Events

From: owner-usma1969@west-point.org <owner-usma1969@west-point.org> On Behalf Of Sent for [brownkc@cox.net] by [usma1969]
Sent: Sunday, February 11, 2024 3:36 PM
To: distro1969@lyrisappmail.wpaog.org; usma1969@west-point.org
Subject: usma1969: Class List: Major BOTL Events for 2024

This memo provides advance notification of class events that will take place between now and the end of the year. While separate e-mails will go out for each activity, these dates are provided early for scheduling and planning purposes. Please print out these pages, share them with your spouse or significant other and post these dates to your calendar.

I hope many of you will consider joining us for as many class events as you can make.

Best wishes to the entire BOTL Family for both a joyous 55^th Reunion and a safe and healthy 2024, KC

Monthly in Northern Virginia: BOTL Food and Friends Get Together. Sponsored by Pete Bazzel and Tammy Peterson, these informal no-host brunches or dinners occur monthly at various locations in the DC area. All who can make it are welcome. Contact Pete Bazzel at petebazzel@aol.com to be added to the e-vite list. Next gathering will occur at 2pm on Tuesday 27 Feb RJ's Restaurant, 3804 Mt Vernon Ave, Alexandria, VA.

In Florida: Winter Park Golf Course, Winter Park. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Contact Chuck Anderson at chucka@stockyardsinfosystems.com

22 Feb -- DC Area Gloom Period Happy Hour. 1730-2000 Mylo's Grill, Chesterbrook Shopping Center, 6238 Old Dominion Dr, McClean VA. Contact Pat Spann (spannpj@verizon.ndet) if you'll be participating.

MARCH -- Founders Day Celebrations. Check your West Point Society's Sallyport page for a Founder's Day celebration near you. Some known dates include the following:

9 March: WPSDC. Crystal Gateway Marriott, Arlington VA. Speaker is Scotty Miller '83, legendary Delta commander and the last commander in Afghanistan.

10 March: Heritage Hunt Gainesville VA contact Dave Wallestad (walls69@aol.com)

12 Mar -- Pete's and Tammy's Monthly DC Gathering, 2pm, at Piero's Corner, 13340 Franklin Farm Rd, Herndon, VA 20171

22-26 April -- A-4 Reunion, Murrells Inlet, SC. Contact John Bacot jbacot47@gmail.com for details.

25 April (Thursday) -- Class Spring Luncheon, Washington D.C. On Thursday, 25 April we will hold our Class Spring Luncheon at 1130 at Mylo's Grill in McLean, VA. There will be a Class Zoom that evening at 1730 Eastern. Notices for these two events will go out in late March.

29 April - 1May -- Golfing Grads at Mission Inn, Howey-in-the-Hills, FL. Tournament now full. Contact John Champagne at johnchampagne@earthlink.net

19-22 May -- BOTL 55^th Reunion. Our reunion HQ, the Park Ridge Marriot, is sold out but you can try the waiting list for a room should a vacancy occur. The Woodcliff Lake Hilton, our overflow hotel, still has rooms available. Registration for reunion events, meals and transportation will open in early March on our class' Sallyport website. For questions, email reunion chair, Dennis Helsel (helsed@chowan.edu) who has done a magnificent job along with his committee in setting up what will certainly be our best reunion ever. You won't want to miss it!

- C-1: ESTY Street Restaurant 86 Spring Valley Rd, Park Ridge, NJ contact Greg Smith at greg1969@txmgsmith.com tel: 214-676-1106 or Gary Cantrell at gary_k@sbcglobal.net tel: 817-571-4834

- E-1: Pearl River Saloon, 45-49 W. Central Ave, Pearl River, NY contact Fritz Lash at fritz.lash@gmail.com tel: 845-475-6211

- B-2: Brae,s Restaurant, Park Ridge Marriott at 6PM. Contact Bob Yaap at byaap@me.com tel: 949-500-00933

- G-2: Pearl River Saloon, 45-49 W. Central Ave, Pearl River, NY contact K.C. Brown at brownkc@cox.net tel: 571-214-4429

25 May -- Five Year Active Duty Service Obligation expires for our USMA '19 Affiliates

20 June (Thursday) -- Class Summer Luncheon, Washington D.C. On Thursday, 15 June we'll welcome summer's onset with a Class Luncheon at 1130 at Mylo's Grille in McLean, VA. There will be a Class Zoom that evening at 1730 Eastern. Notices for these two events will go out in late May.

