Young Americans

The Young Americans Junior Drum And Bugle Corps was organized in January, 1966, by Walter P. Smith with the assistance of American Legion Post #255, Newport News, Virginia. "Smitty," as he was affectionately known, had marched with the Blessed Sacrament Drum And Bugle Corps in Irvington, New Jersey.

Starting with 34 boys and girls, the corps grew to a membership of 100 by 1969, with 85 marching members, performing in the Eastern States Circuit. The Young Americans represented the Virginia’s peninsula area in parades, standstills, competitions, concerts, exhibitions, and musical demonstrations. The staff during that period included business manager Donald G. Croushore, drum instructors Rod Wyatt, Jim Cothran, and Bill Van Horn, and horn instructors Bill Semanek and Chuck Roth.

In 1967, the corps competed at the American Legion Championships and the World Open Championships in Massachusetts and Maryland. During 1968, they performed the halftime show for the Oyster Bowl football game and twice competed in the Eastern States Judges Association Competition in Washington, DC. In 1969, the corps traveled over 9,000 miles to competitions up and down the East Coast.

[J.E. Cothran]

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