Linda Kullman writes,
The
Class of 2014 Ring Melt Ceremony took place on Monday, the 4th of
March at the Pease & Curren Foundry in Warwick, Rhode Island. Every year
since 2001, the gold from rings of West Point Graduates has been melted and
mixed with new gold, becoming a part of the rings for the Classes of 2002
(Bicentennial Class) through 2014 (our 50 Year Affiliation Class). Each year,
shavings from the melt of the previous year have been added to the new mix (this
year 36 rings) so that a total of 293 rings are now officially part of the 2014
melt. The Class of 2014 will have gold in their rings from as early as the Class
of 1896 all the way to the Class of 1997. Gold from six of our classmates will
be in the 2014 ring! What a representation of the Long Gray Line!
The
ceremony started promptly at 9AM and little did we realize the emotional journey
that we were about to make down the Long Gray Line. Most of the attendees were
the families, friends and classmates of the 36 graduates whose rings were
donated this year. Also present were representatives and officers of the Class
of 2014, AOG representatives who superbly organized the event, and the
management and employees of the Pease & Curren Foundry who have hosted these
ceremonies for the past 12 years.
After
introductory remarks and an overview of the Ring Donation/Melt Program, the West
Point Graduate donors’ names and biographies were announced and read by members
of the Class of 2014. After each reading, Nadia King ’91, the AOG Coordinator,
announced the name of the family member, graduate or cadet placing the ring into
the crucible. Each presenter was different; each eloquent in their own way. The
first presenter was the new West Point Commandant, BG Richard Clarke ‘84, who
presented the ring of COL Thomas Monroe, Class of 1914 (in theory, our 50th
Affiliation Class – and the first ring from ‘14). The Commandant was followed by
presenters such as a son, a grandson, two daughters, a friend, a widow, or a
graduate – time seemed to stand still and our hearts were touched as each
presenter proclaimed comments like "Airborne Sir," with a military salute; "Love
you Dad," with a kiss on the ring; "My dad was born in North Dakota and actually
walked two miles to school in deep snow." We were left with a smile and tears
from each presenter.
A
stirring “Long Gray Line” example was the ring of COL Kenneth Webber, Jr, Class
of 1948. The ring was presented by his family in his honor. COL Webber has 2
sons in the Classes of 1974 and 1979, a grandson in the Class of 2010, a
granddaughter in the Class of 2013, and another grandson in the Class of 2014.
The
rings donated this year from the Class of 1964 belonged to Dick Chilcoat
(presented by Dan Evans), Terry Covington (presented by Tom Kullman), Jeff Kleb
(presented by Bill Murdy), Steve Perryman (presented by Dan Evans) and Leon
Yourtee (presented by Roberta Yourtee). Also attending the event were Classmates
Joe Mastriani and Dan Hornbarger and wives Linda Kullman and Cynthia Evans. In
addition to Classmate comments, Roberta in her most eloquent and graceful manner
summed it all up by saying, "My favorite legacy from Leon has always been the
Class of 1964." This touching comment brought damp eyes to all. Earlier I
mentioned six rings. Last year, a ring was donated to the ring melt by Fred
Coleman.
When
all the rings were in the crucible, the staff of Pease & Curren led us to
the foundry floor to watch the melt. The liquid gold was poured into a mold and
then cooled. At the conclusion, Nadia King presented the gold bar to Cadet Jeff
Ferebee, President of the Class of 2014, who in turn presented it to a
representative of the Balfour Ring Company where it will be combined with gold
being used in the production of the rings for the Class of 2014.
From
the oldest ring in the mix, COL Percy Kessler, Class of 1896, to the youngest,
an anonymous ring from the Class of 1997,
thanks for the memories of the ghosts in gray.
Again,
the link to photos: http://usma1964.smugmug.com/ClassRings/Ring-Melt-2013/28362414_54P2j6