2024 Mini Reunion Memorial Service
There have been requests for a video of the Memorial Service at the Citadel and for the text of Joel Harris' comments.
Here are the links for the YouTube Videos of the service:
Here are the links for the YouTube Videos of the service:
West Point Class of 1972 Memorial Service - before service - The Citadel SC - 24-April-2024
West Point Class of 1972 Memorial Service (1 of 2) 24 April 2024
West Point Class of 1972 Memorial Service (2 of 2), 24 April 2024
West Point Class of 1972 Memorial Service after service 24 April 2024
Memorial Sermon-Just Remembering
West Point Class-72
24 April 2024 Summerall Chapel, The Citadel
Scripture Text: Isaiah 51: I-3 "Listen to me you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the LORD, look to the rock from which you were hewn and to the quarry from which you were dug."
Well here we are once again, gathered from across the country & across the years for_WHAT?
I don't ask this because I’m losing my memory-which I am- but because I’ve been asked that question numerous times over the past few days as I've visited friends, walked the campus, & spoken to cadets & staff alike. In the words of a former cadet, now a Tactical Officer, "Chaplain Harris! What are you doing here?"
Now I know it wasn't meant as a challenge, or to test the old man's memory but these cadets, like those of another era and another_Institution vow upon graduation never to return to their Center of Discomfort. As one of our own put it to me many years ago-"The most beautiful site I ever saw was the Thayer Gate in my rear view."
And yet return we do. Like the fictional Elephants to the Graveyard where the ancient ones return when they reach a certain age, we keep coming back. Every 5 years to the "bone yard" itself and now in these days annually to other venues. Some like our current surroundings cast a familiar shadow- others like Williamsburg, or the College of the Ozarks, different in form & color but always with the same effect.
So, again. WHAT are we doing here?
Well, when asked that question my mind went to the reading that Steve Etheridge shared from the prophet Isaiah. In a much, MUCH earlier time, to a people challenged and confused by the changes the saw in their own country; surrounded by enemies & rumors of war, in the midst of a culture seemingly at war with itself, and discouraged if not outright disheartened by leaders both political as well as religious the old prophet gave them a hook to hang the hope for tomorrow
"Look to the rock from which you were hewn and to the quarry from which you were dug"
Forgive me for sounding "Preachy" I truly don't mean to - after all I am a Baptist - but it seems to me if there ever was a group who could relate to that sentiment it would be those who in their formative days were literally hewn from the rocks around them, the rocks of their "Rock Bound Highland Home" In other wards what the old man was saying was sometimes before you can look FORWARD, you've got to look BACK
And THAT'S why we're here to look back.
BACK - first-to names & faces
- some company mates, Room mates, classmates - some perhaps only faces passed between classes in Thayer Hall
- some that bring SMILES as we remember good times shared
- some that bring SIGHS of relief remembering activities that could have gotten us hours of “Extracurricular Activity" - if not outright killed in what we referred to when I was here as "Your typical cadet Jackassery"
Then - Back to those years of shared service, remembering experiences, units, duty stations, places that themselves bring encouragement and more memories.
Finally - Back to shared family times as we swap stories of kids and grand kids and_heaven help some of us - GREAT GRAND KIDS.
So, as we come here this day to honor those who now live again if only in memory let us look back once again to that Rock from whence we were hewn and Back, to do what we were called to do on that June day in1972 - to REMEMBER and to GRIP HANDS
Tho it Be from the shadows
While we swear as they did of yore
or living or dying to honor
The Corps
and the Corps
And THE CORPS
Well here we are once again, gathered from across the country & across the years for_WHAT?
I don't ask this because I’m losing my memory-which I am- but because I’ve been asked that question numerous times over the past few days as I've visited friends, walked the campus, & spoken to cadets & staff alike. In the words of a former cadet, now a Tactical Officer, "Chaplain Harris! What are you doing here?"
