55th Reunion Memorial Service Remarks by Dave Miller
Welcome again Classmates, Family, and Friends of the USNA Class of 1971.
And for those not here or that we don’t know about their status – let’s observe a moment of silence.
Just a few thoughts as we reflect on our departed classmates as well as ourselves. This Memorial Service is for our departed classmates – but really their story is our story, so it is about all of us.
As we reflect on our Scripture readings and in our songs, we remember our departed classmates with a bit of sadness, and nostalgia but also with even more joy. We were blessed to have them for the time they were with us. We remember them as men of loyalty, honor and integrity. They were faithful to us as classmates and shipmates, to the country as men serving our country and to their families as beloved and loving husbands, fathers, uncles, grandfathers, and finally leaders in every field of endeavor.
As a Class our 4 years together produced a bond as strong as any group could have and which endures through today. With this reunion we have visible proof of our love with over 43% (307) of our living graduates attending our reunion.
We were forged as a lot of classes were in the crucible of war and protest. It was not popular to be in the military and serving our country was becoming an abstract idea, past its time. We endured and proved that to not be the case, We went to sea, air, land and space and did our duty in tough times and good times. Today’s Midshipmen, for example our recently graduated link in the chain brothers and sisters of the Class of 2021, share our legacy and the foundation of patriot service we played a significant part in forming. That foundation results in the continuing support of the Naval Academy and therefore Naval Service that is priceless.
We entered as some of the most exceptional men the country had to offer and found out immediately that no – we were the lowest form of life on earth – a Plebe, and found out very quickly how true that was.
We enjoyed the camaraderie of sports, social events, academics, and military training, including yes, marching, where we endured by helping each other every step of the way.
We shared big and small things like come arounds, window closing, marching to chapel or out into town for services, intramurals, chow calls, 100th night, cruises, how to read signal flags and morse code from flashing lights, navigating by the stars and a multitude of various summer cruises and other activities. We boxed, wrestled, shot rifles and pistols, climbed the rope to the top of Macdonaugh Hall, and climbed the completely unsafe swinging ladder to the top of the natatorium and made the step or leap of death way below hoping for the thumb up so as not to have to do it again – ever. We made the trek to Melville in all conditions and knew all this was making us tougher. It made us and our fallen comrades what we are and were.
We learned leadership from our upper classes and applied the good and discarded the not so good to the classes following us and then out to the fleet. Mostly good though as I recall.
We made it through Coogan’s Bluff – which some of us found to not be bluff at all. And realized after the Air Force game they could and did fry us all. But kudos to the good aim with the rolls to the Air force General – I still think it was worth it.
We got our rings that night in June and still proudly wear them today.
Graduation and ceremony with our families putting on our shoulder boards and Bars was a glorious day for us and them to share.
Then out to the Fleet and Marine Corps – with even our aviators getting the thrill of a heaving deck on the way to flight school. We experienced – welcome aboard, you have the next watch, and we are underway at 0700 tomorrow morning.
When we completed our Naval Service we became farmers, attorneys, salesmen, teachers, politicians, corporate officers, consultants, airline pilots, doctors and all sorts of business people for profit or non-profit companies, clergy, policemen, firemen, clerks and volunteer servers in our communities and churches. We became dads, grand dads and uncles influencing future generations in ways we could not imagine as young men entering the academy in 1967. Our motto became and has driven our lives and remains strong today of Duty, Honor, and Loyalty.
Simply put we became us.
I was once told something about memorials that has stayed with me for 55 years. In 1971 at my father’s memorial service I was told by an old friend – it was not what we do or accomplish in this life that is a measure of men, but what we leave behind. They and we did things not for glory or recognition but because they were the right things to do.
Remembering what especially the 60s and 70s were like, I’d say we, as Robert Frost wrote, took the road less traveled and for me the accompanying words of one of my favorite philosophers, Yogi Bera – when you get to a fork in the road, take it. We took that less traveled fork and here we are.
Our departed Classmates lived lives that are a wonder to reflect upon. Their and our “leave behinds” which is a business term for result or deliverable are lasting and have produced impacts that are sometimes seen but are also hidden and embedded in people that they and we have touched. Think back upon the people in our lives that were helped as we were helped and molded by our bonds of friendship into leaders of men, our class motto – Duces Virum, that produced tremendously positive results. We honor today those who have gone on before us continually in our memories.
One of my other favorite poets Alfred Lord Tennysen put it very well for me in his poem “crossing the bar”:
Sunset and evening star,
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
When I put out to sea,
But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home.
Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark;
For tho’ from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face-to-face
When I have crossed the bar.
We still have a lot to offer so as we remember, reflect and keep our departed classmates in our hearts I will close with2 thoughts one from one of our classmates, that great philosopher Duke Longworth:
Life is precious and too short. Love passionately, give and share your time and blessings generously with others, as we are richly blessed so that we can bless others.
The other is you can make a lot of new friends, but you can’t make an old friend.
Soon we will have our Class Officers read the Roll Call of our departed Classmates, for us to specifically remember them and thank them for their love, devotion to duty and service to us all.
At the conclusion of our service today let’s go forth and continue to build new memories and successes.
God bless you all and God Bless America.
©2013-2026 United States Naval Academy Alumni Association
Class of 1971