Emerald Grenadears

The Emerald Grenadiers “All-Girls” drum and bugle corps was formed in 1974 under the leadership of Paul Rost Jr. and sponsored by the Rockaway Township American Legion (AL) Post 344 and the Rockaway Township VFW Post.

The corps drew its membership from six municipalities including several members from the Luckie Ladies of Wharton. The corps was a parade and exhibition unit in their inaugural season and entered the field of competition in the 1976 World Open championships, competing in both the preliminaries of the “Class A”, placing 25^th and the “All-Girls” divisions, finishing in 9^th.

The next 4 years saw the Grenadears participate in the American International Open “All-Girls” class, where they placed 6^th (prelims - 1977), 8^th (prelims - 1978), 2^nd (finals - 1979) and 3^rd (prelims - 1980). They also performed in the US Open “All-Girls” division, finishing 10^th (1978 - prelims), ranking 4^th in the 1979 finals & 4^th (1980 - prelims) while in the Garden sate Circuit (GSC), they finished 9^th in 1977, 11^th in 1978, 3^rd in 1979 & 7^th in 1980.

The “All-Girls” unit competed in the 1978 Metro All-American circuit, placing 2^nd, the 1978 New Jersey AL state convention, finishing 9^th & the 1980 DCI East “All-Girls” regionals, where they ranked 5^th. In 1981, the corps reverted to parade status, returning to the field in 1982 with the fusion of the Grenadettes feeder corps as members of the GSC “Intermediate - Class B” division, finishing in 4^th in 1982 & 3^rd in 1983 along with a 2^nd place finish in the Eastern States circuit, placing 2^nd in the “Class B”.

They disbanded in 1984 but reorganized after a 20 year absence as an Alumni in 2003.

Paul Legault (DCX)

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