BRIDGEMEN SOCIAL EVENTS Galleries

BRIDGEMEN PERFORM ROBYN (MURRAY) & BRIAN PULLARO WEDDING 7-19-08 : The last time that someone opened the doors to Saint Andrews church after a mass, only to find the Bridgemen Alumni Drum & Bugle Corps in an arc formation facing them with a private concert was last June 2007, when Father John swung open the doors after his final mass before retiring! Up until now that is! Fast forward to Saturday, July 20, 2008, same place, Saint Andrews Church, same doors, same circumstances, the end of a mass, but a wedding mass this time. The wedding of Brian Pillaro to Robyn Murray, the daughter of Bob & Jane Murray. Robyn, a Bridgemen fan, Bob, a current soprano player of the Bridgemen! Robyn’s favorite song, Somewhere Over The Rainbow, coincidence? It’s the very song that is in the Bridgeman’s ballad of this year’s repertoire. So, in Bridgemen Land, it’s just the natural order of things that as the new couple swung the church doors open at 4:20 PM to greet the world as a brand new married couple, that the first thing they should see is the Bridgemen & the first thing they should hear is, Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Right? Normal thinking for Bridgemen! Entertaining for all in attendance! And all made possible with the help of the Bayonne Police, blocking off 4th Street at both ends from all vehicle traffic as the Bridgemen performed a special concert for special people! The newly married couple although shocked, were still able to clap hand in time and dance along with the Bridgemen command performance! Afterwards, they joined the Bridgemen to pose for photographs to record the moment & then it was off to The Empire Club in Tenafly NJ for a reception with invited guests. On Monday, it was off to a Bermuda honeymoon! HYPE to the new couple and may their love bring them somewhere over the rainbow! HYPE………….It’s a Bridgemen Thing.

BRIDGEMEN PERFORM ROBYN (MURRAY) & BRIAN PULLARO WEDDING 7-19-08

BRIDGEMEN TOS AFTER PARTY VFW POST 226 6-14-08 :

BRIDGEMEN TOS AFTER PARTY VFW POST 226 6-14-08

BRIDGEMEN COUNTDOWN 4-26-08 :

BRIDGEMEN COUNTDOWN 4-26-08

BRIDGEMEN PERFORM EASTER MASS AT SAINT ANDREWS CHURCH 2008 :

BRIDGEMEN PERFORM EASTER MASS AT SAINT ANDREWS CHURCH 2008

BRIDGEMEN POST ST PATRICKS PARADE DINNER :

BRIDGEMEN POST ST PATRICKS PARADE DINNER

BRIDGEMEN DRUMFEST POST PARTY 3-15-08 :

BRIDGEMEN DRUMFEST POST PARTY 3-15-08

SAINT ANDREWS HOLY NAME SOCIETY AWARDS THE BRIDGEMEN & THEIR DIRECTOR GEORGE LAVELLE : SAINT ANDREWS HOLY NAME SOCIETY HONORED THE BRIDGEMEN ALUMNI DRUM & BUGLE CORPS & ITS DIRECTOR, GEORGE LAVELLE, AT A SPECIAL SAINT PATRICK'S DINNER DANCE THAT WAS HELD AT SAINT ANDREWS SCHOOL ON 3/7/08.

SAINT ANDREWS HOLY NAME SOCIETY AWARDS THE BRIDGEMEN & THEIR DIRECTOR GEORGE LAVELLE

BRIDGEMEN BOWL-A-THON 1-12-07 :

BRIDGEMEN BOWL-A-THON 1-12-07

BRIDGEMEN PLAY CHRISTMAS MASS AT SAINT ANDREWS 12-24-07 :

BRIDGEMEN PLAY CHRISTMAS MASS AT SAINT ANDREWS 12-24-07

BRIDGEMEN BALL 12-08-07 :

BRIDGEMEN BALL 12-08-07

JEROMES BENEFIT PASTA DINNER 11/16/07 :

JEROMES BENEFIT PASTA DINNER 11/16/07

BRIDGEMEN DOUBLE TREE HOTEL ROCHESTER SHOW EVE 2007 :

BRIDGEMEN DOUBLE TREE HOTEL ROCHESTER SHOW EVE 2007

BRIDGEMEN AT CARMESTROS RESTAURANT HILTON NY 2007 :

BRIDGEMEN AT CARMESTROS RESTAURANT HILTON NY 2007

GLENS BIRTHDAY 2007 :

GLENS BIRTHDAY 2007

PUMPKINS 50th 07/07/07 :

PUMPKINS 50th 07/07/07

BRIDGEMEN POST TOS PARTY 6-23-07 :

BRIDGEMEN POST TOS PARTY 6-23-07

BRIDGEMEN PRE TOS PARTY 6-22-07 :

