President

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="02c285a1erlcgo.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><B>Staunton Military Academy Alumni Association</B></FONT><B>     |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Staunton Military Academy Alumni Associa"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <B>President</B>   |   <A HREF="organization.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Organization"><U>Organization</U></A>   |   <A HREF="aby_laws.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Association ByLaws"><U>Association By-Laws</U></A>   |   <A HREF="fby_laws.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Foundation ByLaws"><U>Foundation By-Laws</U></A>   |   <A HREF="minutes.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Minutes"><U>Minutes</U></A>   |   <A HREF="financial.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Financial Reports"><U>Financial Reports</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000" background="02ad2c00dkelyh.gif"> <div> <IMG SRC="07b393d0.gif" border=0 width="57" height="61" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="8f3809b0.jpg" border=0 width="128" height="155" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <A HREF="mailto:President@sma-alumni.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:President@sma-alumni.org"><U><B>Harry W. Bruckno, SMA '62</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> President</div> <div> SMA Alumni Association</div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="06a96b13.gif"> <div> <I>President</I></div> <div> February 2009</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>"At Ease . . ."</B></I></div> <bR> <div> … These are the nicest words ever spoken to me at mess. I look forward to saying them to you at our Saturday morning business session in April.</div> <bR> <div> Gentlemen, we are getting closer to the 2009 Reunion. We have been informed that the Stonewall Jackson has been sold out. Nice job! This the first time I can remember that happening so soon. The “old boys” deserve an “Atta Boy” for this one (or better yet, a merit!). This just makes me believe that the SMA Alumni Association continues to get stronger, even with the passing of many of our friends and classmates.</div> <bR> <div> There will be an Alumni meeting at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday morning (April 18th) at the Stonewall Jackson. A very large number of “old boys” attended last year, and we need to see you again. Many new things must be addressed by you, the Alumni. Keep in mind that although the Board of Directors is tasked by you (our Alumni) to carry on the SMA legacy, you as individuals will be given the job of voting on our major proposals. The board can lead, but you must make the major decisions. One thing I feel is important to our SMA legacy is that we renew our “pledge” to each other and to VWIL and their Cadets. Do we still have that same burning desire to help them accomplish their dreams? Do we still have the same drive needed to work with them and to help and influence them in the Future? The time has come to help VWIL grow and also keep our SMA legacy growing. Please attend this meeting on Saturday; we need you there to ensure that the SMA Alumni Association is still a force to be reckoned with, now and in the future.</div> <bR> <div> It has been my distinct pleasure to watch the previous efforts put forth by our alumni to help the VWIL cadets enjoy the same traditions and opportunities that we experienced at the Hill with our classmates and teammates. Hopefully, the future for all of us can be brighter, and the SMA legacy can continue to grow in both Corps, SMA and VWIL.</div> <bR> <div> Harry</div> <div> TRUTH, DUTY, HONOR</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="07947060.gif" border=0 width="583" height="6" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> <bR> <div> June 2008</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>An Expression of Gratitude</B></I></div> <bR> <div> This spring, my message is one of <U>gratitude</U>.</div> <bR> <div> It’s time to thank all of you “Old Boys” for coming to our 2008 reunion. We set a new record for attendance, and your interest in SMA Alumni activity has grown tremendously. I want to send a special “thank you” to all of you that got up early on Saturday morning and attended the annual business meeting. The business meeting is very important to us, because it is the place where we discuss and decide the larger issues, whether new or existing. This year, attendance doubled; the room was almost filled to capacity!</div> <bR> <div> Your interest in the tasks being worked by this organization is laudable. I also want to congratulate all of the members of our Board of Directors for the excellent job they have done and will continue to do in the years to come. They have worked with great determination and commitment to keep the SMA Alumni Association strong and growing. If you consider our limited membership, this is really quite an accomplishment. The board members consistently devote their time (and sometimes their personal fortunes) to support our organization and they also find ways to approach the new problems (or opportunities, if you will)</div> <div> that face our Alumni Association and the Virginia Women’s Institute of Leadership (VWIL) at Mary Baldwin College.</div> <bR> <div> With the continued support of you “Old Boys” (by paying dues and making contributions), we can ensure that our valued SMA traditions will be carried forward into the future by the VWIL Corps of Cadets. You saw the VWIL Corps in action this April, working hard to make sure that our 2008 reunion was one that we could remember with pride. The Pass in Review, the Howie Rifles exhibition, and the Taps ceremony were all performed for you, the “Old Boys” from SMA. The VWIL Corps does this every year in a way of expressing their appreciation for your support of their mission. It is their way of saying “Thank You”.</div> <bR> <div> Harry W. Bruckno, SMA '62</div> <div> President, SMAAA</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="07947060.gif" border=0 width="583" height="6" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> <bR> <div> February 2008</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Come Back! Savor the Opportunities</B></I><B>!</B></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="9df40db0.gif" border=0 width="576" height="475" ALT="Microsoft Office Word Document" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="07947060.gif" border=0 width="583" height="6" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> <bR> <div> October 2007</div> <bR> <div>      When I attended the April 14, 2007 meeting of the Board of Directors in Staunton, I did not have any reason to believe that I would, in just a few months, assume the presidency of our organization. However, as we all know, life is full of surprises. I stepped into the leadership role in August 2007 when Mr. Litzenburg became ill and could not effectively continue as the president of the SMA Alumni Association.</div> <bR> <div>      My time at Staunton Military Academy was brief - just one year on the varsity football team. But short as it was, it was long in terms of experiences and friendships that have endured the many years since and given me a keen appreciation of what SMA did for me.