David Long

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I've been to the Wall many times as I traveled to the DC area quite a bit for work.  The Wall always brings tears and sadness, and has not yet brought closure.  That said, I would love to go back with classmates.  If we go, I'd suggest a visit to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the changing of the guard there.  In addition, we should visit Mt. Vernon.  It has some amazing architectural features, including "air conditioning", for its time.  No trip to DC would be complete without a visit to the Smithsonian, a tour of the Capitol, a walk around the Mall and Reflecting Pool.  And not to be missed is a visit to 8th & I, Marine Barracks - to see the evening 'performance' that includes the Silent Drill Team.  

Dave

Patricia (Pat) Summers (Griffith)

Wow, Marv!  I never thought about a trip to Washington with everyone!  That would be fantastic.  

Michael (Mike) Franks

D.C. is a fantastic place! All of the history that we read about in our school years, comes to life.

One interesting thing happened while I was there. Does anyone remember Fred Clemens? I just happened to run into Fred, while visiting the Smithsonian. I served in Ft. Belvior, Va. in 1966, so I made frequent trips into D.C. What do you know.....there was Fred, in a crowd of 100's of people. I wonder what ever happened to him?

David, "The Wall" is not a place to find closure. It's a place of honor, that was erected so that we will never forget that dark time in our history. Of course you know that. Heal quickly, my friend.

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Hi you all!

I took my kids to DC years ago: saw the wall and every department building that we could get into.  White House was cool!

We happened to go in July.  It was humid, over 100 degrees, even the horse drawn carriages were put out of work, ambulances were picking up over-heated people who collapsed on the street.  Please don't go in July for your own good!

I contacted our Cong. Rep and they sent a private car and gave us a beautiful tour of DC.

But.........been there, done that.  I'm finished.  Everyone should be able to go at least once.

Good luck to y'all!

Linda

Karen Sue (Suzi) Denton (Merritt)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACK!  HAVE A GREAT DAY!

🎂🍦🍧🍨🍻🍺🥃🍹

Larry Cotton

Hi everyone! I have followed this website but have not been good at posting things. This is a picture of me and my 8th Great-grandchild, Ryder James. Life has been a great one! I love working at Yosemite National Park and I am having a hard time saying " I am going to retire!" I love my job! The last two retirements lasted only four years each and this one will be the final one...Maybe after this year? We are planning a few trips to Canada and Colorado in order to hike a few trails we missed. Although I am still fighting stage four prostrate cancer, I have survived five years and maintain a very active lifestyle.My doctor is shocked that I still ride my bike to work evertday and hike and backpack these wonderful mountains. I am currently on a new kemo drug called Zytiga that seems to be working very well. I feel great! I wake up every morning with a smile and a song. Thanks for all of your well wishings. I will try to post more comments and will still enjoy reading about how all of you are doing........Enjoy everyday!

Ann Bailen

Great seeing Boo Boo Baxter and her husband Dave while they were in town.

Karen Sue (Suzi) Denton (Merritt)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHARLES, MARIE, AND TOM!

HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!   🎂🎂🎂

Terri Baxter (Whirrett)

i amSo sorry we missed seeing so many of you! Came up to Chi for a graduation, quick trip to Bl, now in Ohio, then home. Can't make it to mini in August this time. Suzi, cuz, et al, sorry I couldn't join you the other night. Glad to hear several of you are on the mend. Stay well old friends. If you make it to SC, look us up!)

David Long

Larry Cotton - 

This is a do you remember message:  Do you remember the rainy day we spent hours playing Euchure at your house, watching tv, while each of us consumed a total of 3 boxes of Girl Scout Thin Mints.  Think of it every time we by Thin Mints now.  Good Times, Good Times!  Oh, and we stayed skinny even consuming that much sugar!

Melvin (Mel) Theobald

Dave, although I have nothing to do with your reminiscences with Larry, it made me think that maybe those Girl Scout cookies were working in slow motion. You look no worse for the wear and are certainly not the trim kid we all rembember from BHS. LOL Your story reminds me of a meeting I had with a former classmate a few years ago (who shall go nameless in this writing). We met for dinner after decades of separation and when I asked how I would recogize her, she said, "You remember how I used to be tall and skinny? Well, I'm still tall." I recognized her instantly. I believe she also liked Girl Scout cookies.

Sorry we couldn't all see Boo when she was here.

And finally, speaking as an old Hippie, I loved what everyone posted on Memorial Day. To the vets and as a personal call out to my brother Marv who was awarded a Bronze Star when he served in Vietnam during the Tet Offensive, THANK YOU. And to Mike Smedley whose courage and photographic work for the Marines will never be fully appreciated, THANK YOU. And to all the rest of you whose stories we may never know, THANK YOU.

Michael (Mike) Franks

Mel, you're a great ambassador. You represent our class extremely well. Thank you. I had a good chuckle after reading your confession on being a Hippie. We were all Hippies back in the day. It was great. My children think that I was always just an old sour-puss that has to work hard to stay out of their way. I let them savior that myth. It's OK to keep secrets.

It is an honor to be recognized for our service back in the '60's. Honestly, I put all of that behind me years ago. It was time to move ahead. Time to marry and raise children. Time to make our contribution to society. I think that we picked up the torch and have carried it well. Now it's time to pass that torch on. Our children and grand children will move ahead with pride.

I like to believe that I'm still the big rooster in the hen house, but in reality I'm one step away from being chicken soup. As far as eating Girl Scout cookies, I find it very unlikely that any of us resemble what we looked like 50 years ago. Who cares? We've earned our merit badges. 

