USMA Bicentennial

On Aug. 24, when the Class of 2002 received their rings during the annual ring ceremony, they started a tradition that many graduates hope will be around for the next 200 years.

Retired Lt. Col. Ron Turner, a USMA Class of 1958 graduate, came up with the idea for the Class Ring Memorial Program. He published an article in the May/June 1999 issue of Assembly Magazine suggesting they start "a program whereby graduates may bequeath (or graduates’ descendents may donate) West Point class rings for the specific purpose of incorporating the gold into the rings of future graduates."

Association of Graduates Class Support Program Director, Tony Ferraiuolo, liked the idea and began corresponding with Turner. He then brought the concept to the USMA community.

"We received ‘enthusiastic support’ from representatives of the Class of 2002, approval from Commandant of Cadets Brig. Gen. Eric T. Olson and "can do" responses from potential ring vending companies," Ferraiuolo said.

Next they had to see if graduates’ and their family members were also going to support the new program. The response was tremendous, he said.

"The graduating class leadership communicated with classmates and widows and received more than 29 rings spanning the graduations of 1903 to 1958," Ferraiuolo added.

He said that kind of support was really special since the rings often have special meanings for both graduates and their loved ones.

"Class rings have a strong sentimental value to graduates," Ferraiuolo said, "Widows, widowers and families often have strong emotional ties to these rings."

There’s often history behind the rings too. Retired Col. William S. McArthur, a 1973 USMA grad and current NASA astronaut, carried a ring belonging to Earle Adams Billing with him on the historical 100th space shuttle flight last year. Billings was a 1917 USMA graduate who was killed during World War I.

"The foundation of all the great things you get out of attending USMA is the Long Gray Line -- the heritage and history that is here," McArthur said. "Getting the ring shows you that the potential achievement you can realize, based on what you learned here, is unlimited.

"You can look at other grads and all they have accomplished and say, ‘They built their success on the same foundation that I have,’ and you quickly realize that there is no reason to limit your goals."

Scrapbook

The Class of 2002 rings, ready for presentation	TAC officers ready to receive their companies' "firsties"	The Class of 2002 march on to Trophy Point
Cadets at parade rest as classmates march in	The Superintendent with Ring & Hop Committee members	Each member carries their companies' rings
Ring & Crest rep CDT Sally Talbot, and TAC SFC Mark Frye (B4)	At center, cadets Andrew Martin (B4), Jeannie Huh (A3) and Eli Adams (D2)	CDT Eric Wilkinson receives his ring (cont'd)...
...(cont'd) from CPT Christopher Engen (D3)		At right, cadets Sara Ewing and Christine Giacone (C4)
Company A3 opens their rings	Company A3 dons their rings	Company A3 shows off their rings
Cadets Shara Heflin and Gina Fox show off their rings (A3)

	LTC Rodney Johnson, 3rd Rgmt RTO, admires a cadet's new ring	CDT Joe DaSilva, Class President, and MAJ Scott Weliver ('85) of the Bicentennial Office
COL Pat Kane, Bicentennial Office; CDT DaSilva; COL(R) McArthur	Guests enter the Supe's reception, at his garden	Cadet guests pose at Constitution Corner
The Supe and his wife greet visitors at their reception	CW3 Randolph Bennett looks over a table at the banquet	The hop was held at the Cadet Mess Hall
A cadet and his guest pose by the Ring Cake at the Cadet Mess Hall	USMA crest on the Ring Cake	2002 class crest on the Ring Cake
Bicentennial cake	First captain Andy Blickhahn (B1) proposes a toast as Master of Ceremonies; Cadet Jay Bessey (A2) looks on
A cadet and his guest at Eisenhower Hall	Ring model in Crest Hall, Eisenhower Hall	A cadet and his guest pose by the ring model

Class of 2002 Ring Presentation

An unending circle: New program merges the best of yesterday and today

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