BRIDGEMEN PRE TOS PARTY 6-22-07

BRIDGEMEN MEMORIAL DAY PICNIC 5-27-07 PART 1 : The Bridgemen Make The Most of Memorial Day Weekend! by James Reilly Sunday arrived as Day 2 of the Memorial Day weekend brought us back together for a performance at the Bridgemen Alumni Family Picnic. Rehearsals went VERY well; members and staff alike were wildly enthusiastic about how well we looked and sounded. The color guard premiered their new gold-and-black-checkered flags to the public, in tribute to the St. Andrew's era, for one of our songs. Special thanks to member Randy Ferry (of MSARP fame) for the beautiful flags his company created for us this year! After ensembling together for a bit, we were charged up to perform in uniform for different generations of Bridgemen alumni and guests. We all had a good laugh when Quad player Dave Gambal proclaimed “We can win this!” We headed over to the Picnic grounds in single file and set up our arcs. We gave our all as the bold opening “Fanfare” statement grabbed hold of everyone and launched us into “Ritual Fire Dance/Sabre Dance.” The expressions on people's faces were priceless as they got caught up in this challenging piece's unyielding drive! Next, Drum Major John Richard led the charge to conduct the soprano extravaganza “Mr. Clown” and made sure the sopranos got all the acclaim they deserved. More songs followed as we demonstrated the diverse show we've learned. This year's show weaves together Bridgemen classics and drum corps classics as we cover new ground for appreciative audiences this summer. Our alumni, family, and friends were grateful we had put on such a heartfelt show for them in the hot sun. After soaking up all the applause, we filed out into the parking lot. George pulled us all together back at the equipment truck and commented, “My wife kept looking at me as if to say, 'WOW, you guys are really GOOD.' Ya think... maybe I won't get in trouble with her for a while!?” George outlined Monday's schedule for Memorial Day and set us free to enjoy the rest of the day. Once we changed back into civilian clothing, we joined the party, already in progress. The rest of the afternoon was filled with good food and good company as we enjoyed our successes. A heartfelt thanks go to the Alumni Association for organizing a special event for us to connect with one another.

BRIDGEMEN MEMORIAL DAY PICNIC 5-27-07 PART 1

The Bridgemen Make The Most of Memorial Day Weekend! by James Reilly ...

Updated: May 27, 2007 7:54pm PST

BRIDGEMEN MEMORIAL DAY PICNIC 5-27-07 PART 2 :

BRIDGEMEN MEMORIAL DAY PICNIC 5-27-07 PART 2

BRIDGEMEN MEMORIAL DAY PERFORMANCE 5-27-07 Photos by Katie Nadrowski :

BRIDGEMEN MEMORIAL DAY PERFORMANCE 5-27-07 Photos by Katie Nadrowski

BRIDGEMEN ST PATRICKS PARADE AFTER PARTY 2007 :

BRIDGEMEN ST PATRICKS PARADE AFTER PARTY 2007

BRIDGEMEN THRU THE YEARS 1960s :

BRIDGEMEN THRU THE YEARS 1960s

BRIDGEMEN BOWLATHON 2007 :

BRIDGEMEN BOWLATHON 2007

SANTA @ VFW POST 226 2006 :

SANTA @ VFW POST 226 2006

BRIDGEMEN ALUMNI MEETING 11-11-06 :

