Homecoming Weekend 2002

By Martha Petersante
Norwich Guidon Staff Writer

As the autumn colors began to dot the Dog River Valley surrounding Norwich University, home of the Cadets, alumni returned for the annual homecoming events.

The weekend kicked off with a parade by the Corps of Cadets, lead by the Cadet Col. Jacob Sotirioradas, in honor of the alumni.

"The students are the heart of this school, but you [the alumni] are its soul," said Norwich President Richard Schneider in his address to the students, faculty and staff, and alumni during the Friday afternoon parade.

Later that night the student activities counsel hosted MTV's DJ Scribble and a "Welcome Home" student alumni mixer.

A jam-packed day awaited alumni and their families on Saturday.

The day began with registration at 8 a.m., where 833 alumni registered, as well as another 813 adults and 218 children, who had accompanied them.

The traditional alumni parade began on Sabine Field at 9:30 a.m.

School pride overflowed as the alumni walked across Sabine Field in front of the current Corps of Cadets. The Regimental Band played a newly composed march, entitled "The Alumni March," in honor of Norwich Alumni.

Fred Steele, 91, from the class of 1939 led the parade onto Sabine field.

A larger smile and wave escaped from Steele as he rode in the back of the President's jeep.

Following closely behind were the "Horsemen of '42" proudly in step and displaying their guidon and banners as they celebrated their 60th reunion.

Former cadets and civilian students proudly carried their guidons and enjoyed the camaraderie of the event.

Members of the various classes presented gifts to the university in the form of ceremonial checks. The gifts totaled $2,024,888 dollars, according to Dave Whaley, vice president of institutional advancement, in a memorandum addressed to students and faculty on the Norwich University e-mail portal.

On a somber note, the names of those who have died since the last homecoming weekend were read aloud, followed by a 21-gun salute and echo taps.

School spirit again showed during the football game as Norwich went on to beat the Coast Guard Academy 24-17, much to the delight of the alumni.

"With the win, the Cadets regain possession of 'The Mug,' a trophy that has been presented to the winner of the Little Army-Navy game every year since 1931," according to the Norwich University website, (www.norwich.edu/news/2002/football1005.html).

The student activities counsel, led by Natasha Waggoner, 21, a senior communications major from Carlsbad, Calif., hosted a "tail gate, ice cream bash" after the game, where everyone could relax and enjoy themselves.

The various classes held dinners at local hotels. Members of the Norwich University Men's Quartet sang at various dinners.

"We got to listen to old war stories, mostly about Ernest Harmon," said Edward Brancato, 21, senior electrical engineering major from Brick Township, NJ., and baritone for the Regimental Men's Quartet. "The class of '52 was extremely happy to see us."

"We sang for the class of '57 at the Hilltop Restaurant, who were getting inducted into the Old Guard, and the Horsemen of '42," said Brancato.

"Everyone had a story to tell, from cadet of '52 who was one of [the] founding members of honor code to a graduate of the class of 1957 who designed the space suit for the Apollo missions," Brancato said.

It is not every day that "a regular cadet gets to sit around with General Todd, Kreitzberg, Abare and David Crawford," Brancato said, adding that it was entertaining for both the alumni and the members of the quartet.

Religious services were offered in White Chapel for various denominations.

Newly engraved names were unveiled at a sobering ceremony at the Harmon Wall Memorial at 9 a.m. on Saturday morning.

As the Regimental Color Guard commanded by Cadet Corrine LaFranscois lowered their flags, a maroon and gold wreath was laid in honor of those whose names were inscribed on the wall. Echo taps was then sounded by Cadets Eric Dowty and Brian Nickerson.

Emilano Tellado put hours and hours of hard work into this weekend, as the cadet in charge.

Tellado, 21, a senior political science major from Puerto Rico, said that "after countless meetings and hours of work, it was excellent to see the appreciation and joy of the alumni as they returned to their alma mater."

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