Belmont Park Grenadiers

The Belmont Park Grenadiers drum & bugle corps was originally formed in 1947 as the Boy Scouts Troop 343 of Chicago by Glen Smith and sponsored by the Lamon Avenue Methodist church.

In their inaugural season, the corps won the 1947 IL AL state championships and in 1948 under new sponsorship by the Austin American Legion (AL) Post 52 and were renamed the Lamont Scouts SAL Post 52. They repeated as IL state champions and competed at their first AL Nationals in Miami, placing 10th. In the fall of 1948, they were renamed the Austin Grenadiers and won the 1949 VFW Round Up championships and finished 11^th at the AL Nationals, held in Philadelphia. In 1950, the corps participated at both the IL AL state and IL State Fair championships, placing 2nd on their way to their highest ranking ever at the AL Nationals in Los Angeles, finishing 2^nd.

The following two seasons saw the corps crowned IL AL state and IL State Fair champions along with a 6^th place finish at the 1951 AL Nationals in Miami and 12^th position in the 1952 Legion championships held in New York. They also received an invitation to the National Dream contest where they placed 8^th. In the fall of 1952, the corps once again received new sponsorship under AL Post 597 of Belmont Park and became the Belmont Park Grenadiers. After winning the IL State Fair and finishing 2^nd at the IL AL state championships, they competed at the 1953 AL Nationals in St. Louis, placing in 4^th position.

In 1954, the Belmont Park unit finished bridesmaid at both the IL AL state and State Fair, returning for a 2^nd time to the National Dream, finishing 5^th. At the AL Nationals held in Washington, D.C., they finished in 7^th. The corps entered the 1955 IL VFW and the IL AL state championships, finishing 3^rd in both before competing at their last AL Nationals in Miami, placing 6^th. In their final season of competition, the corps finished 5^th at the IL AL state championships and they disbanded in 1957, selling their uniforms to the Alamo Rangers. Some, of the individuals from the management and instructional staff included the aforementioned Glen Smith (director), Ed Roberts and Jerry Svec on percussion with Mr. Kelly on marching.

Over their history, the Grenadiers successfully ranked within the “Top 12” at the American Legion Nationals for 8 consecutive years. Several of the management and instructional staff were instrumental in the formation of another success story, the Chicago Royal Airs.

From drumcorpswiki.com and Bob Maginnis; Paul Legault (DCX)

CORPS 2 items

Belmont Park Grenadiers

AustinGrenadiers,Chicago,IL,Patch1-Shield(RE-5.25x7.75)J_U_S from the Richard Elmquist Collection Contributed by Richard Elmquist

Belmont Park Grenadiers

AustinGrenadiers,Chicago,IL,Patch2(RE-4.0x1.5)J_U_S from the Richard Elmquist Collection Contributed by Richard Elmquist

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