Dear Fellow WVSC Alumni Members

I thought that this would be an "appropriate way" to send a greeting to all of my good West Virginia State Alumni members and let them know that I had an enjoyable few days visiting on the Eastern seaboard over the past ten days.

In Baltimore, I attended the 132nd Anniversary Reunion of an organization know as "The 9th & 10th (Horse) Cavalry Association." Over the past ten years or so, I have been involved locally in Seattle along with others in an effort to maintain the legacy of those African-Americans who served this nation in the early units of the United States Army, particularly "The Buffalo Soldiers." I recall so very vividly the mentoring and wise counsel of my departed friend and teacher Roscoe C. Cartwight BG USA (Ret). Rock, as he was affectionately known to many, was responsible for a significant number of WVSC alumni members to be successful in their military careers, myself included.

In a similar manner, the Tuskeegee Airmen and The Montford Point Marine Corps Association are perpetuating the memories of those individuals who blazed trails to make it possible for the record number of successes that African-American citizens of this country enjoy today. If you are not involved at this time maybe you will give consideration to sharing your story with such organizations. West Virginia State College has been among the leading suppliers of distinguished military officers over the past fifty years.

Recently in the Charleston area there was a celebration of the accomplishments of the 14 Flag rank officers whho are graduates of the institution and soon many will return for "Homecoming 98" to once again meet and greet old acquaintances. In my humble estimation, it would not only be appropriate to recognize those outstanding individuals but also to recognize all of the others who held their commissions and successfully passed into "retirement" from both the active and reserve military service. The number is staggering and one that will mark the success of the military program at the college.

Finally, I would like to share the fact that I had the good fortune to visit with three Alumni members who were in attendance at the Baltimore meeting. They are:

Richard Wells - Class of '51 currently residing in Orlando, FL
Lewis Gordon - Class of '52 currently living in Tacoma, WA
Allan Blount - Class of '53 currently living in Silver Spring, MD

Additionally, I was able to visit Francis & Vincent Reed, Verona & Ross Evans during my stay in the Washington DC area. It is always good to maintain the extended family that each of us are blessed to have received as students and graduates of the college in days gone by.

I hope that this hasn't bored you and kindly move your foot before Old Fred expires. Smile.....

God's blessing to all

Sincerely,

James A. Manning, Class of '53