Dear VFMA&C Community,

Spring is here! Springtime is always the busiest season of our academic year. We are working hard now to prepare our campus for the multitude of activities that will take place in the upcoming months. Events include Alumni Homecoming Weekend, Mother’s Day Weekend, International Day, Operation Immaculate: Campus Spring Clean-up Day, the Trojan Spring Classic Baseball Tournament, Tattoo, and of course the culmination of our academic year - College and Upper School Graduations, Middle School Commencement, and the Early Commissioning Program Commissioning and Pinning Ceremonies.

This year, our annual Tattoo performance will be an outdoor event, taking place on Saturday, April 21 from 5-7 PM on the Parade Field. Parking will be available in the South Campus parking lot, and we ask that you enter campus through the Mess Hall gate. We will have cadets there to guide your way. The VFMA&C Regimental Band, The Forgemen Drum & Bugle Corps, JROTC and SROTC Drill Teams, D Troop and the Washington Pipe Band are practicing hard to perform at the tops of their abilities.

The VFMA&C parade season will begin on Sunday, April 15 immediately following our regular 11 AM Sunday chapel service where The Honorable John H. Dalton, Former Secretary of the Navy will speak on trustworthiness. We look forward to you visiting campus this spring when it is in full bloom. It is quite an exciting time to be at VFMA&C.

Sincerely,

Charles A. McGeorge
President

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CADET ACHIEVEMENTS

Highest GPA

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Company of the Month

Band - First place	D Troop - Second place
G Company - Third place	E Battery - Best drill company

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Valley Forge Military Academy Student to Attend Presidential Classroom National Security Program and Presidential Classroom Scholars Program in Washington, D.C.

Giovanni M. Russell, a third class VFMA cadet, has been selected to attend Presidential Classroom's National Security and Presidential Classroom's Scholars program from June 10 to June 23, 2007 in Washington, D.C. The last Valley Forge student to participate in Presidential Classroom was in 2003.

Presidential Classroom's mission is to provide the highest quality civic education programs for outstanding high school students, using Washington, D.C. as a classroom. For nearly four decades, more than 120,000 students from across the United States and around the world have attended Presidential Classroom's week-long programs, gaining knowledge, insight and experience from this extraordinary educational opportunity.

Giovanni will work with his peers on a group project throughout the week, applying new skills and ideas immediately after learning them. He will also have an opportunity to earn college credit through the University of Virginia for his week at Presidential Classroom. He will graduate from Presidential Classroom with refined leadership skills and deeper understanding of politics, benefits that enhance their educational and career aspirations.

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Cadet Poster Contest

The Health and Physical Education Department would like to thank Tim Flynn from Sodexho for once again sponsoring its annual Anti-Tobacco/Character Education poster contest. The posters are created by cadets in the Health Education and Advanced Health Seminar classes. The winning posters are on display in the Regimental Mess Hall.

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Cadet Drummers Perform at the Kimmel Center

A select group of cadets performed at the Orpheus Club of Philadelphia Concert at the Kimmel Center on February 28. Their performance in the concert was outstanding, and their behavior and overall representation of VF was recognized and applauded by not only the audience, but especially by several members of the Orpheus Club who are either former cadets or have some connection to our school. Cadets Jeremiah DePass, Anthony Baldi, Gregory Hawkins, Diego Ruesga, and Sumner Wubbenhorst should be commended for their high level of musicianship and professionalism.
- 1LT Brian Patishnock, Assistant Director of Music

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VFMA&C Regimental Band Competes at 31st Annual Military Band Festival

The VFMA&C Regimental Band recently returned from the 31st Annual Military School Band Festival, held at Virginia Military Institute, where once again the band was victoriously awarded the Best Prepared High School and Best Prepared College trophies. VFMA&C has won both titles for three consecutive years and won one or both titles for seven of the past nine years.

