Winning the first State Title
The following is the narrative from the Norwood Park paper for this photo:
"The Norwood Park Junior Drum and Bugle Corps was awarded State championship honors last Sunday when it participated in the parade sponsored by the state convention of the American Legion.
"The recipient of many honors this year, it having already been given six first place awards, the corps stepped off in parade formation at Erie and McClure Ct, on down Michigan Avenue, toward Roosevelt Rd with confidence in its stride.
"Later drill competition was engaged in with other outstanding groups through the state, these competitions being held in Grant Park. Once again, the Norwood Park youngsters turned in a matchless performance.
"Announcement that the corps had won was greeted with cheers and shouts, and immediately the whole group snapped out of their temporary lethargy. Once more in formation, the enthusiastic group marched proudly down Michigan Avenue to the Stevens hotel, the Legion headquarters, winding its way in and out of the hotel, celebrating their newest and proudest achievement.
"Outstanding, almost from the beginning, the Norwood Park Jr. corps was formed in 1928 by William Widmayer. Through the intervening years, the corps achieved many honors, but never in the history of the organization did it bring home so many trophies as it did in 1947."
Memorial Day Parades
In addition to being a great tribute to fallen servicemen and women, what a great thrill it was to march in the annual Chicago and Norwood Park parades.
This was usually the first official full Corps outing of the season.
In Norwood Park, all the friends, neighbors and relatives came to see the Corps as they marched up Raven Avenue, across Northwest Highway and up through the circle drive to the cemetery.
Then they headed downtown, lined up on Wacker Drive in Chicago with all the other local corps nearby, and marched down Michigan Avenue with the tall buildings and the big crowds. The Corps sound echoed down the street, and TV camera crews were always nearby.
It was a blast!