</div> <bR> <div>      My first official responsibility as president came in late August when our alumni sponsored a picnic for the returning upperclass VWIL cadets, and I felt a need to address the group. I told the cadets that only the leadership had changed, and reiterated that everything that the association and the Board of Directors had establish as goals and programs would be continued through 2007 and 2008.</div> <bR> <div>      Is there anything else I would like to accomplish? Yes! I would like to see a more generous response to our annual request for dues payments. For the past several years, approximately 600 alumni have paid the $50.00 dues. Since we have 3,000 registered alumni, the number of members paying dues is proportionately small - just one sixth. Our dues income pays for SMA Alumni Office operations, our Alumni Secretary's time and talent, and production and distribution of The Kablegram. It seems a bit unfair to ask approximately 600 alumni to pay for the services that all 3,000+ registered alumni receive.</div> <bR> <div>      There will likely be a few other innovations during my tenure. For the moment, however, I believe the best thing we can do is voice our support for our past president, and continue the programs that the Board of Directors established. We have a great organization and good people who are committed to perpetuation of the SMA legacy.</div> <bR> <div>      Let's make sure their dedication and loyalty are recognized and utilized to our association's maximum benefit.</div> <bR> <div> Harry W. Bruckno, SMA `62</div> <div> President, SMAAA</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="07947060.gif" border=0 width="583" height="6" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> <bR> <div> August 2007</div> <bR> <div> Fellow Alumni:</div> <bR> <div> I have been privileged to serve as your president for the last three years.  While I fully intended to continue for another term, my health has mandated otherwise. I am sorry to inform you that during  the past several months I have been diagnosed with small-cell lung cancer.  This will be overcome.  All of you know me as one who has a lot of fight in him and my doctors tell me I can easily win this battle to.</div> <bR> <div> I have stepped down as president and have asked our capable vice president, Harry Bruckno, SMA '62, to take on the duties of president, with assurance that he will have constant communication from me, from Thomas A Davis, SMA '62, our treasurer and will enjoy the advice and counsel of the SMA Alumni Association Board of Directors. I can not image anyone in our organization more capable of handling the presidential responsibilities.</div> <div>  </div> <div> In my  reduced capacity, I will continue to handle the Kablegram with help from a number of competent alumni and Colonel Dennis Case, who we all know is a magnificent writer and editor. I also have handled the 2007-2008 annual fund drive that has already appeared in your mail box.  I would like to once again emphasize how critically important this annual fund drive is to our association and our foundation.  I sincerely hope that you will continue to support it as you have in the past.</div> <bR> <div> There are now twenty members on the Board of Directors. That list of members will appear in the August-September isPersonNamesue of the Kablegram.  Please give them your full support.  Also, in need of your support is Mrs. Arlene Nicely, our very dedicated and loyal Alumni Secretary.  I have found that if there is a question to be answered, either she can answer it or no one can. </div> <bR> <div> I will try to keep in touch with you, in the mean time feel free to call me (703) 860-8052 or email me at <A HREF="mailto:cdlsma58@juno.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:cdlsma58@juno.com"><U><U>cdlsma58@juno.com</U></U></A>. All communications regarding the SMA Alumni Association should be directed to the Alumni Secretary.</div> <bR> <div> God bless you all for your thoughts and prayers.  April 2008 will be the 50th anniversary of my graduation,  I WILL BE THERE!!</div> <bR> <div> Dave</div> <div> C. David Litzenburg, SMA '58</div> <div> Past-President, SMAAA</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="07947060.gif" border=0 width="583" height="6" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Third Year</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>Still Running Strong</B></I></div> <bR> <div> February 2007</div> <bR> <div>     <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#003399" FACE="Arial" > I am now halfway through my third year as president of the SMA Alumni Association, a job that has presented many challenges and offered periodic rewards. It has been as close to a full time vocation as one can imagine, and one that I have for the most part enjoyed.</FONT></div> <bR> <div>      Whether I continue in this post after this August is a decision that the membership and the Board of Directors will make at the annual reunion in April in Staunton. While I can say that we have accomplished a great deal in two-and-a-half years, there is certainly much more to be done.</div> <bR> <div>      Leading our organization requires a constant dedication, a willingness to listen and respond, communicate, maintain relationships, and have a spouse who is willing to not only tolerate the long hours of work that the president puts in, but to become involved herself. I have enormous respect and appreciation for the support and involvement that my wife Jo Ann has given me throughout my tenure.</div> <bR> <div>      No leader could ask for a better Board of Directors than the one that  guides the SMA Alumni Association. These dedicated gentlemen provide the level of enthusiastic support, critique and wisdom that a president needs to achieve success and continue to perpetuate the SMA legacy. The support from the Board of Directors deserves far more recognition than I can provide in this limited space. Thank you, one and all. </div> <bR> <div>      We have spent the past nine months working toward a record-setting reunion this year. As of February 2007, the attendance log reveals more than 100 alumni returning to the “Hill” in April. Much of this has been accomplished through networking by members of various classes who have taken the time and effort to contact and encourage others from their classes. Some are returning because of their experiences at our most recent reunions. No matter what the reason for your attendance, you will find the 2007 reunion to be one of the most memorable events in your later life.</div> <bR> <div> Dave</div> <div> C. David Litzenburg, SMA '58</div> <div> President, SMAAA</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="07947060.gif" border=0 width="583" height="6" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Reunion 2007</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>The Spirit Lives On</B></I></div> <div> By Dave Litzenburg, SMA '58</div> <bR> <div> December 2006</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#003399" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>   The 2007 reunion, “<B>The Spirit Lives On</B>!”, is gathering momentum beyond our expectations. We blocked 80 rooms at the historic and now renovated Stonewall Jackson Hotel, only this week to learn that all the rooms have been reserved by SMA alumni planning to attend the April 13-14 reunion.