...I graduated from Oregon State in both 1966 & 1967 (double degree).  I

had lots of close friends in both my class as well as the classes above

me and right below me.  In early spring 2002 I got a wild idea about

trying to track down a few of the "out of town" brothers that I hadn't

seen in almost 36 years.  I started sending out e-mails to the bros.

that I had e-mail address for and asking them if they knew of addresses

for other bros.  I told everyone that I was going to have an "end of

summer" bar-b-que at my house (my dear wife of 30 years helped me pick a

date) and wanted to extend an open invitation to everyone to bring their

spouses/ significant others or just themselves and come to my house for

an evening of brotherhood.

 

After a couple of months of e-mail conversations, etc. the date finally

arrived for the party and we were totally overwhelmed (as were all of my

neighbors) with the response.  (Up until the door bell started to ring I

had no idea how many people would arrive) We ended up with 63 brothers

plus friends (I think we figured a total of 100+ people).  The weather

was great and I have a big back yard so it worked out great but what a

time we had. I had not seen many of the brothers for 35-36 or more

years.

 

The most amazing thing to me was that many of them came from far away

places for a 6-7 hour get together.  There were brothers from Seattle,

Northern and Southern California, Idaho, Kansas, Hawaii etc. in

attendance.  One of my roommates my senior year, Maj. General Curt Loop

even flew out from Wash. D.C. for the evening and then hopped a plane

back to the Pentagon the next morning.  Boy, did we ever have a ball.

 

The true meaning of Brotherhood was never clearer in my mind.  All of

these men came from many, many miles away just to see each other for a

few hours.  What a wonderful experience.

 

I hope that this current group of brothers can have the same experience

someday!

 

In Hoc,  Bill