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The
Knickerbocker Greys, founded in 1881, is the oldest after school activity
for boys and girls ages 6 to 16. Cadets undergo a series of experiences
over the years that build leadership, self esteem, character, confidence,
social skills, etiquette, patience, empathy, perseverance, enthusiasm,
public speaking, and problem solving.
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Leadership
Cadets
receive leadership training and are given
opportunities to be in leadership roles as
squad leaders, company commanders and staff
officers. Cadets develop skills such as how
to motivate others, as well as empathy,
patience, and how to deal with
subordinates--not to mention command a group
of peers.
These
elements of leadership help the cadets in
all areas of their school lives-- now and
with their jobs, careers and families later
in life. The discipline, orderliness,
fairness and kindness that characterize the
Greys experience are ideals that most
parents want for their children, but there
are few ways of imparting them in the usual
after-school activities.
Thanks
to LTC Menegon, the Greys are still one way
for the children of
New York
to develop those attributes.
Educational
and Fun
Cadets
look forward to participation in various
field trips, historical and civic events.
Past outings have included museum visits and
trips to
Annapolis
, West Point,
Philadelphia
and
Gettysburg
. All of these activities insure that the
Cadets develop an esprit de
corps. The Corps of Cadets also
has several traditional "dining
ins" and Reviews each year at the
historic Seventh Regiment Armory drill
floor and the Tiffany room.
Building
Confidence
Confidence
building starts the first day of drill. The
main focus of each weekly meeting, led by
LTC Menegon and his young officers, is to
instill in each cadet a sense of discipline,
leadership, compassion and orderliness. As
cadets master Drill and Ceremony, they
become confident in their own
abilities. Drill includes, marching,
crack company, and posting of the Colors at
patriotic events. As cadets rise through the
ranks they develop confidence and leadership
as they instruct the younger cadets. Each
rank, from private to Cadet Colonel has new
leadership challenges.
“I
used to be really shy and I had a serious
fear of public speaking. My experiences at
the Greys helped me a lot, step by step. And
since then, as cadet Colonel, I’ve learned
a lot about confidence, leadership, and how
to teach younger cadets.”
Cadet
Col
Eugene Whyte 2007.
Etiquette
Cadets
are instructed in etiquette, learn how to
“meet and greet” and polish their table
manners while they attend, as Color Guard,
various annual celebratory events through
out New York City. Some of the annual events
include the
St. George’s
Society’s English Ball, the Sons of the
American Revolution dinner, the Sovereign
Order of the St. John of Jerusalem
investiture, the Society of Colonial Wars
dinner, and Military Order of Foreign Wars.
Over
125 Years of Tradition
Photo:
Knickerbocker Greys Bugle corps 1902.
The
group’s name was derived from the original
uniform’s knee-length pants that were
known as "knickerbockers,” and the
color of the dress uniform, “Cadet
Grey.” Over 4,500 New Yorkers have been
members of the Knickerbocker Grey Cadet
Corps over the past 125 years, including
Nelson and David Rockefeller, Douglas
Fairbanks, Jr., Pierpont Morgan Hamilton,
Cornelius Vanderbilt Jr., John Lindsay, and
Lowell Thomas.
Today,
the Greys still proudly drill at the
renowned Seventh Regiment Armory on
Park Avenue
at
66th Street
. Boys and girls from diverse backgrounds
and schools participate in the Knickerbocker
Greys.
Applications now being
accepted for 2007!
If you have heard about the fabled Greys and wondered how your
child could become a member, now is the time! The roster is open
for the 2007 tour of duty, the Knickerbocker Greys' 126th consecutive
year, with many exciting activities planned,
including the eagerly awaited Sham Battle at Army Camp Smith.
For more information, or to arrange to visit a weekly drill,
write to the Corps at the address above, or send your query electronically
by clicking on the
Join Now! button.
In the meantime, we present with pride a
photo of a recent year’s Corps, taken at a
Fall Review, along with the best
wishes of the Corps.
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