My fondest memory of the Sunrisers is the transition years 1961-1964, during which the corps moved from the position of underdog to contender.
At first, I was a member of another Senior Corps, having admired them since I was a “Junior.” But beyond its Director, Horn Instructor, and one other individual, I made only a few acquaintances. I felt isolated and ostracized, as did the one other African-American there, despite the potential of our contributions.
On the other hand, when I would visit Sunriser rehearsals, I found them to be friendly; receptive; humble. Inept, but eager to improve. And, most important, family-like: Crimi, Rose, Axeman, Hodge, Beck, Byrne, Costello, Hernandez, Cooper, Healy, Maraffa, Gallagher, Gaffney, Hogan, Jenkins, etc., to the extent that memory permits.
Eventually, I was to become a member of this community and have the opportunity to become the Drill Instructor. Although I had some experience teaching in the junior corps realm, and was enthusiastic, I was new at being totally responsible for getting it all together in an adult setting. It was a bomb.
One big problem, I thought, was that we did not have the winter indoor facilities we had at St. Catherine’s. So we had to pound out both fundamentals and drill in often brutally cold weather in East Meadow, accomplishing little, except developing frostbite and camaraderie. In reality, I was inexperienced in the development of a winter program. And the summer program was marginally acceptable, according to the judges. So I was not unhappy to eventually relinquish this position and fade back into the horn line, and playing, which I loved. And it would be a few more years until my total drill program matured.
My favorite position was that of assistant to the Horn Instructor, John Sasso. I fully recall moments working with the “French” and “Bari” sections. We would go into “the room,” and get to work. Here, I was competent and unrestricted. We were eager to learn and improve, and we did.
Once we learned the parts, we became so spirited as to go outside, in defiance of the winter, for more space and to develop projection. And we were all rewarded by the smile on the Horn Instructor’s face. These were good times.
Eventually, we achieved credibility sufficient to attract “outside” members as well as alumni of predominant corps in the local area: Diliberto, Hanneman, Humphries, Saunders, Dorritiee, Buglino, Steward, Buschemi, Murphy, Cobham, Cavanaugh, Hurd, Files, Isom, etc. And we developed a huge colorguard.
These were even better times. Ballin’ The Jack; Au Clair de Lune; Ride Through The Night; It’s a Pity to Say Goodnight; Domino; Elbowls.
William “Bill” Hightower, JD, 1961-1964; in and out for years after: Horn line and Drill
