Association of Graduates, USMA, West Point

Yearling Flag Ceremony

Class of 2005

Class of 1955 crest Keeping Freedom Alive Class of 2005 crest
USMA Class of 2005 Flag Unveiling Ceremony ~ August 9, 2002

CPT Edie Knellinger ’92, Cadet Keith Toy, Tony Ferraiuolo Mr. and Mrs. Don Smith, COL (Ret.) Charles Johnson, Mrs. Graham, MG (Ret.) Todd Graham, Mrs. Worden, LTC (Ret.) Al Worden The Class of 2005 marches towards the formation point for the ceremony.
Last-minute instructions are provided by Cadet Zayas, CFT 1SG, 1st Company, in preparation for the ceremony. Cadets Floyd, Wheelwright, Gray, an unidentified cadet, and Cadet Facciponti Members of the Class of 2005 stand ready for the flag presentation.
Ceremony participants listen to opening remarks by Tony Ferraiuolo. Tony Ferraiuolo speaks of the history and importance of military colors. Participants listen to Tony’s remarks.
As does the Class of 2005. Cadet Anthony Woods ’03, LTC Al Worden, MG Todd Graham, Mr. Don Smith The guidon bearer lowers the flag.
LTC Al Worden, MG Todd Graham, and Mr. Don Smith uncover the colors. Cadet Keith Toy stands in the foreground and Cadet Anthony Woods in the background. The Class of 2005 colors are unfurled. Cadet Keith Toy prepares to escort the colors to where they will be posted for the conclusion of the ceremony.
Cadet Keith Toy and the guidon bearer forward march to the posting point. Mr. Don Smith, MG Todd Graham, and LTC Al Worden MG Todd Graham
The Class of 2005 colors in all their glory! The official party listens to MG Todd Graham’s remarks. Cadet Keith Toy
Mr. Don Smith, LTC Al Worden, and MG Todd Graham, Cadet Keith Toy, COL Charles Johnson, and Tony Ferraiuolo Mr. Don Smith, LTC Al Worden, MG Todd Graham, and COL Charles Johnson Tony Ferraiuolo congratulates Cadet Toy.

FOUR MEMBERS OF THE CLASS OF 1955 attended and three of them participated in a special ceremony on Friday, August 9, 2002, at Camp Bucker where they presented the class flag to the Class of 2005. The Class of 1955 also underwrote the cost of the flag. Last year, the Association of Graduates began yet another tradition at West Point, when we presented the Yearling Class of 2004 a class flag at the awards ceremony and parade at the end of their Cadet Field Training at Camp Bucker. That new tradition took on an additional dimension with the special presentation ceremony held this year on August 9, a day prior to this year’s awards ceremony and parade.

MG (Ret.) Todd Graham, COL (Ret.) Charles Johnson, LTC (Ret.) Al Worden, and Mr. Don Smith were in attendance from the Class of 1955. Mrs. Graham, Worden, and Smith were also in attendance. General Graham, Colonel Worden, and Mr. Smith made the presentation of the flag to the Class of 2005. Representing the Class of 2005 was Cadet Keith Toy, Class Vice President. Class President Chris Bess was unable to attend due to medical reasons. After the ceremony, all participants enjoyed dinner with the cadets in the mess hall.

The planning and execution of the ceremony was under the oversight of Tony Ferraiuolo, Director, Class Support, of the Association of Graduates. Presentation of the yearling flag is part of the overall program of cadet support, which provides a meaningful gift to each of the upper three classes and an open house for the parents, family, and friends of the incoming plebe class.

The ceremony was a great success, and positive responses were received from the Class of 2005, the leadership of the Cadet Field Training Program at Camp Buckner, and the members of the Class of 1955 who were present. The success would not have been possible were it not for the efforts of CPT Tim Stiansen, OIC for the Class of 2005; CPT Al LaBella, S-3 for CFT; CPT Edie Knellinger, S-1 for CFT; LTC Al Bourque, CFT Commander; Cadet Anthony Woods, Cadet Battalion Commander for CFT; Cadet Keith Toy, Vice President, Class of 2005; and the cadet and military staffs for the CFT training.

 

Opening Remarks by AOG Class Support Program Director Tony Ferraiuolo

Remarks by MG Todd P. Graham USA (Retired)



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