S t .   R o c c o ' s   C a d e t s
	Another Cadet Story To Be One! I write this now only because of the impact it had on me then, and what it still means to me now over 37 years later... I guess it was 1967 our last year... But it was my first full year with St. Rocco's Cadets... There I was just turned 14, and I was in the french horn section on the line for my very first competition... We had inspections then... And we looked so sharp!!! The next thing I heard was the announcer say,,, "From Brooklyn New York!!!  St. Rocco's Cadets!!!" The crowd cheered and off we went... Our off the line was Camelot with the fanfare in 3/4 time.. It sure felt strange marching on grass. I  got use to marching on pavement off the Brooklyn Docks, and the armory wooden floor... My adrenilin was really pumping as we presented our colors... Boy... Our girls looked great presenting the American flag... Time seems to fly by... Here we are in concert already...  I don't think we ever played "Lover" any better... MANNNN!!! Do we sound good!!! Another adrenilyn rush kicks in when we go into the show closer... I can see the finish line, But wait! there in front of me was one of our equipment men, Tony Stoch and man they seem to be looking for me...  But why??? WE hit the finish line, Tony ran just passed me right over to Ralphie.... Down he goes, exhausted.... It seemed like the finish line would jump off the grass and trtip him... After being stunned for a few seconds, I knew Ralphie was being taken care of, we finished our ending, and the crowd  stood up and cheered, But! the best for me was yet to come... It was now time to " Pass in Reveiw!!!" We lined up in double file, And Big Will was standing right beside me... I remember looking up to him, and him looked  down at me... His eyes seemed to smile... They seemed to say " Nice Job Kid!!!" Without saying a word he showed me by example...  I watched the way Will held his horn and keep his head striaght, Shoulders back chest out, and walk with pride... So I did the same... I think it was the very first time in my life, I truly understood what having pride. real pride truly meant... We Passed in Reveiw, me, Will, all of us... It was then I realized I was one of the :"Cadets of St. Rocco's": Thank you St. Rocco's Thank you all my fellow Cadets... This experience certainly was a big part of me growing up... It helped me become the man I am today.... Only Best Wishes James C. DePietto
				How sweet those memories are. They are still treasued and enrich our lives so many years after. Even our recent losses of dear corps members don't erase the bonds of warmth and happiness we all share. In fact in a strange way were still close together knowing those who left are still with us .
					Al Koch

 

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