- Flirted with drumline membership 1975-76 (couldn't quit my neighborhood corps!)
- Sun mellophone 1977-1979
- Madison Scouts Soprano 1980-1981 (but marched DCA with Sun both those years)
- Sun Baritone 1982
- Pioneers instructor/manager 1983-1984
- Racine Kilties director/French Horn 1992-1998
- Milwaukee Police Band 1995-present
I can't begin to say how much I miss my home in Brooklyn, and all the
friends I made during my time with Sun. Looking over this alumni section, I
read all the bios of my old marching buds, and even those I didn't march
with, and there's a theme that smacks you between the eyes: family. All of
you have been my extended brothers and sisters over all these many years.
Regardless of other corps or groups I've been with, my Sunriser family was
always the one I cared for the most.
OK, my tune goes something like this... I grew up in Brooklyn, started in
a little corps called the Clover Cadets (don't worry, I sincerely doubt
there's anyone that remembers them!). I saw the Sunrisers in a parade I was
also at in 74, I think I was 15 at the time, and thus began my infatuation
with the Long Island Sunrisers. I finally committed to joining in 77, and
the memories are still as vivid now as when I first experienced them. Except
for 2 years with Madison, I think I was always still a Sunriser... I even
came back right after DCI to learn the entire show and marched DCA (talk
about burn-out!). After winning DCA in 82, I finished college and moved back
to Wisconsin. As an example of the calibre of friends I made with Sun, if my
memory serves me right there were 10 Sunrisers at my wedding in 83 in
Milwaukee.
Yeah, yeah, cut to the chase... I'm a police sergeant with the Milwaukee
PD, I have a daughter "Cassie" from my 1st marriage, I got married again in
99 to Theresa and have 3 step-sons... somewhere in there I wore a kilt for a
while, I've since recovered from years of chafing, and now play trumpet with
the Police Band.
It's hard to summarize more, so I'll stop here... drop me a line to say
Hi, my fond wishes to all the present Sun family, and good luck!
--- Tony Reilly
