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Home of the
Bracken Cavaliers
Alumni Drum Corps
Bristol is becoming a town of murals celebrating some of the historic events in Bristol. The newest one celebrates Brackens 100th Anniversary. The dedication will be on Bristol Day, October 19 2024 at 9am. It is on the side of the All Fresh Supermarket located on the corner of Pond and Walnut Streets.
Bracken 100th Anniversary Party Invite
For more information
Contact Art Younglove before October 5, 2024
86 Gable Hill Road, Levittown PA 19057
1-856-296-3740
GLJONSEY@AOL.COM
The Bracken Cavaliers are Celebrating their 100th Anniversary
In 1922 a boy scout troop had just added drums and military style bugles to their troop for parades. They called themselves the Cadets of Bristol PA. This caught on with the youth of Bristol. In 1924 The Cadets of Bristol approached the the Robert W Bracken American Legion Post 382 to sponsor their group. The Bracken Post agreed and the birth of the Robert W Bracken Cadets Jr Drum and Bugle Corps was formed.
Here we are 100 Years later and the Bracken Post 382 continues to sponsor our corps today.
Bracken has started a Community Band to perform in Concerts and Festivals
12 weeks ago, several members of the Bracken Cavaliers Alumni started a community Band to perform along side the Bracken Cavaliers. To date we have 17 members and have learned 12 songs ranging from Jazz, Pop and Blues. We have a library of over 1100 songs.
We are building an ensemble that will play popular and fun songs that everyone knows and can sing along and have some fun while listening to us play.
WE are still looking for a trombone or two and a keyboard player to fill the band.
If live in the Philadelphia to Trenton NJ area and are interested in finding out more about us and playing along, email pbigelow2001@yahoo.com
Who We Are
The Bracken Cavaliers Alumni Drum & Bugle Corps was established in 2000. We are a Non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. The purposes of this organization shall be educational, historical, patriotic, and fraternal; to promote the playing of music for the enjoyment of people of all ages. Also, to promote the development of musical talent, discipline, self-esteem, and responsibility in all of our members.
Our History
A boy scout troop in Bristol
marched in parades with a drum line leading the way. In 1922 They added bugles to the drumline and it caught on with the kids from the town. In 1924, the Bracken Cavaliers was organized and claim the honor of being one of the oldest and still performing junior drum and bugle corps in the United States of America.
In 1924, under direction of the corps first director, Harry Burbank, the corps became affiliated and sponsored by the Robert W. Bracken American Legion Post No. 382 of Bristol, which, to this date is continuing to help with the sponsoring of the Cavaliers.
The name Bracken is a memorial to Robert W. Bracken, the first WWI casualty from Bristol, for whom the Legion bears the name, and of which the Bracken Cavaliers have carried in proud tradition for 99 years.
What We Do
The Bracken Cavaliers entertains audiences throughout the Philadelphia region by playing from the 50s through the 70s in parades and concerts.
Since our members are older, we no longer march, we ride on a flatbed float and play as a concert style drum and bugle corps.
After 60+ years Bracken has decided to change its logo to be more modern looking
Brackens Old Logo
Brackens New Logo
Bracken's Upcoming Schedule
Practices have begun for the 2024 season
We practice every other Monday night from 7p-9p
at the Bristol Cultural and Historical Society
321 Cedar Street Bristol PA 19007
Our next rehearsal is Monday March 18
Show songs for 2024
National Anthem - Something - Gospel John - Unchained Melody - La Marseillaise (French National Anthem) - Never Walk Alone
Break
You're a Grand Old Flag - Proud to be An American - America the Beautiful - Yankee Doodle Dandy - Going Home - Smile - With a Song in My Heart
Hope to see you at one of our performances
Restarting our Alumni Breakfast-Philadelphia Region
Did you march in any drum corps from the Philadelphia/New Jersey Area? There were so many. Not just Bracken but ANY Drum Corps?
We thought it would be a great idea to restart the Alumni Breakfast Club for the Philadelphia area drum corps.
We invite all those who marched in any drum corps, from any time period. Doesn't matter where or when you marched, all are welcome. We share corps history, war stories and all the fun times we had. We plan to honor a different corps each month, talk about their history, see photos from the days of yore, play some drum corps trivia and possibly have a guest speaker come every once in a while.
The Alumni Breakfast Club will meet every second Saturday of the month when there are no performances scheduled. We meet at the Golden Eagle Diner on the corner of Rt 13 and Bath Street (300 Bristol Pike Bristol PA) from 9a-11a. Our next Breakfast is April 13.
If interested please contact me at brackendirector@ gmail.com or pbigelow2001@yahoo.com.
So, lets have some fun together, invite a friend. It will be a great way to see and catchup with old friends, make some new ones, finally meet a friend from Facebook or any other social media site you attend.
Hope to see YOU there
