92-410: At the end of the summer season, Drum Corps International (DCI) World Class corps compete to earn the title of DCI World Class Champion (formerly DCI Division I World Champion ). The championships consist of three rounds—Preliminaries, Semifinals, and Finals—held on the first or second Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of August. Through 2010, all active World Class corps (22 corps as of 2016) competed in
184-483: A "preparedness" society with a claimed membership of 35,000 that had been absorbed into the Council of National Defense in 1916. The Committee on Constitution reported with a report containing the draft of a Preamble for the organization, specifying organizational objectives. This document stated that the group: desiring to perpetuate the principles of Justice, Freedom, and Democracy for which we have fought, to inculcate
276-619: A 100 Percent Americanism; to preserve the memories and incidents of our association in the Great War; to inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the community, state, and nation; to combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses; to make right the master of might; to promote peace and good will on earth; to safeguard and transmit to prosperity the principles of justice, freedom, and democracy; to consecrate and sanctify our comradeship by devotion to mutual helpfulness. The St. Louis Caucus spent much of its time discussing resolutions: whether
368-498: A DCI member, or to maintain membership, a corps must pass an evaluation by the board of directors. The evaluation requires corps to submit data on their financial health, fundraising capacity and income, participants, staffing, and explanations of their administrative structure. All corps are required to be tax-exempt organizations. Once approved by the board, a new corps must achieve certain competitive requirements, such as attending World Championships. The corps must then be approved by
460-419: A blizzard of acceptances to attend the opening of the "Liberty League Caucus", as he had begun to call it, Temporary Secretary Eric Fisher Wood began to search for use of a room of sufficient size to contain the gathering. The Cirque de Paris had been retained, a large, multisided amphitheater that could accommodate about 2,000 people. Delegates began to assemble from all over France. The 10:00 am scheduled start
552-542: A convention in Paris began apace. Wood prepared a convention call and "invitations" were distributed to about 2,000 officers and enlisted men and publicized in the March 14, 1919 issue of Stars and Stripes . The convention call expressed the desire to form "one permanent nation-wide organization...composed of all parties, all creeds, and all ranks who wish to perpetuate the relationships formed while in military service." In addition to
644-488: A corps is ranked at the DCI Championships, the higher the performance fees they will earn for the following season's performances. Open Class (formerly Divisions II & III) corps are committed to a lesser competitive level and are generally smaller, although several corps have marched with maximum membership. In September 2007, DCI combined the former Divisions II and III into this new class. International Class
736-532: A dozen potential names, including Veterans of the Great War, Liberty League, American Comrades of the Great War, Legion of the Great War, and The American Legion, among others. This list was whittled down to five ranked choices for the consideration of the Caucus, with "The American Legion" the preferred option. It was noted in passing during the course of debate on the topic that Roosevelt had been responsible for an earlier organization called "The American Legion" in 1914,
828-524: A group of 20 non-career officers to report to the YMCA in Paris on February 15, 1919. Roosevelt had personally selected these men. They were joined by a number of regular Army officers Pershing selected. Twenty National Guard and Reserve officers serving in the A. E. F., representing the S. O. S. , ten infantry divisions, and several other organizations, were ordered to report in Paris. ... Included in this number were Lieutenant Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., of
920-523: A local DCI competition, and World Class corps partner. The week-long championship have been hosted at college or professional sports arenas in eighteen U.S. cities and Montreal . Since 2009, World Class Championships have been hosted at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana . In 2015, DCI announced World Championships would remain in Indianapolis through 2028. Championships were traditionally held
1012-432: A longer rope was substituted, and Everest was pushed off the bridge again. The lynch mob then shined their car headlights on the hanging Everest and shot him. Although a mob milled around the jail all night, terrorizing the occupants, no further acts of extra-legal retribution were taken. Everest's body was cut down the next morning, falling into the riverbed below, where it remained all day. As night fell, Everest's body
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#17328528172351104-648: A mainstay of the Republican Party , which controlled the presidency from the Civil War through William Howard Taft 's administration except during Grover Cleveland 's two terms in office. In Southern politics the UCV maintained an even more dominant position as a bulwark of the Democratic Party , which dominated there. The conclusion of the brief Spanish–American conflict of 1898 ushered in another soldiers' organization,
