According to a story run in the Monday, February 28, edition of The Lowell Sun, the men’s competition was won by Garde Sacre Coeur with the Garde Frontenac, ranking 2nd, both from Lowell. Among the ladies, the McElvain drill team from Nashua, took 1st place and 2nd place was taken by the Garde Ste. Cecile of Leominster. A separate judging was done for most popular captain, which was won by Florence Amelote of the Ste. Jeanne d’Arc team of Brockton, Mass. For the men, the winner was Prudent Codaire of the New Bedford Sharpshooters. His trophy was donated by L’Etoile, the French Canadian newspaper. The ladies cup was donated by City Councilman Joseph Biron.

The 1938 New England, New York and Quebec Regional Drill Championships, Worcester, Mass. was the site for this major affair. They were held, Sunday, June 12, at the Rodier athletic field of Assumption College. Garde units from Montréal and Plattsburgh, New York were to be there as well as teams from Lowell and all over New England. There was to be a parade at 1 p.m. followed by the competition. In the evening, there was a convention for attendees. The papers reported that Garde Frontenac won top prize and Garde Sacre Coeur walked away with 2nd place. Captain Bergeron leading the Garde Frontenac, also won the most popular captain award. At this time the Garde Frontenac was considered to be the best in the New England area by virtue of their many top finishes in parades as well as in drill competitions. The Garde Domremy was the only ladies Garde from Lowell to compete. They obtained a score of 93.1, but failed to win one of the top three awards.

Suncook, New Hampshire Drill and Parade, Sunday, August 7, 1938. The Garde Sacre Coeur of Suncook sponsored a parade and drill competition on this date. Garde Frontenac was among the teams scheduled to compete.

Drill Competition at St. Louis Cercle Hall, Spring 1941. On another occasion, the Cadets of Garde d’Honneur sponsored a local competition. It was probably sometime in the spring of 1941.According to the Lowell Sun, the various units each staged a colorful and disciplined drill routine for a large and appreciative audience. Prizes were awarded and the first prize trophy for Girls teams went to the Garde Domremy! The Garde Notre Dame won second prize medal for the Girls.

The Men’s trophy went to the Garde Sacre Coeur. The Garde Frontenac took second prize medal for the Men. The most popular Girl Captain was Miss Lorraine Mineault. Lorraine was a member of the Garde Domremy and our Mom remembered her well even after sixty years had gone by. Albert Bergeron of the Garde Frontenac won the most popular Captain award for the Men. Judges for the affair were four American Legionnaires. After the competition, a dance was put on for all in attendance.

New England Drill Championships, Worcester, Mass. Saturday, May 16, 1942 They were held at the High School of Commerce gym in Worcester, Mass. By 1942, the Gardes were being referred to as the Franco American Brigade of New England. The Lowell Sun called it the 12th annual competition, which means this event began about the year 1930. In the men’s division, Garde Sacre Coeur of Lowell won, with Garde St. Joseph of Fitchburg taking the 2nd place trophy and the Garde Sacred Heart of Wauregan, Conn. placing third. Among the ladies, the Garde St. Rose de Lima from Wauregan, Conn. took the championship, the Franco American Legion of New Bedford, Mass. was 2nd, and the Garde St. Mary of Putnam, Conn. took the 3rd place trophy. The Garde Frontenac widely considered to be the number one team in New England did not place. I can only assume they did not attend this competition for some unknown reason.

Regional Drill Competition, Taunton, Mass. Sunday, June 6, 1942 The Garde Frontenac walked away with first place in this competition. I do not have much information about the participants or many particulars so far. Ruby Duhamel, daughter of Louis Charles Duhamel has sent me a photo of a gold medal won by her father, a member of the Garde Frontenac of Lowell. The medal was attached by blue and white ribbon and had NE Champs,on one side and the member’s name, 6-6-1942, Taunton, Mass. inscribed on the reverse.