9 July (Tuesday) -- CLOSING DATE for 2024 Army-Navy FB TICKET SALES. Ticket sales open mid-May for Army A Club Members.

15-19 July -- BOTL Gray Hog Motorcycle Ride, Custer, SD. This year's ride will be through the Black Hills. POC is Jack Nesbitt at nebittcj69@gmail.com tel:575-973-7322

18-24 Aug BOTL Heart of Scotland and Edinburgh Tattoo Tour led by Mike and Victoria Healy. Details and itinerary can be found at:

1-8 Sept -- BOTL mini reunion cruise from Passau to Bucharest. Cabins are still available on this leisurely cruise through the Wachau valley calling at Linz, Melk, Vienna and Bratislava along the Blue Danube. If interested, contact cruisemeister Dave Wallestad (walls1969@aol.com) or our cruise coordinator Andres Ploompuu '81, at aploompuu@cruiseplanners.com. If you're on this cruise and have yet to book air or sign up for any of the offered shore excursions, now would be a good time to do so.

26 September (Thursday) - Class Fall Luncheon, Washington D.C. Join us for our Fall Luncheon at 1130 on Thursday, 26 September at Mylo's Grille in McLean, VA. There will be a Class Zoom that evening at 1730 Eastern. Notices for these events will be distributed in late August.

9-13 Oct -- F3/H3 Reunion, Kiawah Island, SC. Contact Terry Bogard (tbogard@triad.rr.com) or tel: 336-345-5428.

11-12 Oct -- VN Memorial Commemoration, Washington DC. This somber event at which we honor our Vietnam fallen takes place in each reunion year. Organized by Dan Cox, Bill Foster and Pete Heesch, the weekend will begin with a Friday golfing opportunity at the Army Navy Country Club's Fairfax course followed by a class cocktail buffet that evening in their clubhouse. On Saturday morning we will gather at 1100 on the hillside overlooking the VN Memorial to honor our fallen classmates. The West Point Alumni Glee Club will perform Mansions of the Lord and the Alma Mater. A brunch will follow the ceremony.. More details forthcoming in a Save the Date email from Dan.

2 Nov -- Army-AF Game, Michie Stadium. First defense of the year for the Commander-in-Chief's trophy. Keep checking the Army A Club website for the date ticket sales open.

11-15 Nov -- 1^st Reg't Golfers Week, Evermore Resort, Orlando FL. Contact Frank Finch at frfinch@aol.com.

11 December -- Annual Beat Navy Luncheon, Washington, D.C. To be held at Mylo's Grill in McLean, Virginia on Wednesday 7 December, three days before the game. The gathering will begin at 1130 with a social hour followed by an ala carte lunch. All resident and transient classmates, spouses and offspring are welcome to attend. There will be a Class Zoom that evening at 1730 Eastern. A reminder for both will come out in mid November.

14 December -- Army-Navy Game, Fedex Field, Landover, MD (DC suburb). Ticket sales will open in May for A Club Members and close in July.

Mississippi River mini reunion cruise: 30 Oct-10 Nov; Memphis to New Orleans. Contact our cruisemeister Dave Wallestad (walls1969@aol.com) or our cruise coordinator Andres Ploompuu '81, at aploompuu@cruiseplanners.com.

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Past Events of Note

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Many thanks to my photo contributors (Paul Salazar, Bill Bahr, Kathy Starks) and co-authors/editors (all CCs).

