Association of Graduates, USMA, West Point

Yearling Flag Ceremony

Class of 2006

Class of 1956 crest Never Falter Never Quit Class of 2006 crest
USMA Class of 2006 Flag Unveiling Ceremony ~ August 8, 2003

Gerry and Barbara Richardson and Jack and Nancy Conklin A closer shot of the Richardsons and Conklins, awaiting the ceremony. Farrell Patrick reminisces with Luciano (Sal) Salamone and his friend Linda Tidler.
Mike Conrad and Sal Salamone (back to the camera) talk with BG Leo Brooks '79, Commandant of Cadets. Farrell and Nancy Patrick talk with Cadet Christopher Moore, ISO for the Class of 2006. The ceremony is about to begin.
CFT S1, Cadet James Jablonski '04, welcomes the participants to the ceremony. Tony Ferraiuolo welcomes participants and provides a brief history of military colors and specific reference to the Yearling Flag Program. Mike Conrad, assisted by CFT Cadet Commander Craig Lupinski '04 (later named First Captain), uncover the flag.
Mike Conrad presents the colors to Cadet Brandon Archuleta '06, Class President. The Class of '06, with cadre from '04 and '05, stand in formation for the ceremony. Mike Conrad and Cadet Lupinski lead the formation and Class of '06 flag out of the formation.
Mike addresses the Class of 2006. Cadet Brandon Archuleta, Class of 2006 President, thanks the Class of 1956 for providing the Class Flag to his Class The '56 Contingent.
Other attendees, June and Casey Dwyer (in the rear), The Commandant, Cadet Archuleta, Tony Ferraiuolo, and John Calabro (partially hidden) join the Class of '56 for a photo op! Tony Ferraiuolo and Mike Conrad pose with the 2006 Class Officers, Adam Dellamonica, Treasurer; Chris Moore, ISO; Robert Briggs, Historian; Chris Young, Secretary, and Brandon Archuleta, President. Brandon Archuleta and Mike Conrad show off the class flag.
Tony Ferraiuolo and Mike Conrad frame 2006 Class President, Brandon Archuleta, with the class flag. Class of 2006 officers Moore, Dellamonica, Briggs, Archuleta, and Young. The 2006 Class Flag and Motto: Never Falter, Never Quit!

SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE CLASS OF 1956, along with their spouses and guests, participated in a special ceremony on Friday, 8 August 2003 at Camp Bucker when MG (Ret.) Michael J. Conrad presented the class flag to the Class of 2006 on behalf of the Class of 1956 and the Association of Graduates. Gifting a class flag to the Yearling class at the end of Cadet Field Training at Camp Buckner is a new tradition, which began with the Class of 2004. For the past two years the cost of the flag has been underwritten by the 50-year affiliation class.

The presentation of the class flag is the Yearling Class component of the Cadet Class Support portion of the overall Class Support Program, which operates under the leadership of Tony Ferraiuolo, Director of Class Support, in the Office of Alumni Support at the AOG.

This year, an added dimension to the ceremony was linking it up with the NCO Induction Ceremony and Promotion of all members of the Class of 2006 who met the training criteria for promotion. Captain Al La Bella, S-3 for Cadet Field Training last year, was once again in that position this summer, which made execution very easy. With the able assistance of Cadet Matt McKee, Cadet S-3 at CFT, and Cadet Jim Jablonski, Cadet S-1 at CFT, all the details of the ceremony and the follow-on awards ceremony on Saturday were handled with excellence

Shortly after the ceremony last year, contact was made by the Class of 1956 leadership indicating their desire to follow the lead of the Class of 1955, and present the class flag as a gift from the 50-year affiliation class. The affiliation began when 1956 Class President MG (Ret.) Michael J. Conrad stood as part of the reviewing party when the Class of 2006 was accepted into the Corps last August. In addition to General and Mrs. Conrad, several members of the class also attended to witness the ceremony and then dine with the cadets afterward. In attendance were BG (Ret.) Luciano Salamone, COL (Ret.) and Mrs. Farrell Patrick, COL (Ret.) and Mrs. John McGinn, LTC (Ret.) and Mrs. Gerald Richardson, Mr. and Mrs. John Conklin, Mr. and Mrs. Bert Tucker, and a few guests.

The program was kicked off by Tony Ferraiuolo, who gave a brief history of the flag as it relates to the military and some specific remarks about the Class of 2006 flag and its symbolism for the class and how and when they might use it during their remaining years as cadets and after graduation.

Following the opening remarks, General Conrad, escorted by CFT Cadet Battalion Commander Cadet Craig Lubinski (later named the First Captain for the Corps of Cadets), marched out to the center of the class formation following the flag bearer and Cadet Archuleta. General Conrad, assisted by Cadet Lubinski, unveiled the flag, which General Conrad then presented to Cadet Archuleta, who accepted it for the Class of 2006.

After the unveiling, unfurling, and posting of the colors, General Conrad made some brief remarks.

Cadet Archuleta then addressed the members of the Class of 1956 and their spouses/guests.

The first public presence of the flag was on the following day when it was added to the colors present for the awards ceremony and parade held honoring the achievements of the Class of 2006 at CFT. On Sunday, 10 August, the Class of 2006 completed its run back to West Point for Reorganization Week and the preparation for the start of the new academic year. Cadet Chelsea Haviland, who won numerous awards for best overall physical fitness at the Saturday ceremony, was the flag bearer carrying the 2006 colors leading the CFT run back to West Point, along with Cadet Lubinski, CFT Commander LTC Mike Garrett, and all the 2006 Class officers. The flag contains the class crest and motto — “Never Falter, Never Quit” — with “Class of 2006” scrolled below the crest. It is on a gray background with black and gold fringe, similar to the Corps of Cadets flag.

 

Opening Remarks by AOG Class Support Program Director Tony Ferraiuolo

Remarks by MG (Ret.) Michael J. Conrad, Class of 1956 President

Remarks by Cadet Brandon Archuleta, Class of 2006 President



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