1196-548: A majority of other members at a meeting following World Championships, usually the annual rules congress later in the year. All-age corps are ineligible for membership, but they may qualify as "touring" corps during a competitive season. International corps, or corps based outside the United States and Canada, are also ineligible for membership. However, an international corps that adopts DCI's regulations, specifically instrumentation and participant age limits, may also qualify as
1288-510: A parade of Legionnaires took place in the mill town of Centralia , in southwestern Washington . Some of the marchers planned at the conclusion of their patriotic demonstration to storm and ransack the local hall maintained by the Industrial Workers of the World , a labor union founded 14 years earlier at a convention of socialists, anarchists, Marxists, and radical trade unionists from all over
1380-407: A partnership to create an All-Age Class for the 2024 and 2025 competitive seasons. As the self-styled "Marching Music's Major League", DCI's mission is to create an environment for participating corps "to engage in education, competition, entertainment, and the promotion of individual growth." The organization also emphasizes positive life-transforming experiences for all participants. To become
1472-521: A petition from 20 of the enlisted women of the U.S. Naval Reserve Force for a charter to organize a post to be known as "Betsy Ross Post No. l", composed entirely of Yeomen (F) of the U.S. Navy. In October of that year, the post changed its name to U.S.S. Jacob Jones, which commemorated the members' Navy heritage. Congress granted The American Legion a national charter in September 1919. The American Legion chartered Paris Post No. 1 on December 13, 1919. It
1564-410: A presidential nominating convention—"We Want Teddy! We Want Teddy!" A minor crisis followed when Roosevelt twice declined nomination for permanent chairman of the session, to the consternation of many overwrought delegates, who sought to emphasize the symbolism of President Roosevelt's son maintaining the closest of connections with the organization. The St. Louis Caucus's work was largely shaped by
1656-534: A program for the unnamed veterans organization. Instead, they chose to expand their number with a large preliminary meeting, to consist of an equal number of elected delegates to represent both enlisted men and commissioned officers. A provisional executive committee of four men emerged from the February 15 "Roosevelt dinner": Roosevelt in the first place, who was to return to the U.S. and obtain his military discharge when able, and then to gather assistants and promote
1748-486: A small ensemble or instrument choir. Color guard and dance categories are also available. In 2005, I&E was expanded to include woodwind and vocal categories. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, all I&E events were shifted to a digital format in 2020 and 2021. No I&E festival has taken place, in any format, since 2022. DCI utilizes a single adjudication handbook with corps subdivided by size, and not skill level. A multi-tier classification and adjudication system
1840-547: A stand should be taken on the League of Nations , Prohibition , or the implementation of universal military service ; whether posts composed of Negro soldiers should be established; and whether Secretary of War Newton D. Baker should be impeached for his apparent leniency toward conscientious objectors in the months after the war. A particularly hard line was taken toward the American radical movement, with one resolution passed on
1932-491: A touring corps in either Open or World Class. DCI limits the age of participants for Open Class and World Class corps to "21 years of age and younger." A participant who is 22 years before June 1 is unable to compete. Some European and Asian drum corps associations have no age limit. Corps from those associations are allowed to compete at sanctioned competitions, and at World Championships in International Class. Due to
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#17328528172352024-541: A whistle giving the signal to the Legionnaires to charge the IWW headquarters building. A group of marchers rushed the hall, smashing the front plate-glass window and attempting to kick the door in. As the door gave way, shots were fired at the intruders from within. This provided the signal to other armed IWW members, who were stationed across the street, to set up crossfire against potential invaders, and they also began firing on
2116-567: Is a governing body for drum and bugle corps . Founded in 1971 and known as "marching music's major league," DCI develops and enforces rules of competition and judges at sanctioned drum and bugle corps competitions throughout the United States and Canada . It is headquartered in Indianapolis , Indiana . In 2023, Drum Corps Associates (DCA) and DCI joined to become the sole governing body for drum and bugle corps in North America. In 1971, at