</div> <div>     Fortunately, we were able to block an additional 30 rooms at the Hampton Inn. The current issue of <I>The Kablegram</I> also provides a list of alternative locations in the Staunton area where rooms can be found. We strongly recommend that you make your reservations     </div> <div>     The construction on the exterior walls outside the SMA-VWIL Museum has been completed, eliminating the problem we have experienced with water leaks. The walls will be painted in the Spring and lettering installed prior to the reunion. The Museum Committee will soon take on the challenge of determining how to effectively expand the museum to twice its present size. While this project is unlikely to be completed by the time of the reunion, enough will be done to give visiting alumni an idea of how the project will progress throughout 2007.</div> <div>     Response to our requests for dues payments and contributions this year have been good. Nevertheless, we are hoping that more members of the SMA Alumni Association will step up and acknowledge the need for consistent funding so that those programs we have - including <I>The Kablegram</I>, the Alumni Office, the Alumni Secretary, and the SMA-VWIL Museum -  will continue to have the support they need. I encourage you to take a few moments to write your dues check today, and add to it what you feel is an appropriate contribution.</div> <div>     We continue to see increases in our membership, which now stands at 3,190, despite the loss each year of 40 to 50 “old boys”. There appears to be a lot of networking happening between former friends and classmates, and that has resulted in increases in association registrations.</div> <div>   Please take the time to go to the “SMA Reunion” page on this website and read through the schedule of events and other information there. We look forward to seeing many of you in April.</div> <bR> <div> Dave</div> <div> C. David Litzenburg, SMA '58</div> <div> President, SMAAA</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="07947060.gif" border=0 width="583" height="6" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>We've Made Progress</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>No Time to Rest on Our Laurels</B></I></div> <div> By Dave Litzenburg, SMA '58</div> <bR> <div> July 2006</div> <bR> <div>     Considerable progress had already been achieved when, two years ago, I stepped into the presidency. My predecessors have done an exceptional job and I found myself with large shoes to fill. Attempting to do so has been both a challenge and a rewarding experience.</div> <div>      We have maintained a level of 3,200 members despite the loss of some of our friends and classmates. Dues income has increased slightly over the past two years, yet less than one third of our registered alumni members actually pay their dues.</div> <div>      Many of our recent reunions have been memorable. The events in 2005 and 2006 set a new benchmark, with 88 alumni attending in 2005 and 92 in 2006. Future reunions promise to be even better, with more involvement by our alumni and generous support from VWIL.</div> <div>      As this issue of <I>The Kablegram</I> goes to press, our SMA-VWIL Museum Committee is meeting to decide the best way to make use of the additional space that has been granted us by placePlaceNameMary PlaceNameBaldwin PlaceTypeCollege. This is an important step in perpetuating the legacy of SMA.     </div> <div>      In April 2004, Bill Kearns handed Dr. Brenda Bryant and Brig. Gen. Michael Bissell a check for $20,000 and pledged that the SMA Alumni Association would provide $50,000 a year for discretionary use as long as we could. That pledge was fulfilled by April 2005, and filled again by April 2006, each year through the SMA-VWIL Initiative.</div> <div>      Through the Initiative, your association has opened many opportunities for the Corps of Cadets, including new flags, trips to seminars, leadership retreats, travel to placeStateNew York for the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade and to placeCityWilliamsburg for the Inaugural Parade, and an intercom system between dormitories and the VWIL office. This is but a small sampling of benefits the SMA-VWIL Initiative has provided.</div> <div>      VWIL cadets have enjoyed the benefits of a series of annual scholarships funded by Hunter W., Henry, Jr., SMA `46 and the SMA Alumni Association. Other tuition assistance grants have been provided when the circumstances warranted and our help was requested.</div> <div>      Recently, we completed a program that resulted in placing furniture and computers in seven areas of VWIL that were set aside for cadet offices and conference rooms, accomplished through private donations.</div> <div>      Without the enthusiastic support of the SMA Alumni Association Board of Directors, always there when I needed help and guidance, none of our accomplishments would have seen the light of day. You - our alumni - should be very proud of those you elected to guide our organization.</div> <div>      There is no time to rest on our laurels. There is more to be done. The museum expansion is high on the list of projects, as is the Scholarship Fund, the SMA-VWIL Initiative, and locating more and more alumni and bringing them on board.</div> <div>      I hope you will respond to the annual dues and contribution mailing that you should by now have received. Your dues and donations keep the SMA Alumni Association and the SMA Foundation afloat and give us the means with which we can continue to grow and see progress.</div> <div>     As you know, those of who serve on the Board of Directors are only the caretakers of your association. Thank you for your financial support. Thank you for your periodic messages of encouragement, your feedback and suggestions, and your involvement. We could not do it without your help!</div> <bR> <div> Dave</div> <div> C. David Litzenburg, SMA '58</div> <div> President, SMAAA</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="07947060.gif" border=0 width="583" height="6" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Reconnect, Remember, Renew</B></I></div> <div> By Dave Litzenburg, SMA '58</div> <bR> <div> February 2006</div> <bR> <div>      In just one short month, Staunton Military Academy alumni from all across our country - Puerto Rico included - will gather in Staunton for yet another opportunity to reconnect, remember, renew old friendships and create new ones, and walk again on ground that some have not seen or touched in 50 years.</div> <bR> <div>      Those who have attended recent reunions understand the emotions of a return to the “hill”. Those who participate this year will be treated to the same enlightenment that many of us have experienced - the visit to our excellent joint SMA-VWIL Museum, the barbecue and dance in the Mess Hall that we all remember so well, the ceremony of remembrance at the Memorial Wall, and again being a part of a parade on Kable Field and being honored by those who now carry our flag and have followed in our footsteps.