Virginia Military Institute - Bomb Yearbook (Lexington, VA)

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■ IIIH«« K. E, Dice, llisturian; G. A. Tucker, Pre.iident: B. R. Gardner, Vice President: Y. C. Tliompsoii, Treasurer HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1964 Nothing remains forever I Our world is in a state of constant change. Todaj ' the seashore is covered with driftwood and vegetation; tomorrow it will be nothing but an unblemished expanse of white sand. On September 7, 1960, 330 newly graduated high school seniors found themselves stranfled on a beach that belonged to a strange new world — a world of yellow Gothic buildings, sparsely furnished rooms in which everything that wasn ' t grey was green; shoe polish, Brasso, rifle numbers. Rat Bibles, and a thirty-four-hour day. This was our first look at the ' MI and many of us felt that Mardi Gras had not developed the true picture. Not only did we have to learn to walk and think differently, but we had to develop a completely new way of speaking. We now talked in terms of CCQ, FEI, SMI, RQ, RRI ' BD, and many other foreign terms that were in our ever pres- ent Rat Bible. With this we began our life at the Insti- tute, and the thought of our one day occupying the first stoop seemed an impossibility. September through March was filled with many hours of homework, drill, straining sessions, and very little free time. In early March, after a touch of Spring Fever, barracks was fully occupied, yet all was still as the first class began their series of class yells. Our fate had already been decided and only they knew whether it would be 64 ' or Rat Line. Suddenly a huge weight was lifted from our shoulders and we be- came old cadets. AVhy had we chosen to remain rather than find an easier life. To prove to ourselves that we could do it! Our third class year began by our finding a new toy: RATSl We began to show the new cadets what a Rat Line was really like. Much to our surprise we found being out of the Rat Line wasn ' t so easy. There were more studies, more responsibilities, and no dyke to look after us. Our knowledge continued to grow, and we learned all about DOC ' S, STEVE ' S, and MOOSE LOIXiE PARTIES. The latter was the source of our third class highlight. The first class hit us and we hit back. The entire class was awarded 1 and 5, but we established that we irere a class. Why had we stayed another year? To have an opportunity to enforce the Rat Line which was still verv familiar to us.

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As second classmen our year consisted of one event — Ring Figure. We planned it for many months, experienced it for one fabulous weekend, and relived il fur I lie rcsl of the year. There were moments al first wlien it apijcarcd that we would not have a Ring Figure, because the Institute was flexing its mu.scles again. Reluelantl ' , we gave in and found that no amount of principle could begin to replace the enjoyment of Ring Figure Weekend. Now we had three years of Spartan existence behind us, and all we had to show for it was a large mass of gold — whose value could never be measured in a monetary sense ! With varying degrees of enthusiasm and apathy we returned for our final year. As first classmen our respon- sibility had increased, and we were in charge of barracks; we set the example, and we had the last word. This was the year that had seemed so far away three years ago, but we had little time to enjoy it for we didn ' t want to Jk; five-year nien. . fler four . i;ir , our tangible rewards are only a ring and a ijipioma but there is much more that we have gained. ' I ' lie Spirit canrjot be measured, nor can the meaning of Rrother Rat. ' i he past four years have been far from ea.sy and, as a result, our number is smaller but our ties are stronger. Our les.sons have been many l»ut cannot be conveyed; one cannot explain the world of ' MI — one must experience it. With the sigh of relief that will accompany graduation, will also come member- ship in the elite group known as VMI Alumni. From the sea of millions we were cast upon the beach of a strange new world. Our existence on the beach was slK)rt, and now we return to the sea. We are stronger now and the knowledge we have gained will be enough to make our return ea.sy and rewarding. The First Class Table