Founders Day Dinner 2008

Colonel Edward P. Naessens, Jr., USMA ’81, Deputy Head of the Department of Physics at West Point was the keynote speaker for our 2008 celebration of Founders Day on Saturday, March 15 at the Best Western Lehigh Valley Hotel & Conference Center Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. In addition to Nassens speech which was informative and extremely entertaining, we enjoyed renewing old acquaintances, and saluting our Alma Mater on its 206th birthday. Colonel Naessens presented a certificate naming the West Point Society of the Lehigh Valley a 2007 Distinguished Society to society president, Mike Tax ’79.  Those in attendance where delighted to hear from four local cadets who spoke briefly about their perspectives of cadet life and information relevant cadet activities.  Cadet Sergeant Kyle Ammon ’09 spoke about Plebe Summer; Cadet First Sergeant Ryan Brown ’09 described a day in the life of a cadet and cadet rank structure.  Michael Tax ’09 provided an overview of cadet summer training.  Finally, Cadet Lieutenant Robert Griffith’ 08 briefed us on the special envelope with branch insignia that he and his classmates received on branch night and explained the ADSO program. The lone plebe in attendance, Cadet Private Erin Anthony ’11 served as our ceremonial Sergeant at Arms. 

In addition to the cadets and twenty “old grads” in attendance, LTC Retired Jim Dalton, the Associate Dean of Operations and Registrar at West Point and his wife Deb attended the event as did Cadet Candidate Sean Hutchison with his parents and sister as well as many other cadet parents and friends of West Point.

 

Pictured from left to right:  back row, Cadet Candidate Sean Hutchinson, Erin Anthony ’11, Michael Tax ’09, Ryan Brown ’09, Robert Griffith ‘08

Front row: Colonel Ed Naessens ’81 and Kyle Ammon. '09

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