BRIDGEMEN ALUMNI MEETING 11-11-06

BRIDGEMEN BEEFSTEAK CHARLIE 2006 : Beefsteak Dinner and Rehearsal Weekend Pile On The Good Times! November 11-12, 2006 It was a great weekend to be a Bridgemen. On Saturday, November 11th, 150+ Bridgemen, family and friends attended a tasty Beefsteak Dinner in the Andrean Room at St. Andrew School. But, prior to partaking in the culinary delights, we made sure some business was attended to. The Bridgemen Alumni held a very successful meeting outlining a very aggressive social calendar for the upcoming months. There will be Santa in Bayonne for the kids, 60s/70s/80s era Bridgemen parties at the Post, the legendary First Saturday party in January, the Memorial Day Picnic and more for our ever growing family to get together with their Bridgemen brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open for more information on these opportunities to socialize with some of the nicest people this side of the Mississippi. Great job Alumni Committee! Now, Beefsteak Bridgemen! What's that all about? Well, Claire Kronenfeld, Lori Law, Luis Santiago, Nancy DuCharme, and Antoinette Zbylut put together a culinary extravaganza that will set all of us South Beach dieters back a few weeks. A constant flow of Filet Mignon, French Fries, Salad, Beer, Wine and Soda was all that was needed to fuel another great party by the Bridgemen. Throw all those goodies together with a bunch of Bridgemen and you'll see 5 hours fly by faster than a speeding bullet. Besides the food, there was great music that let us dance and sing the night away. But the highlight of the evening was the now famous TRICKY TRAY RAFFLE. Basket after basket filled with goodies such as food, sporting event tickets, booze, Bridgemen souvies and DVDs were raffled off to the attendees that purchased tickets. Many a happy face was seen when the magic numbers were called. On Sunday, November 12th, the full corps met again for our second rehearsal of the 2007 season. The level of excitement continues to run high as everyone is gearing up to “Raise the Bar“ another notch. The drumline, which also practiced all day on Saturday, was exceptionally sharp for this early in the year. The reason: Bob Dubinski. Doobie did his usual feat of accomplishing more in 2 days than most of us can accomplish in 10. The hornline and Color Guard also had solid rehearsals concentrating on In The Stone to get our new members up and running on that Bridgemen Classic. New horn instructors Dennis Argul and Gabe Gulino, both veterans of Bayonne, settled into the groove and demonstrated their talent. The 100+ members that attended practice got a preview of our potential at the end of the day's Show and Tell. If this is how we sound and look in November, the sky is the limit for 2007! - John Richard, Drum Major Musical Selections Announced for the 2007 Bridgemen! The new year will allow our talented, experienced performers to tackle a more challenging show and bump up the level of entertainment the audience craves. The 2007 show will be launched by Ritual Fire Dance/Sabre Dance, the dynamic opener from 1978 that best exemplifies the fire power our brass and percussion lines bring to the field. The Color Guard has already been practicing the energetic, fast choreography that will make this chart a winner with audiences. Next, we'll cruise into My Favorite Things, a smooth classic from 1973 (which the Kilts emulated in 1977) that our members want a second chance at. The varying colors and textures of this piece make it a challenge to play and a pleasure to perform. What I Did for Love and One (from the musical A Chorus Line) harkens back to the corps rebirth in 1976, when Bobby Hoffman first brought Broadway-style showmanship to the field. The lush melody leads into the exhilarating, carefree dancers' chance to perform in the spotlight. Then we'll have a light-hearted segment that pays tribute to memorable charts in the activity with Great Moments in Drum Corps History. We'll have to wait and see what charts are chosen in the coming months; there's so much to choose from and so much fun we can have with the choices! In the Stone, our production number from 1980-1981, returns again to give everyone a good time and enjoy the wicked rhythms this chart delivers. This funky masterpiece will again have the audience clapping along as we turn up the intensity a notch. And The William Tell Overture, first played between 1972 and 1978, will again unleash a wall of sound on the unsuspecting crowd that will prove how outrageous we are. While these selections are tentative, they represent the determination by the staff and management to ensure that performer and fan alike will be entertained by the irreverant, fun-loving Bridgemen.

BRIDGEMEN BEEFSTEAK CHARLIE 2006

BRIDGEMEN TOS POST PARTY II 2006 :

BRIDGEMEN TOS POST PARTY II 2006

BRIDGEMEN WILDWOOD EVE @ APOLLO MOTEL 2006 :

BRIDGEMEN WILDWOOD EVE @ APOLLO MOTEL 2006

BRIDGEMEN TOS POST PARTY 2006 :

BRIDGEMEN TOS POST PARTY 2006

BRIDGEMEN TOS EVE PARTY 2006 :

BRIDGEMEN TOS EVE PARTY 2006

BRIDGEMEN MEMORIAL DAY PICNIC 2005 :

BRIDGEMEN MEMORIAL DAY PICNIC 2005

BRIDGEMEN BOWLATHON 1-21-06 :

BRIDGEMEN BOWLATHON 1-21-06

BRIDGEMEN MONMOUTH PARK RACETRACK 2005 :

BRIDGEMEN MONMOUTH PARK RACETRACK 2005

IRWINS' REUNION 10-29-05 :

IRWINS' REUNION 10-29-05

BRIDGEMEN 40TH ANNIVERSARY SET UP :

