The following is a posting that Tom Walter made to the Royal Air corps website to give their members instructions to attend our presentation.

Note that many of the corps members who will be playing are Norwood alums. BUT ...
many other RA members asked to participate,
because they wanted to support OUR corps!

Yes, we ARE grateful to the Royal Airs for their support. Hope to see you at the event and the party.

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Norwood Park Imperials
Dedication at
Norwood Park Historical Society


Wednesday June 28, 2004

Uniform – blue Royal Air shirt with collar, black or dark pants, white shoes, Royal Air cap. Royal Air jacket as option.

Meet at the Norwood Park Fieldhouse at 6:30 PM. Look for Joe Boyle. The Fieldhouse is located on the west side of Norwood Park, on Natoma, approximately at Ardmore avenue. From the Kennedy Expressway (I90), exit at Nagle, go north across the expressway to Bryn Mawr , turn left and go 1 block to Natoma, turn right and go to Fieldhouse.

Warm up at 6:45 PM – 7:00 PM

Leave at 7:00 PM and march down Ardmore to Steve Bozniak's home, 6778 Ardmore, and play Ave Maria on his lawn. (1.5 blocks)

Leave Bozniak home about 7:25 and march to Norwood Park Historical Society, 5624 N. Newark Avenue (1.5 blocks).

7:30 – 7:45 Play Ave Maria, Chicago Fanfare, Bally Ho March , after corps ends music, members that would like to leave may, or stay for a short presentation.

After corps plays, presentation of exhibit, with short remarks, introduction of alums.

Ceremony ends at 8:15 – 8:30 PM

Pizza and Beer at Dinos – 7004 W. Higgins, Chicago 773-763-4077 Joe Boyle has reserved space for us.

The Historical Society opens at 6:00 PM, for those that want to view the exhibit prior to the parade.


Background:

Norwood Park is a neighborhood in Chicago, located on the far northwest side. Until the early 1900's it was a separate town. Willie Widemeyer started the Norwood Park Imperials in 1928. Until it's demise, Norwood Park Imperials was the oldest drum corps in the US. The majority of it's members came from Norwood Park, and the two surrounding communities of Jefferson Park and Edison Park. Every year, a parade was held through Norwood Park, ending at a site close to the park that is known as Norwood Park. Thousands of people would line Raven Avenue to see the Imperials march. Now, a permanent display from those years will be dedicated on this special night. The night's presentation will be captured digitally to be included in the display and also to be used to promote the memory of the Norwood Park Imperials and the existence of our corps, the Chicago Royal Airs.

The Norwood Park Imperial Alumni are extremely thankful and grateful for the Chicago Royal Airs being able to present a visual and aural impact of how drum corps was, and how it is today. This night will bring many a tear to former drum corps members, from many corps. It was also forge an even deeper bond with old time drum corps nuts and create new Royal Air fans.

Thanks for your time and energy to make this evening special.

What did you do in the Corps? drummer 1958-63, assistant instructor 1964-71, quartermaster 1964-66

Here is a great story:

RICHARD ENGLE, the drum major of the Corps in 1934 (yes, that's right, 1934!), was in town over the weekend. Someone told him about the Corps exhibit and he stopped in at the Norwood Park Historical Society to deliver some pictures.

He had to return home (to El Paso, TX) but it would have been GREAT to have him with us on Wednesday. Not sure, but he might have been the FIRST drum major for the Corps!

But, we do have his address and will communicate further with him!

What did you do in the Corps? drummer 1958-63, assistant instructor 1964-71, quartermaster 1964-66