Class Events
(also
see
Videos/Photos for some past events)
Class of 1969
Updated 2/19/2025
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Upcoming
Click here
to see KC Brown's event list further below.
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Central Scotland "Outlander" Tour ~ August 11-17,
August 18-24, or August 25-30 2024 :
https://celticrnr.com/scotland-tour/ contact
Mike Healy
Scottish Highlands Tour ~
September 1-7 or September 15-21, 2024
2024 Danube River Cruise from Passau to Budapest, 1-10 Sept, contact Dave Wallestad
Vietnam Wall Ceremony: 11 October 2024, 6 pm Army Navy Country Club in Fairfax; 12 October, 10 am Wall; 11:30-1:30 Kimmitts; contact Dan Cox
Great Lakes, St. Lawrence, and Canada Cruise during Fall Leaves Season on Pearl Sea Cruises (15-day). If interested contact Doc Dillon
Alaska 10-Night Cruise (26 July - 5 August 2025). If interested, contact John Lucas
Heart of the Delta (lower Mississippi from Memphis to New Orleans) Cruise, 1-8 November 2025, contact Dave Wallestad
More info: www.vikingcruises.com
Iceland and Norway Cruise: Bergen to Reykjavik (15-day, 2 countries, 9 ports) 6-20 July 2026., contact Dave Wallestad
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Denis Gulakowski on Sunday nights (8-10pm ET)
www.k-radio.net
Anytime: Mike Healy:
http://www.irelandreunions.com &
USA-based wine-tasting tours
Anytime:
Pete Grimm:
Academy Safaris
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Company-mates with Zoom meetings:
B1, D1 (includes 1st Bn, 1st Rgt; Dillon)
E2, G2, H2 (D.Hill)
D3, H3
A4, H4 (Bresnick)
2nd Bn, 2nd Rgt group call
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Sunday, 19 May - Wednesday, 22 May 2024
(dates set up same as AOG Prime Reunion Website)
55th Reunion: 19-22 May 2024
Reunion Chairs Honor Roll
(research thanks to Ed Quinn)
1974 - 5th -- Denny Hayden
1979 - 10th -- Bob St Onge
1984 - 15th -- Bob Baldwin
1989 - 20th -- Kip Nygren
1994 - 25th -- Kip Nygren
1999 - 30th -- Dick
Jarman
2004 - 35th --
Tom
Piazze
2009 - 40th --
KC
Brown
2014 - 45th --
Doug
Fitzgerald
2019 - 50th --
Ed
Quinn
2024 - 55th -- Dennis Helsel
2025 Class Calendar of Events
Bi-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 DC, Maryland or Northern Virgina. 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 in April at the Air & Space Museum, sponsored by Barney King.
Weekly Class Golfing Opportunities:
In Florida: Winter Park Golf Course, Winter Park. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Contact Phil Holden at philholden@bellsouth.net
In Northern Virginia: Contact Dave Scibetta, dave.scibetta@verizon.net or Pete Heesch peterheesch47@outlook.com for dates, times and locales.
Weekly on Saturdays at 4pm Eastern: 2nd Regt Happy Hour Zoom hosted by Tom McCaslin. All are welcome. For the link, contact Tom at mtmccaslin@yahoo.com
2314
2024 Class Zooms: 24 April, 26 June, 25 Sept, 10 December at 1730
FEBRUARY
27 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.net) 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:
8 March: WPS San Francisco, Marines Memorial Club; Speaker is the Comm BG R.J. Garcia, '96
9 March: Heritage Hunt Gainesville VA contact Dave Wallestad (walls69@aol.com) (WP Alumni Glee Club will perform)
22 March: WPSDC. Crystal Gateway Marriott, 1700 Richmond Highway in Arlington VA (enter at Eads St). Speaker is the Comm. Tickets available at: https://sallyport.westpointaog.org/events/168794
APRIL
TBD -- Pete/Tammy gathering at the Air and Space Museum, sponsored by Barney King.
24 April (Thursday) -- Class Spring Luncheon, Washington D.C. On Thursday, 24 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.
27-30 April -- Golfing Grads at Mission Inn Resort, Howey-in-the-Hills, FL. The tournament is full and not accepting further signups. There are seven classmates on the BOTL team captained by Phil Coyle.
MAY
5-9 May -- A-4
Reunion, Inlet Sports Lodge, Murrells Inlet, SC.