</div> <bR> <div>      Alumni who have attended the annual gatherings in Staunton have gone home with a sincere respect for the Virginia Women's Institute for Leadership (VWIL) Corps of Cadets. These young women are not just students. They are intelligent, talented, poised, professional and dedicated cadets who know exactly who they are and what their career paths will be. They are determined to reach their goals. Some will commission in the United States Armed Forces, while others will move on to successful careers in education, government and private enterprise.</div> <bR> <div>      Our annual reunions are important to the VWIL Corps of Cadets. The parade and frequent interaction between cadets and alumni provides the members of the corps with an opportunity to show us - SMA alumni from all walks of life - that the traditions we established and carried forward are being continued with pride and respect.</div> <bR> <div>      For the first time in many years, we will return to a place we all knew - the Stonewall Jackson Hotel, which has been restored to its original grandeur. Our Saturday business meeting and our annual reunion banquet will be held there.</div> <bR> <div>      Our banquet speaker, U.S. Army Captain Erinn Hopkins, VWIL `02, is accutely aware of the importance of spending four years in the academic and military program at VWIL, the history and traditions of SMA, and the impact that the SMA Alumni Association has had on the program and the corps. Her profile is under the “Then and Now”  feature in the Feb 2006 issue of the Kablegram, preceded by a profile of Colonel Brooke F. Read, SMA `46.</div> <bR> <div>      Some alumni will find their way to old haunts, with the most popular of these being Marino's, which is still in business at the same location and much the same as the last time you were there. Downtown Staunton looks much as it did throughout the years, and offers a pleasant tour by trolley or just walking West Beverly Street.</div> <bR> <div>      Take the time now to send in your reunion registration and make your reservations. Returning to the “hill” will be an experience you will remember for many years to come.</div> <bR> <div> Dave</div> <div> C. David Litzenburg, SMA '58</div> <div> President, SMAAA</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="07947060.gif" border=0 width="583" height="6" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>New Challenges and Goals</B></I></div> <div> By Dave Litzenburg, SMA '58</div> <bR> <div> December 2005</div> <bR> <div> With 2005 coming to a close, we can look back on this year and be proud of the good we have done, both in the help we have provided to the Virginia Women's Institute for Leadership (VWIL) and in the efforts to perpetuate our legacy. The new year brings new challenges and several specific goals. </div> <div> One of these goals is to increase the SMA Alumni Association Scholarship Fund to the $50,000 level, thus making it a perpetual $2,500 annual award to a worthy VWIL cadet. If you need motivation to participate in this effort, take time to read the open letter to SMA alumni on page 6 of the <A HREF="http://www.sma-alumni.org/kg1205a.pdf" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.sma-alumni.org/kg1205a.pdf"><U>December Kablegram</U></A> from Dr. Brenda Bryant, Director of VWIL. Her letter, combined with our commentary, should clear up any lingering doubts that the program is becoming more important as something significant our association can do to make a difference. </div> <div> Another goal is the SMA-VWIL Museum. Brocky A. Nicely, SMA `65 has devoted endless hours to making the museum a treasure trove of SMA memorabilia. We need to focus on making sure that the facility is funded, staffed, maintained - and expanded when the opportunity allows that to happen. We encourage you to visit the museum when you are in the vicinity of Staunton. Yet another goal is to have the best and biggest reunion that we have ever enjoyed. See page 13 of the <A HREF="http://www.sma-alumni.org/kg1205b.pdf" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.sma-alumni.org/kg1205b.pdf"><U>December Kablegram</U></A> for details. We hope you will plan now to attend and send in your registration and make your room reservations at the Stonewall Jackson Hotel. </div> <div> As always, your enthusiastic support and help is sincerely appreciated. This is your association and your legacy. We value your feedback and ask that you continue to provide it.</div> <bR> <div> Dave</div> <div> C. David Litzenburg, SMA '58</div> <div> President, SMAAA</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="07947060.gif" border=0 width="583" height="6" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>We Are Making a Difference!</B></I></div> <div> By Dave Litzenburg, SMA '58</div> <bR> <div> October 2005</div> <bR> <div>      The Staunton Military Academy Alumni Association and the SMA Foundation are alive and well! This year has been a banner period for our organization. We have more than 3,000 registered members. Our financial posture is sound and shows promise of improving in 2006 and beyond, thanks to diligence by our treasurer, Thomas A. Davis, III, SMA '62. More and more alumni are communicating with us and becoming involved in our projects and goals.</div> <bR> <div>      The SMA-VWIL Museum, located in the former SMA Supply Room, continues to improve under the leadership of Brocky A. Nicely, SMA '65. And thanks to Mark J. Orr, SMA '73, our website remains a constant source of news and information for our membership. <I>The Kablegram</I>, published four times every year, has developed into a communication tool between the association and our members, between the association and the Virginia Women's Institute for Leadership (VWIL), and between individual alumni. Our Alumni Secretary, Arlene Nicely, is always available to assist you. Just contact her by e-mail or telephone.</div> <bR> <div>      For 18 months we have focused in part on the SMA-VWIL Initiative, a special account designed to provide discretionary funds to VWIL. To date, we have presented the program with more than $50,000, with another $10,000 yet to be passed on. Additionally, Hunter W. Henry, Jr., SMA '46 provides two $2,500 scholarships annually, and converted a third scholarship to a cash grant that yields $10,000 a year to VWIL for discretionary use.</div> <bR> <div>      The SMA Alumni Association provides an annual $1,000 Leadership Scholarship to a cadet selected by the VWIL administration. Our goal for this year is to increase the base funding for that scholarship to a point where it will be a perpetual $2,500 annual award.  This means we are seeking contributions totalling $19,400 to close the gap between the current fund balance of $30,614 and the goal of $50,000 by April 2006.</div> <bR> <div>      The past several reunions have been extraordinary, with close to 100 alumni returning for the parade march-on, barbecue and dance, business meeting and banquet. The 2006 reunion will be held April 7-8, headquartered at the newly renovated Stonewall Jackson Hotel in Staunton. Those who remember the “old days” at this Staunton landmark will be highly impressed with what has been done to recreate the atmosphere of the 1940's, 1950's, 1960's and 1970's.