1959 Golden Knights | 1959 AL Nationals Parade | Departing for the '59 Nationals | 1959 Nationals | 1959 Contest | 1959 AL National Champs | 1959 Recording
"The '59 Corps lost but four contests, crowning the year with the Legion Championship in Minneapolis."
"...At the American Legion Nationals in '59 in Minneapolis, there was no retreat. The Corps had to simply sweat out waiting for the posting on a board of the score of the Chicago Cavaliers, who had put on a magnificent show. The official with the Cavalier score slowly rounded the track in a jeep. Gradually he ascended a ladder and moved the name of every corps down one slot. He put his hand on the card in first place. The card read, simply, B.S. The he slowly smiled and removed his hand, slotting the Cavies card into second place. Those in gold roared; those in green walked away in silence." - from Tim O'Brien's A (not so brief) HISTORY OF THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS
As a result of this 1959 victory, the Cavaliers created the following lyrics, sung to the chorus of Stars and Stripes Forever:
Be kind to the Knights dressed in gold,
For we'll soon be punching holes in their armor,
We'll beat Blessed Sacrament's fold,
Like we've beaten the Belleville farmers,
Don't laugh at the boys from the East,
For we know that they soon will be defeated,
They'll moan and they'll groan to their priest,
And Minneapolis revenge will be completed!
Note: The Cavaliers were still singing this in 1970.