Jul 1, 2024

Reception Day, aka R-Day

The following is from Billy Harner, who is spearheading our class participation in R-Day as it relates to the 50-Year Affiliation Program.

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Dear Proud & Great!

R-Day is just around the bend, and '78 will be standing tall as we welcome our affiliate Class of 2028. July 1st, 2024 will forever be etched in their minds, similar to how July 8th, 1974 was for us. Many have already volunteered and more are needed to support 2 days of events: the Ice Cream Social on June 30th, 2024 and R-Day on July 1st, 2024.

I wanted to quickly reach out to you so you can make travel and hotel arrangements, make sure I have correct contact information for you, give you a sense about what you will be doing, and get your jersey size (and that of your spouse/significant other if they are joining us) for the ordering “Army 78” jerseys for all of us. Rob Grubbs is modeling a Large in the picture. We will be wearing the Army 78 jerseys for both events.

The Proud & Great Class of ‘78 is well down the road with its 50-Year Affiliation with the Class of ‘28! Already a half dozen of our classmates who went to prep school - led by David Rich, have proudly planted the concept of the 50-Year Affiliation Program and the Class of 1978 in the hearts and minds of future members of the Class of ‘28. Last summer, these guys were there welcoming the Class of ‘28 on their first day at USMAPS. Since then, they have been at several USMAPS activities interacting with cadet candidates and their parents showing our 50th Year Affiliation Class of 1978 colors.

Another group of classmates - led by Rob Grubbs, are starting to build relationships with cadet candidates and their parents, and building up the cadet candidates’ energy and enthusiasm for the upcoming forty-seven month experience ahead of them, and no doubt spreading the word across the country about our 50th Year Affiliation with the Class of ‘28. Our classmates are working with USMA Admissions, local Military Academy Liaison Offices, and West Point Societies. They will be reaching out to these cadet candidates at Founders Day events and West Point Parent Club gatherings over the next four months developing the synergy between our two classes.

Then comes our R-Day work at West Point - June 30th and July 1st. AOG asked us to support the two days of activities (really 24 hours) with at least twenty classmates, along with any spouses/significant others who would like to participate. Last year, the Class of ‘77 had a total of seventeen classmates and spouses participate for both days. AOG asked for more alum support this year from our class. The Ice Cream Social is on Sunday afternoon, June 30th at AOG’s Herbert Hall. Our role at the Social is to mingle with new cadet candidates and their families, and to answer questions from the new cadet candidates and their families.

After the Ice Cream Social, I hope that you will plan to join us for a Class of ‘78 dinner at a local restaurant.

R-Day support begins at zero-dark-thirty on July 1st - well before first light. We will be setting up stations outside and inside at Eisenhower Hall. One team will be stationed up on Ruger Road above Ike Hall welcoming the Class of 2028 new cadet candidates and their families as they disembark shuttle buses. This team will most likely be joined by several of the head coaches of Corps Squad teams. Another team will be posted along the walkway to insure traffic flow of families into Ike Hall’s auditorium. A third team will be handing out ‘crying towels’ (Kleenexes) to moms and dads coming out of the auditorium after their new cadet candidates depart and their emotions of pride kick in.

The last team - Team Eschbach, which will be inside Ike Hall, where Susan and Pete will be handing a welcome letter & print to new cadet parents - one per family, from our Class. We're fortunate to have such a gifted illustrator among the brotherhood, and Pete has once again, come through and exceeded expectations. Click here to access the letter and print. Handing out water bottles to all of the guests will be a major element of each team’s duties. EndEx for R-Day support is expected on or before 1300 hours on July 1st. Jim Moye shadowed the Class of ‘77 last year on R-Day and will join us this year, so I know we will do it right.

Housing accommodations: AOG has kindly reserved twenty rooms for us at the Holiday Inn Express in Fort Montgomery. Please see attached agreement. They have reserved twenty rooms for us for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. Please give Holiday Inn Express a call to put down your credit card to reserve one of those rooms as soon-as-possible. These rooms will be released to the Class of 2028 families in April if they are not claimed by our class.

My immediate request is that you email me asap confirming your participation or ask to be added to the roster. In doing so, please verify contact information with me - email and cell number, let me know if your spouse/significant other will be joining you and their name, football jersey size for you (and your spouse) S, M, L or XL, and where you plan to stay and the dates for arrival and departure. Once all of the responses are in, I will send out an update.

Thanks for supporting our 50 Year Affiliation Program work. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to reach out to me.

Billy Harner
864-322-3279
william.harner@gmail.com