BRIDGEMEN 40TH ANNIVERSARY SET UP

BRIDGEMEN 40TH ANNIVERSARY GALA 2005 : 40th Anniversary Reunion & October Rehearsal were a blast!! Back to Back Fun on our first weekend back. October 8 & October 9, 2005 Thursday's Mini Corps rehearsal brought some of the Bridgemen's best musicians together, in preparation for a GREAT weekend of playing and connecting with friends. The horns and drums of Mini Corps next pulled together for a HOT performance on Saturday night, October 8th at St. Andrew's gym. We found ourselves under the spotlights in front of friends, family, and alumni across the decades. We ripped through the music we've practiced this summer and the roar of the crowd was INCREDIBLE! We still know how to play our hearts out and give our audience a great time. Bobby Hoffman used to say "You get back what you put out" and we lived up to his ideal. It was a GOOD night to be a Bridgemen performer! Hundreds were thrilled to hear us cruise through the tragic (yet driving) “Pagliacci” to open the evening. Bob Hunter's solo and our dedicated horns/drums had the crowd wide eyed and revved at what we pulled off. What a thrill to share in that moment and recapture a golden moment from 1977 & 1979. We moved into “Battle Hymn of the Republic” as a tip of the hat to our premiere on Memorial Weekend. “In the Stone” brought us back to a pinnacle chart from our years of entertaining; each section gets to bask in the spotlight as this song lets us celebrate good times and good friends. Director George Lavelle came back to the microphone and made sure the Mini Corps enjoyed more rousing applause as we left the stage to rejoin our friends and family. We were greeted with all the enthusiasm, good company, food, drinks, and photos to ogle that we could handle! It was amazing to enjoy the company of so many good people surrounded by the extraordinary photos, printouts, uniforms, and memorabilia that completely covered the walls and let us walk down memory lane. Thanks go to everyone that shared amazing photos with us to paper the walls with! Special thanks go to everyone who made this evening possible with their meticulous planning, especially Debbie Kowalak, Claire Kronenfeld, Ken Donovan, Mary Cerreta, Mike Cerreta, Nancy Ducharme, PLUS everyone who contributed their time. You helped make our 40th Anniversary Gala a night to remember! At the end of the gala, some of us knew when to call it a night, be responsible, and get our rest for the following day's rehearsal. And some of us didn't want the fun to end and may have mosied over to Irene's in Bayonne for more beverages, dancing, and laughing. So I hear. The next day, Sunday, brought us back together for a large gathering of horn players, drummers, and guard handling equipment. Director George Lavelle spoke to us first and reintroduced us to the talented staff that brought us to where we are. Dennis Delucia spoke to us about how Bridgemen showmanship revolutionized the activity and his passion for this corps. Larry Kerchner spoke of the Bridgemen music that people still have a place in their hearts for. Both men are eager to keep their successful collaboration going to rekindle the magic we've brought together. Gary Karpinski (our drum seargent) spoke to us about the Uniform Fund, set up so that we can ask for contributions towards covering the cost of our new uniforms. Each uniform will commemorate a dear family member, alumni, or sponsor. Gary's mother departed some years back, after his years in a yellow coat, and she sacrificed so that Gary could realize his dream of being in the Bridgemen. Gary explained that “My uniform will have my mother's name sewn inside, so that she'll always be with me on the field.” It's a fitting way to pay tribute to the people who helped us get to where we are. Once rehearsals began, we were thrilled to see ourselves start so strong in our first rehearsal of the new season. We were bowled over by the level of talent that came back and the new talent that joined the ranks. We were happy to see people who cheered for us Reunion night, coming to join us. In a few hours, Larry Kerchner, Dennis Delucia, and Matt Hurley were PUMPED at how October's rehearsal was taking us to the next level; it was a BIG step forward from January's beginnings. Mini Corps and Alumni Guard in the summer created a strong nucleus of dedicated and experienced performers who showed our instructors that we could conquer new material quicker than before. The hornline began practicing our new opener of a shortened “Pagliacci,” into the ever-popular “Land of Make Believe,” two beloved charts from our glory days that sounded as fresh as a new chart. Some classics never grown old! We soon cleaned it to our satisfaction and moved into familiar territory with music we already knew, then circled back to new music later. The drummers across the street thumped out familiar exercises and turned up the intensity. Our intense drummers filled out the line with ambitious, experienced players. The guard drew on their summer experience to quickly get back into the thick of things, learning new routines and bringing back tried and true routines. From “Dugans” to dancers, our women have proven they can put on a show. We put it all together in the gym in the last hour, as all three sections came together to perform for each other and turn this into a cohesive whole. Now it was the performers' turns to applaud each other's efforts! We left rehearsal that day satisfied with what we accomplished and looking forward to November rehearsal. A heartfelt thanks go out to everyone who gave their all this weekend and helped guarantee that 2006 will be an EXCITING season for us all to be a part of. We have very big ambitions and have learned that determination and HYPE go very far in our audience's hearts. If you liked what you've seen or heard, why don't you come down to a rehearsal? We practice at St. Andrew's on 4th Street and Broadway in Bayonne, NJ. Next time out, we'd like to see our ranks grow so we can show the activity what we're made of. See you November 13th!

BRIDGEMEN 40TH ANNIVERSARY GALA 2005

BRIDGEMEN BOWLATHON 2005 :

BRIDGEMEN BOWLATHON 2005

E-MAIL JOHN


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