2208-439: Is also the exclusive producer of all broadcasts of sanctioned competitions, including online streaming. Edited versions of World Championship Open Class finals were televised by PBS from 1975 until 2004. From 2005 to 2007, a two-hour highlights program of World Championship Division I finals was broadcast by ESPN2 . Since 2004, World Championship World Class prelims have been broadcast to movie theaters by Fathom Events under
2300-418: Is class available to all corps whose members do not meet DCI's age limits. A competitive All-Age Class and All-Age Class Championships will be made available during the 2024 and 2025 seasons in partnership with DCA. DCI's Adjudication Manual is based on three broad categories, Visual, Music and Effect. Visual and Music categories are further subdivided into three analysis captions. If more than one adjudicator
2392-1418: Is determined by the overall high score in the Finals competition. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the DCI World Championship and tour were cancelled. In 2021, to mark the return of drum corps, there were no scores given during the season, and the season concluded with a three-day celebratory event at Lucas Oil Stadium consisting of exhibition performances. Only 10 corps have ever won the title (including 3 ties): The Anaheim Kingsmen, Star of Indiana, and Cadets are no longer active. Santa Clara Vanguard ( Santa Clara, California ) Blue Devils ( Concord, California ) Blue Devils ( Concord, California ) The Cadets ( Allentown, Pennsylvania ) Blue Devils ( Concord, California ) Blue Devils ( Concord, California ) Phantom Regiment ( Rockford, Illinois ) Blue Devils ( Concord, California ) The Cavaliers ( Rosemont, Illinois ) The Cadets ( Allentown, Pennsylvania ) The Cavaliers ( Rosemont, Illinois ) Blue Devils ( Concord, California ) The Cavaliers ( Rosemont, Illinois ) Santa Clara Vanguard ( Santa Clara, California ) Phantom Regiment ( Rockford, Illinois ) Drum Corps International Drum Corps International ( DCI )
2484-405: Is for corps based outside the U.S. and Canada who wish to compete at sanctioned competitions. Corps in this class are allowed to follow the guidelines of their national governing body, such as: no age restrictions, smaller membership requirements, or the use of woodwind instruments. International corps which abide by DCI rules would be eligible to compete as Open or World Class corps. All-Age Class
2576-850: Is utilized in any caption, their scores are averaged before being factored. All-age corps may request to be adjudicated using scoring sheets provided by DCA . Many All-age corps may compete exclusively at DCI sanctioned competitions prior to attending the DCA World Championships, which is traditionally hosted on or before Labor Day weekend. Below is a list of past champions organized by class. DCI realigned its class structure in 1992, and again in 2008. DCI does not record or announce de facto champions. East Coast Jazz (Division II / III Grand Champion) All-age class divisions are based on ensemble size, and are similar to class alignments utilized by Drum Corps Associates . American Legion The American Legion , commonly known as
2668-495: The AEF was pressing and immediate. With the war at an end, hundreds of thousands of impatient draftees found themselves trapped in France and pining for home, certain only that untold weeks or months lay ahead of them before their return would be logistically possible. Morale plummeted. Cautionary voices were raised about an apparent correlation between disaffected and discharged troops and
2760-658: The Bolshevik uprisings in Russia , Finland , Germany , and Hungary . This situation was a particular matter of concern to Lieutenant Colonel Theodore Roosevelt Jr. , President Theodore Roosevelt 's eldest son. One day in January 1919, he had a discussion at General Headquarters with the mobilized National Guard officer George A. White , a former newspaper editor at the Portland Oregonian . After long discussion, he suggested
2852-483: The First Division , Lieutenant Colonel Franklin D'Olier of the S.O.S., and Lieutenant Colonel Eric Fisher Wood of the 88th Division . All of these officers have since told me that when they left their divisions they were distinctively permeated with the desire to form a veterans' organization of some comprehensive kind. When they got to Paris they immediately went into conference with the other officers. ... A dinner
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2944-594: The Legion , is an organization of U.S. war veterans headquartered in Indianapolis , Indiana. It comprises state , U.S. territory , and overseas departments, in turn made up of local posts. It was established in March 1919 in Paris , France, by officers and men of the American Expeditionary Forces (A.E.F.). It was subsequently chartered by the 66th U.S. Congress on September 16, 1919. The Legion played
3036-659: The Northeast known informally as the Alliance. Its members were: 27th Lancers , Garfield Cadets , Boston Crusaders , Blessed Sacrament Golden Knights, and Blue Rock. Despite objections from veterans associations, and boycotts by adjudicators, both the Combine and the Alliance remained intact for the 1971 competitive season. After discussions during the VFW National Championships, the members of both groups agreed to meet at