Individual awards are as follows:

• Cadet Dominic Petote of Verona, PA: 1st Chair (silver medal) and Best Musician of the Festival (gold medal)
• Cadet Jonathan MacMoyle of Blairstown, NJ: 1st Chair (silver medal)
• Cadet Joseph Hernandez of Timonium, MD: 1st Chair (silver medal)
• Cadet George Statzell of Fleetwood, PA: 1st Chair (silver medal)
• Cadet Jeremiah DePass of Staten Island, NY: 1st Chair (silver medal)
• Cadet Andrew Culhane of Philadelphia, PA: 1st Chair (silver medal)

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VFMC Wrestling Team Shines

Congratulations to Coach Michael Selletti and the college wrestling team for an outstanding performance at the NCWA Northeast Conference Championships. The team finished 10th in the conference out of 22 teams. Five cadets qualified for the NCWA National Championships taking place in Dallas, TX next week. They are: Joseph Yavoich (4th place at 157 lbs.), Michael Morrin (4th place at 165 lbs.), John Law (6th place at 174 lbs.), Wallace Lytle (5th place at 184 lbs.) and John Stoltenberg (5th place at 285 lbs.).

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

Colonel Alfred Hess - February 13, 2007, TAPS

Colonel Alfred (Whitey) Hess passed away on February 13, 2007 at the age of 96.

Col. Hess was on the VF staff as a mathematics teacher and department head from 1946 to 1975. He was a graduate of West Point and a decorated infantry officer in Northern Italy during WWII.

During his years at Valley Forge at General Baker’s urging he received both a Masters and Doctorate degree from Temple University.

I was fortunate during my years at VF to have had Colonel Hess as a teacher and mentor. In his recognition I funded a scholarship in his name in 1997 that provides a $5,000 annual stipend to a worthy academy cadet. This year’s recipient is Timothy Powell.

Col. Hess’ family may ask for donations to the scholarship fund in lieu of flowers.
- Mr. George H. Schlidge

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BG James F. Coates - Monday, February 26, 2007, TAPS

It is my sad duty to announce to you the loss of BG James F. Coates, former Commandant of Cadets at Valley Forge Military Academy & College, who died on Monday, February 26, 2007 at the age of 80.

BG Coates served The Forge for more than 17 years from August 12, 1974 through November 1991 in various capacities with the Commandant’s Department as Tactical Officer of B Company, F Company, I Troop and Field Music, as Executive Officer, as Deputy Commandant, as Director of Cadet Services, as Adjutant and for six years as Commandant of Cadets and Director of Summer Camp; and as Special Assistant to the Superintendent. At his retirement ceremony part of the citation read "General Coates was characterized by extraordinary competency and dedication, by exceptional reliability and devotion to duty and by outstanding loyalty to the institution."

A viewing was held March 1, 2007 in Southern Pines, North Carolina, where he lived since retiring from VF. Funeral services were held the following day and interment was Thursday, March 8, 2007 in Arlington National Cemetery.

He is survived by his wife Margaret, affectionately known as Peg to most, a son Jeffrey, and three grandchildren. Mrs. Coates can be reached at 10 Killearn Court, Apartment 118, Pinehurst, NC 28374-6715.
- Mrs. Ginny Frantz, Director of Alumni Relations

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Recognition Ceremony Welcomes New Cadets

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President McGeorge Joins AMCSUS Board

It is with great pleasure that we announce that VFMA&C President Charles A. McGeorge has been elected to the Executive Committee of the Association of Military Colleges and Schools of the United States (AMCSUS).

AMCSUS is a non-profit service organization for schools, colleges and universities with military programs approved by the Department of Defense and which maintain good standing in their regional accrediting organizations. The organization’s membership consists of 42 outstanding military schools that meet the high scholastic, military and ethical standards required for membership.

