There's a chance Tamaqua's legendary girls bugle corps will return to march the streets of town.

Turns out a former instructor and member still lives in Tamaqua and has been mounting a drive to refortify ranks and create what would be, essentially, the Tamaqua Senior High School Girls Drum and Bugle Corps Alumni."We still had full ranks when we disbanded," Yvonne Balliet Onushco said.Onushco was a drummer for four years, graduating in 1961. She continued to march with the Corps following graduation and became an instructor."I taught marching and was drum instructor and arranged the field shows," Onushco said on Monday.Onushco shed light on details of the group's sudden end in 1969.The Corps, she said, had not diminished in numbers but had full ranks, lots of drummers, buglers, bell lyre players and flags, along with plenty of enthusiasm.However, the program fell victim to an unfortunate decision, partly because the school district didn't sanction the Corps. Instead, they sanctioned the band."We weren't the school representatives," she said.As a result, Corps members had to work hard to raise funds for uniforms and equipment, but were successful and had just purchased fancy new drums and quality wool uniforms."We sold candy bars with a picture of the Corps and then bags of Christmas bows. The girls worked hard for what they had," Onushco said.However, in 1969, a school official unilaterally made the decision to end the group.At the time, Onushco stepped forward and volunteered to take over directorship but was turned down since she didn't possess a necessary teachers certification. Sadly, Onushco had to tell the girls the group would disband.Over its 40 years of existence, thousands of young women marched with the Corps.Onushco said she regularly runs into many who have strong feelings and express interest in the group.Onushco would like to establish an alumni corps in time to march in the 2015 Tamaqua Memorial Day Parade.That includes majorettes, too, who were special in talent and daring in their performances."Our majorettes twirled fire," Onushco said.If interest is strong, the group might request to borrow the authentic bugle corps banner from the Tamaqua HistoricalSociety.The youngest Corps members now would be approaching age 60, with most better than that.But 60 is the new 40, and there's apparently lots of spark left in the Bugle Corps gals.Former members of the Tamaqua Senior High Girls Drum and Bugle Corps are asked to email Onushco to touch base.She can be reached at:

shevs_61@yahoo.com.