Known as "The Mello-Dear Tradition" the Mello-Dears began in the small Tioga County New York village of Apalachin in September of 1961. Over the years the corps grew in size and scope from a small parade corps to a national caliber competitor made up of girls from a dozen towns in Tioga and Broome counties.
The original purpose of the Mello-Dears was simply to provide an activity for the area girls. In the first few weeks of September 1961, the Mello-Dears were formed. The original corps made up of 25 girls , run by a Board of Directors and Officers made up of interested parents, made its first appearance in November 1961 in Binghamton.
In the spring of 1962 a group of 54 girls from Apalachin, Owego, Vestal and Endicott appeared in parades wearing paid for hats and plumes, homemade green jumpers and shorts, white rope belts and white knee socks and sneakers. The sneakers were later changed to boots. The corps borrowed horns and drums from the defunct White Knight Challengers and traveled in cars.
In that first year the corps appeared in numerous parades and won several awards. The Aussie hat and plume became the corps trademark and the motto Contendimus Pro Sucessu (We Strive for Success) was adopted.
In 1963, the corps moved into field competition. A white "M" was added to the uniform and three sponsor flags were presented to be carried in the color guard. An old white school bus was purchased to transport the corps to their 28 appearances. The corps competed in their first American Legion State contest and they made a special trip to Hamilton, Ont. to complete in the NY-Canadian circuit championship. The first annual award dinner was held in 1963.
Sixty girls in new uniforms took to the field in 1964. In 1965, 70 girls marched in the corps. The season was highlighted by an appearance at the Worlds Fair in New York and a Canadian Flag was presented to them by the Mayor of Perth, Ontario where they did an exhibition performance.
In 1966 the theme of the corps had changed; the corps was established, had a motto, several trademarks, owned instruments, uniforms, buses and had a good instructional staff. This was the year they became a competitive power.
They had 42 appearances; nine contests, and many parades, and exhibitions. They were the winners of the First Annual International All Girl Championship in Hornell, NY along with two other contests. The corps also appeared at the V.F.W. National parade in New York City and competed in their first national contest at the American Legion Nationals in Washington, DC.
