Photo Gallery

U. S. Naval Academy

Class of 1979

			Photo Gallery

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			2008 May 79 9th Company Plaque Dedication Newport, RI The Aftermath

I had the great honor and pleasure of promoting classmate and friend, Dan "Traps" Cloyd, to Rear Admiral last Thursday in my office. Thought you'd appreciate a couple of photos from the event. A small ceremony with only family and a close family friend in attendance. My folks in the WH Mess (all Navy, I might add) made him a pretty sweet cake to commemorate the occasion. Another 79er in the flag ranks - I predict he'll go far! Trust all's well with you and family. All the best, Ray Spicer

			2008 May 79 9th Company Plaque Dedication Newport, RI The Aftermath

Dear Class of ’79:

Beginning last winter, our classmates undertook to fund the restoration of an old sign in the yard of the Newport Rhode Island Elks Lodge, in partnership with the Elks. 15 June was the culmination of that project, with several of us from 9th Company traveling to Newport to celebrate Flag Day and the unveiling of the new sign with our new friends at Elks Lodge 104. In attendance were Doug Patton, Gary Stahl, Don Brummett, Scott Pursley and Jeff Lemmons.

As background, USNA was moved to this location in 1861, the former site of the Atlantic House Hotel, in central Newport. The reason for the move was that the Union feared the Rebs might capture the Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. The USS Constitution boarded all the mids then sailed to Newport to relocate them at the Atlantic House Hotel. Once they arrived, all the upperclassmen were immediately drafted into the wartime Navy. The plebes remained. USNA operated here until the war was over. The Atlantic House Hotel was torn down and replaced with a beautiful Victorian home, which is now the domain of the Elks Lodge 104. Our mission was to replace the sign commemorating the site, since it was in very poor condition.

What was most rewarding was the seriousness with which these local citizens treated Flag Day and the partnership with us. There were emotional speeches about the history of the American Flag, a color guard presentation by local Sea Cadets, a Flag presentation by a Boy Scout Troop, a very professional "retiring" of the Flag by high school kids in Sea Cadet uniform, the singing of old patriotic songs. (I'm embarrassed to admit that I didn't remember all of the words).

Our classmate, and my former roommate Admiral Jeff Lemmons, spoke of the special naval heritage of USNA and Newport. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse spoke of the maritime heritage of Rhode Island. It was truly a Rockwellian experience, and one that filled us with appreciation not only for our country's history, but also for the good people of Newport.

I suspect you may feel all this sounds corny, but the whole experience was very moving and totally rewarding. It was also a great excuse for us 79ers to get together once again.

Annie and I are looking forward to next year’s 30th reunion!

Regards, Greg Costello ‘79

			2008 May 79 9th Company Plaque Dedication Newport, RI

Our own Greg Costello has been very busy with an interesting project that is coming to fruition this June. As many of you know, Greg is an avid sailor. A while back, when on a sailing trip to Newport, RI, Greg and Annie came across a sign in front of the Newport Elks Lodge that commemorated it as the location for USNA during the Civil War. As you can see in the photo, the sign is kind of worn down. Greg has taken a collection from our classmates, and has coordinated with the Elk's Lodge to craft a new sign that will be installed in a ceremony on 15 June 2008. There will be a plaque on the sign that says "Sponsored by 9^th Company, USNA class of 1979 Omnes Viri." All '79ers are welcome to the event on 15 June.

			2008 May 79 Reunions

			2008 Apr 79 Space Cowboys

We had a great flight and here is a good pic of two '79 guys, Mike Foreman and I right after landing at KSC and a few others. Mike did great, did 3 spacewalks of the 5 we performed! It was a challenging mission- the busiest of the 4 I've had. We had a night launch and night landing, 5 EVAs, more robotics than any flight and it was the longest to the ISS so far at 16 days. It took a couple weeks to catch up on our sleep! It was also the most rewarding flight I could imagine with a super crew.

Wendy says I'm done after this one! Our son Andrew is heading to USNA in July so we will be there to drop him off and then return to a quiet house. Wendy just became the Exec. Director of our local Habitat for Humanity organization so she is busy and our daughter, Kim is finishing her junior year at Davidson College. I actually called Kim from the space station while Davidson was beating Georgetown in the NCAA tournament- I think she was more excited about the game than getting a call from space!

			2008 Apr Papal Mass

Sean,

Thanks for asking. To say that singing at the Papal Mass was a "moving" experience is sort of like calling the Sistine Chapel ceiling a "painting" - it doesn't even begin to describe it. I was with over 500 other Catholics from the Archdiocese of Washington, all of them active in their own parish music ministries. To sing with so many "great" voices was truly an honor.
A group of us down here in Southern MD regularly carpooled up to Hyattsville for our rehearsals - by the time we got home it was usually pretty late, but since we always traveled as a group, even the commute was fun. On the day of the Mass we arrived at the stadium at about 6:00AM, got warmed up and commenced singing at about 8:30. The Pope arrived at about 9:40 and made the big tour of the stadium. We were singing with trumpet fanfare - reminded me of those movies when the King makes his entrance. But the moment that it all became "real" was when the Pope spoke his first words - we were all thinking, "This is it. He's really here!" I'm not usually gushy, but the whole Mass was a very spiritual experience, and I'm so very grateful to have been a part of it. Karen snapped the attached photo of the Jumbotron - wearing the bow tie, of course!

O/V,

Wiz...

			2008 Apr Space Shuttle Endeavour launch reception in Cape Canaveral, FL

79 Space Shuttle Endeavour Launch Party (l-r): Al Steel, Cory Brower (son of Andy), Peggy Feldmann '80 (aka Mrs. Andy Brower) , "Flat Mike Foreman" (cardboard cut-out, as Mike was in quarantine before the launch), Nels Frostenson '80, Bob Graham, Lorrie Foreman (Mike's wife). Missing from photo - Andy Brower (photographer), Art O'Hanion

			2007 Nov Army-Navy Football Game Activities

			2007 Nov Navy-Notre Dame Football Game pre game activities

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