3128-479: The Veterans Health Administration . The American Legion was established in Paris, France, on March 15 to 17, 1919, by a thousand commissioned officers and enlisted men, delegates from all the units of the American Expeditionary Forces to an organization caucus meeting, which adopted a tentative constitution and selected the name "American Legion". The aftermath of two American wars in
3220-419: The coronavirus pandemic , member corps voted unanimously to cancel the 2020 competitive season. DCI is a 501(c)(3) organization governed by a board of directors, with an executive director responsible for day-to-day operations. The board of directors is composed of three representatives who are directors of member corps, and three at-large members who are not affiliated with any corps. The current chair of
3312-579: The 2014. Southwind , inactive from 2007 to 2013, competed as a SoundSport team in 2014, and returned to competition as an Open Class member in 2015. Intended for drumlines , or battery percussion ensembles with no wheeled percussion. Competing drumlines are staged in two competitive zones opposite each other, with each demonstrating their skills as an ensemble in alternating rounds of two minutes each. Adjudicators do not restrict their evaluation to technical proficiency, and include showmanship and audience reaction. In 2014, E-Sarn from Thailand , competed in
3404-420: The 2024 and 2025 seasons. The All-Age class will be judged under DCA rules, and the championship will move to Indianapolis with the other DCI classes. Individual drum corps derive a large part of their revenues from marketing their product, specifically memorabilia and souvenir sales. DCI derives income from ticket sales, and is the sole distributor of official media, such as championship DVDs and audio CDs. DCI
3496-620: The American Veterans of Foreign Service, known today as the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW). With the termination of hostilities in World War I in November 1918, some American officers who had participated in the conflict began to think about creating a similar organization for the two million men who had been on European duty. The need for an organization for former members of
3588-708: The DrumLine Battle held during World Championship week, defeating fifteen other competitors. River City Rhythm , from Anoka, Minnesota , also competed in 2014, becoming a touring corps in 2015. BANDtastic is a program of middle school honor bands sponsored by DCI. The program originated in 2013 with the Indiana "INpact" honor band, organized in conjunction with World Championships. Similar groups have since been organized in Georgia, Tennessee, Texas, Florida, and most recently Minnesota. The activities are held in conjunction with
3680-722: The Eastern Classic at J. Birney Crum Stadium , the largest high school football stadium in the Mid-Atlantic U.S. , or the U.S. Open in Marion, Ohio . VFW Nationals and the American Legion National Championships are no longer hosted. American Legion and VFW posts in the Midwest or New England host drum corps competitions as fundraising events, some of which are sanctioned by DCI. On March 25, 2020, in response to
3772-548: The Legion included only four members—two Republicans and two Democrats. After 1920 the National Legislative Committee was expanded to consist of one member from each state, with additional effort made at the state level to exert pressure upon various state legislatures. Chief on the Legion's legislative agenda was a dramatic improvement of the level of compensation for soldiers who suffered permanent disability during
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3864-524: The Legion's National Legislative Committee in conjunction with cables National Commander Franklin D'Olier sent to Congressional leaders helped pass this legislation by the end of 1919. The Legion's chief base of support during its first years was among the officers corps of the reserves and the National Guard . The regular army was comparatively small and its representation in the League in its earliest days
3956-453: The Legionnaires' death toll to four. Everest was taken alive, kicked and beaten, with a belt wrapped around his neck as he was dragged back to town to be lynched . But local police intervened, and Everest was taken to jail, where he was thrown down on the concrete floor. At 7:30 pm, on cue, all city lights in town went out for 15 minutes and Legionnaires stopped cars and forced them to turn out their headlights. The Elks Hall gathering entered
4048-484: The Legionnaires. In less than a minute the firing was over, with three AL members left dead or dying and others wounded. Taken by surprise by the armed defense of IWW headquarters, many Legionnaires rushed home to arm themselves, while others broke into local hardware stores to steal guns and ammunition. Now armed, a furious mob reassembled and charged the IWW Hall again, capturing six IWW members inside. The mob destroyed
4140-581: The Open Class preliminaries and finals were hosted at Ames Field. Open Class Championship was moved to Wildcat Stadium on the campus of Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Indiana in 2019. DrumLine Battle and SoundSport competitions were added to the week's activities in 2014. The Individual & ensemble festival, also known as I&E, is also hosted near the championship site. Participants from all member corps are eligible to compete demonstrating their ability on their preferred instrument, or as part of
