Delaware American Legion Post 1

The Delaware American Legion (AL) Post 1 drum and bugle corps was formed in December of 1926 by members of both the Delaware Post and the Laurence Roberts AL Post 21, both of Wilmington.

The corps first public appearance was in May of 1927 at the Bridgerton Firemen Department’s 50^th anniversary celebrations, sporting their natty blue uniforms with silver trench helmets. They entered the field of competition as perennial participants in the AL Nationals from 1928 to 1949, with the exception of the 1932 convention, held in Oregon. Over their first 6 appearances, the Delaware unit placed between 11^th in 1929, 13^th in 1933 & 1934 and an uncharacteristic 31^st in 1935.

The 1936 season marked the first time the corps earned a finalist position in the National event, placing 13^th, however missed out the following year by a mere one and three-quarter tenth of a point. From 1938 through to 1941, the Legion Post continued to represent the state of Delaware in the National championships’ preliminaries, finishing 16^th  in 1939 & 1941 and 18^th in 1938 & 1940. After World War II, the corps regrouped and attended the 1946 AL Nationals, placing an impressive 6^th position in the finals, relegating back to prelim status over the next 3 years, including a 15^th place finish in the 1949 contest. Between 1950 to 1952, the corps remained active, participating one last time in the 1951 AL Nationals’ parade.

By 1953, a combination of insufficient interest by younger members of the organization and the loss of their annual Carnival, a major financial source, led to the corps’ disbandment.

Paul Legault (DCX)

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