Come celebrate 38 years of the Crossmen at the second Alumni Scholarship Event of the new season. The festivities begin at 7pm on June 9th at the Knights of Columbus, 235 Limekiln Pike, Glenside, PA 19038. Admission is free and will include plenty of your favorite tour staples to munch on as well as a few of your food truck favorite entrees. There will also be a cash bar.

In addition, there will be assorted raffles and 50/50 as well as a donation bucket. All proceeds go towards the Crossmen Alumni Association Scholarship Program benefitting the 2012 Crossmen. Anyone looking to offer assistance of any kind is encouraged to contact Kevin McDermott.

The Crossmen Alumni Association Scholarship Program honors the memory of two of its own who died heroically helping others, Derrick Harvey (Philadelphia firefighter) and Joseph Kempf (volunteer EMT). In their honor, the CAA rewards six current marching members of the Crossmen World Class Drum Corps who have demonstrated financial need and an extraordinary commitment to the corps. This event is a fundraiser for those scholarships which will be presented in June 2012.

In our efforts to make this event a success, we are looking for companies or individuals to provide for our event raffles. Please consider donating a gift certificate or other specialty item that we can raffle at the benefit event.

And don't forget, the first alumni scholarship event of the season takes place just a few days earlier. The "Bones on the Beach" gathering takes place on the weekend of the Elks Parade in Wildwood, NJ (June 2nd-3rd). Step-off time is Saturday June 2nd at Noon at 25th & Atlantic Avenues, North Wildwood. Meet us on Drum Corps corner at Kelly's (Atlantic and Montgomery Avenues). After the parade, head over to the Cape Cod Inn Motel at 6109 Atlantic Avenue in Wildwood Crest. Look for the big Crossmen banner and Hornets Flag. We look forward to seeing you there.

When it comes to joining the Crossmen Alumni Association, some people may ask, "What's in it for me?" Well, besides the value of knowing that your contribution to the CAA directly assists us in our charitable contributions to the corps, we've always included some other special perks. Each paid member receives an official CAA membership card and lapel pin, an invitation to special CAA and Crossmen events, and the opportunity to purchase an official Crossmen Alumni jacket. But now, the corps has offered a very special incentive as well. Anyone with a valid CAA membership card will receive 10% off at the Crossmen Souvie Booth this summer! Make sure to join (or renew) your CAA membership today so you can enjoy this special "members only" privilege this summer at a show near you.

Now's the time to get your letters of nomination in for the 2012 Crossmen Hall of Fame. All you need to do is write a brief bio of someone you think would be a great addition to the Hall of Fame  along with one other letter of support. Please include your candidate's years involved with the Crossmen and email your two letters to Kim Robinson. Deadline for submission is May 31st. We are looking to induct our new class in Allentown again this year!

St. Patty's Day is just around the corner, and the Crossmen Alumni Association has joined forces with the Crossmen to present a special offer to help celebrate. For $20, you can purchase our lucky "Kiss Me, I'm Crossmen" shamrock t-shirt. For $10, you can purchase the same design on a button. For $25, you can get both items! All proceeds from these items will be split evenly between the Crossmen and the CAA. Get your's today!

When it comes to the 1992 Crossmen, I find myself lacking the right words to encapsulate exactly what that summer meant for me, and what it would come to mean for the Crossmen organization. In some ways, words can never truly do that summer and that corps justice. It was the perfect storm, the perfect marriage of people and talents, the right show at the right time. It really was magic in a bottle in so many ways. Still, it's been twenty years now. I don't know how that can be possible, because in my mind, it feels like only a few months ago we were standing on the field together at Camp Randall for the last time, basking in the afterglow of an evening at DCI Finals we would never forget. More...

We would like to thank Carole Shearer for offering to handle our latest fundraising effort. Anyone who marched 2004 until today has benefited from Carole’s volunteer efforts for the corps. Carole is a four-year Crossmen mom (2004 -2007) and longtime volunteer, and has created a fundraiser to benefit the Crossmen Alumni Association and the Crossmen Drum Corps. This limited time fundraiser utilizes Thirty-One products, a line of totes, purses, thermal, and storage items. There are many useful items in this line, but we are concentrating the fundraiser on the Thirty-One Products January Thermal Tote sale to offer you a great value, while supporting the Crossmen. Read more about it.

The Crossmen Alumni Association wishes to extend our deepest condolences to alums Dale Adair and Dawn Ball on the loss of their father, Robert Adair. Their dad was no stranger to drum corps and will be missed by many. Looking at their dad’s drum corps history, it's no wonder where Dale and Dawn got their desire and passion for the activity.

Bob Adair joined the Osmond Cadets in 1941. In 1947, he became the VFW Junior National Champion soprano soloist at age 12. He marched with Osmond for ten years (VFW Champions in 1948 and 1949). While in Osmond, he also studied drumming under the legendary John Dowlan, and joined Dowlan and Hall of Famer Harry Ginther to make up the snare line of the Reilly Raiders in 1952 and 1953 (A.L. National Champions). Bob then returned to his interest as solo soprano, becoming music instructor of the Raiders in 1957 (VFW National Champions 1957-59) continuing through 1965. Bob instructed the Liberty Bell Cadets (1952-1958), Haddon Heights Vagabonds (drums, 1955-1961), Bracken Cadets (1959-1971), and Reilly Raiders Alumni (1994-1998). Bob was a member of the National Judges Association.

BSGK Tribute to Bob Adair and the Reilly Raiders

Relatives and friends are invited to Robert's Life Celebration on Tuesday evening from 7 to 9 PM, and Wednesday from 10:30 AM, followed by his funeral service at 11:30 AM at John F. Givnish of Academy Rd., 10975 Academy Rd., Philadelphia. Interment Private.

Crossmen Corps Director Mark Chambers announced Saturday morning that he was resigning as the Director of the corps. Read more...