Now I know it wasn't meant as a challenge, or to test the old man's memory but these cadets, like those of another era and another_Institution vow upon graduation never to return to their Center of Discomfort. As one of our own put it to me many years ago-"The most beautiful site I ever saw was the Thayer Gate in my rear view."
And yet return we do. Like the fictional Elephants to the Graveyard where the ancient ones return when they reach a certain age, we keep coming back. Every 5 years to the "bone yard" itself and now in these days annually to other venues. Some like our current surroundings cast a familiar shadow- others like Williamsburg, or the College of the Ozarks, different in form & color but always with the same effect.
So, again. WHAT are we doing here?
Well, when asked that question my mind went to the reading that Steve Etheridge shared from the prophet Isaiah. In a much, MUCH earlier time, to a people challenged and confused by the changes the saw in their own country; surrounded by enemies & rumors of war, in the midst of a culture seemingly at war with itself, and discouraged if not outright disheartened by leaders both political as well as religious the old prophet gave them a hook to hang the hope for tomorrow
"Look to the rock from which you were hewn and to the quarry from which you were dug"
Forgive me for sounding "Preachy" I truly don't mean to - after all I am a Baptist - but it seems to me if there ever was a group who could relate to that sentiment it would be those who in their formative days were literally hewn from the rocks around them, the rocks of their "Rock Bound Highland Home" In other wards what the old man was saying was sometimes before you can look FORWARD, you've got to look BACK
And THAT'S why we're here to look back.
BACK - first-to names & faces
- some company mates, Room mates, classmates - some perhaps only faces passed between classes in Thayer Hall
- some that bring SMILES as we remember good times shared
- some that bring SIGHS of relief remembering activities that could have gotten us hours of “Extracurricular Activity" - if not outright killed in what we referred to when I was here as "Your typical cadet Jackassery"
Then - Back to those years of shared service, remembering experiences, units, duty stations, places that themselves bring encouragement and more memories.
Finally - Back to shared family times as we swap stories of kids and grand kids and_heaven help some of us - GREAT GRAND KIDS.
So, as we come here this day to honor those who now live again if only in memory let us look back once again to that Rock from whence we were hewn and Back, to do what we were called to do on that June day in1972 - to REMEMBER and to GRIP HANDS
Tho it Be from the shadows
While we swear as they did of yore
or living or dying to honor
The Corps
and the Corps
And THE CORPS
West Point Class of 1972 San Diego
Mini-Reunion
Our Next Mini Reunion: It is San Diego in May of 2025
That will be Sunday, May 4, 2025 thru Thursday, May 8, 2025!
For 2025, our mini-reunion site will be San Diego, California. The dates are 4 May (Sunday) to 8 May (Thursday). After our great event in Charleston it will hard to outdo that one, but we’re going to give it our best in San Diego. This is the largest location for a Class of 1972 mini-reunion: the second largest city in California and the eighth largest city in the US. This is also our first foray into SoCal – Southern California, the land of sun and sand. San Diego has the best climate in the continental US.
There is much to see – the San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park, the first Spanish mission in California, Petco Park (home of the Padres), and the USS Midway – and do – beaches, hiking, kayaking, and shopping. We also have accommodations at a very good rate at the Humphreys Half Moon Inn (solid Google reviews) at the northern end of San Diego Bay. So let’s get together in SoCal for 2025!
Hotel Information:
Humphreys Half Moon Inn
Also hotel reservations are now available online. Go to the Hotel Reservations tab to make your reservations.
That will be Sunday, May 4, 2025 thru Thursday, May 8, 2025!
For 2025, our mini-reunion site will be San Diego, California. The dates are 4 May (Sunday) to 8 May (Thursday). After our great event in Charleston it will hard to outdo that one, but we’re going to give it our best in San Diego. This is the largest location for a Class of 1972 mini-reunion: the second largest city in California and the eighth largest city in the US. This is also our first foray into SoCal – Southern California, the land of sun and sand. San Diego has the best climate in the continental US.
