Opening Remarks by AOG Class Support Program Director Tony Ferraiuolo

General and Mrs. Soyster, General Brooks, CFT Commanders and staff, members and guests of the Class of 1957, Cadet Enderle, members of the Class of 2007, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen . . .

My name is Tony Ferraiuolo and I am the Director of the Class Support Program, in the Office of Alumni Support at the Association of Graduates. It’s an honor for me to be here today representing the AOG and taking part in this special ceremony. This afternoon, Lieutenant General (Retired) Harry E. (Ed) Soyster will present a class flag to the Class of 2007 as a gift from his Class of 1957.

The flag presentation today is particularly significant because it continues and underscores the special 50-year affiliation between the Classes of 1957 and 2007. A special relationship that started when the Class of 2007 was accepted into the corps last year, and one, which will continue throughout the rest of their time at West Point, and hopefully beyond. The presentation of a class flag is a program element of the cadet class support program administered by the association of graduates.

Cadet Aaron Ashley, when Class of 2001 President, suggested giving a class flag while he was serving as a member of the Class Support Subcommittee, and the program was inaugurated with the Class of 2004. Within weeks of the presentation to the Class of 2004, flags were also presented to the Classes of 2002 and 2003 so that each of the three upper classes at that time would have a class flag to celebrate each of their significant class functions during their remaining time at West Point.

Flags have been traditionally used in the United States Army for purposes of identification and the fostering of esprit de corps. The present policies stem from ideas and practices dating back to the Revolutionary War. In turn, those were influenced to a great extent by the military traditions of Western Europe.

Continuous recognition of the significance of flags to the morale of members of the Army resulted in the development of a well-defined system of flags for organizations at all echelons. In general, flags incorporate design elements, which are identical to or relate to the insignia worn by the members of the organization.

The class of 2007 flag bears its class crest and motto. While the class holds a common relationship to every class ever graduated from the United States Military Academy since 1802, their crest and motto, as embroidered on the flag, provides a special and significant identify for the Class of 2007 only.

In a few moments, General Soyster will uncover and present the Class of 2007 flag to Class President, John Enderle, who will accept it for the class. The flag will remain with the class as they complete their CFT and will be displayed at all major class events and celebrations until their graduation.

General Soyster was born in Altoona, Pennsylvania. He graduated from the United States Military Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1957, and was commissioned in the field artillery. He also holds Master of Science degrees from the Pennsylvania State University, in chemistry, and the University of Southern California, in systems management. His military schooling includes the field artillery school, the Army Command and Staff College, and the National War College.

As a field artillery officer, he commanded at all levels from platoon to division artillery with staff assignments in the office of the Deputy C/S for Personnel and the DAIG; as the Director of Operations, Joint Chiefs of Staff; and as an Assistant Professor at the USMA and C/S, 24th Infantry Division. In Vietnam he served as a field artillery battalion operations officer and battalion executive officer.

After promotion to general officer he completed his military career in a series of intelligence assignments. They included Deputy Assistant C/S for Intelligence, Department of the Army and Commanding General, U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM) where he was responsible for all Army intelligence collection and counterintelligence operations. As CG, INSCOM, he was the Army Chief of the Central Security Service at the National Security Agency, coordinated counterintelligence operations with the FBI and human intelligence with the CIA and Defense Intelligence Agency. He was then appointed as the Director, DIA. Concurrently, he was the program manager for the General Defense Intelligence Program and Defense Department representative to the national Foreign Intelligence Board. As the Senior Military Intelligence Officer for the DoD, he was the intelligence advisor to the Secretary of Defense and Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, and responsible for providing military intelligence support to the national command authority during Operation Just Cause in Panama and Desert Shield/Storm in the Gulf War.

His military awards and decorations include: Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star for valor with two oak leaf clusters, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint and Army Commendation Medals, and he was Airborne and Ranger qualified. He also received the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal.

After retirement he joined MPRI in 1992 as Director, Washington Operations, and was Vice President for International Operations from 1995-2001. He remained with the company as media spokesman until the end of 2004. He is currently on the board of directors of several companies and Vice President of the board of governors, Army and Navy Club, and participates in studies by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He now serves as Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Army for WWII 60th anniversary observances.

I would like to thank CPT LaBella and his staff for their assistance in executing this ceremony. We will now proceed with the unveiling and presentation of the Class of 2007 flag.