Those fortunate enough to have attended the 35th reunion will attest that it was a weekend to stir the soul. As recounted by the scribe of class scribes Denny Coll in the July Assembly, we were treated with one memorable event after another – and, at our age, anything that is memorable is an event.  I cannot improve on Denny’s description of the reunion so I’ll spare you my attempt.  However, I would like to review some class business and invite your reactions and responses.

A.  Meeting of the Sounding Board

On the Friday afternoon (28 April 2000) of the reunion weekend, Dan Christman and Joe Anderson invited a group of classmates to join the class officers as a Sounding Board¹  to discuss ways in which our class can contribute to USMA.  The conversation centered on two opportunities – the Thayer Walk project and the Arvin Gymnasium reconstruction.

1. Thayer Walk Project

Background: Three years ago, after a series of surveys of its members, our class committed to being one of four classes (others are ’57, ’61, and ’74) to participate in the Thayer Walk project, which is the restoration of an area on Thayer Road from Grant Hall to the front of the USMA library.  The fee to participate in the project was $750,000 plus the cost of any memorial or class recognition structure.  We chose the strip of road in front of the library and after extensive planning and design work, we elected to construct a pentagon-shaped Forum to recognize the importance of learning to an officer.  The completion of our segment of the Thayer Walk project was divided into three phases:

•  Phase   I: Be one of the four classes on Thayer Walk  Price: $750,000
•  Phase  II: Design and build the Forum   Price: $280,000
•  Phase III: Design and build centerpiece for the Forum Price: TBD

USMA approved our plan for the Forum through Phase II, meaning that we needed to raise $1,030,000 over five years. Thanks to the fund-raising efforts of Harry Dermody² , the efficiency of his regional chairmen, and the project management skills of Terry Ryan, we have exceeded our funding bogey and we are expected to complete construction of Phase II of the Forum by the end of 2000 within our budgeted estimate.

Recommendation of the Sounding Board Concerning Phase III:  During the April meeting of the Sounding Board, Harry reported on the status of the fund raising for the Forum and Terry gave us an update on the construction of Phase II and some preliminary thinking on Phase III. The Sounding Board appreciated the progress of Phase II and the efficiency with which it was managed.  The Sounding Board also acknowledged that Phase III was an innovative and potentially dramatic statement by our Class. However, it felt that good stewardship required that, before we take further steps toward Phase III, we:

•  Provide for the care of the Forum (through Phase II) in perpetuity by setting up an endowment for the on-going maintenance and repair of the structure.
•  Insure that questions about Phase III are answered by thoroughly studying the issues associated with a centerpiece for the Forum (Phase III) including:
•  Specific function, i.e., does it meet a need?
•  Sponsorship within the USMA infrastructure.
•  Durability, readability, and viability as an outdoor display.
•  Funding requirements (initial and on-going)
•  Funding sources (class, corporate, other)
•  Content development and ownership

•  Received an estimate of $50,000 from USMA as the endowment necessary for the care and maintenance of the Forum through Phase II.  We have provided $50,000 for that purpose, bringing the total cost through Phase II to $1,080,000.
•  Initiated a plan to study the above questions about Phase III, which were sufficiently difficult to warrant a comprehensive, deliberate review. The Sounding Board thought that even fixing a timetable to that review would be premature and urged that for now we simply identify the steps we would take to equip us to answer these questions. We are developing a process for conducting the study of Phase III and we anticipate reporting to you later this year with our recommendations.

Background:  During his report to the class in Eisenhower Hall on 28 April Superintendent Dan Christman recounted the numerous projects at USMA that were recently completed, in progress, or scheduled for the near future. Perhaps the most ambitious effort of those in Dan’s report was the reconstruction of the Arvin Gymnasium, which promises to be one of the finest facilities of its kind on any campus. Dan indicated in his report that he believes our class has a golden opportunity to participate in the Arvin Gymnasium and be recognized for doing so. During the meeting of the Sounding Board later that afternoon, Dan elaborated on this opportunity. Specifically, the academy has indicated that in exchange for a financial contribution, it would permit a high-profile recognition of the class at the inside entrance of the Arvin Gymnasium as well as a tasteful upgrading of the design features of this major cadet thoroughfare.³   As Dan emphasized, we of all classes should look at this opportunity.  Bob Arvin was our class leader and friend and what better way to honor him and the many other classmates who fell in Viet Nam than at the entrance of a magnificent structure that bears his name.

