Springfield Marksmen

Springfield, MA United States
Founded: 1957

Inactive Senior

Year	Position	Score	Theme/Songs
1962			Theme from The Young Lions * Witchcraft (from Take Five) * Comes Love * Give Me the Simple Life (from Let's Make Love) * Dancing Caballeros * Lords Prayer * I Believe * Every Time We Say Goodbye
1967			Man from Uncle * Land of Our Fathers * Come Rain or Come Shine (from St. Louis Woman) * Hava Nagila * California Dreamin'
1968	11	70.700	(Repertoire not available)

Position 200+ indicates Division II, Position 300+ indicates Division III, Position 400+ indicates Mini Corps.

The Marksmen Drum and Bugle Corps started in 1957 as a senior drum corps. Drum corps had been developed during the 1920’s and 30’s as veterans’ groups spawned organizations for their conventions and parades. They also sponsored junior drum corps, such as Sons of Legion or VFW and this branched out into CYO and Boy Scout sponsors over the years. The Marksmen tradition blossomed during the 1960’s, using the theme of the Springfield Armory and representing the City of Springfield. The Marksmen Senior Drum and Bugle Corps appeared in many parades throughout the northeast and competed in drum corps competitions in the Yankee Circuit, winning many awards and top honors. The Marksmen also successfully competed in national competitions, with appearances up and down the east coast, including New York’s Carnegie Hall and Shea Stadium. During the Vietnam War of the 1960’s, many members of The Marksmen were called to duty and, because of the great number of members entering military service, the corps was forced to disband in 1969.

[submitted by fred01057@stowewtel.com]

The corps competed in DCA finals only once, in 1968, when they finished 11th.

During 1968, eight babies were born to Marksmen members. Five were named Mark.

[A History of Drum & Bugle Corps, 2002; DCW, 8/1/03, p.3]