Grey Knights

The Grey Knights drum and bugle corps was organized in early 1947 when a vast majority of enlisted members of the Greece Squadron American Legion (AL) Post 468, every member returning miraculously unscathed, rejoined the Squadron after World War II and reorganized as the Greece AL Post 468 senior unit.

The Greece Post entered the field of competition in the summer of 1947 as members of the Upstate Drum & Bugle Corps Association and in 1949, became known as the Grey Knights. They competed in their first state Legion contest in 1950, placing 4^th, performed in several competitions the following year before opening their own Legion Post, the Grey Knights AL Post 952 of Rochester in 1952. Sporting their blue & grey uniforms with red plumed shakos, the corps, affectionately known as "Rochester's Own", proudly carried the official city flag in its color guard.

That season saw the corps finish 3^rd in the 1952 State championships and participated in the prestigious 1953 Dream contest, where they placed 4^th along with a 2^nd place finish in the Legion State tournament. The corps remained competitive in 1954 before going inactive the following year, returning to field competitions in 1956. Over the next 3 seasons, the Grey Knights participated in the AL Nationals, finishing 18^th in the 1957 preliminary round and 8^th & 6^th in the finals in 1958 & 1959 respectively.

Between 1957 to 1961, "Rochester's Own" placed 3^rd (1957 & 1958), 2^nd (1959) & 4^th (1960 & 1961) in the Legion State championships. In 1958, the corps joined the New York - Canadian circuit, capturing the 1958, 1960 & 1964 titles, finishing in 2^nd position in 1959 & 1961, followed by a 4^th place finish in 1963. The Grey Knights also placed 6^th & 3^rd in the 1963 & 1964 State contests, traveling thousands of miles throughout their era, appearing in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Minnesota, Illinois and Canada.

In 1965, the corps merged with the Crusaders of Irondequoit to form the Grey Knight Crusaders, known as the “Super Corps”.

Paul Legault (DCX)

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