CLASS NOTES Another reason I welcome fall is the VMI foot- Jules and Sheila Berman, Charlie Hayes, (caparisoned) horse is used for Army and Maball season. Since we must drive nearly 1,500 Jerry Paull, Drew Troxler and Warren Yaun. rine colonels and higher. For flag officers (Navy, miles round-trip, we don’t attend as many games Also present was Jim Tumlinson ’60, who was Coast Guard and Marines), the Minute Guns are as in the “olden days.” I fondly recall those hal- Dick’s dyke. Drew reports that there were many provided. For flag officers (Army, Navy, Coast cyon days in the ’50’s just after we graduated. Marines in attendance. “All paid respects, from Guard and Marines), the Gun Salute is provided. Before reporting for active duty at Fort Bliss, former non-commissioned officers to former “Aviation personnel: Each military service has Texas, I saw VMI win six games in 1957. Af- commanders and fellow officers – probably at specific rules and regulations regarding fly-overs ter active duty, I attended five victories in 1959 least 50-60 – not to speak of the full company of at military funerals and should be addressed/reand five more wins in 1960. That makes a quested when scheduling the service. record of 16-0. Few recent graduates can “Dependents with no military service: make such a claim. Maybe someday. The appropriate military branch of serJ.J. Kirchmier in Portsmouth, Virginia, vice will provide casket team (body bearsent us a photo of a red, white and yellow ers/pallbearers). A military chaplain will flower arrangement that his lady friend, be scheduled, if requested, or the family Jean, grew. Few alumni are more loyal to minister may be provided by the next-ofVMI than J.J. kin or funeral director.” From Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Garland Drew understands that Dick’s “Jouster” Sullivan sent a picture of Frank Holmes essays (http://www.bobrohrer.com/ and himself. Frank and his son stopped jouster_tales.html) are still alive and will by to visit Garland and Sally on their way be completed and enlarged by Leatherneck, from Memphis, Tennessee, to New Orthe Marine Corps magazine. Henry Rose was with us our 4th Class leans, Louisiana. year only, finishing his education at RensDot and Bob Wood welcome us to selaer Polytechnic Institute. He served in John Knox Village whenever we arrive. They hope to see us soon in our new cot- Class of 1957: Garland Sullivan and Frank Holmes the Army, playing in Army bands for six tage in Orange City, Florida. Wish us in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, June 2014. years. “He was my chemistry lab partner,” luck in selling our villa here. says Paul Royer, “and also played trumI sadly report that we lost a brother rat who Marine infantry under command of a full colonel pet (great musician) in the Regimental Band. I saw him several years ago when I briefly played was greatly loyal to our class and to VMI. Nat and the Marine Band, at point. “We all walked behind the caisson bier, drawn third trumpet in the European Wind Ensemble. I Pendleton died June 5, 2014, and is buried in by six black horses and a riderless black charger have no idea who he roomed with.” Does anyone his hometown of Wytheville, Virginia. We also lost a loyal friend of VMI. William under saddle, with saber and boots reversed in recall who Henry roomed with? Marshall Wright, husband of Lind Vaughan the stirrups, led by a Marine orderly. Three volFrank Norvell has moved from his big house Wright, died Dec. 31, 2013. While not an alum- leys were sounded as one by a squad of seven into smaller, but equally elegant, quarters in a nus of VMI, Marshall greatly encouraged Lind riflemen after “Taps” was sounded, followed by nearby condo. He gives full credit for the beauty in her support of VMI and was truly a friend to an accurate and humble homily for all of us by of the décor to friend Martha Booker, and she a Navy chaplain, who spoke as though he knew gives him credit for the great idea of adding a wall our class and the Institute. of bookcases in the living room with a mantelWe also received news that Nancy, Pete Lin- U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Richard Otis Culver.” Laura and I regret that we could not attend this piece and faux fireplace in the center. He has his coln’s widow, visited her elderly mother in Florida. On returning to Virginia, she relocated service but were curious about what relationship painting studio in the second bedroom where the rank plays in the complexity of military funerals. light is excellent. to Richmond and did not return to Lexington. Last month, Dawn and I drove to Titusville, Jerry Paull referred us to the Arlington National Frank reports that Bill Keefe’s newly-published Florida, and joined Katie and Ken Dickinson for Cemetery website: book, “PV-11, Et Sequitur,” is terrific and avail“Interment/inurnment services and military fu- able on amazon.com. I tried to get Frank to loan lunch at Dixie Crossroads. We had an enjoyable time, and as usual, all four of us overate! neral honors are provided on a first-come, first- it to me, but since it was not only autographed Lastly, Lucy McCormack reported the happy served basis. The following honors are available by Bill but also officially dedicated to Frank (who news that her only granddaughter has come to but can be modified if the family does not desire hounded Bill for years to get it down on paper), stay with her in her home in Virginia Beach. he wouldn’t turn it loose. Bill says he has offered part or all of the available honors: “Enlisted personnel: Military funeral honors to talk to VMI’s creative writing students about will be provided by the appropriate military the ins and outs of having a novel published in Lee McCown branch of service, to include pallbearers, fir- today’s high-tech world and plans to come to do ing party and a bugler. The cemetery staff will a reading. He asks: “Does anybody remember, schedule the honors and support. A military ‘What is new will come from you?’ Trust me, I chaplain can be scheduled, when requested, or can do better than that!” In other news about Bill, he took his grandthe family minister may be provided by the nextSince our last Alumni Review, we have lost two of-kin or funeral director. daughter to Washington, D.C., recently. “She’d BRs: Dick Culver Feb. 24 and Henry Rose on “Officers (Commissioned and Warrant): In passed through it many times but had never seen New Market Day. You’ve received reports and addition to the military funeral honors and sup- the sights. The walking wasn’t bad, but climbing obituaries for both via email, as well as the video port provided for enlisted personnel, the caisson, untold steps was rough on the artificial medial of Dick’s funeral at Arlington National Cemetery. band and escort troops can be scheduled by the meniscus in my left knee.” The following BRs attended Dick’s funeral: cemetery staff, when requested. The riderless As you heard by email, Gary Harris is uprooting
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VMI ALUMNI REVIEW