What kind of dumb luck did I have with the Sunrisers corps? Well, I decided to join up in the fall of 1976 and went on to play bass drum during the corp's first two DCA title-winning years of 1977 and 78. When I think about how long some veteran Sunrisers waited for that first championship moment… especially after having struggled through some lean years for the corps, I realize how truly lucky I was. I feel blessed to have been part of such a great group of instructors, administrators, players, marchers and best of all, friends.

I am now a training supervisor for the Department of Homeland Security, located at Newark Liberty International Airport. I still live in Bayonne, New Jersey, and will find myself commuting to Sunrisers’ rehearsals again… after an absence of 27 years, as I am a proud new member of the reorganized Sunrisers Board of Directors. It is a pleasure to once again be around friends, both old and new. I look forward to being a part of the 2007 Sunrisers Drum and Bugle Corps as they return to their rightful place of prominence among the best corps in DCA.

• • •  Scott Yaniga