Our Story
The History of the Coastal Patrol Cadet Corps
On June 19th 1974, the Coastal Patrol Cadet Corps was born, its original location was Irving Avenue and Harman Street in Bushwick, NY. The Corps Commandant was Anthony Pace and his first Executive Officer Joseph Tumminello whom founded this organization which has touched many generations over the years.
During the Corps first month all they had enrolled was about 30 cadets and 5 officers. Four months later in October the Coastal Patrol Cadet Corps relocated to a larger building at the intersection of Dekalb and Irving Avenues. The new location was larger in space and allowed the Corps, to grow and then the Band was born.
In a short time the Corps was forced to move once more to the American Legion Post and at the about the same time a Marine Battalion was formed at St Leonard’s R.C.Church.
Early in its existence the CPCC became a member of the Commandant’s Council of Cadet Organizations. This membership helped the program grow adding Drill teams and Competitions as well as friendships with other cadet programs through out the City.
After important growth of the program at the American Legion Post the Corps needed yet more space in order to expand our classes so we moved again. This time to Holy Cross Church on St Nicholas Avenue. We were now on our 3rd year Anniversary.
We began to compete regularly and win more often than not with our Cadet organizations, and our band began its undefeated record. We also added our first Chaplain, the Rev. Fr. John D.O’Hallaran, during our stay at Holy Cross our reputation in the Community grew as hundreds of children came thru our doors. We became a symbol of excellence within other youth programs in the city. During this time we saw ourselves forced to close the Marine unit at St. Leonard’s due to a lack of reliable adult membership. We spent 8 years at Holy Cross where we witnessed our first cadets achieve the status of officers having started as 9 years old children and watch them grow and become young adults and begin to leading right before our very eyes.
After our long stay at Holy Cross the Corps, was in need of space once again. We stayed on St Nicholas Avenue and but moved to St Brigids R.C. Church on Grove Street. We started our Specialities in the School Annex building and it boomed our memeberships to 100 plus cadets. During this time we had a change of Executive Officer our new XO Captain Vincent Falsone whom was an early member filled the position. During the same period we started the Cobra Team and Commandants Guard name bestowed on our Trick Drill team. We also opened a Station at Our Lady of Sorrows in Corona, Queens. The Corps, had its Chaplians Rev. Monsignor Angelo Brugli and James Kelly became our Corps Chaplains. We moved one last time in 1986 to the main school building where we are now located. After Monsignor Brugli’s transfer to another Parish we closed our unit at Our Lady of Sorrows and merged the remaining members to St. Brigids. In the following years the Corps, has grown and we have our third XO Captain Luis Cedeno. Under our Commandant Rear Admiral Anthony Pace and Executive Officer Captain Luis Cedeno the Corps reached its highest membership so far in 2004, 170 cadets held membership in our Organization as we celebrated our 30th Anniversary. The future of our Corps, is yet to be written our present cadets will be the authors who know how the story will go from here.
Thank You,
Yours in Cadetting,
Anthony G. Pace, Rear Admiral C.P.C.C.
Commandant of Cadet