USMA Class of 1960

"60@60" - Our 60th Reunion
A Note from our
Reunion Planners

John Denton

Dick Healy

Classmates, widows and friends of the Class of 1960,

As you are aware, our reunion for next month (23-26 April) has been cancelled. After considering several hypothetical alternatives, we have decided to reschedule for 7-10 June 2021. This is a “pencil-in” date. We have made our intentions known to the Academy staff and to our AOG support team. But, the Academy has to ultimately approve it on their Master Calendar before it is a lock. Given the current unknowns with respect to the Academy’s scheduling, it may be awhile, perhaps even a long while, before they get to us. There are no major conflicts at West Point during our planned period.

We are figuring out how to pay for items already ordered and the easiest way to return funds committed through the registration process. We have ordered and paid for four items that were intended to be distributed at the reunion: Class hat, Collected Wisdom booklet, the Memory Box and lanyards (one pp for ID purposes). Those orders were based on about 150 expected classmates. We have also incurred expenses for items printed and several mailings. We believe it best to zero out all current costs and start fresh next year.

Toward that end we plan to keep a fixed cost, $71 (to cover the above items), from the sum each person who registered paid and return the rest. Widows who registered will get the entire sum back. They will also eventually receive the Collected Wisdom Book and Memory Box without cost. All this is apt to take some time as the AOG is basically operating from homes, and some of what we are doing requires folks to be in the office. Refunds will appear on the credit card you registered with within 3-5 business days after the return action takes place.

For those of you who made hotel reservations, but hadn’t gotten around to registering for the reunion, we want you to participate in this process of paying for our Reunion expenses, too. You will receive a separate mailing addressing your situation soon.

Here is what we are thinking on various aspects of reunion planning:

We intend to keep the Class Gift fund active and extend the opportunity of donating until the rescheduled 2021 reunion. Along that line we will continue to provide quarterly updates.

We will probably box up the hats and lanyards and simply keep them in a dry place for the rescheduled reunion.

Special order items paid for through the AOG Gift Shop, that were intended to be delivered at the April 2020 reunion, will be sent to the orderer’s home address, along with a mailing charge.

The Collected Wisdom Booklets will be sent to each classmate who signed up and paid the registration fee for the reunion. The Collected Wisdom team will also send one free copy to every class widow who is currently on the roster with the West Point Association of Graduates. These mailings are planned for this April (2020) using the home addresses on file at the AOG. In the same timeframe, an email to all classmates will include an order form for copies of the booklet. The order form will also be posted on the class and reunion websites. Dick Nelson, John Berry and Charley Otstott will be happy to take any questions you may have about the Collected Wisdom Booklet.

We will hold on to the Memory Boxes and will plan on the World Premier showing to take place at the rescheduled (2021) reunion. Those at the 2021 reunion will receive their Memory Boxes after the showing. We all continue to have the chance to order additional Memory Boxes through the order form available at our reunion website (www.westpointaog.org/1960reunion) in the red box. The additional ordered items will be delivered at the reunion or sent to non-attendees after the reunion.

We will continue to use that website, along with the class website, to update information. So, keep both bookmarked.

If you ordered a “Lincoln Shirt,” Jim has roughly a ton now at his home. You need to get in touch with him to provide an additional mailing charge to have them delivered to your home.

The Historic Thayer Hotel has room for us in June 2021, but we won’t be able make reservations in our room block until we have a new contract, which won’t occur until after we are on the Academy’s Master Calendar.

So, there you have it. We (John Denton and Dick Healy) are always ready to answer questions, listen to puny B-aches, and help in special situations where we can. That’s what’s happening. But, there may be some twists in plans. So, please be patient as we labor on.

John and Dick

Go Like Sixty, while considering that we may be the only class in the history of USMA to hold a reunion on the anniversary of their Graduation Day!!