Sharpsburg Cadets

The Sharpsburg Cadets, formed in 1916, was a senior marching and maneuvering and parade corps based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They were self sponsored.

The corps’ colors were blue and white.

The Cadets were active through at least 1974, though they did not participate in DCA national competition.

[Encyclopedia of Drum and Bugle Corps, 1966; A History of Drum and Bugle Corps, 2002]

The Sharpsburg Cadets were organized in 1929, making them one of the oldest drum and bugle corps in PA. While affiliated with the fire department, they won the PA State, Northern and Western, and Allegheny County Championships. This unit is well known for their repertoire of music which includes such numbers as Begin the Beguine, Lady of Spain, and the Songs of Stephen Foster. After an absence of a few years, when they were strictly a street parading corps, they returned to field competition. Last year they took part in two field contests winning one first and one second prize. This year’s corps is not their largest due to the fact that 19 members are in the Armed Forces. In WW II, 78 members served, three of them making the supreme sacrifice. The corps is instructed by Harry L. Walker of Wilkinsburg, PA. William Cunningham is the Commander, Guy Carricato, the Drill Instructor, and Joseph Wateska, the Business Manager. [From Verona-Rosedale Kiwania Festival of Drums souvenir program, June 11, 1954]