</div> <bR> <div>      If you are not a registered member, please take the time to do so today, using this website. If you are a member and wish to become more involved, contact me through the e-mail address provided. If you have an item for The Kablegram, you can send it along through the e-mail address provided herein. We look forward to seeing you at the 2006 reunion and encourage you to keep in touch with the association and your former classmates.</div> <bR> <div> Dave</div> <div> C. David Litzenburg, SMA '58</div> <div> President, SMAAA</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="07947060.gif" border=0 width="583" height="6" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Meeting and Listening is Believing!</B></I></div> <div> By Dave Litzenburg, SMA '58</div> <bR> <div> December 2004</div> <bR> <div> Not until I attended the 2004 reunion did I have an opportunity to see the Virginia Women’s Institute for Leadership (VWIL) Corps of Cadets. I had read the stories in <I>The Kablegram</I> and heard glowing comments from many alumni. However, I did not acquire a true appreciation of what was happening on the former SMA campus until I visited myself, saw the Corps of Cadets and met a few students. I was quite impressed!</div> <div> As it turns out, that weekend was just the beginning of my enlightenment. I returned in May for the Change of Command Review, accompanied by members of the Board of Directors, and we again spent time talking with members of the corps.</div> <div> In October, we attended the Family Weekend review, at the conclusion of which we were introduced to the Corps Command Staff and other senior corps officers and a few undergraduate cadets. It was at that point that I made a commitment to try to meet as many cadets as possible before the school year ends in May of next year.</div> <div> These young women are part of the future of our country. For instance: Cadet Captain Megan Ziegert, the 2004 recipient of the <I>Henry Scholarship Honoring SMA</I>, will commission in the U.S. Air Force in May 2005 and become an Air Battle Manager. First Captain Mei Ling Fye, the 2003 <I>SMA Alumni Association Leadership Scholarship</I> recipient, will accept a commission in the U. S. Army, in either aviation or military intelligence.</div> <div> Other cadets I met, some of whose names I regret to say I cannot remember, will begin careers as teachers, military lawyers, clinical psychologists (see the separate <I>"Then and Now"</I> profile feature in this issue), and a broad spectrum of professions. Some will remain in the military and distinguish themselves as have their predecessors in recent years.</div> <div> VWIL cadets are focused, confident, and disciplined. Not only are they loyal to their own school and traditions, but they clearly have a sense of the legacy and traditions they are perpetuating on behalf of Staunton Military Academy.</div> <div> My conclusion, gentlemen of the SMA Alumni Association, is that while our school is closed, the legacy and traditions are very much alive! The gender of the Corps of Cadets has changed, and a few buildings are gone, but the history and traditions are being preserved.</div> <div> When the Corps of Cadets parades or the VWIL Color Guard participates in a ceremony, our SMA flag is prominent along with the United States flag, the Virginia state flag and the VWIL flag. Parade narrators tell the visitors why it is carried and provide a brief history of SMA and why our colors are included.</div> <div> The SMA Alumni Association owes a great deal of gratitude to Dr. Brenda Bryant, VWIL Director, and Brig. Gen. Michael Bissell, VWIL Commandant, for their consistent efforts to insure that the traditions are maintained and our legacy is perpetuated. They have been diligent year after year in building a corps comprised of some of America’s best and brightest young women, educating them and sending them out into the world well prepared for whatever they encounter or aspire to achieve.</div> <div> I encourage all alumni to seriously consider returning to the "Hill" in April 2005 and see for yourselves. Those who have done so in recent years have gone home enlightened and impressed.</div> <div> The 2005 reunion (April 1-2) will provide several planned opportunities for returning SMA alumni to meet members of the Corps of Cadets and gain a better understanding of what motivates these young women.</div> <div> Before and after the SMA-VWIL Review on Friday, April 1, you might want to introduce yourselves to a few cadets and ask about their academics and their career aspirations. There will also be an opportunity at the Saturday evening dinner for you to get to know a select group of the Corps of Cadets leadership, and for them to better understand your loyalty to SMA. I encourage you to return to SMA in April 2005 and join us for the reunion, and see how the traditions are still very much alive.</div> <div> Dave</div> <div> C. David Litzenburg, SMA '58</div> <div> President, SMAAA</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="07947060.gif" border=0 width="583" height="6" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>It Was a Truly Great Reunion!</B></I></div> <div> By Dave Litzenburg, SMA '58</div> <bR> <div> September 2004</div> <bR> <div> The SMA Alumni Association's annual reunion was held the first weekend of April and was an outstanding event attended by 88 alumni, plus their guests and a number of faculty and staff. It was an opportunity to observe the Corps of Cadets of the Virginia Women’s Institute for Leadership (VWIL), renew old friendships and make new ones. Mary Baldwin College has a main campus enrollment of under 1000 students and over 130 are enrolled in VWIL. There are firm plans for this number to grow in the future. We continue to be impressed by the quality of the young women in the program who are seriously preparing for leadership roles in both their communities and our Armed Forces. The SMA Alumni were honored with a parade. It was a memorable experience to see such outstanding cadets, on the same parade field where generations of SMA cadets drilled, participated in sports and learned lessons that would serve our country in peace and conflict, carry on our traditions with pride and enthusiasm. The VWIL cadets carry the SMA flag in their color guard; it was their decision to do so and we are profoundly grateful. They are worthy successors to our beloved campus and we can all be confident that Staunton Military Academy's long and honorable history is serving as an important part of the foundation and education of every VWIL cadet. </div> <bR> <div> In recent years a group of highly motivated SMA alumni established the SMA/VWIL museum and in the process established a close friendship between Mary Baldwin and SMA. During this year our board will continue to explore ways to increase our association with the VWIL program and establish programs to help VWIL with their Corps of Cadets through scholarship funding and the <I>SMA-VWIL Initiative</I>. We will also continue to make the SMA-VWIL Museum a showcase of history for our alumni and those who attend and graduate from VWIL.</div> <bR> <div> The next reunion will be April 1-2, 2005 in Staunton, and promises to be a great one. I encourage you to attend and reconnect with your friends and former classmates. If you are not registered with the SMA Alumni Association, please use this website to add your name and contact information to the list of alumni across the world. By doing so, you will receive the quarterly <I>Kablegram</I> and be kept in touch with the association and our various activities.