71st Lancers

In 1963, the Private Leonard Junior VFW Post 6251 had a color guard that needed a beat to help them keep in step during parades, so they came up with the idea of starting a junior drum and bugle corps out of the sons and daughters of the post members.

In 1965, as the corps got bigger, they changed the name of the corps to the Monotones. And in 1967 they inaugurated a “peanut” guard, a group of younger kids to carry the flags out in front of the corps in parades. The corps got a facelift in 1971 when the colors were changed from gold satin and khaki to blue and white. This color combination varied over the years, but early on it was white satin tops and dark blue pants, topped by pillbox hats with plumes.

When it came to a new name, they drew their inspiration from the calendar, and the corps became the 71^st Lancers. They expanded their performance range as well, including standstill competitions along with their parades. In 1972 the corps won its first New York Penn competition, a standstill, beating out the Lake View Shoreliners and the Coachmen. The 71^st Lancers repeated as the New York Penn standstill champions in 1973.

The following season saw the corps enter the field of competition with an appearance at the North Tonawanda Open “Class A” championships, finishing in 7^tt position.  While preparing for the 1975 season with high hopes, the corps members learned that their 71^st Lancers would be merging with their biggest rivals, the Lake View Shoreliners.

This larger combined corps became the Imperial Regiment.

Ken Netzel / Rev. Ken Hessel July 2017 / Paul Legault (DCX)

CORPS 1 items

71st Lancers

71stLancers,Cheektowaga,NY,Pin1(LBR-3.0)J_U_S from the Richard Elmquist Collection

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