We came. We saw. We conquered.

Attention Corry High School Class of 1967:  This blog, entitled "We came. We saw. We conquered." is a follow-up to the pre-reunion blog posted in April that was entitled "We're back...".  It is about us and about all who gather together to reminisce about a shared time. 

It is hard to believe that the weekend of our 50th reunion is over. The celebration went so quickly -- not enough time really... and now here I am settling back into my normal routine as many others are still traveling back from whence they came to begin again where they left off.

How lovely is was to take a short break from today's agenda and tomorrow's concerns, and to just revisit the past for a few hours.  What a gift to share old stories, some that had been forgotten, others that were delightfully embellished. It seems that a reunion like this is not so much about what you may or may not have accomplished but about what happened or maybe did not happen in times shared a long time ago.  Nice.

Our 50th reunion was a success on many levels. Always an impressive group, the Class of '67 won first place in the Corry Fest parade as well as all the important trophies at the 143rd Annual Alumni banquet. More importantly though... it was just great fun seeing and sharing time with friends and acquaintances.  People came back to Corry from all over the place and bonded in their struggles to hear while the music was playing and to read the "not so fine print" on name tags that included a copy of each Senior Picture. (Good grief, did we really look so young then?) Once again, we overcame challenges and figured it out. Even fifty years down the road we are a creative and industrious group.

People get older, but true friendships do not age. They are preserved in time just waiting to live again. The thing is though... there is another important aspect of a gathering like this. It affords the chance to get to talk with classmates you never really knew very well and now wish you had. The class of '67 is filled with interesting people.  I just wish I had had the chance to talk with everyone.  Maybe next time.

We were back in full force.  We came. We saw. We conquered.  It is what we do.

Finally -- I must mention that I cannot take credit for thinking of the idea of writing a post 50th reunion blog. That idea came from a supportive friend -- also a survivor of the CAHS Class of 1967. I told her that I would not mention names in this post reunion blog, and am keeping my word (sort of... Thanks Linda of pirate fame!  Argh....) I know I am not alone in offering an enormous Thank You to you and to those who worked so hard to make this gathering possible.

We're back....

High School reunions are a big deal in Corry, PA. It is a part of who we are.  It's fun.  Now with our 50th reunion fast approaching, I find myself wanting to encourage classmates near and far to come if at all possible.  The more who come, the more memories to be shared and all that sort of thing.  And speaking of memories... here is what I recall of a few moments in time now almost 50 years ago. 

The year was 1967.  The month was probably May.  I was, for some reason that I don't remember, the person in charge of the Class of '67 gift committee.  Back then I would have been referred to as the chairmen.  We were not so PC in those days.  Anyway -- as such it was my job to speak with the high school principal and to agree upon a gift that our class could give to our school -- something fitting like another flag for the auditorium or a new podium or something we could afford with the money left in our account.  But --- no.  Much to my chagrin, our usually kind principal who favored smiles and red socks, was not receptive and was not smiling.  In fact he told me in no uncertain terms that our school did not want to remember the class of 1967 and that any money remaining in our class account would be taken and donated to the General Fund -- whatever that was. He then went on to point out to me the twenty-some diplomas he had spread out all over his desk and to explain that they were being withheld until damages were paid and offences made right.  Now I know very well that there are those of you out there who will have a better memory of all of this because you were actually involved, but...  you are not writing this blog, I am.  So, forgive me if I do not have all the details correct.  You can tell me what I left out when I see you at the 50th.  

The event as I recall was this...  a caravan of station wagons (remember those?) had moved from one nearby community to another and "borrowed" school mascot signs which were then placed inside our school.  As they were very large and metal, their placement did cause some damage as did the illegal entry to the building itself.  I was told that the Bison and Dragon were especially rough around the edges.  It was a scandal indeed.  I was never party to all the details, but amends were made, a local company replaced counters and funds suddenly appeared to make repairs.  Diplomas were not withheld thus enabling young men to move on their way to their futures. In particular -- one young man moved on to wander about in a loin cloth once in a while and on at least one occasion to lasso moving cars on Main Street where he was arrested by a fellow classmate. 

(I heard that the cannon in the city park is now permanently attached somehow. Just so you know.)  But I digress....