</div> <bR> <div> Dave</div> <div> C. David Litzenburg, SMA ‘58</div> <div> President, SMAAA<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000080" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="07947060.gif" border=0 width="583" height="6" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>An Impressive Event!</B></I></div> <div> By Bill Kearns, SMA '74</div> <bR> <div> August 2003</div> <bR> <div> The SMA Alumni Association's annual reunion was held the first weekend of March and was an outstanding  event.  It was my first opportunity  to observe the Corps of Cadets of the VWIL Program and I was profoundly impressed. Mary Baldwin College has a main campus enrollment of under 1000 students and over 130 are enrolled  in VWIL. There are firm plans for this number to grow in the future. I was struck by the quality of the young  women in  the  program who are seriously preparing for leadership roles in both their communities and our Armed Forces. There are currently 22 VWIL  graduates deployed in Afghanistan or Iraq as junior officers. The SMA Alumni were honored by VWIL with a parade.  It was a thrilling experience to see such outstanding cadets, on the same parade field where generations of SMA cadets drilled, participated in sports and learned lessons that would serve our country in peace and conflict, carry on our traditions with pride and enthusiasm. The VWIL cadets carry the SMA flag in their color guard;  it was their decision  to do so and  we  are profoundly grateful.  They are worthy successors to our beloved  campus and we can all be confident that Staunton Military Academy's long and honorable history is serving as an important part of the foundation of The Virginia Women's Institute for Leadership. </div> <bR> <div> In recent years a group of highly motivated SMA alumni established the SMA/VWIL museum and in the process established a close friendship between Mary  Baldwin and SMA.  During this year our board will explore ways  to  increase our association with the VWIL program and has appointed Gene Ehmann (74) to chair a committee tasked with securing the museums financial future and to establish a program to help Mary  Baldwin College  with  their Corps of Cadets.  I want to encourage all of you to attend the reunion.  I cannot begin to describe  the pleasure you will experience marching with the VWIL cadets on your parade field.</div> <bR> <div> Bill </div> <div> President, SMAAA<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#003399" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="07947060.gif" border=0 width="583" height="6" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>VWIL Needs Our Help!</B></I></div> <div> By Bill Kearns, SMA '74</div> <bR> <div> January 2003</div> <bR> <div> Fellow Old Boys, </div> <bR> <div> <U>VWIL needs our help! </U></div> <bR> <div> Due to a severe budget crunch in state government, the governor of Virginia has proposed eliminating several sources of revenue which, if enacted, will have a negative impact on the VIWL program, and could possibly force its closure.</div> <bR> <div> We don't want that to happen. Our relationship with Mary Baldwin College, fostered through and thanks in large part to the leadership at VWIL, has been mutually beneficial and we want that to continue. </div> <bR> <div> To help restore this funding,<U> the SMA Alumni Association officers are asking you to send emails and/or letters to the governor and members of the General Assembly of Virginia, asking them to restore this critical funding</U>. The following legislators need to be contacted: Senate Finance Committee Chairman John Chichester, House Finance Committee Chairman Harry Parrish, Senate Education and Health Committee Chairman H. Russell Potts Jr. and House Education Committee Chairman James Dillard. In addition here are the state legislators representing Staunton: Sen. R. Steven Landes and Del. Emmett W. Hanger. You can obtain contact information for these key lawmakers at <U>http://legis.state.va.us/</U> </div> <bR> <div> Additionally,<U> if you reside in Virginia, please contact your local legislators</U> and ask them to support this effort. You can use the "Who's my legislator?" link at this site, to find out who your legislator is if you don't already know.</div> <bR> <div> Gov. Mark Warner can be contacted via this link: <U>http://www.governor.state.va.us/Contact/Contact.html</U> </div> <bR> <div> I've included a draft letter (see below) that you can adapt and use in contacting state officials. </div> <bR> <div> If you have any questions about this initiative, please contact Past President Tom Phillips SMA '74, at tom.phillips@siemens.com, or call 202-434-4813. If convenient, please send a copy of your letters to Tom via email or fax to 732-590-6750, so we'll have a record of our efforts. </div> <bR> <div> For information on VWIL: <U>http://www.mbc.edu/vwil/</U> </div> <bR> <div> Thanks, very much, in advance for your help in preserving this outstanding educational program. </div> <bR> <div> Truth, Duty, Honor. </div> <div> Bill Kearns SMA '74 </div> <div> President, SMAAA </div> <bR> <div> P.S. For good measure, feel free to write U.S. Congressman Bob Goodlatte, who represents Staunton and let him know that we want this funding restored for VWIL: <U>http://www.house.gov/goodlatte/</U></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>DRAFT LETTER EXAMPLE COPY</B>: </div> <bR> <div> Dear (insert elected member's name): </div> <bR> <div> I'm writing you to ask for your support in restoring funding for the Virginia Women's Institute for Leadership at Mary Baldwin College in Staunton.</div> <div> As you may know, VWIL is a unique program - it is the only all-female cadet corps in the nation. VWIL offers a comprehensive, four-year program that gives women an unparalleled opportunity to complement their college education with disciplined military and physical training that drives ambition, builds confidence and instills leadership skills and a sense of duty and pride in serving one's community and country.</div> <bR> <div> Since its founding in 1995, enrollment in the VWIL program has increased steadily. Today there are 131 students in the cadet corps; 45 (36 percent) are minority women. Among graduates to date, 40 percent serve in the armed forces all over the world, 12 percent work in law and government, 10 percent are involved in health care and social services, and 12 percent work in education.</div> <bR> <div> The VWIL Corps of Cadets has marched in the inauguration parades of Virginia's last two governors, and the list of dignitaries that have visited VWIL include U.S. Congressmen, the Air Force Chief of Staff, deputy assistant secretaries of the Air Force and Navy, and a female astronaut.</div> <bR> <div> As an alumnus of Staunton Military Academy, I support this program completely. When my school closed in 1976, Mary Baldwin College purchased the old SMA campus. Our alumni association has supported VWIL since its inception; in fact, we raised funds for an opened a joint SMA-VWIL museum on the campus in 2001.</div> <bR> <div> I realize the Commonwealth faces a serious budget and funding crisis. But I appeal to you to reinstitute the educational programs that support VWIL (and the Corps at VPI). Without this funding, the future of this dynamic and growing program will be put at serious jeopardy.