4232-565: The Quarterfinals, with the top 17 advancing to the Semifinals. The top 12 corps from Semifinals then advanced to the Finals. Since the 2011 season, all active DCI corps (Open and World Class) have been permitted to compete for the championship. In this format, about 40 corps compete in Preliminaries, while the top 25 advances to Semifinals, with the top-scoring 12 advances to Finals. The champion
4324-573: The U.S. was established in 1919. Branstetter was a Van Tassell resident who died in World War I. The structure housing the post has since been demolished. The site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1969. In 1969, it was hoped that an interpretative sign would be put up, and also possibly that a restored post building would be constructed. The first post of the Legion, General John Joseph Pershing Post Number 1 in Washington, DC,
4416-410: The U.S., which had been the target of multiple arrests, large trials, and various incidents of mob violence during the months of American participation in World War I. But the plans for this violence had reached union members (commonly called Wobblies), and 30 or 40 IWW members had been seen coming and going at their hall on the day of the march, some of them carrying guns. At 2 p.m. the march began at
4508-399: The administration of such a policy should be removed from the complete control of any exclusively military organization or caste. 3. That we are strongly opposed to compulsory military service in time of peace. Additional resolutions the founding convention passed emphasized the need for military preparedness, albeit through a citizens' army of reservists and National Guardsmen rather than
4600-440: The board of directors is Kathy Black with Nate Boudreaux serving as executive director. Drum Corps Associates (DCA), a governing body for all-age or senior drum corps, is not affiliated with DCI, however the two organizations are strategic partners. DCI describes all-age corps as providing value to the drum corps activity, and permits all age corps to compete at sanctioned competitions. On May 31, 2023, DCI and DCA announced
4692-531: The cancellation of the 2020 DCI season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, DCI extended their age-out limit by one year for the 2021 DCI season, making the age limit of participants to 22 years of age and younger. A 23 year old would also be eligible to march in 2021 if they were born on or after June 1. Member corps are allowed to set their own age limit to be younger than 21. In 2024, the all-age corps of Drum Corps Associates (DCA) became DCI's All-Age Class for at least
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#17328528172354784-501: The city park, led by a marching band playing "Over There". Marchers included Boy Scouts , members of the local Elks Lodge , active-duty sailors, and marines, with about 80 members of the newly established Centralia and Chehalis posts bringing up the rear. As the parade turned onto Tower Avenue and crossed Second Street, it passed IWW Hall. The parade stopped and Legionnaires surrounded the hall. Parade Marshal Adrian Cormier rode up on horseback and, according to some witnesses, blew
4876-448: The competitive season, and thus participation declined at non-sanctioned competitions. Many of the regional circuits which pre-dated DCI, continued into the 1990s, with their high-profile competitions eventually being replaced by sanctioned competitions. Other high-prestige championships, were eventually absorbed into the DCI schedule, many becoming regional championships or annual events such as
4968-528: The constitution and the organization's publications done by committee at night. The preamble of the constitution adopted in St. Louis became one of the seminal statements of the Legion's orientation and objectives: For God and Country we associate ourselves together for the following purposes: To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America; to maintain law and order; to foster and perpetuate
5060-418: The costly and undemocratic structure of a vast standing army led by a professional military caste. This nationalist isolationism remained in place until the eve of American entry into World War II . November 11, 1919, the first anniversary of Armistice Day and the occasion of the Legion's formal launch at its Minneapolis Founding Convention, was also a historic moment of violence and controversy. On that day
5152-475: The dissemination of partisan principles or for the promotion of the candidacy of any person seeking public office or preferment; and no candidate for or incumbent of a salaried elective public office shall hold any office in The American Legion or in any branch or post thereof. One semi-official historian of the organization has noted the way that this explicit refusal to affiliate with a political party had
5244-500: The duty and obligation of the citizen to the State; to preserve the history and incidents of our participation in the war; and to cement the ties of comradeship formed in service, do propose to found and establish an Association for the furtherance of the foregoing purposes. The majority report of the Committee on Convention recommended that 11 am on November 11, 1919—one year to the hour after
