Virginia Military Institute - Bomb Yearbook (Lexington, VA)

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Tony Hamilton — President Paul Jussel — Vice President Jose Gomez — Historian August 20, 1 975 — Matriculation January 27, 1 976 — Breakout November 1 8, 1 977 — Ring Figure May 1 9, 1 979 — Graduation As graduation approaches, we the class of 1979 can now reflect upon our four years at the V.M.I. Our cadetship began August 20, 1975, when 431 individuals from a variety of backgrounds entered Limits Gates Little did we realize the impending trials and tribulations of this most demanding period of our lives. All of us experienced the loneliness, the degradation, and the humiliation of the Rat Line, but with the help of our dykes and the Brother Rat Spirit, we achieved our goal. On January 27, 1976, we 431 individuals became one, the V.M I Class of 1979 The onset of our Third Class year brought visions of grandeur. Yet the absence of our dykes and the ever present nemesis of academics, brought us back to the reality of the V.M.I, system We persevered however, and looked forward to our Second Class year and Ring Fig- ure. At that time. Ring Figure 79 was the highlight of our cadetship. With the acquirement of our rings we gained a new sense of pride and renewed purpose in our class and ourselves Additionally, our Second Class year brought a taste of the true college experience. Our First C lass year dawned with startling clarity. Positions of lead- ership encompassing the entire rank and social structure of the V.M.I, were filled by First Classmen. Men, formally of indifferent postures, abandoned their quiet security to assume the task of disciplining the incoming class. With proud eternal motives, each man contributed to the breakdown and subsequent embryonic growth of a new rat con- sciousness. Barracks became the scene of conflicts in which each man ' s sense of right and wrong was tempered by the anvil, and defined by experience. The success and failure of our evolving efforts will forever be a part of the first resulting generation: the dykes of 1982. Challenged by the opportunity of instill a new set of lasting val- ues within our dykes, we abandoned the soft conscience generated by popularity, and used the rat line as a means to develope discipline; the attribute we recognize as essential to all great achievements. Now, at the close of our four year experience our Class reflects upon barracks life with a satisfaction infinitely gVeater than that engendered by good times. We see a land of healed wounds and countless treaties, culminating in that most humble, yet greatest attribute of all: friendship, bond of mutual adversity. This bond, devel- oped through the common trials of cadet life, establishes a V.M.I, man far and above the common grain. We leave our dykes with the experi- ence of a most difficult year. Their completion of it, has insured them of that same satisfaction, and more importantly, has insured us simi- larly, of an outstanding graduate. 24 FIRST CLASS

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FIRST CLASS 25