5th Maine Regiment

In the fall of 1964, the Deering Memorial Defenders drum & bugle corps was formed and sponsored by the VFW Post 8659.

The corps was a member of the All-American circuit and began field competition in 1965. They joined the Mayflower circuit in 1968. The Memorial Defenders competed at the 1969 VFW Nationals held in Philadelphia where they finished in 63^rd position.

The corps incorporated as a "non-profit” youth program in 1970 under the 5^th Maine Defenders. Its purpose was to promote and encourage social opportunities, a high standard of citizenship for youth, and to coordinate and stimulate the interest of youth in music. That year, they competed at the World Open “Class B” championships, finishing in 16^th place and the following season, participated in the “Class A” division of the Mayflower, finishing in 5^th position.

In the fall of 1971, the corps changed their name once again to the 5^th Maine Regiment in honor of the veterans of the Civil War regimental infantry. They moved up to the World Open “Class A” division, finishing 29^th. In 1973, the Regiment participated in the US Open “Class A” division, ending in 24^th place, followed by two seasons of World Open “Class A” competition, finishing in 23^rd and 25^th respectively.

The 1976 season saw the corps return to the World Open “Class B” division where they just missed out on a finalist spot with a 9^th place finish. The following year, the 5^th Maine Regiment merged with the Pine Tree Warriors to form the Maine Regiment parade corps for one season. They reorganized in the fall of 1978 and competed in the “Class C” Greater New England circuit with a 9^th place finish at the “Class C” championships.

In the fall of 1979, the 5th Maine Regiment merged with Northern Lites to form Aurora.

Paul Legault (DCX)