Sitting in the stands at Scranton Memorial Stadium on Saturday watching the bands perform, Blakely resident Walter Giessler was getting choked up with emotion, though he would not admit it.
"I'm fine," he said gruffly, putting a hand to his eye soon after.
Mr. Giessler and many of the other people in the stands for the 50th annual Parade of Champions were veterans of the armed services. After serving his country in the Navy during the Vietnam War, he returned home and was in the honor guard that raised the flag during some of the first Parade of Champions events held in Scranton.
He's missed a few events in recent years, he said, but he was glad to be back in the stands this year to watch the performances.
"It's got a soft spot in my heart," Mr. Giessler said.
The Parade of Champions is a tradition for the American Legion and the Drum Corps Association, the longest-running drum corps show in America, said Mike Miskell, chairman of the parade.
"This makes me feel wonderful," Mr. Miskell said. "Every one of these performers are at their top. It's great to see them out doing their art."
Originally billed in 1962 as primarily martial music, the parade has transformed into more choreographed pieces over the years. Today, the parade attracts big-name drum corps bands from around the country to compete. The Times-Tribune and the Citizen's Voice are corporate sponsors of the event.
The bands that competed Saturday included the Cadets 2 from Allentown, Fusion Core from Morris County, N.J., and the Caballeros from Hawthorne, N.J., among others.
As a member of the Seymour, Conn., Hurricanes, David Pelaggi, 18, is used to big shows, though he admitted that shows like this can still make him nervous.
"There's a lot of big names that are here," Mr. Pelaggi said. "We're really trying to step our game up."
Also in the stands was Hackettstown, N.J., resident Tom Bellobuono. He said he's been following the Caballeros for years and has been to Scranton for the event several times.
Aside from being swept up in soaring music, he admires the careful choreography of the bands' movements.
"It's pretty complicated," Mr. Bellobuono said. "It's amazing how they're able to get it so tight."
Contact the writer: jkohut@timesshamrock.com, @jkohutTT on Twitter
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