No need to stand by your mailboxes any longer. The semi-annual update on Class of '65 activities has arrived. You're reading it. And should you make it to the end (only three pages from now), you will not only have a great sense of accomplishment, you will also be briefed on the matters of your class. 

Recognition Day for the Class of '65 - Thirty-Nine Years Later 

On Saturday, 16 June 2001, almost 250 classmates and spouses gathered at the home of Ric and Patty Shinseki to recognize the extraordinary achievements of Dan Christman as the 55th Superintendent of the USMA. The weather could have been worse, although for a portion of the morning, we were not sure how. The tropical storm that had been creeping up the Atlantic Coast had enough left to deposit buckets of rain on the carefully constructed picnic site in front of Quarters 1, Ft Myer, VA.    It dampened the lawn, our shoes, and our clothes, but it never touched our spirits. In fact, as if instructed by some celestial meeting planner, the rain stopped twice - once for a meaningful ceremony wherein we placed a Class of '65 Wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and next while we enjoyed a terrific picnic and recognition ceremony on the lawn of Quarters 1. Not more than fifteen minutes after the festivities ended, the skies reopened and reminded us of the divine respite that we had just been granted. It also drove us closer inside the tents and onto the spacious porch of Quarters 1. In addition to enjoying the picnic and the ceremonies, those attending the picnic were also able to tour this historic house, whose residents have included Leonard Wood, Douglas MacArthur, George Marshall, Dwight Eisenhower, Omar Bradley, Matthew Ridgeway, and Maxwell Taylor, among others -- and now Eric Shinseki. 

It was a memorable day for our class, made possible by the efforts of many including: 

• Ric and Patty Shinseki as the host and hostess
• Bob Harter and Bob Frank as the overall picnic coordinators 
• Jim Peters and Walt Kulbacki as the set-up and take-down crew
• John Pickler as the liaison with the office of the Chief of Staff 
• Jose Sanchez as contractor for a magnificent "Strength and Drive" banner that adorned the front of Quarters I 
• Denny Coll as author of the class history (see below) 
• John Thompson as our master of ceremonies

Classmates who traveled hundreds (some thousands) of miles to join us.

Part of the ceremony on 16 June included presenting Dan with the Special Edition of the Class History (enclosed with this letter), a recount of our years together from the time we reported to the man with the red sash to the present. Denny Coll, our faithful class scribe, has been the custodian of our class story from when it was first published in 1980. The Special Edition that we enclose commemorates Dan's retirement and includes updates on the class history, along with two addenda: An Account of the 1961 Class from the USMA Prep School, written by T.J Kelly and a copy of the Spring '01 Assembly article, which Denny devoted entirely to a summary of Dan's career. Regarding subsequent editions to the history, Denny will continue to collect stories (current or past -- apocryphal or true) about members of our class and we will reissue a book when the additions justify the effort and expense. Your input to the history is most welcome. You can reach Denny at DC65scribe@aol.com. 

Change of Command at USMA and Arvin Center Dedication 

On 8 June 2001, it was my pleasure to attend the Change of Command ceremony on Trophy Point where Ric Shinseki presided over passing the USMA leadership from Dan Christman to Bill Lennox. It was a gorgeous day and a splendid setting. Ric and Dan were the principal speakers and it was clear why these guys had been chosen for their positions. It was a proud day for the Class of '65. 

After the ceremony, Ric, Dan, and I signed a dedication of the Arvin Center entrance from the class, a document that Ross Wollen, our class historian, fashioned in observance of both the Change of Command and the commitment of the class to the Arvin Center project. As you may know, we have made substantial progress with the design of the 65' entrance to the Arvin Center. Bob Doughty and his team have agreed on the overall design and the locations of the class insignia. The Design Committee has also reviewed some good ideas for plaques and other class-related items. You can view preliminary designs on our class website – www.aogusma.org/class/1965.

The Forum is Fab

Following the signing of the dedication, the classmates in attendance went to the front of the library to visit the '65 Forum. At the time, the workers were installing the lighting system and caulking the joints. By now, the Forum has been completed and we will soon have photos posted on our class web site). It is an elegant design with quality materials and a low profile that blends beautifully with the environs. It is already seeing use as a gathering place and if the plans for the new library are realized, our Forum will sit equidistant from the current library (converted to a science building) and the new library (site of the tennis courts in 1965). The Forum will be at the crossroad of the foot traffic to and from Thayer Hall, the new library (new and old), the Officers Club, and the lower intramural athletic fields. 

Financial Report 

On the financial front, we have completely paid for the Forum, including a sizeable endowment to maintain it over the years. As for the Arvin Center, we need to follow through on some pledges made early in our campaign and to encourage other classmates to join us in this undertaking. Regarding your role in the Arvin Center effort, you will hear soon from the grand old man himself, Harry Dermody. He and his deputies will be making a push for your support in order to have the cash necessary to fulfill our commitment. This news may not have you rushing back to your mailbox in anticipation of Harry's note, but keep an eye out for it anyway. The Arvin Center represents a wonderful opportunity for us not only to contribute to the quality of USMA, but also to maintain the profile of our class for decades into the future. 

While we are on the subject, some of you have been justifiably concerned that our class activities consist primarily of fund raising, especially considering the back-to-back campaigns for both the Forum and the Arvin Center. Frankly, had the Arvin Center not been such an appropriate opportunity for our class, the class officers would not have pushed for it so quickly. We were encouraged to do so because of: 
 

• the short fuse that USMA put on our decision (before offering the space to another class), 
• Dan's strong endorsement, 
• initial generous pledges from Ross Wollen and Ed Knauf, and 
• the extremely positive response of seventy classmates who were surveyed on the opportunity. 

Class Communications 

You no doubt receive enough in the way of mail - electronic, voice, and snail. While we want to be sensitive to adding to the flood, we also want to maintain contact with our classmates and be available to them when they need assistance. A good example of how we can serve is the way the class helped Wayne Scholl's family on the occasion of his untimely death. 

Assisting one another, communicating news, connecting classmates, communicating class concerns to USMA, and planning events such as sensational gathering at the Shinseki's. These are the functions your officers prefer over fund-raising. Yes, we strongly encourage your support of the Arvin Center, but let's get that behind us so we can concentrate on community matters. We have plenty of good years left as a community and we have good reason to keep it strong. 

Parting Comment 

When we stood together on Trophy Point forty years ago, we took an oath to respect the triadic West Point motto of "Duty - Honor - Country." As sincere as we were at that moment in our youth, could we possibly have understood what those three words would mean to us as we head into the new millennium? Speaking for myself, even the reinforcement from no less a prophet than General Macarthur in his stirring farewell speech did not prepare me for the respect that I have felt for 'these hallowed words," which today characterize the class of 1965. 1 am exceedingly proud to be part of a group that has done so much for our country, for our school, and for one another. 

With sincere best wishes, 

Fred Laughlin 
President. Class of '65