The Jaffa Shrine

Jaffa Drum and Bugle Corps
Text from 100th Anniversary Book

2010 Jaffa Drum and Bugle Corps Officers
President
Richard A. Huether	902 Rubra Circle Duncansville, PA 16635	814-317-5120
Secretary
Gary L. Kurtz	P O Box 83, Spruce Creek Pa  16683	814-632-9492
Treasurer
John F. Campbell	909 Sandbank Rd. Altoona, PA 16601	814-944-9939

 

On February 20, 1922, a group of

Photo by A. Osman

Nobles met in the original Jaffa Mosque on Chestnut Avenue to form an Oriental Band. This musical unit appeared in several local parades and marched in the imperial Session Parade in Washington, D.C. The Oriental Band was an active unit in Jaffa Shrine until January 28, 1924, when members of the unit voted to temporarily disband the Oriental Band and organize the Jaffa Shrine Drum & Bugle Corps.

The Jaffa Drum & Bugle Corps Immediately became active and participated in several localparades and made its first Shrine parade appearance in the Jaffa Caravan at Punxsutawney on June 10. 1924. On September 18, 1924, the corps traveled to Atlantic City, New Jersey, to march with other Jaffa Units in the Imperial Session Parade.

Since its inception, the Drum & Bugle Corps has been fortunate to have dedicated members and leadership as well as strong support from the entire Nobility of Jaffa Shrine. On January 21, 1925, Noble Joe Dickson was elected to the position of Director of the corps and held that position until 1953 when he was made Director Emeritus. Noble Joe is the only member of the Corps to have been accorded this honor. It is the policy of the Jaffa Drum & Bugle Corps to bestow Emeritus Membership on those corpsmen who have been active for twenty years. There are currently 14 Emeritus Members still marching.

The Corps has been privileged by having two of its members serve as Illustrious Potentate of Jaffa Shrine. Illustrious Sir William J. Harris held the position in 1991, and Illustrious Sir Thomas M. Foose, Jr. served as Potentate in 2001.

Through the years, there have been family relationships within the Corps membership. Several of these families are: Charles A. Auker and his sons Charlie and Howard; Martin H. Berry and his son Marlin as well as his Brothers Dick and Gene; John H. Christman and his son Steve; Gerald G. Fleck and his son-in-law Thomas M. Foose, P.P.; Bill and Pat Fagan and brother-in-law Richard Scheeler; William J. Harris, P.P. and son Gregg; Robert K. McClellan and his son R. Clair and grandson J. Scott; Gary and Loy Kurtz and their step-father John Powell.

During the 79 year history of the Jaffa Drum & Bugle Corps there have been two corpsmen who have been active marching members for over 50 years. They are Raymond W. Bookwalter and R. Clair McClellan. This was an extraordinary commitment of service by these two nobles.
For the first 25 years the brass bugles were straight horns, and in 1949, Past Potentate Arthur E. Winter presented the corps with 24 single piston bugles. This enabled the Corps to expand its musical presentations. These single-piston bugles were a big improvement to the straight horns and were in use for 42 years, being replaced with Dynasty Pro-Line” three-valve bugles in 1992. These three-valve horns enabled the Corps to further expand its musical capability. The percussion section was upgraded in 1996 with the purchase of a complete set of “Dynasty Eagle” drums.

In the past 40 years, the Jaffa Drum & Bugle Corps has been very successful in Shrine competition as well as being highly ranked in local parades, with 22 First and Second Place honors. During this period the Corps has been judged first in MASA Convention Parade competition 18 times and received the coveted Chuck Jordan Memorial Award (judge’s trophy) in 1991, 1994, 1997, and 1998 for being the most outstanding unit in the line of march in the MASA Convention Parade.

Never forgetting our commitment to Masonry, the Corps has made several appearances in support of Masonic activities. At the request of the Grand Master we have made parade appearances in Ligonier, Pennsylvania in 1976, celebrating the Bicentennial of the United States of America, and at Gettysburg in 1993, for the dedication of “Friend to Friend” Masonic monument in the Gettysburg National Cemetery.

In 1969, under the leadership of Past Potentate Raymond A. Long, The Jaffa Drum & Bugle Corps was one of the supporting units behind the formation of the Mid-Atlantic Drum Corps Association. This association holds a MADCA-HAFLI gathering each year as a means to get to know and parade en mass with corpsmen from other Shrine Drum Corps. The Jaffa Drum & Bugle Corps has hosted this gathering seven times and made many friends from other Mid-Atlantic Shrine Drum Corps who have the same commitment to our philanthropy: “We March to Help Kids Walk”.

 

Continue to Other Units

CONCERT BAND	CALLIOPE CLOWNS
PATROL/DIRECTOR STAFF	STRING BAND
CHANTERS	COLORGUARD
HIGHLANDERS	GREETERS
DRUM & BUGLE CORPS	MOTOR CORPS
LEGION OF HONOR	MOUNTED PATROL
ORIENTAL BAND	LIL VETTES
PROVOST GUARD	ATC
CYCLE CORPS	SHRINE BAND

Booking the Jaffa

If you are are interested in booking the Jaffa for your next concert or event please contact the main office at 814-949-6205.