| History of the Denver Marching Knights |
| Under Construction The Marching Knights were founded in the summer of 2001 they officially begin meeting on 8-11-2001. They were founded by four youth in search of change. The founding members were Mr. Jerry L. Morgan Jr., Chavon Stribling Marquita Mack, and Kia Milan, in the summer of 2002 Erica Green Joined the group and took the place of Kia Milan as a founding member. The Marching Knights were founded on the principals of Leadership, Dedication, Determination, Respect, and Responsibility. The founding members set down during the summer of 2001 and started brainstorming on what they wanted to see in this new group? What did they want to do different? What did they want to do the same? They looked at other groups, and seen what they did wrong and what they were doing right and based there decisions off of that. When they finished brainstorming, they came up with; The Marching Knights is dedicated to the achievement and advancement of all youth by giving them something to do in a safe and caring environment helping them to build positive leadership traits through training, which includes self-discipline, personal responsibility and respect for self and others. This organization strongly believes obedience to parents and respect for their self is a must. We are committed to helping youth stay in school and church. The Marching Knights youth are leaders they set examples for others and have a positive attitude at all times. Once They figured what they were about they figured out how to do that through drum and dance. The first name they thought of naming the group was the black knights, but then the founding four decided that they wanted a lot of diversity in the group and the name did not fit with the diversity they were looking for in their group. they decided they wanted to name their group something that reflected them and their city and what they do, and they came up with the Denver marching Knights in spirit of the group ( the Kansas City Marching Cobras) that gave them the insight to want more and to seek change in what they were doing. They chose the knight as their mascot because of what a Knight represented. which was honor, loyalty, character, nobility, and respect.. They chose Blue Black and Silver as their official colors. The founding four had a vision of what they expected things to be like and exactly what they wanted for the group but as time went by the vision begin to change. The first Meeting of the Denver Marching Knights was held at the City of Axum Park also known as Cherry Park. The first meeting of DMK had 9 members in attendance. they met for about 7 weeks and then practice died down due to no drums. DMK was offered the opportunity to buy a set of drums from a high school in the suburbs of Denver. The drums were 5,500 and DMK only had 250.00 to put down for a deposit of the drums, and DMK knew they could not afford the full price of the drums. They collaborated with another group to try and figure out how to raise the money for the drums and that is how the family relationship of the Denver Marching Knights and Gods Anointed Steppers began. In February of 2002 Mr. Morgan heard of an opportunity to apply for a grant to get money to purchase the drum equipment , In March of that same year while checking up on the grant application Mr Morgan talked to Mrs. Ladawn Sullivan - Jackson Who told him the grant would be funded and asked how much time it would take to get the group ready for their first performance, Mr. Morgan said it would only take a few weeks and his prediction was right. The Marching Knights received their grant from the Denver Foundation Strengthening Neighborhoods Initiative in the amount of 5,000.00 which went towards the purchase of the drum equipment from the school some additional drums from Rupps drums, and sticks and drum heads which helped them along the way through their first year. Due to the color of our drums the color of the group changed group changed to red and black. and for their very first performance they wore white t-shirts with black pants they have come along way with uniforms. They then started practicing at Gospel Temple COGIC through the help of there pastor Elder David Washington. There very first performance was held on April 18th at the strengthening neighborhoods annual celebration and they went on that year to do a total of 36 performances and win their first competition in June of that year at the IBPOE Elks Midwest Region Drill team competition They won first place for Drumming and second place for Dance. Which was a major accomplishment. most of their performances were just the Marching Knights and some of those performances were with their sister Group God's Anointed Steppers for Christ Jesus. The Anointed Steppers was the non competition Group and the Marching Knights were the Competition Group they formed a fantastic partnership. That very same year four Marching Knights Members took a trip to Kansas City Missouri to learn from their biggest Mentor Mr. Willie Arthur Smith of the Kansas City Marching Cobras. The Members who went on that first trip was Jerry Morgan, Quamaine Jackson, Shane Franklin, Erica Green, And Mrs. Jackson as their Chaperon. That Is who and where the biggest influence of The Marching Knights came from. In 2003 the Marching Knights were growing and their current practice place was getting too small so they began practicing at the East Denver YMCA, at which time Ms. Michelle Calhoun came in to help with the Leadership of the Marching Knights. With her help The Marching Knights were bigger then ever and with the help of the Denver Foundation once again the Marching Knights bought additional Drums to help with their growing program with a 28 member Drumline and 52 Marchers the Marching knights were on their way The Marching knights not only did performances by themselves again and they did performances with God's Anointed Steppers. That next year Mrs. Calhoun left the group and the marching Knights was limited to practice space due to the closing of the East Denver YMCA, It became a dream of the Marching Knights to get that center, but finances are not that good for the Marching Knights. In 2004 the Marching Knights moved from the East Denver YMCA to The Glenarm Recreation Center, under the direction of Mr. Van Oliver (Skeeter). Also In 2004 the Marching Knights Gained another family Member Mr. Robert Wagner and the Wichita Dynamic Steppers. Who they constantly joined up with for out of town performances and who helped them with style and dance along the way. That partnership has stayed over the years and many trophies and championships have been won together along the way. Another partnership that has stayed along the way is the partnership of the Denver Foundation and The Marching Knights. There have been many people that have been an intrigal part of the marching knights through the years and you can see our thank you to them on our home page. |
| History |
| Denver Marching Knights, Inc. |
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