BB Centennial in 2016

Bonnie Brae will be celebrating its centennial in 2016 with a large party at BB. Here is a Centennial website, and the invite can be seen in the 2010 decade: BB Centennial. Address comments or questions to George.Edw@Gmail.com

just a very bad day

Bonnie Brae

I so do miss the farm! I had 150 brothers of all colors and religions. We all stuck together and helped each other without even knowing it. The brotherhood was strong even though we may have fought among ourselves we always stuck together. If you messed with one you messed with all of us. I am an only child so that bond stayed with me all of my life. I ended up in Florida. Last time I visited the farm i was heart broken. A lot of the farm is gone or crumbling from neglect. I was in every cottage except Kiwanis. I started in Osborne.

If any who read this remember me, Danny Collins 1961-1967, my email is: scorpion1118@gmail.com Send me a line and i will try to answer all. I am still in touch with:

John Hendershot (coach)

John Cambell (asst coach)

Joey & Carman Gugliardo

Bob West

That's off the top of my head. Hope to hear from more.

Dan Collins

The Farm Life

Some of the older alumni may be missing the farm life. Have you ever wondered where the best farm places are in the U.S.? Well, "Progressive Farmer shares its 2009 list of the absolute best rural places to raise a family." They suggest that you, "click through our gallery as we count down the top 10 counties. Then stick around, as we list its top picks for the best rural counties in six categories."

Click on the image to see their number 8 choice in McPherson County, Kansas. Or click here to see all 10 of their picks for the best rural places to live in America. The Progressive Farmer magazine can be found here.

Entering History

For the first time in its 91 years, Bonnie Brae entered National history by marching in the 2009 Presidential Inaugural parade as seen on several National television stations, including CNN and C-Span. But before they left NJ, the Knights got haircuts as described by Linda Sadlouskos here.

Later, Linda, a staff writer for the "My Central Jersey" newspaper describes the bus scene as it arrived in DC, and you can read about it here. "They were totally in awe," the school's special events coordinator Cathy Phillips said at about 9 a.m., shortly after the bus's arrival. "They were looking out the windows at the landmark's -- I don't think any of them had ever been here before," Phillips said of the Knights band, traveling with their advisers and chaperons for a very long one day trip."

During the parade the Knights played on Pearl drums as seen in this photo from the Pearl website.

National Public Radio covered and summarized the day here, and provided two sets of pictures. This first one, here covers the swearing in ceremony, whereas the second set of 32 pictures covers the parade here

2009 Inaugural Parade Lineup

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." With these words, directed by our Constitution, Barack Obama became the 44th President of the United States of America. You can read the Constitution in its original wording here. Photo of the President taking his oath from the Herald Dispatch. Click any image for a larger view.

"In the 2009 Inaugural Parade, over 10,000 people from all 50 states will follow the President and Vice President from the Capitol down the 1.5 mile route on Pennsylvania Avenue. Music and cultural groups will join representatives from our Armed Forces in the historic parade, which concludes at the presidential reviewing stand, where the President and Vice President will watch the processional with their families." The Parade route can be seen in this image where the outline in magenta is restricted to pedestrian traffic only and "M" stands for a Metro station, many being closed for security reasons.

To see the lineup order look here. Looks like the BB Knights are about half way in the lineup, and the fifth group behind the U.S. Navy. Here is an alphabetical list that identifies each participant by their State. Go BB !!!

Dress Rehersal

Going to Washington, D.C., is no minor event; few people manage to accomplish that. Going to Washington during a Presidential Inaugural is rarer still. However, going to our National Capital to participate in the Presidential Inaugural Parade is an event of a lifetime. Six days prior to the Parade, the Bonnie Brae Knights came together in a public dress rehearsal (see photo on the left) and received some obvious enthusiastic community support. Moreover, the 16-member band received a framed resolution from Bernards Township Mayor Carolyn Kelly, and "William Powers, the school’s executive director, told the crowd that fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger also called and donated knit caps, winter jackets and travel bags, “so the boys are going in style.”" View more pictures and read that report here.

In this photo on the right, the Knights enter to some enthusiastic applause and cheering. Click on any image for a larger view.

And here they are (below) in full dress regalia, preparing for the experience of a lifetime.

The photos courtesy of Alumnus John Grodzki.

This just in; one more video from the New Jersey Star Ledger which ran a brief video about the Knights on Friday, January 16th.

The brief video is the second of two features that can be seen here.
The photo on the right is from the Star Ledger video, and here is a lengthy report by Christina Johnson in the Real Time News.

Go Bonnie Brae !!!