5336-530: The end of the first day, the officers retired to the Inter-Allied Officers Club, a converted home across the street from the YMCA building. There, Roosevelt told them of his proposal for a new veterans' society. Most of those present were rapidly won to Roosevelt's plan. The officers decided to make all their actions provisional until an elected convention of delegates could convene and did not predetermine
5428-481: The final day calling on Congress to "pass a bill or immediately deporting every one of those Bolsheviks or Industrial Workers of the World ." Minneapolis, Minnesota , was chosen for the site of the organization's founding convention in November over the more centrally located Chicago after much acrimonious debate about the Chicago city administration's perceived political transgressions. The formal founding convention
5520-491: The fledgling organization's provisional Executive Committee decided to allow each state delegation twice as many votes as that state had in the United States House of Representatives and left it to each to determine how to apportion those votes. Participants at the St. Louis Caucus were enthusiastic, but the session was not productive. Fully two days were invested choosing ceremonial officers and selecting Minneapolis as
5612-401: The fundamental decisions made by the earlier Paris Caucus. Its agenda was in addition carefully prepared by a 49-member "Advance Committee", which included at least one delegate from each fledgling state organization and drew up a draft program for the organization in advance of the convention's opening. As time before the scheduled start of the convention was short, delegation to the assembly
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#17328528172355704-422: The hall's front porch and a large bonfire was built, upon which were torched the local Wobblies' official records, books, newspapers and mattresses. One local Wobbly, Wesley Everest , escaped through a back door when he saw the mob approaching the hall. He fled into nearby woods, exchanging gunshots with his pursuers. One of those chasing him was hit in the chest several times with bullets and killed, increasing
5796-528: The hosts of the only high-prestige national championships. Another source of contention was low-to-nonexistent appearance fees paid to independent corps who were neither sponsored nor affiliated with any veterans post. Only those independent corps who placed among the top three at either of the national championships were paid any appearance fees, which deterred many corps from competing. Many local show sponsors and promoters rarely paid appearance fees to any corps. A similar combine of five drum corps had formed in
5888-482: The idea of the new veterans' organization among demobilized troops there; White, who was to travel to France touring the AEF camps and explaining the idea; veteran wartime administrator Eric Fisher Wood, who was to establish a central office and maintain contact with the various combat divisions and headquarters staffs, as well as publicize activities to the press; and former Ohio Congressman Ralph D. Cole . Preparations for
5980-475: The immediate establishment of a new servicemen's organization including all AEF members as well as those soldiers who remained stateside as members of the Army , Navy , and Marine Corps during the war without having been shipped abroad. Roosevelt and White advocated ceaselessly for this proposal until they found sufficient support at headquarters to move forward with the plan. General John J. Pershing issued orders to
6072-472: The jail without meeting resistance and took Everest, dragging him away to a waiting car but leaving other incarcerated Wobblies untouched. A procession of six cars drove west to a railroad bridge across the Chehalis River . A rope was attached to Everest's neck and he was pushed off the bridge, but the lynching attempt was bungled and Everest's neck was not snapped by the fall. Everest was hauled up again,
6164-486: The leading role in drafting and passing the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, commonly known as the " G.I. Bill ". In addition to organizing commemorative events, members assist at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals and clinics . It is active in issue-oriented U.S. politics. Its primary political activity is lobbying on behalf of veterans and service members , including for benefits such as pensions and
6256-537: The next American Legion Uniformed Group Rules Congress to discuss forming a new, independent, governing body. Also invited to the meeting were the Anaheim Kingsmen , Argonne Rebels , and De La Salle Oaklands. Drum Corps International was established by thirteen corps on or after October 21, 1971. Given difficulties experienced during the 1971 season, members agreed not to interfere with the long-established regional competition circuits, especially those sponsored by
6348-489: The other championships. Members also agreed to remain united if boycotting a particular event, show sponsor, or business, such as the boycott against Fleetwood Records over rights issues, if such an action proved necessary. The first World Championship was hosted at Warhawks Stadium on the campus of University of Wisconsin–Whitewater on August 18, 1972. In attendance were thirty-nine corps from fifteen states and one Canadian province. The Anaheim Kingsmen Drum and Bugle Corps