After nearly five months of discussion and planning, the first USMA 1969 Florida Mini-Reunion took place on a cool (mid 60s) and breezy night on the outdoor veranda at the Historic Taproom at Dubsdread Golf Club, in Orlando, FL on 6 December 2015 (scene photo 1). A party of thirty-one BOTL 1969 Classmates (Seventeen - Captioned Photo 2) and Guests (fourteen) attended and are listed below. The guests also included the current president of West Point Parents Club of Central Florida who is pictured with the local Orlando Fifty Year Affiliation team (Captioned photo 3). An Orange Balloon (symbolic Signal Corps) release was also conducted in memory of LTG Tom Rienzi (captioned picture 4; www.bahrnoproducts.com/Rienzi.htm). Discussion is already underway as to when/where the next Florida event will occur.

Event Attendees were:
Attendee                            Supervisor
Anderson, Chuck               Betty
Bahr, Bill                            Mary
Friese, Bill                          Valerie
Gaylord, Cary                    Ann
Gelineau, Joe                    Susan
Haake, Arnie                      Laura
Holden, Phil                       Doris
Kersey, Ed
Loder, Roger
Morris, John                      Connie
Murphy, Gene
Overstreet, Steve
Quinn, Ed                          Sherri
Salazar, Paul                     Brenda
Sanders, JT                       Elaine
Singer, Tony                      Sue
Skells, Pete
Starks, Mike*                     Kathy

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AOG Gift Shop – (845) 446-1670
Cadet Chapel - (845) 938-2308
Cadet Store – (845) 938-2121
Central Guard Room - (845) 938-2555/3030
Courtyard by Marriott - (201) 391-7700
Doug Fitzgerald (cell) (617) 794-4738
Eisenhower Hall - (845) 938-7733
Joan Emmer (cell) (845) 913-6307
Keller Army Hospital Emergency – 911 or (845) 938-4004/4005
Park Ridge Marriott – (201) 307-0800
WP Golf Course 845-938-2435
USMA Bookstore – (845) 938-5193
WP Traffic Patterns – (845) 938-7000
USMA Provost Marshal – (845) 938-3333
WP Museum- (845) 938-3671/ 446-0566

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Updated Schedule (as of 9/3/14)

3 Sep arrive at Carbondale, IL   4 Sep Eddyville, IL   5 Sep Marion, KY   6 Sep Utica, KY   7 Sep Falls of Rough, KY   8 Sep Hodgeville, KY   9 Sep Bardstown, KY - partying   10 Sep rest over Bardstown, KY - touring the home of bourbon and partying   11 Sep arrive at Harrodsville, KY
12 Sep Berea, KY   13 Sep Buckhorn, KY   14 Sep Topmost, KY   15 Sep Grundy, VA   16 Sep Tazewell, VA   17 Sep Radford, VA   18 Sep Hollins, VA   19 Sep Lexington, VA   20 Sep rest over Lexingtion, VA - touring VMI and other sites   21 Sep arrive at Waynesboro, VA
22 Sep Stanardsville, VA   23 Sep Charlottesvile tour   24 Sep Montpelier tour   25 Sep rest over Informal reception (party) at Phil Clark’s home   26 Sep depart towards Gettysburg Battlefield, arrive on Sunday 28 Sep (route TBD)   29 Sep Tour of Gettysburg Battlefield (automobile tour with Larry Swesey)
The rest of this is TBD, with arrival at West Point on Sunday afternoon, 5 Oct

HERE’S THE RIDE (as of 4/1/14):

