35-110 Quarter Master Association - Yoo Hoo

Bob Myers

Joe & Margaret Shurtleff

Cheryl Young

Clyde Franklin
Kenny Andreason

River and Betty Jordon

Dell & Dorothy Andreason

E.C. & Eleanora Madsen

Roger Jones
Florence Swan

Ercell & Vera Sellers

Glen & Wanda Mullen

My First Taps Vigil

As written by Larry D. Smith, President, West Point Society of Northern California/Nevada. He says: "Wednesday was my first Taps Vigil. For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, a Taps Vigil is something that is unique to West Point and is normally performed to honor cadets who have passed away members of the Corps of Cadets. Fortunately I have never had to experience one last year. However this Taps Vigil was not for a deceased cadet, it was to honor the men who fought and died for the freedoms we now experience and take for granted as we observe what they have done this Veteran's Day. I will recount my experience as best I can,

It is nearly 11:20 p.m. The cool wind blows over the dark plain as gray clad figures emerge from the sallyports to stand at the edge of the apron. They come in groups of one Or two No one utters a word, no sounds are made. The silence of the night is so thick it can be felt. As the night approaches 11:30, when taps is regularly sounded the lights in the rooms of the barracks that are facing the Plain slowly go out one at a time. The cadets are in Dress Gray uniform and wear no coat to show respect during this solemn ceremony.

Most of the cadets have never been a part of this before and have no idea what to do. Even though no words are spoken the upperclassmen provide the example that the plebes and yearlings look for. 11:25. Groups of four and five now emerge to join the growing group of cadets standing stiff and unmoving around the Apron of the Plain. As I stand at the front and hear cadets gather behind me, I look out at the wide expanse of the Plain and am enveloped by the silence.

I can vaguely make out the forms of my fellow cadets as they stand in the dark awaiting the commencement of the Taps Vigil. Time slows as we all stand together and wait. Cadets are still coming to form a line extending from Eisenhower statue to MacArthur that becomes 5 or 6 deep. 'The moon is bright. I look down and see my shadow cast faintly on the ground. There is nothing about my shadow and it strikes me that I am just one in a long line of the same shadows. Everyone's shadow looks the same with the gray service cap and Dress Gray giving us a great sense of uniformity.

I feel what it is like to be a part of the tradition of being a member of the Long Gray Line. My thoughts wander and I begin to focus on the visual picture of the American Fighting Man as he storms, a bunker in the heart of Germany, as he runs up a beachhead on the shores of Normandy, as he crawls through the jungles of Vietnam, as he runs across the plains of Virginia during the Civil War, as he lines up against the British in the colonial towns of Lexington and Concord, as he marches across the sands of the Middle East, and as he stands tall and proud saluting the flag which represents the freedom most of the American people take for granted. My thoughts interrupted by the quite command given by the commander of the rifle squad as they slowly march silently out to the, middle of the Diagonal Walk.

The command is given and the night is shattered by the shots of seven rifles together as one. Every cadet immediately snaps to the position of attention. Another volley of seven shots breaks through the night and a third concludes the 21 -gun salute to every soldier who has ever died fighting for the United States of America The loud echo of the gunfire dies and we are all left with a silence more intense than the previous. No one moves. No one utters a sound. Everyone remains at attention. A long trumpet begins "Taps" and the gloved right hand of every cadet in attendance is raised to the right eyebrow in salute to the deceased. The song washes over the dark unmoving figures in gray and everyone pays their respect in their own may. The trumpet dies away and the hands drop, but no one moves and the silent position of attention is still assumed. After a brief period of silence, the hum of a bagpipe being pumped can be faintly heard.

With the solemnity that only a bagpipe can give, the opening stanza to 'Amazing Grace' begins. After the first verse, four more bagpipes join the first. As I stand and listen, I breathe deeply of the night air and stand taller as a sense of pride begins to foster in my inner being. The tears begin to slowly form as the four bagpipes drop off and leave the lone bagpipe to conclude 'Amazing Grace.' They are not tears of sadness, but they are

Tears expressing the storm of emotions going through me that are a combination of joy, thankfulness, grief, pain and exultation. I hold it all in and stand that much taller as I get a deep sense of pride for my nation and all that it has been through.

Silence again consumes everyone as the lone bagpipe dies out. We stand and remain silent. I wonder what will happen next but I am almost sure of what it will be. A mumble begins to travel throughout the Corps as cadets start to hum and then sing West Point's Alma Mater. As soon as the song is recognized, heads are immediately uncovered and nearly 4000 cadets sing in unison our Alma Mater. (over)

Hail, Alma Mater dear
to us be ever near,
Help us thy motto bear
Through all the years.
Let duty be well performed.
Honor be e'er untamed,
Country be ever armed,
West Point, by thee.

Guide us, thy sons, aright,
Teach us by day, by night,
To keep thine honor bright
For thee to fight.
When we depart from thee.
Serving on land or sea,
May we still loyal be,
West Point, to thee.

And when our work is done,
our course on earth is run,
May it be said, "Well done;
Be thou at peace."
E'er may that line of gray
Increase from day to day
Live, serve, and die, we pray.
West Point for thee.

quietly with everyone still not uttering a sound, heads are re-covered and the cadets in gray disperse and head back to their rooms. A solemness is felt by all. My first Taps Vigil concludes with a tingling sensation runnin up my spine that isn't caused by the cold wind.

This Veteran's Day, stop and think for five minutes about the sacrifices that were made to give you those five minutes of freedom and safety. Always remember. Don't take for granted. I am guilty of doing so too often. Thank God, Thank a veteran.

I apologize for using some terminology that you probably don't understand (i.e. the Plain, the Apron, sallyports, Diagonal Walk, etc.), but I don't know how to describe it otherwise. If you really want to know, shoot me a message and I'll explain fully. I hope this e-mail got you thinking about the significance of Veteran's Day. Thank you for reading. God bless you all.


Harry & Ev Dahlstrom	Harvey & Leona Bennett	Pearle Witte Grace Ozanne

Kenny & Margie Andreason	Mel Shafer Richard Casagrande	Orville & Elayne Mc Call

Cliff & Rachel Cochran	Charles Vangreen & Family	Ed & Lillian Sondergaard Elizabeth Anderson

2000 Reunion

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