email sent to all classmates, ex-classmates & widows on 7/23/18

Classmates, et al.

As a follow-on to John Denton & Dick Healy’s recent update on the 60^th reunion progress, we’d like to update you on the need for memorial articles for our fallen classmates and solicit your help.

Our objective is to get all remaining memorial articles submitted before we get together in 2020.

About 12 years ago, Nat Fox volunteered to edit the book “The Class of 1960: FIFTY YEARS” which was delivered at our 50^th reunion. Included were more than 95% biographies of all living classmates and tributes to 113 who had passed by the time the book went to press. Since then we’ve lost 82 classmates and expect to lose more by our 60^th reunion.

Just as Nat and his team of volunteers accepted that challenge for our 50^th reunion, we’d like to ask and get your commitment to completing memorial articles on all our departed classmates by April 2020.

First, we ask that each of you sit down and prepare a draft  of your own memorial article using the attached guidelines adopted by our Association of Graduates.  No one knows you better than yourself and think of what a great gift that will be to your widow or next of kin – if you submit your draft to AOG (together with your widow’s/NOK’s contact info – they’ll send it along as soon as they are notified of your passing.  If you’re not willing to do that, then at least update your Cullum File!

Second, select one classmate from the attached list and make a commitment to draft a memorial article for that person.  Let us know who you’ve selected so we can avoid duplications.  It doesn’t have to be someone you lived with as a cadet – it can be anyone on the list. Then consult the following sources:

1. Our 50 Year Book.  In the back is an index that identifies every page where that classmate is mentioned including, of course, his self-written biography.
2. Our 30^th Reunion Book.  Again, see what that classmate wrote in his own words.
3. Obituaries.  Included in the attached list is the date of death and the city and state where the classmate lived or where he died.  Using the power of the internet, we have no doubt published obituaries can be located.  Included therein will most likely be information about the widow or next of kin. If you need help with finding obituaries, don’t hesitate to ask us.
4. Widows/Next of Kin. Lots of useful info can be obtained from them.  (Also, AOG requires approval of the widow or NOK to publish the article.)
5. Cadet Company mates. Once we know who you’ve selected, we’ll contact that person’s company mates asking them to support you.
6. Team mates.

Remember, this is important to the legacy of our great class.  The last thing we want our classmates’ widows, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren to discover is that we they weren’t remembered or respected by their own classmates.

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or suggestions.

GO LIKE 60!

Frank Cloutier                                                                 Bob Totten
843-408-3596                                                                610-253-0342
franklcloutier@gmail.com                                                 bob.totten1960@gmail.com

P.S.  FYI, the AOG database includes a few classmates’ widows and every one of us who reported to West Point in July 1956.  185 are “ex-cadets” most of whom went on to lead very successful lives and some are Associate Members of the AOG.  Those who provided AOG their email addresses are receiving this message.