Yankee Rebels Alumni

For several years after the loss of the Yankee Rebels senior corps about 1977, there was no senior corps in the State of Maryland, but the Yankee Rebels Alumni Association continued to function. When the American Legion announced that their 1989 national convention was scheduled for Baltimore, these veterans agreed to put together a representative group of former Yankee Rebels and to march in the convention’s parade.

That fall, active and inactive alumni members were contacted and a rehearsal planned. George Bull and his team had to come up with drums, bugles, flags and some kind of uniform. This was no small project, but with the help of the many Yankee Rebels friends, everything was lined up in time for the first rehearsal in February, 1988, at the Hamilton Post. No one was sure what to expect or how many would show up, but to everyone's amazement, 70 buglers, more than 30 percussionists, and well over 30 to carry the colors answered the call. The average age of these returning veterans was about 50 years, with several well into their 70s.

By August of 1989, the alumni corps was ready. The Yankee Rebels, with over 90 horns, 40 percussionists, a 32-man color guard, and with Phil Gentile and Don Conners performing as drum majors, was crowned the best musical unit in the parade.

The rest is history, but might be summed up by a conversation between a couple of young corps members from competing units. One asked, "Who the heck are all those old guys around here today?" The other answered that he didn't know who they were, but "Those SOBs sure can play those horns.”

The 1990s have seen the Yankee Rebels Alumni Corps performing in indoor concerts, parades, and field competitions.

Quoting George Bull, "May the Lord continue to bless the Yankee Rebels.”

[http://www.in2corps.com/legends/yrebels/rebels.htm]

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