Hi   ...   I marched Sunrisers in 1963, in the bass drum section. That year was the greatest for someone like myself, coming up from a small parade corps. In 1963, The Sunrisers bought new uniform trousers and our "auxiliary" made new shirts, cummerbunds, and dickeys. It was also the year many ex-St. Catherine's Queensmen, from St Albans, joined up. My first appearance was May 1963 at Carnegie Hall in "An Evening With The Corps." The high point of the season was taking 4th at the 1963 World Open.

Before that I was a bass drummer in the Thunderstreaks (60-62), sponsored by the Bellmore, NY American Legion. It was a small parade unit doing mostly volunteer firemen parades and standstill contests around Long Island. The biggest horn line we fielded was 12, plus 3 snares, 2 tenors, one bass and cymbals. Like so many other Long Island units, it's long gone. I hear other Thunderstreaks alumnus joined Sunrisers too.

I graduated from W.C. Mepham High School (North Bellmore) in 64 and went into the Navy, and became a corpsman. By August 1965, I was in Vietnam assigned to the Fleet Marine Force. I went over to Vietnam with First Battalion, First Marines in July and spent 14 months in the country as platoon corpsman. After Vietnam, I stayed in the Navy, retiring in 93. We came out to San Diego in 75 on assignment, liked the place, and managed to stay for most of my tours until I retired. My wife, Linda, and I have been married for 34 years now, since May 65. Linda was my high school sweetheart at the time and came along on several trips with the Sunrisers. We've raised two wonderful daughters, Joy and June.

One day around 76 or 77 I decided to teach my oldest daughter, Joy, how to play a flam. She quickly out-paced my ability to teach her, eventually making the snare line in Blue Devils "B" in the mid 80's.

In San Diego, my family and I were founding members of the San Diego Drum and Bugle Corps Association, and helped start the San Diego Earthquake Drum & Bugle Corps. In 95, the association brought drum corps shows back to San Diego after a seven-year absence by staging "San Diego Music In Motion." We also ran the show again in 96. We worked on the San Diego Drum and Bugle Corps Association project from 92 to 97, and I served as association president from 95 to 97.

SUNRISERS ANECDOTE: Years cloud the memory but here is a tale that I believe is true. In 1963 Bill Hightower, who played bass bari, was the drill instructor. He was out of the line during most practices so when we were actually competing he didn't always remember his M&M part. In one competition he got completely lost. His solution was great. He simply played an improvised solo, until he remembered where he was supposed to be in the drill.
      --   Rich Medved