Date
Stage
Goal

Sunday, 7/20/2014
Winters, CA

Monday, 7/21/2014 Folsom Lake State Rec Area Sacramento   Tuesday, 7/22/2014 Nevada City, CA   Wednesday, 7/23/2014 Ramos/McBeth at Truckee, CA   Thursday, 7/24/2014 RENDEZVOUS Day   Friday, 7/25/2014 Dayton, Nevada   Saturday, 7/26/2014 Fallon, NV
Sunday, 7/27/2014 Cold Springs Station, NV   Monday, 7/28/2014 Austin, NV   Tuesday, 7/29/2014 Eureka, NV   Wednesday, 7/30/2014 Ely, NV   Thursday, 7/31/2014 Baker, NV   Friday, 8/1/2014 Milford, UT   Saturday, 8/2/2014 Cedar Canyon or Panguitch,, UT
Sunday, 8/3/2014 Red Canyon, Bryce Canyon CG   Monday, 8/4/2014 Rest Day   Tuesday, 8/5/2014 Grand Staircase Escalante Nat Mon   Wednesday, 8/6/2014 Capitol Reef Nat Park   Thursday, 8/7/2014 Hanksville, UT   Friday, 8/8/2014 Glen Canyon Nat Rec Area
Saturday, 8/9/2014 Natural Bridges Nat Mon   Sunday, 8/10/2014 Monticello, UT   Monday, 8/11/2014 Delores, CO   Tuesday, 8/12/2014 Rest Day   Wednesday, 8/13/2014 Telluride, CO   Thursday, 8/14/2014 Montrose, CO   Friday, 8/15/2014 Gunnison, CO
Saturday, 8/16/2014 Sargents, CO   Sunday, 8/17/2014 Cotopaxi, CO   Monday, 8/18/2014 Johnny Peters at Pueblo, CO   Tuesday, 8/19/2014 RENDEZVOUS Day   Wednesday, 8/20/2014 Haswell, CO

Thursday, 8/21/2014 Tribune, KS   Friday, 8/22/2014 Dighton, KS   Saturday, 8/23/2014 Larned, KS

Sunday, 8/24/2014 Sterling, KS   Monday, 8/25/2014 Newton City, KS   Tuesday, 8/26/2014 Eureka, KS   Wednesday, 8/27/2014 Chanute, KS   Thursday, 8/28/2014 Pittsburg, KS   Friday, 8/29/2014 Ash Grove, MO   Saturday, 8/30/2014 Marshfield, MO
Sunday, 8/31/2014 Houston, MO   Monday, 9/1/2014 Ellington, MO   Tuesday, 9/2/2014 Lesterville, MO   Wednesday, 9/3/2014 Farminton, MO

Thursday, 9/4/2014 Chester, IL   Friday, 9/5/2014 Carbondale, IL   Saturday, 9/6/2014 Eddyville, IL   Sunday, 9/7/2014 Marion, KY   Monday, 9/8/2014 Owensboro, KY   Tuesday, 9/9/2014 Falls of Rough, KY   Wednesday, 9/10/2014 Hodgenville, KY
Thursday, 9/11/2014 Bardstown, KY   Friday, 9/12/2014 Rest Day   Saturday, 9/13/2014 Harrodsburg, KY   Sunday, 9/14/2014 Beria, KY   Monday, 9/15/2014 Buckhorn, KY   Tuesday, 9/16/2014 Hindman, KY   Wednesday, 9/17/2014 Breaks Interstate Park, VA
Thursday, 9/18/2014 Rosedale, VA   Friday, 9/19/2014 Damascus, VA   Saturday, 9/20/2014 CenterWytheville, VA   Sunday, 9/21/2014 Christanburg, VA   Monday, 9/22/2014 East of Troutville, VA   Tuesday, 9/23/2014 Vesuvius, VA
Wednesday, 9/24/2014 Shenandoah, VA   Thursday, 9/25/2014 Mathews Arm CG, Shanendoah, VA   N38 45 55.2 W78 17 45.7   Friday, 9/26/2014 Mike Nardotti's, Aldie, VA   Saturday, 9/27/2014 RENDEZVOUS Day     Sunday, 9/28/2014 Antietam, MD
Monday, 9/29/2014 Gettysburg, PA   Tuesday, 9/30/2014 Lititz, PA   Valley Forge Nat Historic Park, King of Prussia, PA   Wednesday, 10/01/2014 Spring Mill Park, Conshohocken, PA    Thursday, 10/02/2014 Stockton, NJ   Friday, 10/03/2014 Columbia, NJ
Saturday, 10/04/2014 Montague, NJ   Sunday, 10/05/2014 Round Pond, West Point, NY [& Trophy Point]   ~~Monday, 10/06/2014~~