</div> <bR> <div> Thank you very much for your consideration in this important matter. </div> <bR> <div> With Warm Regards, </div> <div> (your name here)<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#003399" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="07947060.gif" border=0 width="583" height="6" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Pride in our Progress</B></I></div> <div> By Bill Kearns, SMA '74</div> <bR> <div> November 2002</div> <bR> <div> Dear Fellow Alumni,</div> <bR> <div> Much has been written in these pages regarding the SMA-VWIL museum and it is truly impressive. I visited SMA during the July reunion and attended the memorial wall dedication. We can all be proud that this memorial to our great school has been created. As I stood in the museum during the cermeony, I was overwhelmed with pride in the alumni that so selflessly made this project a reality. Our school has been closed for over 25 years, yet her cadets came together and demonstrated the values and dedication to duty that were SMA's hallmark. They validated everything the Academy stood for and I am profoundly grateful the legacy has been preserved.</div> <bR> <div> The Association has a bright future and we are looking forward to increased attendance at the reunion. The new dates (4-6 April 2003) will give us the opportunity to enjoy our partnership with Mary Baldwin College and the VWIL program. I am confident that having the reunion in April will serve to strengthen our commitment to support VWIL as our successors on the "Hill."</div> <bR> <div> During the reunion we learned that First Sergeant Graham was hospitalized and would be unable to attend. Mrs. Graham was kind enough to invite several alumni to visit him and we enjoyed it very much. We all wish him a speedy recovery.</div> <bR> <div> I would like to encourage the alumni to remember the Colonel Robert W. Wease Chair in Government and Economics at Fishburne Military School. I had the pleasure of speaking with Colonel Wease at the reunion banquet in July and am personally looking forward to individually contributing to this fund. He is the epitome of a gentleman scholar who has demonstrated a sincere love of his students for nearrly 50 years.</div> <bR> <div> The Association is on firm footing with a very dedicated group of able and committed alumni willing to accept new challenges and set and attain worthwhile goals. This is an inclusive organization and we welcome new volunteers. Please consider becoming actively involved in the Association. You will find it rewarding to work with such an outstanding group of individuals. I know I do.</div> <bR> <div> Bill Kearns, '74</div> <div> President, SMAAA</div> <div> <A HREF="mailto:President@sma-alumni.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:President@sma-alumni.org"><U>President@sma-alumni.org</U></A></div> <div>  </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="07947060.gif" border=0 width="583" height="6" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Reflections from the Hill</B></I></div> <div> By Tom Phillips SMA `74</div> <bR> <div> June 1, 2002</div> <bR> <div> Fellow Old Boys:</div> <bR> <div> To honor the fallen.</div> <bR> <div> When we gather on the last weekend in July for the <B>2002 SMA Annual Reunion</B> and meeting, there will be 99 members of the Corps absent. The reason they will not be with us is not because they chose not to attend, but because they could not attend. They are gone. But they will be with us in spirit, and we will recognize them by their names on the SMA Memorial Wall.</div> <bR> <div> I know they gave their lives for our country so that we could be in Staunton to see old friends … so that their families could be anywhere they wanted to be on a Saturday afternoon … so that I could live free.</div> <bR> <div> One Saturday in April, fellow board member Mark Orr `73 (a retired Navy officer, by the way) and I spent some time at the SMA-VWIL Museum checking the school records of the Old Boys who had died during the wars this nation has fought. "Killed in action in France" was on one of them. "Killed in action in South Korea" on another. It was a moving experience to see these names, think of their sacrifice, and acknowledge that people at SMA over the years had taken the time to annotate their records.</div> <bR> <div> Over the years, we have watched our friends and former roommates age as life takes its toll on our bodies. But for these 99 young men, they will be remembered as forever young. Look at their yearbook pictures, and you will see the faces of the young men who died in uniform for something they believed in.</div> <bR> <div> Join me in July at SMA. The corps that you and I were a part of has a proud heritage. We have earned it through work, achievement, caring for others, and with our blood. Together, we will celebrate the living, share memories and honor the dead. You will laugh, and you will probably cry. And <B>you'll be glad you came</B>.</div> <bR> <div> Truth, Duty, Honor.</div> <div> Tom Phillips, '74</div> <div> President,</div> <div> SMA Alumni Association</div> <div> Email: <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="mailto:President@sma-alumni.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:President@sma-alumni.org"><U>President@sma-alumni.org</U></A></FONT> </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="07947060.gif" border=0 width="583" height="6" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Reflections from the Hill</B></I></div> <div> By Tom Phillips SMA `74</div> <bR> <div> February 15, 2002</div> <bR> <div> Fellow Old Boys:</div> <div> Now less than six months away, our <B>2002 Annual Meeting and Reunion</B> will be held July 26-28 in Staunton; our headquarters hotel will again be the Holiday Inn. Of course, it is always fun to gather with old friends, catch up on the past year, and relive old SMA stories and adventures. Among the activities in store for attendees, we'll again honor SMA's founder by placing a wreath at the Kable family plot in Thornrose Cemetery, and we will of course have our annual banquet on Saturday evening.</div> <div> This year's special event will be the dedication of the <B>SMA Memorial Wall</B>, which will honor those from our Corps who gave their lives for their country during military service in time of war. Thanks in large part to these young men who made the ultimate sacrifice; we are able to live as a free people and to gather at events such as these. I am reminded of the verse from St. John: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." It will be my privilege to honor these men - Old Boys who never came home from war -- I hope that, if for no other reason than to attend this ceremony on July 27, you will join me at the reunion this year.</div> <div> Of course, a visit to Staunton will give everyone the chance to visit our <B>SMA-VWIL Museum</B>, which has been running great thanks to the efforts of our Staunton-area board members (Brocky Nicely, John Hooser and Stu Smith from nearby Massanutten), our staff folks (Fred and Doris Thompson) and the VWIL Corps volunteers who staff the facility during its operating hours from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays (thanks to VWIL Commandant BG Mike Bissell for coordinating this effort).