Association of Graduates, USMA, West Point

Yearling Flag Ceremony

Class of 2008

Class of 1958 crest No Mission Too Great Class of 2008 crest
USMA Class of 2008 Flag Unveiling Ceremony ~ July 9, 2005

MG (Ret.) Alan Salisbury ’58 (back to camera) asks a few cadets about their CFT training and shares some stories of his with them. Looking on at the left is LTC (Ret.) Edward J. (Jack) Downing ’58. Cadet Adrian Perkins ’08 (Class President), MG (Ret.) Alan Salisbury ’58, LTC (Ret.) Edward J. (Jack) Downing ’58 and Cadet Victor Shen ’08 (Class Vice President), listen to some 'feedback' from the CFT staff. MG (Ret.) Alan Salisbury ’58, LTC (Ret.) Edward J. (Jack) Downing ’58 listen attentively to comments being made by CFT staff members.
MG (Ret.) Alan Salisbury ’58 relates some of his military experience to the assembled group including LTC (Ret.) Edward J. (Jack) Downing ’58, CPT David (Syd) Hills ’96, OIC for the Class of 2008, and members of the Class of 2008. Cadet Adrian Perkins ’08, Class President, offers an amusing story to MG (Ret.) Alan Salisbury ’58, LTC (Ret.) Edward J. (Jack) Downing ’58 while awaiting the flag unveiling. Cadet Victor Shen ’08 (Class Vice President) lowers the colors which are unveiled by MG (Ret.) Alan Salisbury ’58, representing his class for the ceremony. Class President Cadet Adrian Perkins ’08 and CFT Cadet Commander Cadet Captain Jason Davis ’06 stand at attention.
Cadet Adrian Perkins ’08, Class President, receives the Class of 2008 colors from MG (Ret.) Alan Salisbury ’58, representing his class for the ceremony. Class Vice President Cadet Victor Shen ’08 looks on. The 2008 Class colors are posted in front of a sign printed with the class motto No Mission Too Great. Commandant of Cadets BG Curtis M. Scaparrotti ’78, MG (Ret.) Alan Salisbury ’58, and Cadet Adrian Perkins ’08, Class President, proudly display the Class of 2008 colors just presented to the class by General Salisbury in the name of the Class of 1958.
Commandant of Cadets BG Curtis M. Scaparrotti ’78, MG (Ret.) Alan Salisbury ’58, Class President Cadet Adrian Perkins ’08, and Tony Ferraiuolo, Hon. ’61, Director of Class Support, Association of Graduates, proudly display the Class of 2008 colors just presented to the class by General Salisbury in the name of the Class of 1958. Commandant of Cadets BG Curtis M. Scaparrotti ’78 talks with MG (Ret.) Alan Salisbury ’58 and LTC (Ret.) Edward J. (Jack) Downing ’58 about the significance of the Class Flag and expresses his appreciation to the two members of the Class of ’58. Class President Cadet Adrian Perkins ’08 examines the Class Flag just presented by the Class of 1958.
    A closer look at the Class of 2008 flag.

TWO MEMBERS, their spouses, and a grandnephew from the Class of 1958 attended the Flag Presentation Ceremony for the Class of 2008 at Camp Buckner on July 9, 2005.

Tony Ferraiuolo introduced the ceremony by providing a brief history of the flag as it relates to the military, and some specific remarks about the Class of 2008 flag and its symbolism for the class and how and when they will display it during the remainder of their time at West Point, and beyond graduation (see remarks below).

Making the presentation and speaking on behalf of the Class of 1958 was MG (Ret.) Alan B. Salisbury (see his remarks below). General Salisbury, Class of 2008 President Adrian Perkins, flag bearer (Class Vice President) Victor Shen and CFT Cadet Commander Cadet Jason Davis marched into the formation of the Class of 2008 and their cadre. General Salisbury uncovered the flag and presented it to Cadet Perkins for the class. The flag was then returned to the flag bearer and the four marched out of the formation and the flag was posted. The ceremony marks the fifth time a flag has been presented to the Yearling Class during their Cadet Field Training at Camp Buckner. It also marks the fourth year that the cost of the flag was 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, the program director, in the Office of Alumni Support in the AOG.

The ceremony took place between the awards ceremony for the First Detail of CFT and the Change of Command ceremony to transition to the Second Detail leadership. CPT Jerry Patak, S-3 for CFT, Cadet Stuart Warders, Cadet S3, and CPT Pete Rowell and their staffs, provided exceptional support to ensure the success of the ceremony.

The 50-year affiliation between the Classes of 2008 and 1958 started when a large contingent of the class joined the new cadets in their March Back from Lake Frederick last summer. During the Acceptance Day Parade, LTC (Ret.) Palmer McGrew, Chairman of the Class of 1958 Executive Committee, furthered that affiliation when he stood as part of the reviewing party for the parade.

After the ceremony, members, spouses and one relative of the Class of 1958 joined the Class of 2008 for lunch. Those attending, representing the Class of 1958, were MG (Ret.) Alan and Florence Salisbury and their grandnephew, Jonathan Salisbury and LTC (Ret.) Jack and Margie Downing.

On Sunday, August 7, 2005, the Class of 2008 will complete their run back from Camp Buckner to “celebrate” the end of their Cadet Field Training. During the run the class flag will be carried by the class president, Cadet Adrian Perkins, who will lead the run back to West Point.

 

Opening Remarks by AOG Class Support Program Director Tony Ferraiuolo

Remarks by MG (Ret.) Alan B. Salisbury



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