POC is John
Bacot
jbacot47@gmail.com
TBD --Tammy/Pete dinner at the Bacon House 18th and F Streets, NW in
Washington DC. Bacon House, an historically preserved 19th
century mansion, initially the home of the original Supreme Court justices it is
now the headquarters of DACOR (Diplomatic and Consular Officers Retired). This
gathering is sponsored by Joan and KC Brown. More details will be forthcoming
in March.
JUNE
26 June (Thursday) -- Class Summer Luncheon, Washington D.C. On Thursday, 26 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.
JULY
8 July (Tuesday) -- CLOSING DATE for 2024 Army-Navy FB TICKET SALES. Ticket sales open mid-May for Army A Club Members.
AUGUST
30 Aug -- Army FB Season opener at Michie Stadium against the Tarleton State Texans
SEPTEMBER
6 Sept -- Army vs Kansas State, Manhattan KS
15-19 Sept -- BOTL Gray Hog Motorcycle Ride, Moro Bay, CA. This year's ride is down the Pacific Coast Highway. POC is Jack Nesbitt at nebittcj69@gmail.com tel:575-973-7322
24-28 Sept -- F3/H3 reunion in Hutchinson Kansas Hosted by Joe and Diane McCarville. joedianemccarville@hotmail.com
25 September (Thursday) -- Class Fall Luncheon, Washington D.C. Join us for our Fall Luncheon at 1130 on Thursday, 2 5 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.
OCTOBER
9-13 Oct -- F3/H3 Reunion, Kiawah Island, SC. Contact Terry Bogard (tbogard@triad.rr.com) or tel: 336-345-5428.
Oct TBD -- G2/F2 reunion in New Orleans in conjunction with the Army-Tulane game.
30 Oct-10 Nov - 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
NOVEMBER
1 Nov -- Army-AF Game, USAFA. First contest of the year for the Commander-in-Chief's trophy. Keep checking the Army A Club website for the date ticket sales open.
10-14 Nov -- 1st Reg't Golfers Week, Evermore Resort, Orlando FL. Contact Frank Finch at frfinch@aol.com.
DECEMBER
10 December -- Annual Beat Navy Luncheon, Washington, D.C. To be held at Mylo's Grill in McLean, Virginia on Wednesday 10 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.
13 December -- Army-Navy Game, M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD. Ticket sales will open in May for A Club Members and close in July.
Looking Ahead to 2026
Pete's and Tammy's bi-monthly get-togethers in Washington, DC
Quarterly Class luncheons and the Gloom Period Happy Hour in Northern Virginia
Class Zooms in April, June, September and December
Company Reunions and Golf Outings as scheduled
9-20 July. Class mini reunion Viking ocean cruise from Bergen, Norway to Reykjavik, Iceland via the North Cape and the Svalbard Islands. To book cabins or for more information, contact our cruisemeister Dave Wallestad (walls1969@aol.com) or our cruise coordinator Andres Ploompuu '81 at aploompuu@cruiseplanners.com
Other Opportunities for Excursions with Classmates:
Mike Healy's UK Tours. For information contact Mike at ballycmike@gmail.com or tel: 703-742-0503
2025 West Point Alumni Scotland Tours:
· 24-31 August (Midlands/Outlander),
· 30 August -- 7 September (Highlands),
· 7-14 September (Midlands/Outlander),
· 18-25 September (Soccer/Rugby),
· 6-13 November (Rugby)
2025 West Point Alumni England Tour: 14-21 Sept (Cotswolds, Bath, Cheltenham, Stratford-upon-Avon, Oxford)
Pete Grimm's African Safari. Excursions include four nights in a luxurious villa in Cape Town, four nights in a safari camp in the world-renowned Sabi Sands game reserve, one night in Johannesburg, and two nights in Victoria Falls at the classic colonial Victoria Falls Hotel. Cost is $7995 per person. Airfare is separate. Classmates can find up-to-date schedules and itineraries on Pete's and Camilla's website: https://www.academysafaris.com/schedule.html
· 22 Sept -- 2 Oct 2026 (Spots for two couples still available)
· 5 -- 16 Oct 2026 (Spots for four couples still available)
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Past Events of Note
11-12 October 2024 at the Wall
24-28 April 2022 Maryland Mini-Reunion (Mike Healy Tour)
Click on above for report. See earlier
report below.
