The Picnic : Fort Hunt Park : Sunday

• Our own mini Rolling Thunder! Cool bikes. Thanks Darrell!
  
• The Dads truck - vintage.
  
• A few people seen at the picnic..Terry and Leslie Kinder, Bryan Venable, the Rivers - Alan and Rick, Margaret Gililland-Mahan, Caroline Quenstedt, the Larsens - Liz, Fran and??, Teresa-Miller-Yung (84), Bob Stickell (7?), Stasia Wolicki, Chuck Rivera, Petrillo, Tria Idleman, Brian Matson...
  
• All those gorgeous kids. Clay (Susan Stickell Hoffman), Matt (Amy-Allen-Chabot), Fiona and Anneliese (Steve Bush), Ian and Elizabeth (Temple Musselman-Whitson), Hayley (Ted Wells) just to list a few.
  
• Best dressed was Tina Sevilla in her groovy vintage Fort Hunt Federals shirt.
• Carrie Krysa-O'hara and Mindy were so organized - hire those two for all your picnic functions! The food, drink and beer (even a keg) held out till the end with very little left over to pack up.
  
• Toys were available for the kids (frisbees, water guns, water balloons etc..) which prompted the kids to start water wars! Or that might have been me that started the water wars....
• I need to dispel a rumor...some of those that arrived late to the picnic were told that they just missed the Crabfest...we did not really serve crab. We served Subway Subs, Chips, Cookies, and Watermelon. There WAS a crabfest in the Pavillion the day before and depending on where you were standing and which way the wind was blowing - you could smell it. So - you did not miss out on anything, really!! Think 'swimming pool passes' upper classmen were selling us in our freshman year <grin>.

The Main Event : Holiday Inn - Saturday Night

Wow! That was fun! A few quick notes...

• The room looked great - plenty of space - food stations were a very good idea - you could eat whenever you wanted - parking in the hotel was actually free!
• Last-minute drop-ins included Susan Sawer and Gary Potts and Scott Staton.
  
• The gift bags were fun, though someone at my table started suffering flashbacks with the peace symbol chain when she put it on. Luckily, there were green and gold M&M's for her to eat when she crashed and started suffering from the munchies.
  
• Who knew Mandy Jordan (78) could sing like that? Her duet with the DJ was beautiful.
• The Karaoke group was  great - I will get names later.
• The best dressed? Kris Sarro. In full Wonder Woman attire. Looking even better than in High School. She also won the superlative for Oddest Job. Kris Sarro - Super Hero.
• How did Lisa Grimes-Jasper win for most changed? She looked the same - had not lost or gained any weight, was the same height, that must have been a joke I missed!
• Most unnerving? Again - Kris Sarro - John Beltz - Cookie FlorCruz and a few others. Most of us were at our 30th reunion. They looked like they were at their 10th. <grin>
• Best lines overheard...When Kris Sarro arrived, Mandy Jordan walked over to her and said "Wow. I was planning to wear the same thing. Thank goodness I changed my mind. That would have been sooooo embarrassing." While selecting the recipient of the superlative for most pets...the announcer was asking "Does anyone have more than 5 dogs?" My table was replying "I have a fish tank!" and "I have an ant farm!".
• Mindy and Pam worked tirelessly and they really put on a beautiful and organized event! (does Mindy ever sleep? and why doesn't anyone know how much she does behind the scenes?)
• The caps and shirts look much better than the photos we have here - and they are selling really quickly..only a few caps left. Cookie's daughters are wonderful.
• The party ended after 1am...

The Village Wharf - Friday Night

Hundreds of Federals flowed in and out of the Village Wharf Friday night. Some quick notes.

• At least 6 class years were represented - excellent turnout!
• Cookie's beautiful daughters did a great job of displaying and selling Fort Hunt merchandise.
• Someone brought and mounted the Coca Cola - Home of the Fort Hunt Federals sign that used to hang up on the bleachers. Apparently - it is passed around among alumni and shows up at special events. People lined up in groups to take pictures under it.
• A few classmates that I recall seeing...Jim Reosti, Don Owens, Cookie FlorCruz, Matt Weathers, Jeff Butchko, Rick Echard, Cindy Addis, Diane McKnight, Temple Musselman, John Beltz, Gordon Carriker, Fritz, Jim Reosti, Martin Lopez, Bob Davenport, Mindy McGuire, Karen Lewi, Liz Redd, Susan Stickell, Leslie Umphrey, Pam Shoaff.
• Especially nice to see  those that had to leave  the area before graduation - yet, feel a kinship with us - Carla McDowell, Teresa Harney, Ted Wells.
  