Lots of memories -- some fun, some not so much.  Anyway -- soon many of us will gather to celebrate both kinds of memories and all those in between. It is my hope that those who are still with us will be able to come home again or to stop into one of the gatherings throughout the weekend.  We grew up together and shared a lot of years - a lot of our lives.  What a gift to spend time with those who understand who another is at the core. There is something about sharing experiences that creates a bond.  Our class knows what it is like when your school actually does burn down and when young men go off to war. We also shared the lighter side -- proms, musicals, plays, all sorts of activities.... We have a great deal to talk about.  At one point in time, we wrote an entry for "Twenty Years From Now" for the Corrian.  Well now it is 50 years later. Let's get together and see where we are.

Please feel free to send the link to this blog to any members of our class. It would be so great to have a good turnout.  I don't know about you, but I am looking forward to spending time and reminiscing with others of our class.  It always was a special group. Below is a Date Saver that I found on Facebook that was posted by Maddy Jawdy Johnson. It has all the important information.  

CORRY AREA HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1967
50TH REUNION WEEKEND
JUNE 16, 17 2017

Friday – 7:00 p.m. - Get Together at VFW Pavilion

Saturday 11:00 a.m. - Corry Fest Parade
Class of ’67 Pirate Ship Float Entry
Parade Theme Pirates of the Caribbean

Saturday Night 5:00 p.m. – Class Picture at CAHS

Saturday Night 6:00 p.m. - Alumni Dinner at CAHS
The Corry HS Alumni Association is one of the oldest continuously running in the entire USA. The Class of '67 committee plans to attend and proudly represent our class and hope you will come and join us for the Roll Call of Classes that night.
 Great food and good time to stand with over 500 other Corry Alumni!!

Order dinner tickets by sending check or money order for $13/per ticket to Lisa Eastman, 820 East South Street, Corry, PA 16407 no later than May 20, 2017

Saturday - Class of ‘67 Get Together at VFW Social Hall immediately following dinner. Age appropriate music, light refreshments, fun surprises also included at no additional cost.

Contact -Maddy maj707@verizon.net (814 664-4877) or Linda 814 664-5423 linda.vanderschaaff@yahoo.com
Find us on Facebook page -Corry High Class of ’67 Reunion. You are also welcome to visit corryalumni.com to see their posts

In order to move our 50th Reunion Alumni Weekend plans forward we could use your financial support. Accepting cash, checks, stocks, bonds, jewelry, leftovers from your kids college funds, lottery proceeds, etc. Make Checks Payable To: CAHS CLASS OF 1967. Mail to: Lisa Eastman, 820 E. South Street, Corry, PA 16407. Your donation and dinner ticket cost can be combined in one check.
HELP PUT A SMILE ON OUR FACES - LET US HEAR FROM YOU Plans brought to you by Mary Bosak Schill, Candy Chircuzio Frontera, Clancy and Kris Lawson Walsh, Ted Bauer, Ed and Donna Culbertson Malek, Bob and Mary Migliaccio Palmer, Cary Saxman, Sue Elmquist Jaquith, Dixie Swanson Anderson, Vonnie McIntyre Orton, Lisa Eastman, Linda Miscik Triscari, Charise Ohrn Loringer, Paul Kubich, Rex Messinger, Janet Auer Way, Larry and Jerry Harrington, Linda Wolcott Vanderschaaf, Maddy Jawdy Johnson.
Area Lodging:Cobblestone Inn, Route 6, Corry; Ottaway Inn - West Church Street, Corry 814-665-9301; Something Special Suites - North Center Street, Corry 814-664-9444 Victoria on Main - East Main Street, Corry 814-664-3823; Pennsylvania Gast-Haus - Mechanic Street, Spartansburg 814-654-7700 www.PaGast-Haus.com; Peek n' Peak Resort - www.pknpk.com; Holiday Inn Express - Findley Lake, NY; Holiday Inn, Warren Pa

So... all that being said -- A huge thank you from all of us on the fringes to those who are working so hard to bring us all together. To fellow classmates out there -- keep checking Facebook for details on the reunion.  For now -- pencil in the dates June 16th and 17th on your calendar.  Better yet use a pen.  

We're still here and "We're back" -- whether the school wanted to remember us or not.  Let's get together and share the memories.