Inspire Arts And Music Inc

“For it is in giving that we receive.”
― St. Francis of Assisi
My drum corps career began in 1983 at 13 years old in a small corps in my hometown of Keene, NH. Four years later I became a member of the Crusader family. The Crusaders gave me a vehicle to share my passions as a young musician and performer. They gave me the ability to entertain and perform in front of tens of thousands of people in the best venues in the country. Not only did I get opportunities to perform but I learned numerous life lessons along the way. I learned that success does not happen without hard work. I learned that even though you may experience failure you cannot succeed without having determination and being persistent. I learned how to work with over 100 people under sometimes adverse conditions to achieve a common goal. I continue to benefit from my marching years in the Crusaders by applying the lessons I learned in my life. The continued friendships (and new ones) I made over 25 years ago enrich my life and provide a link to a shared history.

None of the lessons I learned could have happened without the support from alumni, staff, volunteers, fans and friends of the corps. The Boston Crusaders (past and present) could not have achieved success without the people that helped us get down the road; the drivers, the cooks and other volunteers. Our instructional staff, who were all volunteers were the best and provided an environment to allow us to overachieve as a corps and as individuals. This couldn’t have happened without the support of the Board of Directors and Administrative Staff that put it all together. Of course, all this required funds to pay the bills for the buses, equipment and food to feed the corps on the road. Our financial supporters, who bought souvenirs, show or raffle tickets, or who made donations helped make this happen.

I give to the Boston Crusaders because I want to support the “corps we love” like those that did when I was a member, and those before that. I give to the Boston Crusaders because I want the legacy of the Boston Crusaders to continue for another 75 years. I want the current members to have better equipment and better instruction so that they can have a better experience than I did when I was a member. I want the current members to get the opportunity to learn liife lessons like work ethic, dedication & leadership like I did so I could be successful later in life.

I've been volunteering with the Boston Crusaders for 10 years now. Their enduring passion keeps you coming back year after year. Things aren't always perfect, but the sense of community and strive to excel makes up for it.