Regular membership, like that of Valley Forge Military Academy & College, is extended to essentially military schools which have a member of the armed services detailed or approved by the Department of Defense, and which maintain good standing in their regional accrediting organization. An "essentially military" school is defined as an institution with military programs approved by one of the military services and which organizes its student body as a cadet corps, with cadets habitually in uniform and continually under military discipline while under the jurisdiction of the college or school. AMCSUS is broken into three membership segments: Academies, Military Junior Colleges and Senior Military Colleges and Universities. The Executive Committee presides over all three segments.

The Academy segment includes schools like Culver Academies, Fork Union and Army Navy Academy. In the Military Junior College segment features schools like New Mexico Military Institute and Valley Forge Military Academy & College. The senior segment has schools like The Citadel, Virginia Military Institute (VMI) and Texas A&M to name a few.

Please join us in congratulating President McGeorge on his election onto this prestigious executive committee.

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SUNY Maritime College and VFMA&C Make Articulation Agreement

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Road Closure Announcement

Beginning March 19, Eagle Road, between King of Prussia Road and Radnor Street Road, will be under construction through July 2007 in order to install a new water main. Work hours will be from 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM, Monday through Friday. In order to avoid the construction area we recommend using the following directions:

Follow the directions on the VFMA&C website from the direction you are traveling http://www.vfmac.edu/rentals_directions.html. Take Route 476 to Exit 13, Villanova/St. David’s - Route 30. Turn on Route 30 (Lancaster Avenue) heading WEST. Go approximately 3 miles and turn RIGHT on North Wayne Avenue. Go through 2 traffic lights. At the 3rd traffic light make a RIGHT on Eagle Road. Radnor Street Road is at the first traffic light. Turn left for the General Parking Lot, or continue straight on Eagle Road to Kuncl Lot for Cadet Drop Off and Pick Up.

You may still access the VFMA&C campus from Upper Gulph Road to Radnor Street Road; construction will not affect this area.

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Greetings from Iraq

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Cadets Enjoy Valentines Day Treats from the Parents Association

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2007 Printed Alumni Directory

Harris Connect, Inc. has sent questionnaires to all alumni to request their inclusion in the directory. If you haven’t received a questionnaire, please click on the following link https://www.alumniconnections.com/alumni_members/mylisting/. Harris Connect has begun their phoning phase of retrieving alumni information as well.

Would you like to stay connected with your classmates or find an old friend from the same cadet company? Please register in our online directory, update your information, and find your fellow alumni by visiting http://www.alumniconnections.com/olc/pub/VMA/oldintro//oldintro.cgi

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Class of 1957 Now Has a 50th Reunion Website

Members of the class of 1957 are encouraged to visit your own reunion website, www.vfmacalumni.com, to view ‘then & now’ photos and brief personal bios to get reacquainted with your fellow alumni before Homecoming Weekend. Please send your photos and bio information to Mrs. Ginny Frantz, Director of Alumni Relations, at gfrantz@vfmac.edu to be sure that you are included. If you don’t have access to a computer or the Internet, you can still send your photos and personal history to the Alumni Office. For more information on your 50th reunion, please contact your class agents Bob Wrede at rkwrede@att.net, or Jack Wyatt at jackwyatt@msn.com.

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100 Days to Graduation Dinner

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VFMA&C Alumnus Offers Ritz Carlton Discount

Sam Gatoo-Firth '91 & '93C, Director of Conference Services at the Ritz Carlton in the Kingdom of Bahrain, extends an invitation for Forge Alumni on R&R from military service in the Middle East to stay at the Ritz. They offer a highly discounted rate for US service men and women. Sam is more than happy to extend a warm welcome and assist Forge alumni in the area. If you call Sam from the US, dial 011+973+3933+1895 or to reach him at the hotel, dial 011+973+1758+0000.

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VFMC Alumnus Wins 16th Grammy

Jimmy Sturr '60C and his orchestra received their 16th Grammy Award for their latest release "Polka in Paradise". Sturr and his band have now secured a place in the top ten bands who have won the most Grammys. The band will now be starting its tour season with its first stop in South Florida to appear at the Strawberry Festival with George Jones and Clint Black.