6440-457: The paradoxical effect of rapidly building great political power for the organization, as politicians from both of the "old parties" competed for the favor of the Legion's massive and active membership. One of the gathering's primary accomplishments was the establishment of a permanent National Legislative Committee to advance the Legion's political objectives as its lobbying arm. The first iteration of this official Washington, D.C.-based lobby for
6532-431: The past, classes have been fully or partially determined by the number of marching members in each corps; at present, all corps may march up to a maximum of one hundred sixty five (165) members. World Class (formerly Division I) corps are the groups that have chosen to compete at the highest level and have proven to DCI leadership they have the ability to survive at this level both competitively and financially. The higher
6624-457: The personal invitations distributed, the published announcement indicated that "any officer or enlisted man not invited who is in Paris at the time of the meeting is invited to be present and to have a voice in the meeting." The conclave was slated to begin on March 15. The site of Ferdinand Branstetter Post No. 1 is a vacant lot in Van Tassell, Wyoming , where the first American Legion post in
6716-449: The ranks of enlisted men. The Paris Caucus in March was by its nature limited to AEF soldiers who remained in Europe; a parallel organizational meeting for those who had returned to the American preparatory to a formal organizational convention was deemed necessary. This was a conclave dominated by the presence of Roosevelt, who called the convention to order amid mass chanting akin to that of
6808-454: The same competitive requirements as drum corps. BANDtastic! began in 2014. The stated goal of SoundSport is to provide a competitive performance experience in a low-cost, local setting. Musical ensembles of more than five members, using any musical instruments, perform a 5-7 minute marching music show in an area measuring 30 yards (27 m) × 20 yards (18 m). Two SoundSport teams Guardians and Watchmen became Open Class member corps in
6900-685: The second half of the 19th century had seen the formation of several ex-soldiers' organizations. Former Union Army soldiers of the American Civil War of 1861–65 established a fraternal organization, the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), while their Southern brethren formed the United Confederate Veterans (UCV). Both organizations emerged as powerful political entities, with the GAR serving as
6992-414: The site for the organization's formal Founding Convention in the fall. Over 1,100 participants competed to gain the floor to speechify, leading one historian to call the scene a "melee" in which "disorder reigned supreme". Consequently, the gathering's passage of the program was largely a pro forma exercise, rushed through during the session's last day, with the actual decision-making about such matters as
7084-519: The so-called Paris Caucus that they do three things: first, set up an apparatus to conduct a formal founding conference in the U.S. sometime in the winter; second, draft a tentative name for the organization; and finally, compose a provisional constitution to be submitted to the founding convention for acceptance or rejection. William G. Price Jr. was selected to preside. Convention rules were decided upon and four 15-member committees were chosen. The Committee on Name reported back that it had considered
7176-460: The termination of hostilities in World War I—be selected as the date and time for the convocation of a national convention. No location was specified. The Committee on Permanent Organization recommended an organization based upon territorial units rather than those based upon military organizations, governed by an Executive Committee of 50, with half of these from the officer corps and half from
7268-464: The third week of August. However, the second week of August has been the preferred date due to trends in scholastic and collegiate schedules which pushed the start of the school year from early-September to late-August. In 2009 and 2010, the Open Class preliminary competition was hosted at Ames Field in Michigan City, Indiana with semifinals and finals hosted at Lucas Oil Stadium. From 2011 to 2018
7360-794: The title Big, Loud & Live . In 2011, Fathom Events added the DCI Tour Premiere . DCI previously livestreamed a number of competitions throughout the season, including the entirety of World Championship, via the former "DCI FanNetwork". FloSports engaged in a multi-year agreement to livestream select competitions via the FloMarching platform. Frequent hosts of the broadcasts and streaming events include former WWAY news anchor Steve Rondinaro, and percussionist Dennis DeLucia. In 2013, DCI launched two new competitive musical activities for small groups: SoundSport and DrumLine Battle. These activities are not restricted by an age limit, nor do they have
7452-499: The urging of then-director of The Cavaliers Don Warren and Troopers director Jim Jones, the directors from Blue Stars , Madison Scouts , and Santa Clara Vanguard , cooperated to form the "Midwest Combine". The Combine corps would market themselves to show promoters as a package. The partnership was a reaction to perceived inflexibility of the American Legion and VFW , who were the primary sponsors of competing drum corps and
