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Dear Classmates:
A humble but heartfelt note. You have been too good to me over the years to ask for more but I would like to share the latest with you. Michael and Ann Byram (USNA'74) and Pete and Judi Dawkins (USMA'59) have spearheaded the naming of a room at the Hotel Thayer in my honor. I am deeply honored. In the note below I have tried to express that gratitude - it will certainly be the first room from a USNA graduate to a USMA grad!.
My fondest wish would be to be surrounded by Classmates for you have fought the fight and lived the life with me. As we age I realize this is not so possible, but know that my invitation is from the heart and I appreciate your support.
The Program will begin at 5:00 pm and last till about 7:30 on Friday the 25th. Rooms are available at the Hotel Thayer (Tel 845 446 4731) at this time. Any questions, thoughts or problems let me know.
jf
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A Meaningful Honor
West Point's Hotel Thayer has always been special to me. Graduation and Family in 1955, Board of Trustee meetings, memorable Reunions, a month at the Hotel in 1978 when I returned as Hospital Commander, Distinguished Graduate ceremonies, engaged to Marty there , and most recently the 25th reunion of the West Point Sports Medicine Fellows and while there enjoying the dedication of a room to General Pete Dawkins. The Thayer is a memorable place in my heart.
Today (8 Dec 2013) we were invited to a brunch at Ann Smead and Michael Byram's home - friends , neighbors and soulmates. Ann was thanking friends and Family who had shared her Vail Citizen of the Year Award last night and Michael (USNA '74) and I were sharing heartfelt stories of our lives in service and otherwise. Gratitude for all we have known and shared.
As it was time to depart they led me into their office - something serious to discuss. Then they sprung it on me - they have planned, spearheaded and effected the dedication of a room at West Point's Hotel Thayer in my name and in my honor. This is a program the Thayer Leadership Group has started at the Thayer whereby a Graduate might be recognized and remembered through a named room with plaque - memorabilia and all that goes with it. I was stunned - overwhelmed with emotions . I have often walked the halls of the named rooms and admired the plaques and the rooms - most recently the Dawkins Room. Never in my wildest dream did I think my name or my service would be recognized in this way or at this level.
I offer the above to share with you. To share my gratitude to Ann and Michael for their role in my life, to Marty whose long friendship with Ann has meant so much, to my Family who shared my West Point and military career, and to the many friends with whom I have shared the journey of life.
You will get a formal invitation in March but know in the meantime that I have been honored beyond honors and that I thank all who have shared my dreams, lived with my hopes and know what this recognition means to me in the context of my life as a West Point graduate.
Thank you for all we have shared
Godspeed
jf
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Dear Classmates, Ladies, and Friends of the West Point Class of 1955:
About two weeks ago, most of you received an email from John Feagin, sharing news of his being honored by the dedication of the John A. Feagin Jr Room at the Hotel Thayer on April 25, 2014. John's fondest wish is to be surrounded by Classmates, Ladies and Friends at that dedication, and all of you will receive a formal invitation to the dedication activities. John, who has personally helped so many of us, and been such a caring friend of all of us and our families, is convinced that we all should share in this honor as having helped him, and as having shared his dreams and hopes on our life journey. We need to reciprocate John's sharing with us, to provide the widest possible Classmate and family support to John as he accepts and shares this honor with our Class, his family and his myriad friends.
My purpose in writing is to urge those of you who can, to be at West Point on April 25th, and to request that all of you to consider supporting the Feagin Room dedication, perhaps financially and certainly with letters and notes of your support and appreciation of John, for all he has done for us, for West Point, for the United States Army and for Sports Medicine over the last three score years.
The need for monetary contributions is minor, but symbolically important, for John to share his honors with us. John and Marty's good friends, Mike and Ann Byram, USNA '74 (yes, a Squid) have largely funded the Feagin Room refurbishment, aided by Pete and Judi Dawkins, USMA '59. The unfunded costs are not substantial. I suggest that monetary gifts should range from $5.50 to $55.00, with $19.55 almost in the middle. All mail (checks; letters and notes of congratulations) should be sent to Jim Bergen '55, 789 Winding Hills Road, Monument, CO 80132, no later than April 1st, 2014, to insure that you become part of the April 25th celebration. If you prefer, letters and notes can be emailed to me at the email address below. Checks should be made payable to Hudson River Partners 1, LP, and please note 'Feagin Room' on the memo line.
John Feagin is (again) being honored, and his achievements reflect highly on all of us, his Classmates and friends. It is not by accident that the USMA Class of 1955 is known as the Last of the Great Classes! I look forward to reading your congratulatory letters to John, and seeing you there!
Your Classmate,
Dave Wheeler
24 FEB 2014
Call me @ 813-215-2714, or send an email to dew13919@aol.com, with any questions or your letters to John.
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