There is much to see – the San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park, the first Spanish mission in California, Petco Park (home of the Padres), and the USS Midway – and do – beaches, hiking, kayaking, and shopping. We also have accommodations at a very good rate at the Humphreys Half Moon Inn (solid Google reviews) at the northern end of San Diego Bay. So let’s get together in SoCal for 2025!
Hotel Information:
Humphreys Half Moon Inn
Also hotel reservations are now available online. Go to the Hotel Reservations tab to make your reservations.
Viking Reservation Reminder
To Take Advantage of all Discounts Available to You
By Registering Early for the Viking Cruise in August 2025
Early is extended to May 31st, 2024
Call Steve Presley
(417) 353-0746
By Registering Early for the Viking Cruise in August 2025
Early is extended to May 31st, 2024
Call Steve Presley
(417) 353-0746
Viking Romantic Danube
29 August – 5 September 2025
Join the West Point Class of 72 as we cruise the Romantic Danube on a Viking Long Ship from Regensburg, Germany to Budapest, Hungary, 29 August-5 September 2025.
Our Inaugural Class Cruise was the initiative of Ken Brockman and his Engaged Committee. Cruise selection, time and date was decided on by a survey of classmates.
Our Inaugural Class Cruise was the initiative of Ken Brockman and his Engaged Committee. Cruise selection, time and date was decided on by a survey of classmates.
A presentation at our Mini-Reunion in Charleston was made by Bret Dalgaard, Viking’s Business Development Manager. Bret’s presentation was recorded and can be heard as a webinar by following the link:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1g1NvjMk5hdLJ7l5KP2liU699mXCbPBZf/view
We currently have 21 Classmates that have registered for the cruise and have confirmed their
registration with a $25.00 deposit pp. A listing of those that have guaranteed their selected
stateroom can be found on WestPoint72.com.
If you are interested in attending our Inaugural Class Cruise, contact the above at your earliest
convenience to take advantage of the many discounts, priority booking and stateroom
availability. Looking forward to a great cruise with great friends…hope you will join us.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1g1NvjMk5hdLJ7l5KP2liU699mXCbPBZf/view
We currently have 21 Classmates that have registered for the cruise and have confirmed their
registration with a $25.00 deposit pp. A listing of those that have guaranteed their selected
stateroom can be found on WestPoint72.com.
If you are interested in attending our Inaugural Class Cruise, contact the above at your earliest
convenience to take advantage of the many discounts, priority booking and stateroom
availability. Looking forward to a great cruise with great friends…hope you will join us.
For registration forms, stateroom availability and prices, Viking air, extensions, additional shore excursions, questions and answers, please contact:
Steve Presley
EagleTravel@outlook.com
417-353-0746
The Class of 1972 Mini Reunion Planning Committee:
Larry Aubrecht, Steve Mulliken, Tim Lupfer, Steve Presley, Chris LeBlanc, Tom Hendrix, Bob Curran, John Northrop, Greg Bowman, Al Geraci, Mel Kimsey, Scott Peppler, Rolly Dessert, Chuck Coleman, Thom Thomas, James Bowden, Will Webb, Ken Brockman, Daniel Muchow, Ray Ritacco, Joel Harris, Randy Jones, Rich Luczak
Hospitality Room POC: Chris LeBlanc
Hospitality Room Coordinator & Hostess
Contact: Deborah LeBlanc
email: dleblanc550@yahoo.com
Local contact:
Ken Brockman (Louisville, KY in 2026)
Dan Muchow (55th Reunion in 2027)
Hospitality Room POC: Chris LeBlanc
Hospitality Room Coordinator & Hostess
Contact: Deborah LeBlanc
email: dleblanc550@yahoo.com
Local contact:
Ken Brockman (Louisville, KY in 2026)
Dan Muchow (55th Reunion in 2027)