\nLinda Kullman writes,\n<\/p>\n
\n \n<\/p>\n
\n \n<\/p>\n
\nThe \nThe \nAfter \n \n<\/p>\n \nA \n \n<\/p>\n \nThe \n \n<\/p>\n \nWhen \n \n<\/p>\n \nFrom
\nClass of 2014 Ring Melt Ceremony took place on Monday, the 4th<\/sup> of
\nMarch at the Pease & Curren Foundry in Warwick, Rhode Island. Every year
\nsince 2001, the gold from rings of West Point Graduates has been melted and
\nmixed with new gold, becoming a part of the rings for the Classes of 2002
\n(Bicentennial Class) through 2014 (our 50 Year Affiliation Class). Each year,
\nshavings from the melt of the previous year have been added to the new mix (this
\nyear 36 rings) so that a total of 293 rings are now officially part of the 2014
\nmelt. The Class of 2014 will have gold in their rings from as early as the Class
\nof 1896 all the way to the Class of 1997. Gold from six of our classmates will
\nbe in the 2014 ring! What a representation of the Long Gray Line!<\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\nceremony started promptly at 9AM and little did we realize the emotional journey
\nthat we were about to make down the Long Gray Line. Most of the attendees were
\nthe families, friends and classmates of the 36 graduates whose rings were
\ndonated this year. Also present were representatives and officers of the Class
\nof 2014, AOG representatives who superbly organized the event, and the
\nmanagement and employees of the Pease & Curren Foundry who have hosted these
\nceremonies for the past 12 years.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\nintroductory remarks and an overview of the Ring Donation\/Melt Program, the West
\nPoint Graduate donors’ names and biographies were announced and read by members
\nof the Class of 2014. After each reading, Nadia King ’91, the AOG Coordinator,
\nannounced the name of the family member, graduate or cadet placing the ring into
\nthe crucible. Each presenter was different; each eloquent in their own way. The
\nfirst presenter was the new West Point Commandant, BG Richard Clarke ‘84, who
\npresented the ring of COL Thomas Monroe, Class of 1914 (in theory, our 50th
\nAffiliation Class – and the first ring from ‘14). The Commandant was followed by
\npresenters such as a son, a grandson, two daughters, a friend, a widow, or a
\ngraduate – time seemed to stand still and our hearts were touched as each
\npresenter proclaimed comments like "Airborne Sir," with a military salute; "Love
\nyou Dad," with a kiss on the ring; "My dad was born in North Dakota and actually
\nwalked two miles to school in deep snow." We were left with a smile and tears
\nfrom each presenter. <\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\nstirring “Long Gray Line” example was the ring of COL Kenneth Webber, Jr, Class
\nof 1948. The ring was presented by his family in his honor. COL Webber has 2
\nsons in the Classes of 1974 and 1979, a grandson in the Class of 2010, a
\ngranddaughter in the Class of 2013, and another grandson in the Class of 2014.
\n<\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\nrings donated this year from the Class of 1964 belonged to Dick Chilcoat
\n(presented by Dan Evans), Terry Covington (presented by Tom Kullman), Jeff Kleb
\n(presented by Bill Murdy), Steve Perryman (presented by Dan Evans) and Leon
\nYourtee (presented by Roberta Yourtee). Also attending the event were Classmates
\nJoe Mastriani and Dan Hornbarger and wives Linda Kullman and Cynthia Evans. In
\naddition to Classmate comments, Roberta in her most eloquent and graceful manner
\nsummed it all up by saying, "My favorite legacy from Leon has always been the
\nClass of 1964." This touching comment brought damp eyes to all. Earlier I
\nmentioned six rings. Last year, a ring was donated to the ring melt by Fred
\nColeman.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\nall the rings were in the crucible, the staff of Pease & Curren led us to
\nthe foundry floor to watch the melt. The liquid gold was poured into a mold and
\nthen cooled. At the conclusion, Nadia King presented the gold bar to Cadet Jeff
\nFerebee, President of the Class of 2014, who in turn presented it to a
\nrepresentative of the Balfour Ring Company where it will be combined with gold
\nbeing used in the production of the rings for the Class of 2014. <\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\nthe oldest ring in the mix, COL Percy Kessler, Class of 1896, to the youngest,
\nan anonymous ring from the Class of 1997,
\nthanks for the memories of the ghosts in gray. <\/span>\n<\/p>\n