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.

In Florida: Winter Park Golf Course, Winter Park. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Contact Phil Holden at philholden@bellsouth.net

Weekly on Saturdays at 4pm Eastern: 2^nd Regt Happy Hour Zoom hosted by Tom McCaslin. All are welcome. For the link, contact Tom at mtmccaslin@yahoo.com

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

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.

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 18^th and F Streets, NW in Washington DC. Bacon House, an historically preserved 19^th 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.

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.

8 July (Tuesday) -- CLOSING DATE for 2024 Army-Navy FB TICKET SALES. Ticket sales open mid-May for Army A Club Members.

30 Aug -- Army FB Season opener at Michie Stadium against the Tarleton State Texans

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.

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

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 -- 1^st Reg't Golfers Week, Evermore Resort, Orlando FL. Contact Frank Finch at frfinch@aol.com.

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.

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

Mike Healy's UK Tours. For information contact Mike at ballycmike@gmail.com or tel: 703-742-0503

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

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Past Events of Note

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Many thanks to my photo contributors (Paul Salazar, Bill Bahr, Kathy Starks) and co-authors/editors (all CCs).

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

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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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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~~

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Dear Classmates and Class Family,

Last weekend was positively unmatched in terms of camaraderie and re-connecting for those who were able to come from near and afar to commemorate our fallen classmates and renew the bonds we share with them and our Alma Mater. Early this week, the 104 pictures which Carl Oborski took at the ceremony should be up on our class page on the WPAOG website (www.wpaog.org). Carl's son filmed the entire ceremony and that clip along with DeAnn Jelinek's photos of the entire weekend can be found courtesy of Bill Bahr on the west-point,org site at this link: http://www.west-point.org/class/usma1969/WebPhotos.htm. Together these will give those who were not able to join us a sense of how powerful the weekend seemed for those who were there.

We began to gather on Thursday with several informal company and battalion sized gatherings taking place that evening. The next morning, in glorious weather, the golfers met for lunch and a wonderful afternoon of golf at the beautiful Army-Navy Club's Fairfax facility. That evening over 150 participated in a relaxed and convivial buffet supper on the terrace of the ANCC Fairfax club house. Both of these were superbly organized and arranged by Bill Foster.

The following morning more than 250 assembled at the VN Veterans Memorial on the Mall in Washington DC for our solemn memorial service commemorating our fallen classmates, at which we were joined by Laurie Bass Wagner, Lauree Oliver with son Brian and his family along with Jim Smith's younger brother Johnny and his wife Susan. In a special touch, LTG (ret) Dale Vesser, '54 who was George Bass's battalion commander and Dave Ohle, '68 who was Jim Smith's and Paul Sawtelle's company commander in VN attended along with five members of Jim's and Paul's platoons from the Ranger company of the 101st Airborne Division..

Bob Harper's photos sent earlier today represent the first of many taken during the memorial service and capture well what made it so poignant and special. Among them you will recognize Bob Seitz, who organized our memorial service; Geoff Prosch who assisted him and arranged for a superb trumpeter from the US Army Band, who played the most haunting version of Taps most of us had ever heard that brought the many visitors to the memorial to a respectful stand-still; Chaplain (LTC) James Smith rendered meaningful invocations and benedictions and Rob Goff and John Lucas, who arranged for the participation of our guest speakers. GEN Fred Franks, '59, who was an English P and OR of the baseball team during our cadet years whose remarks paid homage to valor, sacrifice and ideals of West Point shown forth in the lives of each of our fallen classmates and Judge John Thomas whose inspired oratory brought back vivid memories of each. This year's memorial service was made even more special by the presence of the West Point Alumni Glee Club whose beautiful renditions of Army Blue, The Corps, The Alma Mater and the lovingly haunting Mansions of the Lord added immensely to the purpose and dignity of the occasion.

Carrying our class wreath, Mike McGovern and Brian Oliver led the procession to the Wall where we paused solemnly and respectfully before the panels bearing our classmates' names. Those attending then repaired to Bob and Holly Kimmitt's lovely home in North Arlington where a wonderful brunch repast awaited along with another well appreciated opportunity to socialize and reminisce. We thank especially the organizer of these events: Bill Foster for the golf and Friday night's social; Bob Seitz and Geoff Prosch for the wonderful ceremony, Lorraine Marshall for the attractive name tags and especially Bob and Holly Kimmitts for their generosity and warm hospitality. It was their hard work that brought all of us this renewed sense of kinship and fellowship that we and our families took away from this memorable weekend in the annals of our Class.

Best, KC

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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