Here are some things you may not know -
Mom designed our uniforms and from those cardboard patterns we had new uniforms each year! She never had a sewing lesson but had a great desire to sew and make these every year. She wanted them to be "just right". Who can forget those straight pins and those fittings!
Neither mom nor Ginny Johnston ever knew how to twirl. Yet, together they created an excellent group of majorettes and challenged them to get better every time they met. Mom, dad and Ginny were really tough and had high expectations for all of us! Not only did they challenge us in our ability to perform but challenged us in our personal lives as well. Remember uniform inspections? Remember having to go to someone's house to iron your uniform when it wasn't just right?
Cadet-Ettes was totally a volunteer organization. No one ever received a paycheck for the time they invested in the corps. It was a labor of love with 110% commitment on the part of those who volunteered their time. "1905 Thane" was the base station for Cadet-Ettes. Fittings, special practies, swimming parties, sleepovers, food and fun! A home to many who needed a place to go when they struggled with things at home.
Every year the Soap Box Derby would bring stars in to town. A huge tickertape parade would preceed the event on Friday evening and all the celebrities were introduced. Cadet-Ettes were often asked to be escorts for many of these. Michael Landon and the rest of the "Bonanza" gang came in to town one year and we not only escorted them, but learned the theme song from their TV show and played it the whole parade! Years later, we were asked to be the official Soap Box Derby greeting band - and held that title for about 8 years! We learned to play MANY songs at the last minute at the request of parents waiting arrival of their sons and daughters.
A many from St. Catherine's once visited the Soap Box Derby parade and was thoroughly impressed with Cadet-Ettes. He approached my mom about bringing the group to Canada. For those who don't know the story - this man's name was D.Grant Laundry. Mom thought he was a man from a laundry place and perceived this to be a joke. How surprised she was when she followed up to find out how serious he was! So off we went to Canada and it became an event which finished off our season each year! We stayed at the Maid of the Mist for a few years then moved to the Oakes which became our yearly "home" during the last weekend in September and the Ricci family & Charlie became part of the Cadet-Ette family as well. We had window decorating contests to boost our spirit before the big parade. And we always came back with victories!
When Peggy Emerson was crowned as Miss Ohio she chose Cadet-Ettes to represent her city at the Miss America Boardwalk parade. The balmy weather, the breeze from the ocean, and the long length of the parade contributed to most us getting sick but we recovered quickly.
Then there was the trip to Ripley West Virgina! Right after we checked in to the hotel we headed for the pool! And right after that, the pick up truck full of boys came in pursuit! It was definately a challenge for our chaperones.
One other trip that held fond memories was the Tulip Time Festival in Holland Michigan. We stayed at a very old hotel right in the center of town. We had never seen so many tulips and in so many colors! Not only tulips - but wooden shoes. I remember bringing back a pair and thinking they were so cool!
I recently found a list showing the many other travels Cadet-Ettes took throughout the years
after being incorporated in 1968. Our first trip was to Dallas Texas. From there, travel through time with me.............
1969 Tokyo Japan * represented Dick Bryan who was chosen as president of Lions International. 1970 Atlantic City, New Jersey
1971 West Coast, Disneyland, Las Vegas
1972 Mexico City
1973 Miami Florida
1974 Honolulu, Hawaii
1975 Racine, Wisconsin
1976 Honolulu, Hawaii
1977 Carribbean Cruise
1978 Racine, Wisconsin
1979 Carribbean Tour
1980 Alaskan Cruise
1981 Honolulu, Hawaii
1982 Mid East - Egypt, Israel, Turkey, Greece
1983 Europe - Switzerland, Germany, Holland, France, London
1984 Washington D.C., Gettysburg and Philadelphia
1985 Westerville, Ohio
1986 Honolulu, Hawaii
1987 Boston, Washington D.C., New York
1988 Soviet Union, Sweden and Finland
There were more trips to Hawaii and the final trip in 1997 was to Disneyworld. A final salute was a moment none of us will ever forget! It was time to retire Cadet-Ettes as we knew it. We came back to Akron Canton airport and said goodbye.
I hope this little log has stirred up special memories for you as it has for me as I wrote it! The corps was a huge part of your lives and "was" our life as a family for years and we loved it!
