New York State Maritime College Class of 1955

The Class of 1955 gathered for its 50-year Reunion at meeting places including the LaGuardia Marriott Hotel, the historic Fort itself, and the harbor cruise vessel M/V SKYLINE PRINCESS, which left from the World’s Fair Marina in Flushing at approximately 1930 on Saturday, September 17.

We kept in constant communication with the class by using the US Postal Service, E-mail and our own website, which helped to coordinate reunion efforts and also to encourage classmates to show up.

The “kickoff” event for the class was a Cocktail Party at the Liberty Room at the LaGuardia Marriott on Friday night, September 16. This gave everyone a chance to socialize and plenty of time to reminisce about the “good old days”

On the following day one of the highlights was when the Class marched into the Pentagon, in the same manner as did 50 years ago at our graduation and commissioning. Members of the Class of 1955 were easily recognizable wearing their “uniform of the day” of white shirt (no tie), blue blazer, gray slacks, and the special 50th anniversary cap bearing the logo, “New York State Maritime College” the State Seal, the key words of our motto, “Loyalty and Valor,” and the years “1955” and “2005.” The class was followed by the cadet corps presentation. They really looked sharp in their dress whites.

The Reunion Class had a special luncheon on the College campus, which Admiral Craine also attended. He talked about what was going on at Maritime and looked forward to a future carrying on the traditions of the College. Towards the end of lunch Ed Dohring asked for a moment of silence for the fourteen classmates who passed away since our graduation. After each name was read alternating between Bill Hannon and Charlie Ellwanger a ship’s bell was rung alternating between Jim Carlo and Tom Duffy, class battalion commanders. This was followed up with the SUNY Maritime College quartet singing the school song “The Bells of St. Marys”. Marty Bernstein got up and recited the quotation over the Sally Port which he had written several hundred times as a “Mug” and never forgot. Good memory. Here it is:

“But men and officers must obey, no matter at what cost to their feelings, for obedience to orders, instant and unhesitating, is not only the life-blood of armies but the security of states; and the doctrine that under any conditions whatever deliberate disobedience can be justified is treason to the commonwealth.” – Henderson’s biography of Stonewall Jackson

That evening, many members were aboard the harbor cruise that took us down the East River under the many bridges that connect Manhattan with its boroughs. The highlight of the evening was standing about 100 yards off for a beautiful view of the Statue of Liberty. On the return trip the ship stopped at the foot of Battery Park and had a minute of silence for those who perished in the destruction of the Twin Towers.

All in all, the reunion was a success and apparently enjoyed by everyone who came.