GREAT NEWS: RIDGEMEN ALUMNI MEMBER PLEDGES TO MATCH

EVERY DOLLAR DONATED TO THE PATRIZIO FUND UP TO $5,000

Thanks to the generosity of a Ridgemen alumni member, the Charlie Patrizio Music Education Fund got a great financial shot in the arm this week. The anonymous donor will match every dollar donated to the Patrizio Fund up to $5,000.

That means whatever amount you can donate - from $25 to $100 to $1,000 - to the Patrizio Fund, the donor will match it, literally doubling your contribution.

This is a tremendous opportunity for us to "give something back", honor Charlie Patrizio's exemplary life, and

make a significant contribution to the music program at OLPH Elementary School. The matching program will

be in effect until Sunday, May 15, when the Ridgemen Alumni  gather for the annual Norwegian Day Parade

and Reunion at Notre Dame Hall. At the Reunion, we will be presenting our first check from the Patrizio Fund

to OLPH school and parish officials. This will a lasting tribute to Charlie Patrizio. 

For those of you who have already responded with contributions, the donor will match them as well.

For those of you who have not yet made a donation, please do so as soon as possible. Only 20 days remain

until the May 15th deadline. Any amount is welcome.

MAKE YOUR CHECK OUT TO: Ridgemen D&BCAA and indicate in the lower left hand corner  that it is for

the Patrizio Fund. MAIL IT TO: The Ridgemen Drum & Bugle Corps AA, Church Street Station, P.O. Box 1995

 NY NY 10008 - 1995.

All contributions are tax deductible and you will receive an acknowledgement of your contribution. 

Please take advantage of this generous matching offer and honor the memory of Charlie Patrizio.  For those of you who did not

know or march with Charlie, what follows is a short biography.    

BIOGRAPHY:  CHARLES JOSEPH PATRIZIO (1947 - 1968)

Charlie was born on August 25, 1947 and grew up on 56th Street in O.L..P.H. parish. In the

late Fifties he joined the OLPH Ridgemen and was with the corps when it made the transition

from a standstill corps to a Marching and Maneuvering unit in 1961. He played a solo soprano

horn during at least the 1966 season and during the winter months competed with a Ridgemen

quartet made up of Bobby McKenna, Roger Grady and others. Charlie was drafted into the US

Army in 1967 and was sent to Vietnam with the 1st Infantry Division. He was killed on patrol

on February 18, 1968 in Binh Duong, Vietnam. He was 20 years old. May he rest in peace.

(If members have other biographical information on Charlie Patrizio, about his family members

or Ridgemen or Army service, please forward them to jackdeacy@aol.com)