European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 10, 1963, Darmstadt, Hesse Stripes daily Magazine Rifle twirling Pioneer Altano shows members of girls Drill team in Munich How to handle Flag staff during practice Seii Ion. Regular practices Are held. Wednesday april 10, 1963 Altano gives individual help. Getting set for championships. The stars and stripes by Bob Hoyer is Munich Bureau John f. Altano was five years old he waa Given uniform and a miniature Baton and a name Mascot of a drum and Bugle corps in Jersey City was 26 Yean ago and although no one suspected it at the time it was the beginning of a remarkable marching and twirling inherent showman Altano rapidly developed a deft skill with the Baton. Stage 14, he won the All american Baton championship of new Jersey by out twirling 300 to Evage competitors. Two years later he began practising his Baton routines with a Rifle and fixed the switch was a Little said Attino now a sergeant first class in Southern area come where he directs tha South Munich american youth association Aya. But i Learned that i could do the Sam exercises with the Rifle and Bayonet that i had done with the picked up a few scare along the Way but he proved beyond a doubt that amazing feats can be performed with a Rifle and fixed bayonets a Pioneer in Rifle twirling Altano now 31, has become a recognized authority and instructor in the subject. In Munich he helped form and train the 508th Madrill team an outfit which operates in close order drills with fixed bayonets among his current project is a 14 member girl s Drill team sponsored by the ladles auxiliary of Munich american legion Post 8.although he ones to play Down his role the girls do the work All i do is show the Way Altano is the reason for the Success of the Girts Ngod 13 to 16 made a most impressive Public performance earlier this car a Drill and dance routine for a German american audience at the Case. Army photos by Richard Benjamin Carioca nightclub in will compete in the americas legion european Drill championships Garmisch in team practices an hour and a half on sunday afternoons at the Aya club House and holds Dally drills prior to Jublle appear an emphasize military drills and dances Alunno explained. The purpose of Theta no is to show europeans that Ameri can youth is interested in More than juvenile it Mihi of his Farly experience with Luti Ami Fri Nins groups. Alt no is a firm a flip Vir in youth orntnl7atlons."if to in ouch Aya activity and if the it if Ivity is properly directed we will up our out of he Gist Hauers. If you show a to in a scr respect an give him responsibility he will grow up to be a much hotter american Altano Altano prefers to talk about the teams he directs any Story about him would in per form ing in Europe he wears the uniform of trip Pittsburgh rocket drum and Bukk Drill Ustun organization he formerly addition to drilling and twirling he hns Iino in join a Giuili fled instructor . Although Altano Lias sacrificed a Good Dent of Tami and Effort to perfect his Drill und twirling techniques on a number occasions his skill hits Puld dividends. For o sum pie he was Given a 72-Hourpass his Stu Ond Day in the army when to stepped from the ranks and outperformed a platoon Serge to it in the manual of still rates As one of my biggest he said with Rolde Grin. 11