Sounding Board Recommendation Re: the Arvin Gym Entrance: The Sounding Board clearly supported looking further at this opportunity and recommended that we establish the Arvin Gym Entrance as a top priority.  The estimate of the price to participate and construct a fitting memorial and enhanced upgrade is close to $1 million. The Class of ’65 has the right of first refusal to sponsor the Arvin Gym Entrance, but the academy needs an answer from us by the end of the calendar year. We will have three years to come up with the funds. Notwithstanding its endorsement of the idea, the Sounding Board recommended that before we commit to sponsorship, we:

•  solicit feedback from classmates to hear their views on this opportunity and
•  seek a cadre of major contributors to give us a jump start on the fund-raising.

B.  A Sad Report
Since returning from the reunion, we were saddened to learn that two of our number, Don Philpotts and Pete Peterson, lost hard-fought battles with cancer.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of these colleagues.  Be thou at peace, Don and Pete.

C.  A Parting Thought
If you have stayed with me this far in the note, thank you.  Perhaps I am still overly pumped from the reunion, but allow me to close with a reflection on how history may profile us among the classes of the Long Gray Line.

When Dwight Eisenhower, Omar Bradley, and their classmates returned to USMA for their 35th reunion in 1950, the class of 1915 was already known as the class on whom the stars fell.  A few short months after the reunion, the class of 1915 would again be called upon to provide leadership in war when James Van Fleet took command the Eighth Army in Korea for the majority of the fighting and added his stars to the Class of ’15 galaxy.  Two years later, the nation called upon General Eisenhower to lead it through a decade of the Cold War. Today the Class of ’15 is recognized on a plaque affixed to a simple stone cube that stands in front of the USMA library. The Class of ’15 is also recognized as one of the greatest in the rich history of USMA.

Fifty years later, the Class of 1965 celebrated its 35th reunion. The reunion stirred a variety of emotions including pride in recounting the Class’s contribution to the nation, sadness in honoring those who had left us, and enthusiasm for the challenges that lie ahead.  The recurring theme of the reunion was the leadership role of the Class into the new millennium. Few classes in history have been able to boast of classmates who are leading USMA as Superintendent and the US Army as Chief of Staff.  Many other members are leaders in industry, academe, and their communities.  Soon the Class of ‘65 will be recognized on a plaque affixed to a graceful marble structure in front of the library.  In the future, perhaps with the graduation of the 200th class at USMA, the Class of ’65 could well join the Class of ’15 as among the greatest groups to throw their hats together into a June sky.

The comparisons of our Class with the Class of ’15 may lie somewhere between hubris and heresy and the difference in the times may invalidate any comparison.⁵  But just as we venerate the Class of ’15 for leading the country during World War II and through the first decade of the Cold War, so should we give full value to the role of the Class of ’65 in providing leadership during Viet Nam, through the last decade of the Cold War, and into the 21st Century.

One of our classmates remarked recently that he thinks that he is finally feeling the effects of that saltpeter that they put in our mashed potatoes.  Maybe so, but though many of us are retired, few of us are retiring -- at least, that was the impression left by our classmates three months ago.  In fact, I believe that just as the Class of ’15 had not seen the end to its contribution after its 35th reunion, neither has the impact of the Class of ’65 been fully felt.  Even as we stop to share the pride in our accomplishments over these past thirty-five years, may we also challenge one another to maintain the spirit that permeated the reunion and seek to be among the truly great classes astride the Long Gray Line.

Have a great summer,
Strength and Drive,
 

Fred Laughlin
Class President

¹  The Sounding Board included class officers Joe Anderson, Tom Barron, Denny Coll, Harry Dermody, Jose Sanchez, and Ross Wollen as well as invitees John Howell, Nate Kantor, Ed Knauf, Dave Kuhn, John Longhouser, Terry Ryan, and Rollie Stichweh

²  You will receive a report this summer from Harry on the status of our class fund-raising.

³  Not only will the Arvin Gymnasium be well-frequented for its facilities, it will be a well-traveled route “up the hill,” e.g., Michie Stadium, Cadet Chapel, Jewish Chapel, Fort Putnam, etc.

⁴  The role of the Arvin Gym Entrance Committee is to focus on the Arvin Entrance opportunity including its design, construction, funding, and other issues/questions that may arise. Members of the Committee include Harry Dermody, Nate Kantor, Dave Kuhn, Fred Laughlin, Chuck Moseley, Rollie Stichweh, and Ross Wollen. I may also ask one or two other classmates to work with us.