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The Reunion
by Gary Thompson

My birthplace is Whitefish, Montana and town of about 5,000 now known mainly for the ski resort located there.

A few years ago, the class of 1964 were planning the 30th reunion and decided to make it a "All 60's" reunion. They invited everyone who was alive at the time and had graduated in the 60's to return for this reunion.

Of the 720 who were still alive, 694 came back for this reunion. All of us who attended it were surprised by the large number of people returning to this small town.

We honored all the teachers who were still living in the area during a picnic lunch and gave them a standing ovation. Then we shared with them how they had such a positive effect on our lives. Me, my love of history, one man, became a teacher because of their influence.

What was most precious to me was the group asking all of us Vietnam Veterans to come to the stage. There were about 80 of us standing there and we also received standing ovation, our "welcome home". The man standing next to me told me that this was the first time in his life he ever admitted he was in Vietnam.

This reunion represented how positive and life forming our schools were durint this time. Something has gotten lost along the way with our schools now.

About the author:
am 63 and left Whitefish to join the military, after returning from Vietnam, I attended University of Montana earning a BS in forestry and then University of Oregon for my MBA. I retired from private consulting and real estate broakerage.