The meeting, concluding the 50^th Reunion of the USMA Class of 1957, commenced at 0830 hours in the Westchester Marriott Hotel, Tarrytown, New York, with more than 250 members present. Class President Gerry Galloway presided.

Treasurer Larry McNeil explained the mechanism of managing Class funds (other than the Gift Fund). He maintains a small sum in a conventional checking account for routine expenses. When large sums are received, such as payments from class members for forthcoming reunions, they are transferred to an Association of Graduates (AOG) administrative account or, if the funds will not be needed for an extended period, to a money market fund held by the Association. Major expenditures are handled through the Association. He presented an overview of reunion receipts and expenses and projected a balance of approximately $25,000 when all reunion costs are satisfied. This will sustain the Class financially until the 2012 Reunion and/or support projects that the Class may elect to undertake.

Galloway talked of the symbolic check we presented to the Superintendent. He spoke of our 2002 gift, the Honor Plaza, its meaning to our Class and the cadets, and the prominence it has attained as a highlighted stopping place for distinguished visitors to West Point. Showing depictions and floor plans of the soon-to-be-completed (Spring of 2008) Jefferson Hall, he pointed out the location of the planned coffee shop on the ground floor near the main entrance. It will be a meeting place for cadets and visitors alike, a very public and prominent spot. Our $650,000 contribution will support finishing enhancements to the library interior in a manner befitting the Academy. For the contribution, we are given naming rights to the shop, and we will position an adornment there which recognizes our Class sponsorship. Additionally, our gift provides for an "Honor Kiosk" which will continue and link the representation of honor by our Class. The third floor display will present matter relative to the concept of honor. A continuous video will show the history of the Honor Code and Honor System. A preliminary version of the video, which is being developed in concert with the Simon Center for the Professional Military Ethic, was shown.

Additionally, our gift provides an endowment to maintain the Honor Plaza, the fountain, our display in the gym, and whatever periodic enhancements to the kiosk video that future information technology will produce.

First Vice President Dick Stephenson, Gift Fund Chair, reported a 67% class-wide participation rate, plus numerous gifts from widows of the Class, former cadets and friends of the Class. Over $450,000 was raised, significantly exceeding the goal of $350,000. He led applause for the Cadet Company fund-raisers and recognized the leading Companies. Noting that the success of the drive leaves the Gift Fund with a substantial balance (The drive began with $400,000 on hand), Stephenson acknowledged that decisions must be made about future possible uses of the Fund.

Class Scribe Max Kovel thanked those who made the 50^th Reunion Yearbook possible: the contributors, Associate Editor Tom Kehoe, section editors and the Cadet Company representatives. He presented Kehoe with a cartoon sketch of thanks from Tom Runyan.

Turning to the subject of obituaries, he encouraged classmates to use forms presented in the Graduates Guide in providing memorial article information "...while you’re still around." Additionally, he pointed out that many deceased classmates have not yet been remembered by memorial articles in Taps. John Holland has expressed a willingness to revitalize this project.

He reminded that his Assembly columns are only as good as the inputs, and asked that photos be sent electronically when possible.

Galloway thanked Nick Monaco for conceiving and producing the graduation parade video, commenting that it shows a different perspective, in that "... we were running in the other direction". He thanked Bob Stevens for his work in sales of the artist’s preliminary sketch of the Mess Hall mural, noting that the project will now be turned over to the commercial market.

Tom Kehoe, Information Services Officer, described the genesis of his job. He maintains a data base of the class: name, address, telephone and e-address, which is used for mailings, rosters, statistics, etc. Maintaining its currency is a challenge, and he implored the audience to keep him informed. Failure to report changes of e-addresses is the most common and disruptive problem. It is "...only as accurate as those on it want it to be". The roster includes all graduates, living and deceased, widows of the Class, and ex-cadets. It is available to any classmate or widow upon request. He can also provide partial rosters, e.g., classmates in a particular area. Additionally, he and others maintain four list servers. The primary server includes all Class members on the roster and is intended for news of especial interest to all. Access to the forum list is gained upon request, and is an opportunity to discuss issues of interest with classmates. A third serves those living in the metropolitan District of Columbia area. The PC list serves that reluctant brotherhood. He noted the danger of computer virus problems in e-mails within large groups, and urged all to run virus protection programs in their computers. The Class website (www.usma1957.org) presents information of interest to the Class, both permanent and passing, but is under-utilized. Suggestions for improvement are welcome.

