Welcome to Spring! The travel season is here, so send me word of your comings and goings.

Founders' Day was popular, as always, for get togethers. Out in the San Francisco area John Begley did the honors as the oldest grad present (where have the years gone since we were the youngest?) and by all accounts gave a great talk, including the “grabber” addressed to the guest speaker, Gen. John Abizaid, former CENTCOM commander: “With all due respect, General, I was shot at before you were born.”

Dan McDaniel supplied a picture of the ‘50 gang, L-to-R: Carole Anderson, Begley's guest, Big John, Jo Ann Hirsch, Helen & Dan McDaniel, Nari & Al Scholl, Marie & John Hamel, and Vin Hirsch.

An even bigger contingent gathered in FL at the Space Coast dinner. Malvene Lewis was designated to send the photo, again L-to-R: Ruth & Sam Stapleton, Carol & Dick Steuart, Karl & Trudy Kuckhan, Marie Louise & Bill Ward, Ben Lewis (Malvene was in NYC enjoying her annual Grand Opera visit: 3 operas in 3 days.) Dave Pettit, Glory McBride, Bob Hughes, John Howard, and Doy & Dick Slay. Bill Ward was the guest speaker for the evening.

The class at Patriots' Colony at Williamsburg, VA held their partying on New Year's Eve. Those handsome gentlemen all decked out in their tuxes are, standing, Walt Adams, Bob Wilson, and Len Wegner. Bill Curry is in front.

Not to be outdone the ladies in their finery are Bettie Curry, Muriel Wegner, Shirley Adams, and Peg Wilson.

While on the subject of retirement communities, some of you may have recognized Ira & Phyllis Ward in ad for University Village in the April Military Officer. Looks like Ira can still get into his greens.

Arch & Jeanne Wood had an interesting trip to India to attend a Hindu wedding of a friends' daughter in Chennai. It was then on to Agra for the Taj Mahal, where their picture was taken. Jeanne in October did a five day backpack camping and hiking trip from the north rim of the Grand Canyon to the south rim. Quite an undertaking! Their next big job is moving from Prescott, AZ to Lake Charles, LA, where they have bought a home near Jeanne's family.

A nice note from Holli Kinner said that she and Vern had moved from their 2800 sq. ft. home with two floors to a 1500 sq. ft. place on one floor. One big attraction of the new home is 100 feet of private beach frontage on West Grand Traverse Bay. New address is 12008 Peninsula Dr. Traverse City, MI 49686-9318.

Recently Sally Lombard joined the classmates at The Fairfax for dinner. She was down from ME for her annual Colonial Dames board meeting at Gunston Hall, but took advantage of the guest rooms here at The Fairfax instead of going to a motel. She and Reg are still running their map business, but only on the internet.

Tillie Smithers in April honored Chuck Watters, up from Greenville, SC, and Emmett & Rowland Lee, coming from Tampa, FL at her place in Hampton, VA. In addition to Win Skelton from Falls Church, VA, she had quite a group from the Williamsburg area: Mark & Gloria Jones, Len & Muriel Wegner, Bob & Peg Wilson, and Walt & Shirley Adams. Locals from the Hampton/Virginia Beach area, Lyman & Sara Ann Hammond and Jim & Ann Tormey, also joined them.

Morris Herbert, who is our class representative at West Point, reported on Frank Gaillard's funeral. Though Frank died in October, the funeral at the Academy cemetery was not until April. Three of Frank's companymates (M-2) also were there: Wally Nutting, Jim Tormey, and Manley Rogers. Also in attendance, in addition to Frank's widow Joan,wereRoy Easley, Faith Herbert, and Ann Tormey.

Nancy Best wrote to say that John had been very active in the West Point Admissions program and that hispicture and his obit could be viewed at www.MeM.com

Unfortunately we continue to lose classmates and wives. One that just came to light was Ed Gradoville, who died on 13 Nov 2007 in Kerrville, TX and was buried in Plattsmouth, NE. He is survived by his widow Marie, a son Stephen and two daughters: Judith and Gretchen. Marie has moved from TX to 307 W. Hatt Swank Rd., Loveland, OH 45140-6663.

On 12 Jan 2008 Mary Strohm, Dick's widow, died in Little Silver, NJ. Dick died in ‘96. Mary is survived by a sister Dorothy Cwieka and a brother Charles Friel, who can be reached at 216 pine Valley, Huntsville, TX 77320.

On 5 April Stan Fye died in Manhattan, KS. He is survived by his widow Joan, two daughters, Ellen and Ann, and three sons, Richard, Steven, and David. Joan lives at 800 Poyntz, Manhattan, KS 66502-6055.

On 7 April Keith Loucks died in Ponca City, OK, after a long illness. He is survived by his widow Ruth, a daughter Virginia, and two sons, Mark and Michael. Mark sent some nice pictures of his dad's earlier life. Unfortunately I cannot print them out well enough to use in the column. Ruth lives at 501 South Longwood Rd., Ponca City, OK 74604.

Our sympathies go out to all these families.

Remember to send me notes on your doings. Enjoy the summer.