• A few that I recall from other classes...Mandy Jordan, Amy Davis, Patti Miller, Stuart Whitson, Brendan O'Connor.

Comments (11)

Thanks to all for a great reunion!
written by Mary Ann Bastedo , August 12, 2007

Cheers to all those who worked endlessly to put on such a terrific 30th for the mighty Class of '77! A great time was had by all!! I was only able to attend the Saturday big event - but loved every minute of it. Seeing so many old friends again was a real treat. Without a doubt - FORT HUNT LIVES!!!! Looking forward to seeing everyone's pictures from the weekend. Is there any way we can all post our photos here? And what is the chance of purchasing a copy of the slide show? I'm sure there are many who would love to have one! Again - thanks a million to everyone who helped to put it all together!! - MAB

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Photo Collection
written by Celia FlorCruz , August 13, 2007

I had a wonderful time with all of you. What a great collection of old friends. Over the course of the weekend, several people from other classes commented on how well our class's reunion committee had coordinated the many moving parts of the events. That is really the key, sharing the work. I think that 77 wins the Spirit Stick on this one. Locke Shufflebarger can lead us in the "It's in the locker!' thing to celebrate.
Please send in your photos. Our webmistress, L.Chris Miller, has offered to work with me to consolidate a disc that we can make available to the group. I think we can add that slideshow, too. I was able to take only the barest few photos as I got too busy blah-blahing with everyone. So please, send in those photos!
I love you guys.
--Cookie

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30 Year Reunion
written by Dianne Ewers O'Brien , August 13, 2007

Again, I applaud all of you who worked so hard to make this such a wonderful, memorable event. Celia, thank you for writing the Ft. Hunt booklet as the information you provided is meaningful to all of us as Fort Hunt will always live in our memories and in our hearts. Kris Sarro, I came there feeling old as I am about to be a grandmother, but if a classmate of mine can look that good at our age, I can't be that old!! Next time, we should add a talent show with all those beautiful voices out there! It was great seeing all those familiar faces. Most importantly, the leadership and organizational skills exemplified by Celia, Mindy, Karen, Susan(s), Pam, Chris, Liz and all the others who graciously devoted their time to making this such a successful event, along with the communal atmosphere shared by all the alumni, is testament to the fact that the Fort Hunt High legacy lives! – Dianne Ewers (O’Brien)

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Who Is Celia?
written by Mary Ann Bastedo , August 13, 2007

I only know Cookie!!!

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The Long and Winding Road
written by Bob Davenport , August 13, 2007

As I look back on the past few days of reconnecting, "The Long and Winding Road" runs through my mind. Many years ago we left our friends to begin our futures. Little did we know the obstacles, sharp turns and challenges we would face along the way. And now...we stand back here looking in the door we once left.

Our classes desire to get back together and share our experiences and joys as well as the hard times only shows how much we value our early friendships. The words shared on our home page from Robert E Lee have never rung truer:

"There is no community to which my affections more strongly cling than that of Alexandria (Fort Hunt), composed of my earliest and oldest friendships, my school fellows, and faithful neighbors."

Cookie, thank you for the history book. I read it cover to cover on my flight home and could not have felt more connected and proud of my high school heritage, classmates and community in which we lived.

Many times I have contemplated whether our graduating class had a polarizing event to give us an identity. Our older brothers and sisters faught for or against a terrible war in Viet Nam and began the social revolution. The classes after us became the "Generation X" and associated with the modern technologies. We had Disco.

While that "cause" may still elude me, I know that my class is one of Hero's and Heroines, Educators and Engineers, Mom's and Dad's but most important of all, friends!

Karen, Mindy and Pam, your work as lead coordinators and meeting holders insured we would have a great time. You did not fail. I would like to include in my thanks, Susan Stickell for being there when I first tried reconnecting to everyone. Mark, Carrie, Liz, Chris and Susan C., thank you for being there and wanting to put in the extra time to pull this together.