BB Drummers on ABC News

On Thursday, January 15th, 2009, the Bonnie Brae Marching Drummers once again were on TV. This time on ABC Evening News. Here is ABC's Evening News anchor Charles Gibson introducing the story.

As Mr. Gibson notes, 1,400 bands applied, but only 90 were selected. And the Bonnie Brae Knights are one of the ninety.

It's not like drumming and music came easy. The boys needed some lessons, and the local community came to support this effort.

A direct link to the 2:15 minute ABC video can be found here. Go Bonnie Brae !!

BB Drumers on CBS News

On Wednesday, January 14, 2009, the Bonnie Brae Knights, a newly formed drum line made it to CBS TV News with Katie Couric. The byline stated, "The Bonnie Brae Knights are a marching band from N.J. composed of boys with troubled backgrounds. But, as Steve Hartman reports, this band will perform at this year's presidential inauguration." A picture of the CBS News opening scene is on the right.

The report included comment about BB Director Bill Powers who had so much faith in his boys that he sent in an application for the BB Knights to march in Barack Obama's Inaugural Parade. See the picture on the left.

Interestingly, the Application, contained a few, well shall we say, "Director prerogative" enhancements, as seen in this image on the right.

You can watch the two and a half minute video here, and you can read the text of the report here.
Daughter Christina said, "Great Video! What a great experience for these kids, and a boost for the school resume! That was gutsy of Bill to apply, and I am very glad that these boys made it and will be a part of history."


Go Bonnie Brae!!!

Bright Full Moon

Look up and be amazed at the wonder of our heavens. "The night sky is set to be illuminated by the biggest and brightest full moon for the past 15 years. The next encounter with a moon this close and full will not be until November 2016."

Lucy Cockcroft informs us that, "Each month the Moon orbits the Earth in an oval-shaped path, and on December 12 it will move past it around 28,000km closer than average.

The unusual feature is that this will coincide with a full moon, which will make it appear 14 per cent bigger and 30 per cent brighter than most full moons this year, on Friday night....Another astronomical treat that could be seen over the weekend is the annual Geminid meteor shower, one of the year's best displays of shooting stars. Up to 100 meteors an hour can fly across the sky. The meteors, which are easy to spot with the naked eye, appear to shoot out from the constellation Gemini, hence their name, but they can be seen all over the sky.

The best chance of seeing them is to look away from the Moon." Source

Any State

It doesn't matter if or how far you have moved from Millington, there is beauty to be found, and here are examples from each state in the Nation: Link.

How about some news from you?

Regards, George

Tuckie RIP

Some of you may recall Thomas Breunig who was at BB in the mid 1950s, and who settled in small quiet community outside Candler, North Carolina. Tuckie, as we knew him, passed away in January, 2008, and is survived by his brother John, who graduated BB in 1957. You can read the obit here.

One of his friends said of him, "Tuckie Breunig was the star quarterback of Bernards High School's 1960 AND 1961 football teams. I remember Tucker as a great athlete and an excellent, 'field general' who knew how to come up with the right play at the right time."

About New Jersey

Some energetic people have put together lists of unique facts about New Jersey. One of them can be found here. This comment surprised me, "In November of 1914, the New York Tribune, cooperating with Mr. Bertram Chapman Mayo (founder of Beachwood) issued an "Extra" announcing: "Subscribe to the New York Tribune and secure a lot at Beautiful Beachwood. Act at once, secure your lot in this Summer Paradise now!" This was the greatest premium offered by a newspaper - nothing equal to it was ever attempted in the United States."
Here is another similar list titled, Stupid Facts about New Jersey.
Best, George

Reunion 2007 pictures

Pictures from the 2007 Bonnie Brae Alumni reunion can be seen here. It started with a great buffet lunch on Friday, interrupted by a fire alarm, and then continued to all day Saturday. The turnout was good and the agenda full. Click here to download the PowerPoint Reunion Agenda.

Happy Thanksgiving

Guys:
We have much to be thankful for, and I wish the best to you and your family this Holiday.
Sign in and add some news when you get a chance.
Regards, George

Welcome to the BB Alumni Blog

Hi Alumni:
We are leading the way again. Our website was created on February 27, 1999.
Now we have our own blog. Only alumni will be invited to join, and only members can add comments. This is an ideal place to collect and store your comments, suggestions, memories, and pictures.
Pick a name, and then when you make a post, please state when you were at BB, and what state you live in now. A little context always helps.
Hope you enjoy this blog, and our website can be found here.
Best regards, George Seymour (BB `52-57)