HELLO ’68!! Thanks to the work of our 45th Reunion Committee and the leadership of Al (Cecil B.) Blumberg, as our Reunion Chairman, and Neal (Frank Capra) Starkey, as our Chairman for Class Participation/Giving, most of the information about the reunion may be seen in living color on two videos that are hosted on our USAFA ’68 Class website (www.usafa68.org). Check it out to get the latest reunion news and updates! Questions? Contact Al Blumberg at 719-331-4343 or ablum68@hotmail.com.

45TH REUNION BASICS: Dates: 31 October – 2 November; Reunion Hotel: Colorado Springs Marriott on 5580 Tech Center Drive, Colorado Springs 80919 / Phone: 719-260-1800 / Toll Free: 800-932-2151; Room Rates: Regular Room $109 per night / Large Room $129 per night; Hotel Reservations Open: 1 June; 45th Reunion Registration Forms: Available on AOG website (www.usafaaog.org) on 1 June; AOG Liaison for Reunion: Sara Dozier; Reunion Merchandise: Will be hosted on Class website by 1 June – Questions to Vince Rusinak.

Planned Activities: Thursday, 31 Oct: Registration opens at hotel; Pheasant Hunting – POC: Doug Wilson / Begins approximately 9:00AM; Golf: Academy Blue Course / Begins at 1:00PM; Check-In Bash at hotel / Begins at 6:00PM / Attire: Casual or Halloween costume.

Friday, 1 Nov: Memorial Service at Academy Cemetery / POC: Dale Oderman / Begins at 10:30AM / Attire: Coat and Tie; Mitchell Hall with Cadets for lunch meal (must sign up for this event) / Begins after Memorial Service / Attire: Coat and Tie; Academy Update briefings by USAFA key staff / Fairchild Hall – Lecture Auditorium F1 / Begins at 1:30PM / Attire: Coat and Tie; Banquet at hotel / POC: Bill Sasz / Begins at 7:00PM / Attire: Suit and tie and appropriate wear for the ladies.

Saturday, 2 Nov: AOG Tailgate outside Falcon Stadium (Tickets may be purchased at event prior to football game); Football game USAFA vs. USMA / Start time: TBD by TV schedule; Individual time or Squadron reunions after football game / Start Time and Venue: TBD by squadrons.

Sunday, 3 Nov: Get-Away Day; Optional Brunch / Venue: Carl and Debbie Janssen’s home (18647 Lower Lake Road, Monument, CO 80132) / Time: 10:00AM – 2:00PM (RSVP to Carl if you plan to attend / E-mail: cjanssenjr@aol.com/ Phone: 719-488-6778 / Cell: 719-244-7644.)

CLASS PARTICIPATION/GIVING FOR REUNION: Unlike previous reunions where funding was solicited from classmates for a singular class gift, your donation for our 45th Reunion will put you in the driver’s seat to participate in a fund drive for the Academy writ large. You can designate a specific squadron, academic area, club, sport, or activity where your donation should go and/or you can participate at a more significant level by becoming a member of the Sabre Society. Whether your gift is large or small, the key to this initiative is to get as many classmates as possible to participate by giving something to our alma mater. Our POC for this effort is Neal Starkey.

EAST COAST REUNION: The 2013 East Coast Reunion will be held at Ed and Karen Eberhart’s home at 3444 Roberts Lane North, Arlington, VA 22207 on 22 June and will begin at 6:30PM. If you plan to attend, please send an RSVP to Ed at eeberhart@afba.com.

“Joint Service Commissioning Ceremony. L-R: Col Greg Shuey, USAF (Ret); 2LT Jonathan Kincaid, USA; LT Rod Kincaid, USN (Ret)”

PASSING THE TORCH: The photo above was taken at Jonathan Kincaid’s commissioning ceremony with his father, Greg Shuey, and his grandfather, Ron Kincaid (a U.S. Navy pilot), pinning on Jonathan’s new gold bars. In his note Greg writes, “I spent much of my Air Force career working with, or in Army organizations so it was probably not a surprise when three of my kids became Army soldiers and one a Marine. Sadly, no one followed dad’s AF footsteps. All four are combat vets of Iraq and Afghanistan. One is on a second tour now (Maj. Heather Shuey) and another is leaving shortly for his second (1Lt Jonathan Kincaid). By the way, Jonathan came back from Afghanistan, got his Bachelor’s and Master’s degree while being in the Army Reserves and serving as the Army ROTC Cadet Commander at Kansas University.” Greg also writes that he is serving as the President of the AOG’s Kansas City Chapter.

A TORREANO BY ANY OTHER NAME: A hearty ’68 congratulations to Mark Torreano’s brother Mike who was elected as one of the newest members to the AOB Board of Directors.

“Merry Christmas from Jody and Susie Smith”

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS IN MARCH: Waiting until Daylight Savings Time began to send Christmas greetings, Jody and Susie Smith write, “The highlights of our year were the birth of our 3rd grandson, Jackson Rogers Smith, on Sept. 13, 2012. He is the son of Chris and Angela. Chris and Angela were married December 14, 2012 in Maui, Hawaii. They both have jobs connected to the building of the new San Francisco/Oakland Bay Bridge. They live in San Ramon, California.

Joe and his wife Amanda’s two sons, Lincoln, who will be turning 5 years old in July, and Ozzie who will be 3 in October, keep their folks busy. Amanda works for a company called College Success Foundation which is a non-profit foundation that helps kids go to college and get into the work force. Joe is in the process of changing jobs.

Meanwhile, Susie has been doing some volunteering at the local hospital, swimming laps at the pool, working on scrapbooking online at Heritage Makers, and doing a bit of genealogy.

Jody hunts on the farm and is enjoying turkey season which started the last week of March, He has been attending the Gideon prayer breakfasts on Saturdays. Take care of yourselves and for those who we don’t see very often, we wish we could change that. God bless you real good!”

“Tom and Evelyn Jones of Pagosa Springs”

LIGHT ON FOR YOU AT NEW B&B IN PAGOSA SPRINGS: First-time Checkpoints writer Tom Jones writes, “Evelyn has been in Pagosa full time for almost ten years while I have been commuting back and forth to Albuquerque for my job. Due to cutbacks in military space I lost my job in January so have rented my house in Albuquerque and have become a Colorado resident. I am hoping to get picked up again in a month or so but that remains to be seen (so please nothing on Facebook, etc.).

We have opened a Bed and Breakfast in Pagosa Springs which we thoroughly enjoy and which helps defray some expenses. Check out: http://www.elktracebedandbreakfast.com/.”

I recently attended the first reunion (after 43 years) of Moody Class 70-06 and saw Jim Bettcher, Roger Moseley and Howie Towt and their lovely wives. They had not changed much while I have grown a little rough around the edges as you can see. I should have taken a picture but never have a camera when I need one.

THAT’S A WRAP: Mind the flak; keep ‘em flying, and keep those cards, letters, e-mails, and photos coming in to Pat Russell and me. Ciao for now. Tim