               Go You Raiders!

Marvin Theobald

Mike I got a kick out of your big rooster to chicken soup analogy. I was at a HS graduation party last week for the son of some friends where he and some co-graduates were making comments as though they were big stuff Seniors. I was quick to point out that they were now lowly Freshmen. Your analogy made me think of this in terms of how we are now "seniors" again and made me wonder what we become after our next "graduation". Hopefully something better than chicken soup. Funny - I never consider the next step as a "graduation" until now.

Your hippie "secret" is no longer a secret since you posted it on the website. This may shock Mel, but even though I was in the Vietnam War, I had a slight "secret jealousy" of not being in the "make love not war" lifestyle. Even though I have always taken what I considered the serious responsible citizen path through life there was always this desire to be a part of that "love and peace" path. While it was never in my character to be there, I sometimes feel I missed an opportunity to see life from anther perspective. I got to experience it vicariously on some level through Mel.

One weekend in about March of 1967 Mel came to visit me at Ft Belvoir, Va. He was in his full blown hippie garb. With the help of some of my GI buddies I managed to arrange for him to have a bunk and spend the night in the barracks. The next morning these buddies grouped around Mel and we slipped him into the mess hall for breakfast. At some point one of our Seargents kept looking at him, probably trying figure out what in the world this hippie was doing in his mess hall. We then took a bus to New York City to a hippie event called a"be-in". Even though I was in civies my appearance obviously did not fit the scene. It was kind of like a Forest Gump moment. That experience remains one of my most treasured memories. Thanks Mike for making me think of it.

Terry (Max) Maxwell

I might have gotten to experience a little bit of both sides of it.  I did my basic training and AIT in recon at Fort Knox, KY, in 1968.  There were 3 platoons of regular Army and 1 platoon of us dreaded NGs and ERs.  Unfortunately the other 3 platoons graduated and went to Viet Nam while our platoon went back home.  I wasn't a hippie like my buddy Mel, but was not sent to VN to experience that either.  

Michael (Mike) Franks

Hello Max. It's always great to read your posts. I hope that your health is good and that you are enjoying yourself. I can assure you that you didn't miss anything by not having the pleasure of visiting SE Asia.

As I recall, you have had a career in education. I can't think of anything more imoptant than that. I'm sure that you touched a lot of people's lives and guided them in the right direction. That has to be very satisfying.

The old neighborhood around Miller Park is still there!

Terry (Max) Maxwell

Mike...

Get back to B'ton once in awhile.  One of my brothers lives on Oak Street and we go down and visit.  I always drive through Miller Park when in town.  I can't imagine my childhood without that park.  We pretty much lived there when growing up.  

All of the chatter a few messages back, about Steak n Shake, makes me want to get down there again.  And a Lucca Grill stop for pizza is a must for me.  Hopefully will be able to make the August mini-reunion.  Will you be there Mike?  Haven't seen you in years.  Would be great to shoot the breeze.

Karen Sue (Suzi) Denton (Merritt)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DENNY!  HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!

🎂🎂🎂🎂🍨🍨🍨🍨🍧🍧🍧🍦🍦🍦

Michael (Mike) Franks

Can you believe that grand children get all of the good stuff and grandpa just gets to pay for it!  I did get to hold the napkins.

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Boo: Nice to see the photo of you, Dave and Ann.  Hope you had a good time in Bloomington.

Dave Long: So pleased to see your posting. I hope that new leg works wonderfully!

Mike Franks:  Lovely photo of grandkids enjoying ice cream!  They look like they're having fun!

Shaffer:  What is new with you?  Hope all is well.

Rod: Atta boy!  Keep up the healing process!

Milan:  I am so happy for you.  Hopefully the cure will be easier to get over!

Allida:  Looking forward to seeing y'all in August.

Suzi:  Is everything looking up for you and Dave?

Mel: I see you have been to Russia again.  What do you do when you are there?

Marv:  Thanks for keeping up with this class.

I called Dennis Alexander last night for his birthday.  He would love to be able to read this Message Forum.  But he needs for someone to sign him in at work and show him how to access it and close it.  He needs written instructions.  Those instructions have to be small and step by step for him to follow.

Would any of you be able to do this for Denny?

Blessings to us all!

Linda

Michael (Mike) Franks

Thanks Linda. After celebrating Memorial Day, some of us got a little carried away with our adventures 50 years ago. I thought it might be nice to change things up and celebrate the ones we love. Maybe share a picture or two.

I invite everyone to share their pictures with pride. It would be great to see how our familiy trees have grown.

David Long

Linda Bristow (Elias)

David Long:

You get a new leg and now you're feeling better, and.............look what came out of your mind!  Thanks for sharing!

Linda

Karen Sue (Suzi) Denton (Merritt)

Mike, cute little girls and I bet they have grandpa wrapped around their fingers!!!

Michael (Mike) Franks

Thanks, Suzi. I love being a grand parent. I'm sure that you feel the same way while you enjoy your family. I also want to thank you for all of the hard work that you do for our class and our website. You're very special.

Karen Sue (Suzi) Denton (Merritt)

Thank you Mike, so nice of you.  We have fifteen grandkids ranging in age eight to twenty seven.  

Several years ago I would shop for everyone and we also gave everyone money.  One of the last Christmases that I did this Pam Zweng stopped by.  Well she walked into our living room and about fainted.  We had so many packages from our tree to the kitchen.  I miss those days, but I can't do it anymore.  Now they all get money.

 I hope everyone has a safe and fun summer!  😁😁😁😁😁

Suz