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Dear Classmates and Class Family,

Last weekend was positively unmatched in terms of camaraderie and re-connecting for those who were able to come from near and afar to commemorate our fallen classmates and renew the bonds we share with them and our Alma Mater. Early this week, the 104 pictures which Carl Oborski took at the ceremony should be up on our class page on the WPAOG website (www.wpaog.org). Carl's son filmed the entire ceremony and that clip along with DeAnn Jelinek's photos of the entire weekend can be found courtesy of Bill Bahr on the west-point,org site at this link: http://www.west-point.org/class/usma1969/WebPhotos.htm. Together these will give those who were not able to join us a sense of how powerful the weekend seemed for those who were there.

We began to gather on Thursday with several informal company and battalion sized gatherings taking place that evening. The next morning, in glorious weather, the golfers met for lunch and a wonderful afternoon of golf at the beautiful Army-Navy Club's Fairfax facility. That evening over 150 participated in a relaxed and convivial buffet supper on the terrace of the ANCC Fairfax club house. Both of these were superbly organized and arranged by Bill Foster.

The following morning more than 250 assembled at the VN Veterans Memorial on the Mall in Washington DC for our solemn memorial service commemorating our fallen classmates, at which we were joined by Laurie Bass Wagner, Lauree Oliver with son Brian and his family along with Jim Smith's younger brother Johnny and his wife Susan. In a special touch, LTG (ret) Dale Vesser, '54 who was George Bass's battalion commander and Dave Ohle, '68 who was Jim Smith's and Paul Sawtelle's company commander in VN attended along with five members of Jim's and Paul's platoons from the Ranger company of the 101st Airborne Division..

Bob Harper's photos sent earlier today represent the first of many taken during the memorial service and capture well what made it so poignant and special. Among them you will recognize Bob Seitz, who organized our memorial service; Geoff Prosch who assisted him and arranged for a superb trumpeter from the US Army Band, who played the most haunting version of Taps most of us had ever heard that brought the many visitors to the memorial to a respectful stand-still; Chaplain (LTC) James Smith rendered meaningful invocations and benedictions and Rob Goff and John Lucas, who arranged for the participation of our guest speakers. GEN Fred Franks, '59, who was an English P and OR of the baseball team during our cadet years whose remarks paid homage to valor, sacrifice and ideals of West Point shown forth in the lives of each of our fallen classmates and Judge John Thomas whose inspired oratory brought back vivid memories of each. This year's memorial service was made even more special by the presence of the West Point Alumni Glee Club whose beautiful renditions of Army Blue, The Corps, The Alma Mater and the lovingly haunting Mansions of the Lord added immensely to the purpose and dignity of the occasion.

Carrying our class wreath, Mike McGovern and Brian Oliver led the procession to the Wall where we paused solemnly and respectfully before the panels bearing our classmates' names. Those attending then repaired to Bob and Holly Kimmitt's lovely home in North Arlington where a wonderful brunch repast awaited along with another well appreciated opportunity to socialize and reminisce. We thank especially the organizer of these events: Bill Foster for the golf and Friday night's social; Bob Seitz and Geoff Prosch for the wonderful ceremony, Lorraine Marshall for the attractive name tags and especially Bob and Holly Kimmitts for their generosity and warm hospitality. It was their hard work that brought all of us this renewed sense of kinship and fellowship that we and our families took away from this memorable weekend in the annals of our Class.

Best, KC

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Your last view of West Point (in the rearview mirror)? Feel the grip of its far off hold?
General MacArthur came back -- why don't you?
Come back to where they taught you "everything from the pavement to the stars."
It's not [pitch] black, grey, and cold; it's pitched as Black, Gray, and Gold!! : )

West Point [1782] watercolor by L'Enfant. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.

West Point is the "Key of America." -- George Washington, "Sentiments on a Peace Establishment," 2 May 1783.

"Glory follows virtue as if it were its shadow." -- Cicero, "Tusculanarum Disputationum," I. 45, ~ 45 BC