Virginia Military Institute - Bomb Yearbook (Lexington, VA)

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Welcome Back Spring Alumni Weekend Every year alumni return to the Insti- tute to see their Brother Rats and to relive their experiences as cadets. VMI alumni are perhaps the most dedicated alumni in the nation and this is evidenced b the generous gifts that are given to the Institute each year. This generosity was displayed by the Class of 1937 s substan- tial gift that was presented to VMFs Su- perintnendent General Sam S. Walker, during the customary review parade in which the corps honors this distinguished group of men. Alumni are the epitomy of the citizen-soldier ideal which VMI strives to pursue. These men were leaders in the military as well as in the civilian sector. .- lumni weekend is a fun time for all alum- ni and is a time for seeing old friends. lo Lil .ilumnus waves the confederate battle flag, an important part of VMI history, (above) Alumni from the classes of ' 17. ' 32. 47. ' 57, 67, ' 77 watch the Corps on parade, an important part of any alumni weekend, (right) Old Yell for the class of 1927 the VMI cheerleaders on the sentinel box in the old courtsard salute these distinguished graduates of the Institute (above riaht)

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■nDBRlBBRSSgSS • VP Changing Environs Graduation is the single most important event in the VMI experience. Graduation marks the end of ones cadetship and the beginning of a graduates responsibility as the citizen-soldier. Most graduates serve off their active duty obligations in the Army, Navy. Air Force and the Marine Corps. After serving their active duty obli- gations many alumni elect to leave the military and pursue careers in the civilian sector as lawyers, scholars, or as major business executives while still remainina as Graduation members of the active and inactive re- serves, fulfilling the citizen-soldier ideal that is the mission of the Institute. Graduation exercises commence with the customary review parade where the rising first class assume the command of the corps and the departing first class take the review of the corps. After the parade the corps marches into the old courtyard and is showered with the old status slips that were saved from the previous year. That night there is the customary Final Ball . The next day. there are commission- ing ceremonies where the graduates are sworn into their respective services as Sec- ond Lieutenants or as Ensigns. Next, there are the actual commencement exercises. Here the graduates receive their diplomas made of actual sheepskin. The commence- ment exercises are characterized by the distribution of the diplomas by order of major. There is the customary address by the valedictorian, who is the highest aca- demically ranked cadet of that particular class. The final event in the graduation ceremony is performed by the new regi- mental commander. The new first captain publishes the final orders of that academic year. These orders inform the returning members of the corps when they are to return in the fall, they also release the new- alumni from their duties and obligations as members of the corps of cadets. This day is a very special day, for it not only marks the end of ones life at VMI but marks the beginning of new experiences and challenges throughout life. Parents en|0 the last parade of their sons ' cadetship, a proud moment for all parents, (top) The new alum- ni take the review from the remainder of the corps, led by the rising first class, (above) The final act of the graduation review, the traditional showering of the corps with the year ' s status slips which was pre- ceeded by the Old Yell for the graduating class- eft)