Galloway spoke on Class governance and other activities. Hank Hatch, now serving as a Class Advisor to the AOG, attends all Board meeting and keeps us advised on Association matters. The four Regional Representatives on the Executive Board, serving the Far West (Golden), Mountain States (Gadd), Southeast (Wells), and Mid-Atlantic (Stevens) have added to the strength of the Board in many ways. He outlined the requirements detailed in the Constitution for regional representation and encouraged further representation.

The current Officers of the Board will serve until an election at the 2012 reunion. The Regional Representatives serve until replaced, by election, at the will of those in their regional Groups. Noting this, Galloway cited the enthusiasm with which the Officers, at least, look forward to planning our 55^th reunion.

Galloway spoke of our recent success in Burn Loeffke’s Distinguished Graduate award, joining Carl Vouno. He solicited suggestions for future honors, including the Thayer Award. Moving to AOG matters, he noted our prominent level of representation within the Association. In addition to Hatch, Warne Mead and Ted Voorhees are Society Advisors, and Bill Ray is a Director. With this strength, we have the ability to influence the direction of the Association.

Galloway related suggestions he has received for an intermediate reunion before a 55th. The Board will run the 2012 reunion, and thus will not be able to manage another, but will certainly help any who may wish to initiate such an endeavor. All suggestions are welcome; contact any Board member.

He relayed Loeffke’s letter of appreciation to Bill Webb for his support of Loeffke’s Friendship Fund, to foster lasting relationships between West Point cadets and their counterparts in the former Soviet Union and China. We may wish to support, class-wide, this and other funds within various West Point departments. Suggestions are solicited.

On behalf of the Class, Galloway presented a token of appreciation to John Stokes for his twelve years of leadership as Chairman of the Board of Governors, keeping the Class together and strong through some tumultuous times. To Bob Comeau and Jim Cortez, Immediate Past Secretary and Treasurer, respectively, he presented appreciative Class gifts for their faithful service to the Class since we were youths. To Tom Kehoe and Max Kovel, he presented the Class’s token of recognition for their extraordinary past and continuing service, and most currently, their production of the remarkable and eminently successful 50^th Reunion Yearbook.

Galloway encouraged all to join their local West Point Societies. It is a way to belong, and to stay current on what is happening at West Point. The Societies play a critical role in the admissions process. Nothing can inspire a prospective candidate more than a talk about the Academy with a graduate. The AOG wants feedback from us and has produced a survey (to be found in the Graduate’s Guide included in the reunion registration packet). Please complete and return.

Appropriately, Galloway ended the words-from-the-platform portion with thanks to Bob Gadd and the hospitality room crew.

Responding to Howie Haupt’s question, Galloway said that Don Kutyna, Dick Stephenson, Jack Block and he will present Second Lieutenant’s bars to the graduating members of 2007 after they depart the salute-take-shake dias. He cited the numerous contacts he has had with the cadets of 2007 and the appreciation they expressed for our support. We’ve marched with them, presented their class flag, had small meetings and dinners for them, supported their Affirmation Ceremony, ring presentation, distribution of branch brass, and had people speak to them under a number of circumstances. They know the Class of ‘57 well and appreciate that we are linked to them forever. Bob Stevens reminded that, although our support of ‘07 as cadets has ended and we will support no other class in the same way, there are other avenues for supporting cadets in similar ways. There is, for instance, a means of gifting branch brass to individuals, and class rings can be melted down and incorporated into the castings of future classes.

Monaco announced that he is communicating with J. Phoenix on a future article, tentatively titled The True Story of Graduation Parade.

Kovel led applause for the ladies of the Class.

Galloway closed the meeting at 0943 hours: "We’ve had a great reunion, you have done a great job, this is a Class of which we can all be proud. To go home and say we have an association with four hundred and twenty six people who think the same way we do, have the values we do, means a lot to each and every one of us."