Classmates--

Sorry, recently launched the March version and realized I had not included the names of classmates and wives who attended the DC area luncheon on 10 March.  Good place to begin this April edition (not in alfa order, rather random instead): Audrey Webb, Alan & Diane Chase, Alan Salisbury, George & Mary Jane Lawton, Jerry & Maria Mitchell, Angela Ganey, Bill Parks, John Herren, Phil Gibbs, Jack & Henrietta Gordon, Joe & Peggy Luman, Dick Reidy, Dick Schonberger, Bill Tuttle, Jim & Miyuki Wade, Lee & Betty Miller, John Nun, John Shaffer, Church Hutton and myself (notetaker).  With some luck this totals 27 attendees.  I had to check my list with our social organizer Jack Gordon.  Hope that between us, Jack and I did not miss anyone.  And, this is a good place for me to say that the luncheon was Jack’s last event as our social guru.  We will miss him – he has done great work on our behalf here in the DC area.  We used Andy Andreson’s ANCC membership – Andy was there, but all too briefly, then he had to depart for some other event for some other organization that was paying for his time.  Our class cannot afford to pay Andy, but we do appreciate using his ANCC membership at the Fairfax and Arlington clubs!

 Our next class gathering will be at West Point for our 60^th Reunion, 25-29 April.  With some luck, you will have these Class Notes before the reunion.  Bob Higgins is flying up from Orlando to DC and we will drive up to the reunion together.  This will a repeat of the trip we made together in July 1954 when we flew north from Raleigh-Durham to NJ (my father was stationed at Ft Bragg and Bob’s father had recently been transferred from Bragg, where he commanded the 82d Airborne Division, to Japan).  My mother’s youngest sister then drove us to West Point.  Talk about long ago and far away.  60 years, where did the time go?  Where have all the flowers gone?  Long time passing.  Marriages (and divorces), children, grand-children, even great-grand-children, too many deaths among classmates & wives and offspring generations.  Some died far too young, some older, but all are missed.  Too much life.  Some joy, some grief – where have all those flowers gone?  A few more items before stopping.

 From the WP Society of DC.  Remembering Ron Turner and the Ring Melt program he started with assistance from WPAOG.  Sadly, Ron died 29 April 2013, but his idea and impact live on and on.  I think you can get the full story by accessing the WPSDC web site.  If you have trouble, contact our web guru Pete Trainor.  The photo came with the article.

 Class of 2019 Ring Melt: The Legacy Continues

The 18th Annual West Point Class Ring Memorial Melt took place on February 26, 2018. To date, 520 West Point class rings have been donated to the program, including the 69 rings that were donated this year for the Class of 2019 Ring Melt. Each year, gold from donated rings worn by past West Point graduates has been melted and mixed into the gold for the rings of the Academy’s next graduating class. LTC (R) Ron Turner ’58 developed the idea for the “Ring Melt” in 1999, believing such an endeavor would provide a tangible link between members of the Long Gray Line. Your support of the Long Gray Line Fund supports programs such as the Ring Melt, keeping you connected to West Point and the Corps of Cadets and perpetuating the events, the awards, the traditions. Full story and photos are a click away.  This does not say that gold from prior melts is saved each year and mixed with the gold from rings donated that year.  Therefore, gold from all 520 rings donated is included in the 18^th Annual Class Ring Melt.  Our own Ron has had a significant impact by starting a new tradition, now 18 years old. Thanks, Ron!

 I will not include much info this time because most of the information will all be OBE (overtaken by events) by the 60^th.  You can check the class web site for current attendees.  I am looking forward to the reunion and seeing who, in fact, makes the scene.  I still have back taxes to finish and am getting nasty letters from the Commonwealth of Virginia.  My goal is to get caught on taxes up before the Reunion.  Not likely.

 I have a card which reads “35 HOURS 53 MINUTES IS THE WORLD RECORD TIME FROM NEW YORK CITY TO LOS ANGELES.  THE CANNONBALL BREAKER SEA-TO SHINING-SEA MEMORIAL TROPHY DASH” The card has a photo of a Ferrari Dino 246 GTS car.  On the reverse it reads “JACK MAY www.cannonballjack.com jack@cannonballjack.com”

The card will be mailed to WPAOG for Jack May’s file.  I believe his record still stands.

 COME TO THE 60^TH REUNION.  Time to wrap-up this edition and launch it with the reminder: COME TO THE 60^TH REUNION!  Any the news not used will be OBE (overtaken by events) by the reunion.  We have a good number of widows and/or daughters signed up to attend (listed without CAPS and Underlining): Barbara Bauschspies, Earldean Dean, Lois, Deely, Betsy Hall, Margaret Mary “The Missionary” McCullough (ask her about the nickname at 60^th), Ruth Spencer Sisson, Annie Stanton-Moncure, Mary Kay Olson, Audrey Webb, Bette Williams, Roxie Yarr.  If widows can come, you can also!  And, of course, we have wives attending with their husbands.

 George Sibert