</div> <div> One opportunity we all have to make the museum as attractive as possible is to help fund it through the purchase of a special commemorative brick for the <B>SMA Walk of Honor</B> along the SMA Memorial Wall site. For $50 per brick paver, any alumnus can leave a message for all to see. The AMA alumni in Ft. Defiance have done a great job with this at their museum. During visits there, I have read many of the messages the cadets have sent via the brick pavers. They range from thank yous to teachers and coaches, to touching acknowledgements of sacrifice parents made to send their children to the school.</div> <div> And finally, I wanted to mention the SMA Alumni Association Leadership Scholarship. For the past three years we have been able to award a $1,000 scholarship to a junior class VWIL cadet who exhibits strong leadership qualities, high academic standards and who is committed to completion of one of the ROTC programs.</div> <div> Our goal is to raise enough money for the scholarship to become self-funding. We want to increase the funding from the current $9,200 to $25,000 this year and ultimately to $50,000, at which point the scholarship will sustain itself and assist at least one deserving cadet each year with a $2,500 scholarship.</div> <div> I realize there are many opportunities we all face each day to help worthy causes, but I ask you to consider a tax-deductible contribution to the Leadership Scholarship as another example of our commitment to preserve the SMA legacy. One generous, yet anonymous alumnus already has provided a challenge to match up to $5,000 in contributions. If we meet that challenge, we will be well on the way to building a perpetual scholarship.</div> <div> As always, I welcome your input and involvement in our activities. Take a few minutes to visit our outstanding new web site (thank you Mark Orr, '73) at <A HREF="http://www.sma-alumni.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.sma-alumni.org"><U><U>http://www.sma-alumni.org</U></U></A>, and send me an email at <A HREF="mailto:President@sma-alumni.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:President@sma-alumni.org"><U><U>President@sma-alumni.org</U></U></A>.</div> <bR> <div> Truth, Duty, Honor.</div> <div> Tom Phillips, '74</div> <div> President,</div> <div> SMA Alumni Association</div> <div> Email: <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="mailto:President@sma-alumni.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:President@sma-alumni.org"><U>President@sma-alumni.org</U></A></FONT> </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="1a247060.gif" border=0 width="583" height="6" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> October 19, 2001</div> <bR> <div> Fellow Old Boys:</div> <bR> <div> When I sat down to write this note to you, more than a month had passed since the SMA Reunion. I was still reliving the good moments - and there were many. </div> <bR> <div> Then came Sept. 11.</div> <bR> <div> Perhaps as it is with those who've experienced combat, when terrorism hits you in the face it changes your outlook on many things. For all the evil and horror that has played out on the TV screen since that day, I bet it made millions pause and take a minute to think about what's really important in their lives.</div> <bR> <div> From what we know, no SMA alumni died in the tragedies in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington. My company lost one employee in the World Trade Center - a 37-year-old husband and father. No doubt, there are many of us who know others that were affected by the tragedies.</div> <bR> <div> As December 7, 1941, was to a younger America, Sept. 11, 2001, was a wake-up call. Jefferson never spoke truer words than we he said that eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. Among many other things, I now make a special point of cherishing time with family and friends, including SMA.</div> <bR> <div> That's all I have to say about that, so I'll continue with my reunion recap.</div> <bR> <div> From the opening night supper to the Saturday banquet to Sunday, I think most of us had a pretty good time. The highlight of the event, no doubt, was the dedication of the SMA-VWIL Museum. Though rain forced us into the Mess Hall, it did not dampen our spirits. At long last, 25 years after the last cadet graduated from our academy, SMA is back on the Hill and we have something tangible - a museum - that serves as a legacy to the institution that binds us all. We owe a great deal of thanks to those cadets - the Plank Owners of the museum (see the list of names in this newsletter)- and to all those who came through with their contributions when we asked for them. And we delivered. Be sure to read Hunter Henry's article in this issue of the Kablegram.</div> <bR> <div> I also enjoyed tremendously the wreath-laying ceremony at Thornrose Cemetery. A long time coming, we finally paid tribute to the man who founded SMA, Capt. William H. Kable. By all accounts, he was an outstanding human being, and we owe him our respect and admiration. Coincidentally, of the seven color guard members who volunteered from a local group of Confederate reenactors and participated in the ceremony, three of them were SMA graduates. This, I am sure, pleased Capt. Kable's spirit. And it was great to have Capt. Kable's great granddaughter, Page Kable Bonfoey, join us and participate in the ceremony.</div> <bR> <div> I want to thank Col. Mal Livick, the former superintendent of Augusta Military Academy, for being our reunion banquet speaker. Recently retired from Blue Ridge Community College, Mal has spent much of his life helping educate and prepare America's youth for adulthood, and he is one of my favorite people. His heartfelt and often humorous remarks entertwined the histories of SMA and AMA, and entertained us all. And lastly, I want to thank the members of my class, the Class of 1974, and one member of the Class of 1975 who attended the reunion; several of them serve with me on the Board. I am extremely proud of their achievements in life and appreciative of their gifts of time, talent and treasure to SMA. They have been friends for most of my life, and they are my brothers.</div> <bR> <div> And now we move forward. We ere fortunate to recruit four new board members, including one who lives in Washington and two who live in the Staunton area (see related article in this newsletter). This is particularly important because of the ongoing need to manage our museum, and the importance of bringing "new blood" into the leadership and sharing the load. Your board has work to do, such as managing the museum, streamlining the organizational structure of the association and foundation, and working on funding in the face of a declining membership base. I look forward to serving again as your president, and my first request to you during this second term is to help your association by paying your dues!</div> <bR> <div> Truth, Duty, Honor.</div> <div> Tom Phillips, '74</div> <div> President,</div> <div> SMA Alumni Association</div> <div> Email: <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="mailto:tom.phillips@sn.siemens.com " TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:tom.phillips@sn.siemens.com "><U>tom.phillips@sn.siemens.com</U></A></FONT> </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>