Two major related events in the summer of 2001 affected the classes of
1955 and 2005. The first was "Induction Day" on June 29, 2001 where the
new class of '05 was sworn in. The second was "Reaffirmation Day" on
August 11, 2001 where the new plebes of '05 got a chance to reconsider
becoming a
midshipman.
On May 15, 2002 a related event took place. This was called "Sea
Trials". Finally, the Jan/Feb 2003 issue of Shipmate has an article
about the class of '05 crest design. The class of '05 chose to include
the '55 class in their design.
Below are links to four separate pages for "Induction Day",
"Reaffirmation Day", "Sea Trials" and "2005 Class Crest
Story". Fourteen
photos
are included.
In the October 2001 Shipmate Class Notes, Denny Sullivan
had
this to say about these events:
From the "Prez,"
Denny Sullivan
Classmates recently
participated in two
Plebe Summer ceremonies to kick off the "Link in the Chain" Program,
which will enable interaction between our Class and the Class of 2005.
It is a new program, begun initially by the Classes of 1950 and 2000.
Over the past few
years, it has gained status and cohesion, and this year, VADM John Ryan
’67,
the Superintendent, formally asked us to participate. A small group of
our
Class attended the Induction Day ceremonies on 29 June when the new
Plebes
took their Oath of Office. The next Plebe Summer event was
Reaffirmation Day on 11 August on Worden Field. At this ceremony, which
was part of Plebe Parents’ Weekend, the new Plebes repeated
their Oath
following six weeks of rigorous training, after which they more fully
comprehend the Oath
taken on Induction Day; and they swore to abide by the Honor Concept
and
the Honor Treatise of the Brigade of Midshipmen following the moral and
character development training that had just taken place during Plebe
Summer.
Twenty-seven Classmates plus spouses and guests attended this function.
Hank Mustin
spoke
to the Plebe Class about the importance of the principles of
the
Naval Academy—Honor, Integrity, Loyalty, and Moral Courage.
After the
ceremony,
we adjourned for lunch to the Severn Room in Bancroft Hall where we
were
joined by the Superintendent, VADM John Ryan ’67, and the
President of
USNA AA, George Watt ’73, and their wives.
The Link in the Chain
Program is just a
few years old and the summer ceremonies only mark a beginning for
’55.
This fall the Class Executive Committee will meet and lay out a program
of interaction and bonding with 2005 that will carry through to their
graduation. We need input from Classmates as to what they would like to
do and how they want to participate. It is a meaningful and worthwhile
program, which we hope, will benefit the Class of 2005 and bring
satisfaction to many Classmates.
The Hank Mustin speech at the Reaffirmation Ceremony was
the
highlight of the events in the "Link in the Chain" Program,
which
enables interaction between our Class and the Class of 2005. It is only
fitting to pay tribute here to the Mustin family which has recently
received some recognition for their outstanding contributions to the
Naval Service and especially to the Naval Academy.
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