Class of 1947 transfers Train Station stewardship to 1997 alumni

Story by Linda Mastin Command Information Chief

May 23rd, 2012


Maj. Daniel Gade, Class of 1997 vice president and Department of Social Sciences instructor, accepts a framed version of the documents signed by the class leaders of both 1997 and 1947 in which '97 agrees to assume the class maintenance stewardship, in perpetuity, for the Class of 1947 Train Station from Class of 1947 President retired Col. John Lauterbach at a ceremony held May 20 during the '47 65th reunion. The documents will hang in the station for all who visit to see. The building was purchased by '47 as its 25-year gift to the academy and is available to members of the West Point community for rental for events and parties through the West Point Club catering manager at 938-5120.

Class of 1947 President retired Col. John Lauterbach formally handed over responsibility for the class maintenance stewardship, in perpetuity, for the Class of 1947 Train Station to Maj. Daniel Gade, Class of 1997 vice president and Department of Social Sciences instructor, at a ceremony held Sunday during the Class of '47 65th reunion.

Lauterbach said, "The theme for this reunion is 'The Changing of the Guard,' which is what we are doing today."

The building was purchased by class alumni as its 25-year gift to the academy and, during its 50-year reunion, agreements were signed by the class leaderships of '47 and '97 whereby '97 agreed to assume responsibility at the 65th '47 reunion.

The ceremony included remarks by Superintendent Lt. Gen. David H. Huntoon Jr., thanking '47 for its gift of the train station and the almost three decades of stewardship which included some major restorations to the building. He also thanked '97 for assuming the responsibility. He reminded the group that those class members present probably remember marching up the hill behind the station to enter the academy in 1944.

Anthony Ferraiuolo, former Association of Graduates director of class support, discussed the 50-year class affiliation and the ring donation programs and retired Col. Robert McClure, AOG president, also commended both classes and their affiliation, quoting "The Corps" hymn"---The grip of the Long Gray Line---" of which the affiliation is a prime example.

After Lauterbach presented Gade with framed copies of the documents that the class leaderships signed in 1997 and a copy of the train station painting by portrait painter Margaret Sargent that hangs in the station, Gade also made some remarks.

"I have about a 15-minute speech---which I plan to make in 2062 when we hand over the stewardship to the Class of 2047," he said, getting some applause from the audience.

He summarized some of the similarities between the two classes, including "love of country above self." One other similarity he mentioned was that '97 saw four football wins against Navy, while '47 never saw a football loss during their three years as cadets.

The '47 Train Station is available to members of the West Point community for rental for events and parties through the West Point Club catering manager at 938-5120.

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