Our early practices were held at the Antwerp Town Hall during winter and spring until it was nice enough to go outdoors for practice. William C. Heck, music teacher for the newly formed Indian River School District, was asked to write some music and help the corps learn it.
Our early music was limited because we only had one valve to play with. Early tunes included "You're in the Army now", "Coast Guard Marching Song", "Indian River Stomp", "Long, Long Trail", and the "Saints go Marchin' in".
Jim Heidt was the first out of town member allowed membership in 1960. The corps became incorporated in 1972. Membership was composed of men, 18 and older, when in 1984 Sigrid Jamba was the first female admitted. The age now ranges from 16-80 with some members having more than 40 years in the Corps.
The Corps has participated in many types of parades through the years including the New York State conventions of the American Legion and the New York State Volunteer Fireman where we received many first place finishes.
The new century brought many changes and new music to the Corps. In 2006 we celebrated our 50th anniversary with an all weekend event that brought back alumni and current members to the legion to reminence and catch up. A parade in honor of our alumni and charter members was held in Antwerp with our alumni marching in the ranks once again.
As part of our 50th anniversary the Corps was able to replace our aging 2 valve (piston/rotor) horns with 3 valve G bugles. It allowed us to expand our repertorie to include songs that used the 3rd valve.
The Original Yanks have honored our Veterans with a continuous supply of buglers for Taps details at military funerals and other memorial functions when appropriate.
There were some who made the statement that "the corps won't last more than 5 years."
We are proudly now in our 61st year of existence.
-revised January 2017
Our early music was limited because we only had one valve to play with. Early tunes included "You're in the Army now", "Coast Guard Marching Song", "Indian River Stomp", "Long, Long Trail", and the "Saints go Marchin' in".
Jim Heidt was the first out of town member allowed membership in 1960. The corps became incorporated in 1972. Membership was composed of men, 18 and older, when in 1984 Sigrid Jamba was the first female admitted. The age now ranges from 16-80 with some members having more than 40 years in the Corps.
The Corps has participated in many types of parades through the years including the New York State conventions of the American Legion and the New York State Volunteer Fireman where we received many first place finishes.
The new century brought many changes and new music to the Corps. In 2006 we celebrated our 50th anniversary with an all weekend event that brought back alumni and current members to the legion to reminence and catch up. A parade in honor of our alumni and charter members was held in Antwerp with our alumni marching in the ranks once again.
As part of our 50th anniversary the Corps was able to replace our aging 2 valve (piston/rotor) horns with 3 valve G bugles. It allowed us to expand our repertorie to include songs that used the 3rd valve.
The Original Yanks have honored our Veterans with a continuous supply of buglers for Taps details at military funerals and other memorial functions when appropriate.
There were some who made the statement that "the corps won't last more than 5 years."
We are proudly now in our 61st year of existence.
-revised January 2017
End of the concert - Adams Fourth of July 2016
