Association of Graduates, USMA, West Point

Yearling Flag Ceremony

Class of 2007

Class of 1957 crest Always Remember Never Surrender Class of 2007 crest
USMA Class of 2007 Flag Unveiling Ceremony ~ July 10, 2004

Tony Ferraiuolo, AOG Director of Class Support, makes opening remarks about the history of colors in the military and the significance of the 2007 flag and how it will be used. Ed Soyster prepares to greet one of his classmates.
Rob McClosky (son of Robert ’57) and his son Nicolas arrive to witness the Flag Ceremony. Ray Bell ’57 brought his grandson Sam Pickett to the ceremony. Members of the Class of ’57 talk about old times.
Cadet Marissa Chierichella ’06 briefs the Commandant, BG Leo Brooks, on the upcoming events for the day. The members of the Class of ’57, with their wives, family members, and guests, await the ceremony. Ceremony participants — “Eyes Right!”
Ed Soyster ’57, representing his class, 2007 Class President Cadet John Enderle, and colors bearer Cadet Tim O’Connor (Class Vice President) prepare to march into the formation to uncover and present the flag. The Class of 2007 flag is uncovered and unfurled! The Class of 2007 flag is uncovered and unfurled!
Class of '57 representative, Ed Soyster, presents the class flag to the Class of 2007 Class President, Cadet John Enderle. Ed Soyster ’57 presents the colors to Cadet John Enderle, ’07 Class President. Another shot of the flag presentation.
Ed Soyster '57, and Cadets John Enderle '07 and Tim O'Connor '07 prepare to do an about face and post the 2007 Class flag next to the American flag. Ed Soyster '57 addresses the Class of 2007 (Tony Ferraiuolo looks on in the background). Ed Soyster ’57 makes his remarks to the class.
Ed Soyster ’57 concludes his remarks with the traditional “BEAT NAVY!” 2007 Class President Cadet John Enderle thanks the Class of ’57 and the AOG for the flag, the program, and everyone’s participation. USMA leadership and Class of ’57 attendees sit below the Class of ’57 motto — “Always Remember — Never Surrender.”
Cadets John Enderle (President) '07 and Tim O'Connor (Vice President) '07 with their class flag. 2007 Class President Cadet John Enderle and Class Vice President Cadet Tim O’Connor proudly display their new class flag. Class of 2007 leadership and several other members of the class, along with the Class of ’57 contingent led by Ed Soyster, are joined by the Commandant of Cadet BG Leo Brooks and Tony Ferraiuolo, Director, Class Support, representing the AOG, as all rally around the Class of 2007 colors.
Ed Soyster ’57 and Cadet John Enderle, ’07 Class President, display the Class of 2007 flag. Ed Soyster ’57; Cadet John Enderle ’07 Class President; and Tony Ferraiuolo, Director of Class Support, AOG, all proudly display the Class of 2007 flag. The Class of 2007 colors.

TWENTY MEMBERS, spouses, a son, two grandsons, and one guest from the Class of 1957 attended the Flag Presentation Ceremony for the Class of 2007 at Camp Buckner on July 10, 2004.

Tony Ferraiuolo introduced the ceremony by providing a brief history of the flag as it relates to the military, and some specific remarks about the Class of 2007 flag and its symbolism for the class and how and when they will display it during the remainder of their time at West Point, and beyond graduation (see remarks below).

Making the presentation and speaking on behalf of the Class of 1957 was LTG (Ret.) Harry E. Soyster (see his remarks below). LTG Soyster, Class of 2007 President John Enderle, and flag bearer (Class Vice President) Tim O’Connor marched into the formation of the Class of 2007 and their cadre. General Soyster uncovered the flag and presented it to Cadet Enderle for the class. The flag was then returned to the flag bearer and the three marched out of the formation and the flag was posted. The ceremony marks the forth time a flag has been presented to the Yearling Class during their Cadet Field Training at Camp Buckner. It also marks the third year that the cost of the flag was underwritten by the 50-year affiliation class.

The presentation of the Class Flag is the Yearling Class component of the Cadet Class Support portion of the overall Class Support Program, which operates under the leadership of Tony Ferraiuolo, the program director, in the Office of Alumni Support in the AOG.

The time-frame for the ceremony was changed this year and took place during the change of command from the first to the second detail of Cadet Field Training (better known to the Yearling Class as “The best summer of their lives.” The ceremony took place between the actual Change of Command ceremony and the awards ceremony for the First Detail of CFT. CPT Al La Bella, S-3 for CFT, and his staff, provided exceptional support to ensure the success of the ceremony.

The 50-year affiliation between the Classes of 2007 and 1957 started when a large contingent of the class joined the new cadets in their March Back from Lake Frederick last summer. During the Acceptance Day Parade, COL (Ret.) John Stokes, Chairman of the Class of 1957 Board of Governors, furthered that affiliation when he stood as part of the reviewing party for the parade.

After the ceremony, members, relatives and guests of the Class of 1957 joined the Class of 2007 for lunch. Those attending, representing the Class of 1957, were LTG (Ret.) Ed and Joyce Soyster; BG (Ret.) Ray Bell, with his grandson Sam Pickett; COL (Ret.) Bob and Eleanor Vermillion; COL (Ret.) Ed Kielkopf; COL (Ret.) Ray and Gwen Ketchum, COL (USAR Ret.) Charlie and Wilda Erb; LTC (Ret.) Wayne and Sally Nicoll; Robert McClosky, with his son Rob and grandson Nicolas; Jackson McDaniel and his guest Jeri Fenderson; and Jim and Ann Morgan.

On Sunday, August 8, 2004, the Class of 2007 completed their run back from Camp Buckner to “celebrate” their training there this summer. The class flag was carried by the class president, Cadet John Enderle, leading the run back to West Point.

 

Opening Remarks by AOG Class Support Program Director Tony Ferraiuolo

Remarks by LTG (Ret.) Harry E. Soyster



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