The Gathering of the Golden Boys and their Ladies of the Class of 1963
for the 2002 USAFA-USNA Football Game and Memorial Ceremony
5 October 2002 as Falcon Stadium and Doolittle Hall
A few years ago, Paul "Butch" Verdier initiated an annual gathering of the Class of 1963 at the annual home game against the Naval Academy in mid-October, or the Military Academy in early November. Every 5th year, the class reunion has been on that weekend, and our 40-year reunion will be at the Army game on the first weekend in November 2003. During the four years in between, the nearby grads gather to renew class camaraderie (we usually get together at least another time or two during each year), to watch the Falcons take another step toward earning the annual Commander in Chief's Trophy, and to perform a solemn ceremony each year at the site of our class cups in the office of the President/CEO of the USAF Academy Association of Graduates.
Butch and Carollee staked out our tailgate site shortly after the chickens got up on a beautiful Colorado Saturday morning. When I arrived about 9, our vehicles were about the only gathering of two or more anywhere in the hundreds of acres of parking around Falcon Stadium. Bob Donovan arrived shortly and Ev and Susie Vaughn soon were with us as well. As the morning passed, we were joined by more than 20 Golden Boys of the Class of 1963 along with about 30 other friends and family. Steve Dotson and DeVere Henderson were in from the D.C. area, Gary Bender joined us as usual from New Mexico, and I'm not sure where Ed Reisdorf and Bill Wecker had come in from. All were welcome and all are welcome to our annual gathering.
After heartily chowing down and renewing old friendships, it was off to the stadium about 1130 for the flyovers due to start shortly after noon. The highlight of this years flyover was a pass by a real B-2 Stealth Bomber. (I still remember a few years ago when the stadium announcer told us the next flyover was by a stealth bomber, then asked us shortly thereafter if anyone saw it. ;-) )
General Ralph Eberhart, USAFA 1968 and Commander of the four-day-old Northern Command, accepted the Cadet Wing, when formed on the field, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Richard B. Myers tossed to coin before kickoff.
The Falcons were pretty much outplayed and made a few too many penalties in the first quarter and lost it 7-3. They won the next three quarters by a score of 41-0. One of the 1977 grads (25-year reunion) a few rows ahead of me started leading a special little cheer for Another Falcon First Down sometime in maybe the late 2nd quarter or early 3rd quarter. With nearly 420 yards rushing and more than 530 yards total, the Falcons had worn out '77s cheerleader, and he was asking for a substitute. At 48-7, this was Navy's worst loss to Air Force since the 49-7 score in 1998, which many of us witnessed at our 35-year reunion.
Following the game, most of us moved up to Doolittle Hall for a buffet from La Casita and for our annual memorial ceremony. This year's ceremony included short eulogies for Bill Ayres and Pete Hammerton, our two classmates we were aware of who had passed away since our most recent ceremony in November 2002.
We all appreciated Jean of the AOG staff working to keep Doolittle Hall open for us as we were the only post-game activity during the game.
The accompanying photo gallery documents many of the day's activities, but there's nothing like being there to join in the camaraderie.