Welcome to our Celebration of Survival. What began as a simple promise to complete this task moved with some faltering steps at first but then found sure footing. The feets at this front table have supported this effort from that feeble start and made our reunion possible, so I’m privileged to ask you to thank these classmates for the memory book, the meal and the evening which we’ve begun to enjoy. They pledged their time, their money and, like our Founding Fathers, their sacred honor. If you wish to applaud, please hold until the end. In no particular reverse alphabetical order, by maiden name, they are:
Chris (Vasilieff) Hansen: Chris jumped in right from the start to help locate this fine establishment, open the bank account, search for classmates and then proof the memory book. And she picked up snacks.
Sheri (Sutherland) Terwilliger: Sheri signed on to search for hotels, search for people, proof the memory book and finally to restore the scrap book begun by Lindy Aliment.
Terril (Joe) Stout: After I told Joe at one of the all class reunions that I was Yeoman/Disburser for DESA, the Destroyer Escort Sailor’s Association, he said, “I’m a Tin Can Sailor”! He joined the local chapter with me and we’ve made trips to Albany, NY to volunteer for restoration work on the USS Slater, a WWII Destroyer Escort. Right, Joe? Joe! Oh, yeah, Joe knew from the start that his shipmate reunion for the USS Maddox would conflict with this reunion and he’s on the board so he had to go. He’s left his facsimile to remind you to sign his memory book. He made calls, helped search for classmates and do mailings. He also helped us drink beer.
Nancy (Smith) Melary: Nancy searched for classmates and led efforts to create the memory book. She is joined by her husband Mike.
Joyce (Robbins) Pardee: Joyce became our event coordinator, helped our meeting stay on track and produced all of the decorations you see here.
Ken Reynolds: Ken made calls, helped search for classmates and do mailings. He is joined by his wife Kelly.
Russ Pritchard: Russ is our Master of Ceremonies and we used his home for archival of all memorabilia. Unfortunately his computer has been broken since before we formed our committee but he still attended every meeting and dealt with the Highline Historical Society.
Illa Pomeroy: Illa was involved with scanning photos and helped with the reception desk.
Penny (Craner) Doyle: Penny did some initial searches for classmates and helped with the reception.
Michele (Beauchamp) Bower: Michele tackled numerous tasks such as printing and assembling name tags, reflection activity, alma mater and agenda documents and help with the reception.
Emily Meeker: Since I pushed the start button, I go last. I’m accompanied by my daughter Emily, who came from Columbia, MO to help with our reception desk. She is also the youngest child of any of our classmates and is the last person in this room to have attended high school on the Glacier campus, when Big Picture high school occupied the 100 building and refurbished the cafeteria.