Crossmen (Drum and Bugle Corps)

The Crossmen are a Division I drum and bugle corps from San Antonio, Texas. Founded in 1975, they are a current member of Drum Corps International. The Crossmen have had various geographic homes over the years, beginning in the southeastern Pennsylvania and Delaware Valley areas. Their longest stays were in West Chester, Pennsylvania and Newark, Delaware.

The corps was created as a merger between two suburban Philadelphia drum corps, the Keystone Regiment and the 507 Hornets. The name "Crossmen" was chosen by the members of the newly created corps, and can be traced back to American Legion Post 507, which was named in honor of war veteran John Welsey Cross.

In the winter of 1996, the corps became an official program offering of Youth Education in the Arts, an umbrella organization which also includes the Cadets drum corps and the United States Scholastic Band Association. In the autumn of 2006, the corps relocated to San Antonio, Texas and made their official return to independent status from YEA in late August 2007.

In addition to numerous Eastern States Circuit Championships, the 1977 American Legion Championship, and the 1981 VFW National Championship, the Crossmen have been consistent finalists in the Drum Corps International circuit, finishing in the elite top 12 twenty-two times. Their official corps song is Russian Christmas Music by Alfred Reed.

Part of the mystique surrounding the Crossmen are references to "Bones." Both a mascot and apparent fan of the corps, Bones appears at the top of the back stands or in other prominent places to help inspire the Crossmen before a big performance. Dressed in a 1970's Crossmen uniform with ankle-length red cape and a skull mask, Bones arrives in time for the start of the show, spreads his cape to audience approval, and then vanishes once the Crossmen take the field.

The corps director is Mark Chambers, who was recently the band director at Ronald Reagan High School (San Antonio), where the corps is currently based.

The corps assistant director is Jarrett Lipman. Jarrett recently aged out of the Crossmen in 2007 (Metamorphasis)after serving for two years as the corps drum major.