7544-586: The veterans organizations, but to boycott the other prestige championships, such as the Fleetwood Record's World Open Championship. The members also agreed to develop their own adjudicators committee instead of relying on any existing association. Additionally, member corps would be allowed to compete where they wished with few exceptions. However, all member corps would be required to attend a specific number of sanctioned competitions as well as an annual World Championship which would be scheduled in late-August after
7636-480: The war. At the time of the end of World War I, American law stated that soldiers who suffered total disability were to receive only the base pay of a private —$ 30 per month. The Legion concentrated its lobbying effort in 1919 on passage of legislation increasing payment for total disability suffered in the war to $ 80 a month—a sum roughly sufficient to provide a living wage . Those partially disabled by their wounds would receive lesser payments. A flurry of lobbying by
7728-415: Was delayed by various logistical problems, with a beginning finally made shortly after 2:45 pm. As "Temporary Chairman" Teddy Roosevelt Jr. had already departed for America, the session was gaveled to order by Wood, who briefly recounted Roosevelt's idea and the story of the 20 AEF officers who had jointly helped to give the new organization form. In his opening remarks, Wood recommended to the delegates of
7820-555: Was even more limited. Consequently, for nearly two decades The Legion maintained a largely isolationist perspective, best expressed in three resolutions passed by the Minneapolis founding convention: 1. That a large standing army is uneconomic and un-American. National safety with freedom from militarism is best assured by a national citizen army and navy based on the democratic principles of equality of obligation and opportunity for all. 2. That we favor universal military training and
7912-481: Was held in Minneapolis , Minnesota , from November 10 to 12, 1919. 684 delegates from across the nation attended. From the outset, The American Legion maintained a strictly nonpartisan orientation toward electoral politics. The group wrote a specific prohibition of the endorsement of political candidates into its constitution, declaring: this organization shall be absolutely non-political and shall not be used for
8004-497: Was highly irregular. On April 10, 1919, Temporary Secretary Eric Fisher Wood mailed a letter to the governors of every state, informing them of the forthcoming gathering and making note of the League's nonpartisan and patriotic nature. Follow-up cables by Roosevelt and Wood encouraged the organization of state conventions to select delegates. This was largely a failed formality, as states lacked sufficient time to organize themselves and properly elect delegates to St. Louis. In practice,
8096-498: Was in use prior to 2008, with Division I and Division II / III utilizing different handbooks, while also being subdivided by size. Currently, DCI groups corps from the United States and Canada into three classes based on competitive level. Corps from Europe, Asia, Latin America, and anywhere other than the U.S. and Canada are grouped into the International Class. Corps from all classes compete together but are ranked separately. In
8188-423: Was named the inaugural DCI World Champion. Following the creation of DCI, the Combine evolved into Drum Corps Midwest (DCM), while the Alliance became Drum Corps East, sometimes called Drum Corps Atlantic. Both DCM and Drum Corps East offered a regional circuit of competitions and a regional championship prior to the "national tour" of sanctioned competitions. DCI gradually expanded its schedule to begin earlier in
8280-576: Was organized on March 7, 1919, and obtained the first charter issued to any Legion post on May 19, 1919. The St. Louis caucus that year decided that Legion posts should not be named after living persons, and the first post changed its name to George Washington Post 1. The post completed the constitution and made plans for a permanent organization. It set up temporary headquarters in New York City and began its relief, employment, and Americanism programs. On May 20, 1919, Colonel Ernest Lester Jones received
8372-664: Was spread in the Allied Officers' Club , Rue Faubourg St. Honore , on the night of February 16th... At that dinner the American Legion was born. — The Story of The American Legion (1919) The session of reserve and regular officers was instructed to provide a set of laws to curb the problem of declining morale. After three days, the officers presented a series of proposals, including eliminating restrictive regulations, organizing additional athletic and recreational events, and expanding leave time and entertainment programs. At
8464-590: Was the first overseas post to be chartered and has been in continuous existence since then. China Post One, formed in 1919, one year after the "great war" and chartered by The American Legion on April 20, 1920, was originally named the General Frederick Townsend Ward Post No. 1, China. It is the only post nominally headquartered in a Communist country, and has been operating in exile since 1948—presently in Fate, Texas . Having immediately received
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