2028 Class Crest Unveiling & Ceremony
March 18, 2025
Brothers - Here's a bit of detail from last night's Class Crest unveiling dinner for the Class of 2028.
Joe Mislinski and his lovely better-half Debbie stepped up late in the game to join Susan and I in representing 1978 at this event, which was held in a packed Mess Hall. (A little more than 1,200 Plebes, each authorized four guests.) The Mislinski's and Eschbach's sat across from each other at a table just over from the head table and kitty-corner from the poop deck. We were lucky enough to have Cadet Christiana Belcher (C3), who designed the '28 crest, and the 4th Regimental Commander for PPW, Cadet Jones.
The 2028 Class President, Cadet Xavier Bruchon acted as MC for the evening. The Class of 1978 was mentioned in his remarks, as well as in the invocation by Cadet Alexis Flores and in those of the Supe (which got a "Hooah" from us, which he acknowledged.)
Following dinner, the Chair of the Ring and Crest Committee Cadet Jayden Perry gave remarks and the new crest (covered during dinner) was unveiled.
Christiana (who is from Birmingham, Alabama and plays on the women's rugby team) gave me the link between our two classes that she put into their crest.
- She included the Great Chain from our crest and wrapped the 28 with it. It has 28 links.
- The Eagle's eye is blue, not yellow as would be natural. The blue is identical to the blue used in the ribbon that carries "Proud and Great" in our crest.
- On the top of their crest, there are seven stars. Lower down, the eagle is holding the encircled 28 with four talons. This "spells out" 78, a fact that is really known only to our two classes.
All of this was verified when the head of the Class Ring and Crest Committee Cadet Jayden Perry unveiled and explained the symbolism of the crest's components to the thousands present in the mess hall.
After the unveiling, Joe and I noticed that our Class of 1978 flag was amongst the flags displayed behind the speakers. It was between the USCC flag and the LTG's flag. It was kind of lost there. So, naturally when the ceremony concluded and speakers finished, we went up on the dais with the Cadets, pulled out our flag, and displayed it for everyone to see.
Two side notes:
- It is not by chance that the '28 motto "No Calling Too Great" has the word "Great" in it. It was another salute to 1978.
- We had several (too many to remember the number) of parents come up to us and tell us how much they and their Cadets really appreciate (in several cases "love") our class for what we've done to assist '28 feel part of the Long Gray Line. Our efforts at R-Day made a huge impact on many of them. We ran into a family from California that has twin brothers at Woops. One is a Yuk. The other in '28. The Yuk said simply that his class had no such relationship with their 50-year affiliate, and he was jealous of his brother.
The Class Crest and a few photos of the event can be found at the Gallery.
All in all, it was a truly inspirational event.
Proud and Great!
Pete
During Plebe Parent Weekend, in early March, two members of the Affiliation Class along with their spouses, join the Plebe Class and their families in the Mess Hall to witness the unveiling of the Plebe class crest. Our participants at this event are Pete & Susan Eshbach and Joe & Debbie Mislinski. The 50 Year Affiliates in attendance are thanked by the class president during his/her remarks. It will be a special event for Pete as he had a heavy hand in designing our Class of 1978 Crest. They will get to dine with the Class of 2028 leadership team, then join the Class of 2028 down at Ike Hall for dancing afterwards.