Ray Dupere's Trip Report (9/29/2018): Fallen Heroes
Ray Dupere's The Days Forward Semi-Final Resting Place article 1
Ray Dupere's The Days Forward Semi-Final Resting Place article 2
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20-22 Sep 2017 San Diego
See events photo on Photo page
6 Dec 2015 Florida 4um Soiree
12 Dec 2015
Sirs,
Report on 6 December Florida Mini-Reunion Dinner follows.
Many thanks to my photo contributors (Paul Salazar, Bill Bahr, Kathy Starks) and co-authors/editors (all CCs).
v/r
Chuck Anderson
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
* President, West Point Parents Club of Central Florida (WPPCCF)
For more, see event photos on Photos page.
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: 8 (Wednesday) -12 (Sunday) Oct 2014 Contact: Doug Fitzgerald
Registered Attendee List
Agenda
Telephone Numbers
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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Tom Ramos' Ride
Photos from the trip: https://www.facebook.com/tom.ramos.564/photos
Here's a newspaper clip about "Thomas and
Friends" and their
charitable effort as they roll from California to West Point:
http://www.independentnews.com/community/article_3e979e1a-135f-11e4-a3f2-001a4bcf887a.html
Here's more:
http://gatetopoint.tumblr.com http://thedaysforward.com/pedaling-across-america/
https://www.facebook.com/tom.ramos.564?fref=ts (Follow) http://www.cause-usa.org/main/home.cfm?PageID=163
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
The "well-done!" end to Tom and Rose's Excellent Adventure
"Kudos from Kansas"
Newspaper Article!
===================
More info: http://thedaysforward.com/pedaling-across-america/
https://gatetopoint.tumblr.com/
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2014 Class Memorial Weekend
email from KC Brown, 6/15/2014
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Mini-Micro Reunion Spirits
Toasts
MC: Ladies & Gentlemen, please remain standing for our traditional toasts. Please take a moment to ensure your wine glasses are appropriately charged.
Name: Ladies and Gentlemen, I propose a toast to the Commander-in-Chief, The President of the United States." "To the President."
Name: "Ladies and Gentlemen, I propose a toast to the United States Army." "To the Army"
Name: "Ladies and Gentlemen, I propose a toast to the United States Military Academy." "To the Academy."
Youngest Grad "Ladies and Gentlemen, I propose a toast to the Corps of Cadets." "To the Corps."
Name: "Ladies and Gentlemen, I propose a toast to our fallen comrades." "To our Fallen Comrades."
MC: Gentlemen, please seat your ladies.
[pause] "Gentlemen, I propose a toast… to the ladies."
"To the Ladies." Gentlemen, please be seated.
Follow-on
1776 Patriotic
Toasts
Academy
Music
Follow-on Irish-flavored toasts
"Gentlemen: Please charge your glasses and be upstanding!"
Parting Glass
(2nd Verse)
Oh, all the comrades e'er I had,
They're sorry for my going away,
And all the sweethearts e'er I had,
They'd wish me one more day to stay,
But since it falls unto my lot,
That I should go and you should not,
I gently rise and softly call,
Good night and joy be with you all.
Music & other lyrics
Founders Day Placemat (Download & Expand)
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
"Where
the Hudson takes a hard right, West Point teaches the Harder Right." W. Bahr, USMA '69,
copyright 2014 --
"West Point -- The Hard & Harder Right" Tribute
BTW, did you know that Washington,
DC, was originally to be a 10 mile by 10 mile square or 100 square miles.
Then in 1846, 31 square miles was returned to Virginia, leaving approximately
69 square miles on the original Maryland side of the
Potomac remaining in the District of Columbia.
https://www.wikiwand.com/en/District_of_Columbia_retrocession
BTW,
just a reminder that
French
Charleville
.69 caliber muskets were first presented to George Washington
by Lafayette. One estimate of Lafayette's deliveries is 25,000 Charlevilles. The US later commissioned the 1795 Springfield musket based
upon the Charleville design. The Springfields are the crossed muskets
which have become the US Infantry insignia. If you see your friendly
webmaster (wp28260) at a class event and would like a .69 caliber musket ball as a
reminder of the BOTL, just ask. With some luck, he may have one for you.
One per classmate, please!
www.bahrnoproducts.com/Bastille_Key.htm
Home! Sweet
Home!