Friday, March 25, 2011
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The Pennsylvania Military College Band won the FIRST PLACE marching band award at the National ROTC Band Association (NROTCBA) competition in May 1965. This victory ranked the band as the #1 ROTC marching band in the nation. At the 1964 NROTCBA competition, the Band had placed THIRD overall. The site of the competition was the Singer Bowl at the New York World's Fair at Flushing Meadows in Queens, New York. Singer Bowl is now named Louis Armstrong Stadium and is part of the USTA National Tennis Center, home of the US Open. The exciting New York World's Fair ran for two six-month seasons (mid-April to mid-October) in 1964 and 1965. Unfortunately, the NROTCBA competition was not open to World's Fair visitors, a regrettable decision, so most of the grandstands were empty. tinyurl.com The two tunes featured in this video clip (just the last segment of the Band's winning performance) are the "IBA March" (Iowa Bandmasters' Association) and "Them Basses." Although the PMC Band had more than 70 members, the field competition Band numbered 60 musicians. Gerald M. McAteer '65 was the stirring drum major and also Band's company commander. Pennsylvania Military College (PMC) became Widener University in 1972. To purchase this complete video program and many more PMC history movies, please contact the PMC Museum at Widener University. Ask for the DVD titled "Pennsylvania Military College - Pass in Review!" Call 610-499-1189. www.widener.edu
