ca 1900

Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), a Union Civil War Veterans fraternal organization founded in 1866 and

dissolved with the death of its last member, Albert Woolson of Duluth Minnesota, in 1956.

The GAR is one of the great-grand-daddies of modern Drum & Bugle Corps.

(Drummers, notice anything?)

 

1911 Astoria Centennial Drum Corps

 

1911 Astoria Centennial Corps

In 1889 a sixteen-year-old Fred Brown joined the “Astoria Drum Corps”.  22-years later in 1911, he formed the Astoria Boy Scout Centennial Drum Corps seen above.  This corps toured the Pacific Northwest celebrating and advertising Astoria’s centennial.  The corps contained 60 boys aged six through sixteen.  Last year for the corps was 1922.  They wore blue and gold uniforms with a colonel’s silver eagle on each shoulder strap.

Fred Brown is holding the American flag.

 

 

 

The Fred Brown on the left founded the Centennial DC, not the one on the right.

(Obscure Seattle humor people!!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hillah Temple – Klamath Falls, OR

ca. 1930 – 1950

Kilty Band AL Post #14 – Ashland, OR

ca. 1933 – 1952

Portland Police Drum & Bugle Corps

Founded: 1938

Known for:  Portland Rose parades, Local events, and representing the State of Oregon in the Dwight D. Eisenhower

   Inaugural Parade January 20, 1953.

Sponsor of the Portland Hawks Jr Drum & Bugle Corps.

Disbanded: 1957 due to no longer being able to collect overtime for practicing or performances.

 

 

 

 

1954 Portland Police

Portland Rose Parade

 

1955 Portland, Oregon – Police Drum Corps

 

PORTLAND AIR NATIONAL GUARD D&BC — The original Oregon Air National Guard Drum & Bugle Corps started with discussions beginning in May 1958.  Their existence spanned approximately 14 years, ending sometime after 1972.  They formed to meet the need for marching music for the unit.  The team also wished to compete with other military and civilian ROTC Drum and Bugle Corps.

The volunteer members were well-represented from throughout the 142nd Fighter Group.  The Drum & Bugle Corps needed 38 male members for the ideal complement: 14 drummers, 18 buglers, two cymbalists, one Drum Major, three color guards and one glockenspiel.   A female baton twirler was also added for parade formations.

Uniforms and instruments were furnished at no cost to members. The first set of instruments was borrowed from the defunct Portland Police Drum & Bugle Corps (1938 – 1957).  The next set was rented from the Hillsboro American Legion (1950 – 1955); however, new instruments were identified for purchase by Sept. 13, 1958, using funds from all squadrons in the 142nd Fighter Group and from the Oregon State Military Department.

 

 

1960 Oregon Air National Guard Drum & Bugle Corps

Members of the Oregon ANG Drum & Bugle Corps enjoy a moment in the sun as they stand ready on the ramp

at Portland AFB in this early view of the corps, circa late 1960. Note the Northrop F-89J Scorpion fighter-interceptors in the background.

 

 

1961 Oregon Air National Guard Drum & Bugle Corps

Oregon ANG Drum & Bugle Corps in the summer khaki uniforms of that era down a Portland street

in the 53rd Annual Rose Festival’s Grand Floral Parade, Saturday, June 10, 1961. Drum Major MSgt Unverricht leads the corps.

 

 

1961 Oregon Air National Guard Drum & Bugle Corps

Dressed in the AF service dress blue uniforms, the Oregon ANG Drum & Bugle Corps performs in the November 1961, Veterans Day Parade in

Portland, Oregon. The corps took first place in the Drum & Bugle Corps category in this event which took place over a two mile stretch of

Southeast Portland in the Foster Road area, with an estimated 3,000 marchers involved.