Finally I would like to offer what ever help I may with coordinating the next big event. Do people hold a 31 year class reunion? We can have Mike Gerlach, Jim Reosti and Mandy form a Karaoke band. Peace!

p.s. watch your cholesterol and take a walk.

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Karaoke Kid
written by Mike Gerlach , August 14, 2007

Thanks sooo much to all of those who helped make this renunion the pace setter. We who attended were the "flesh and bones", but you all were the heart and soul. It was an incredible priviledge to have attended the weekend events. There is certainly something special about our class. There was also something magic to have not seen people in 30 years and yet find instant commonality in each of our stories. We had experienced life in our different events and lives. However, we all have had our ups and downs, our good times and our bad times, joys and sorrows. And for those snapsshots of moments when we talked together, we had commonality. If I only had 48hrs in Saturday night!!! Thanks also to Darrell, Jim R, and Mandy for making that night for me one of the best. By the way, is there karaoke in heaven?

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Back in high school once again.
written by Darrell , August 14, 2007

I just wanted to thank eveyone who worked so hard on the reuion.
It was a blast, I had great great time. So thank-you for putting
me back in high school one more time
Darrell

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...
written by leslie umphrey , August 14, 2007

Thank you to the reunion committee! What a wonderful weekend. I haven't been back in so long and yet I felt instantly connected from the moment I walked into the Wharf! I loved seeing all of your beautiful faces again - I will forever treasure the moments. Leslie Umphrey

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Rubber Duckys, Wonder Woman and Federals Magic
written by Mike Fitzgerald , August 15, 2007

I sit here at my computer dumbfounded (or found dumb) replaying the reunion in my head. Which leads to an adage that says "when running out of old memories, make new ones". I think the Fort Hunt class of '77 made new memories on August 10th-12th,2007.

I had a blast. The myriad of thoughts at the Wharf while trying to casually recognize folks. I gave up on that and did the 'ol glasses routine. Ha,ha like "what's your name, sonny?" The girls I remember from those days still look very good. It's a good thing I didn't dye my hair. Otherwise, I would not have won the "Biggest White (gray) Hair Award".
The organizers did a superb job! Mindy, Susan, Cookie, another Susan, Chris Miller (whom I "proposed to" at the Sat. night event) and Rick Rivers in P.I. role. Lot's of folks from Hollin Hall. Dad Suggs, Rick Hansen, Gary Shoemaker, Patti Carter et al. Also, the DJ did a fine job saturday night. Course I had to mention that.
Thanks too all for being there. See ya in 2017 Lord willing. Fitz

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Blissful
written by Celia FlorCruz , August 17, 2007

Chris, Thanks for putting up such a great site. I can peek in here and see that there are more than a few others out there who also thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Thanks also for putting together the fabulous photo galleries. I have enjoyed myself at every one of our reunions. The best part is discovering "new" old friends when meeting and talking to classmates whom I didn't know well as a teenager. We have so much in common. It really is just like discovering a friend I never knew I had. What a gift. Thanks to all of you.
---C

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Pretty damm cool!!!
written by Don Owen , August 23, 2007

To be honest, I was on the fence about coming to the shindig... and after some thought, decided that there really were a lot of folks that I'd like to get reacquainted with. Man, I'm really glad I did... I had a blast both nights. I'd first like to say thanks to all those who tirelessly worked on putting this together. I was flabergasted as to how well it went off despite not hiring a company to do all the leg-work. Great extra touches that made this extra special... most notably the "yearbook in review" handed out on Saturday night... great reading. Gordon and Jim, great catching up with you guys again, you're getting better with age! A few other notables... Leslie Umphrey was as gracious and lovely as ever...Bob Davenport - a treat sitting next to you and your lovely bride... a lot of folks I just didn't get a chance to chat with enough... Nancy Vidas, Lisa Grimes, Steve Fitzgerald, Steve McGough, Chris Miller to name just a few. And Pam Shoaf, thanks for helping me decide to be a part of the festivities! Too bad we have to wait 10 years for another one. Oh well, I guess it's off to the Wharf at Christmas-time.

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