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The Forge Fund

The Forge Fund is vitally important to providing much needed support to our most important assets - our cadets! Your generous support will assure that Valley Forge Military Academy & College remains the finest institution of its kind in the world. To make a gift, go to our secure online site at https://secure.igi.net/OnlineGiving/VFMAC/. If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to contact Forge Fund Director, Mr. Barry Griffiths, at 610-989-1327 or bgriffiths@vfmac.edu.

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Alumni in the Middle East

We would like to recognize the following alumni who have served, or are serving in the Middle East:

Ensign Michael Quinn Matt, USN - now serving aboard USS Ashland LSD 48.

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MARK YOUR CALENDARS

VFMC Terrorism Conference: Iraq and Beyond

On Tuesday, April 10 from 7-8:30 PM, Valley Forge Military College will host "Terrorism Conference: Iraq and Beyond" in Eisenhower Hall, 2nd floor. The conference is free, and open to the public. The purpose of this conference is to address the war on terror in the post 9/11 world, the centrality of Iraq in the war and its likely evolution. The three presenters will be Washington Times editor, Tony Blankley; Dr. Anthony Celso of VFMC; and Dr. James Hedtke of Cabrini College. The panel of questioners will be Commandant of Cadets, COL Thad Gaebelein; VFMC Assistant Professor of Leadership Studies, CPT Bershard Suber; Regimental Commander Jourdan Frain who served in Iraq; and Regimental Sergeant Major Joshua Luedtke who served in Afghanistan.

Parking will be available on the Parade Field. All are invited to attend the conference.

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Campus Clean Up: Operation Immaculate

The 79th Corps of Cadets has organized a campus-wide clean up for Friday, April 13, and invites volunteers from staff, faculty, alumni and parents to join in their efforts. Volunteers will gather at 8 AM and will work until 1 PM, and then enjoy a barbeque lunch on the Main Area. Cadet First Captain Jourdan Frain is the point of contact for this project and he welcomes volunteers to call him at 717-682-9228 or email him at jourdanfrain@yahoo.com. We appreciate your help!

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US Army Band Concert

On Saturday, April 14 the US Army Band will hold a musical workshop at 11 AM and will perform for the staff, faculty, cadets and the public at 2 PM. For more information, visit our website at www.vfmac.edu.

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Tattoo Announcement

Mark your calendars; Valley Forge Military Academy & College is excited to announce the rescheduled date for our annual Tattoo performance!

Tattoo will take place on Saturday, April 21, 2007 on the Parade Field at 5 PM.

Come see the VFMA&C Regimental Band, The Forgemen Drum & Bugle Corps, JROTC and SROTC Drill Teams, D Troop, Washington Memorial Pipe Band, and New York Military Academy Band perform in this annual extravaganza.

Everyone is invited to the performance, and be sure to bring your lawn chairs. Parking is available in the South Lot on Radnor Street Road. Please contact Ms. Pearline Allen, Assistant Director of Facilities at 610-989-1353 if you require handicap assistance.

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Homecoming

Information for Alumni Homecoming Weekend, scheduled for April 27 to 29, is available online. Please visit our website to see the schedule of events for Homecoming 2007, to register online for the weekend events, and to support the Alumni Association’s fundraiser by purchasing a raffle ticket for a chance to win a 50" HDTV plasma screen television with speakers, a TomTom GPS system or a basket of cheer. Go to http://www.vfmac.edu/alumni_homecoming.html.

Your brochure should arrive in your mailbox very soon, if it hasn’t already!

And a reminder to all former members of the Band, don’t forget about the Band Alumni Concert scheduled for 3 PM on Saturday, April 28.

Please note that the Hocker Hall Dedication originally scheduled for Sunday, April 29 had been rescheduled for Sunday, May 6. Details are below.

