowgirl uniforms of sky blue and white in 1970. The following year, an attempt was made to go coed but the Closter unit was unable to gain enough interest to reorganize.

Paul Legault (DCX)