Ring Melt USMA 1970 - USMA 2020

‘70 contingent with 2020 class leaders. John Norton and Bill Arcuri with gold bar made from the donated rings. Names:  Skip and Fran Ryder, Luke Brennecke, Craig Rutler, Tre Carter, Terry Young, Ginny Brenner, John Norton. 

On January 25th, our affiliated class of 2020 held their Ring Melt Program. The West Point Association of Graduates’ Class Ring Memorial Program was established in 2001.  Since then, the gold from rings, which have been worn by graduates who served our nation in times of war and peace since before World War I, has been melted and mixed with new gold, becoming part of the rings for the Classes of 2002 through 2020.  This year’s ring melt honored 55 Academy graduates.  A small amount of gold is preserved after each melt so that the future class rings will have gold from all rings donated since the program began.  10 classmate rings were donated this year, the highest number in one donation, and they were added to the other 45 donated rings from classes from 1916 to 1985.  Bill Arcuri, Craig Rutler and Jeff Troxell were living member donations.  Of particular note, Craig’s grandson is a member of 2020.  Families of our deceased classmates donated the rings of John Brenner, Randy Carlson, Roland Carter, John Forbes, Jr, John Reitz, Brian Smith and Lawrence Wilkins. John Norton donated his father’s ring (1941) and Skip Ryder donated his grandfather’s (1918) and father’s (1942) ring.  In his closing remarks, 2020 Class President, Joshua Phillips, thanked the Class of 1970 for all their efforts in the Affiliation Program, acknowledged the great example our class has set, and promised the Class of 2020 would live up to our expectations.  Be on the lookout for AOG’s video of this event.

There are additional affiliation programs in the future.  Notifications will be publicized.  The next major event, Branch Night, will be held in November.  Our goal will be to have 2 class reps from each branch in attendance.  Additional information will be forthcoming.