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Hocker Hall Dedication

A Hocker Hall dedication ceremony and award presentation will be held on Sunday, May 6, 2007. The dedication ceremony will begin at 10 AM in front of Hocker Hall. At the 11 AM Chapel Service, an award will be presented to Marcia and Richard Hocker ’64 to thank them for their generosity and their support of Valley Forge Military Academy & College.

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Golf Outing

The VFMA&C 14th Annual Golf Outing will be held on May 7, 2007 at the St. David’s Golf Club in Wayne, PA directly bordering the VFMA&C campus. The cost per player is $350 which includes golf, cart, lunch and dinner.

We greatly thank The McIntyre Group and Riley, Riper, Hollin & Colagreco who are our event sponsors and the Chambers Group who donated the outing invitations. There are many sponsorship opportunities available at different levels. All proceeds go to The Forge Fund which supports areas such as financial aid, technology, student support and physical plant. To register by credit card or if you have any other questions, please contact Barry Griffiths, Director of The Forge Fund, at 610-989-1327 or email bgriffiths@vfmac.edu.

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Spring Concert

The VFMA&C music department will put on its Spring Concert on Friday, May 11 at 7 PM in Price Hall. The concert will feature music played by the Regimental Band, The Forgemen Drum & Bugle Corps and the Regimental Choir. Admission to the concert is free and open to the public.

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The American Cancer Society's 7th Annual Relay For Life®

Valley Forge Military Academy & College will be the venue for RELAY FOR LIFE of MAIN LINE on May 18-19 from 12 PM - 12 PM (a 24-hour event). Admission is free. We invite you to join in the fight against cancer. Relay For Life® is a fun-filled overnight event designed to bring together those who have been touched by cancer in your community. At the event, we celebrate survivorship and raise money to help the American Cancer Society in its mission to save lives, help those who have been touched by cancer, and empower individuals to fight back. For more information visit www.acsevents.org/relay/pa/mainline.

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Parents Spring Festival Weekend

Parents and family members are invited back to campus for Parents Spring Festival Weekend from May 11 to 13. A special Mother’s Day brunch will be served on Sunday. Contact Director of Parent Relations Lini Stevens for more information at 610-989-1328 or lstevens@vfmac.edu.

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Roving Theatre Presents "Romeo and Juliet"

On Saturday, May 12 the Valley Forge Players, a group of cadet actors and actresses, will perform a modern-day rendition of William Shakespeare’s "Romeo and Juliet." The first scene of the play will be performed in one location and audience members will travel to a different location on campus for each scene under the direction of a narrator. The play will run three times, starting at noon and running twice thereafter in ten minute intervals. Admission is free.

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Career Day

Are you interested in sharing your career expertise with our cadets? Each year the Alumni Association sponsors Career Day on the Forge campus where alumni are invited to speak to the cadets about their field of work. This year it will be held on November 13, 2007. Please contact Mrs. Ginny Frantz in the Alumni Office at 610-989-1577 or gfrantz@vfmac.edu to volunteer.

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Alumni Association Calendar of Events

http://www.vfmac.edu/alumni_calendar.html

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Test Your Knowledge
Do you remember the photograph below? If so, please write us at questions@vfmac.edu. If not, check next month’s newsletter where we’ll fill you in on all the details. If you have photos to share, please send them to lcressman@vfmac.edu for consideration in upcoming "Test Your Knowledge" sections of the e-newsletter. Please include your name, class year and any information you can provide about the photograph.

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Spread the Word
To add your name to the electronic mailing list, please contact Lara Cressman at 610-989-1344 or lcressman@vfmac.edu with your full name, class year (if applicable) and e-mail address.

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ADDITIONAL LINKS

• Website
• Photo Scrapbook
• Newsletter Archives
• Calendar of Events
• Questions/Comments email questions@vfmac.edu

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