Email sent 22 May 2018

Class of 1985,

First off, Happy 33rd Anniversary to our great class. I salute the 33 years of service to our country and to our communities and our families over the last 33 years by all our classmates. It’s so great to see everyone’s Facebook pictures over the last several years that those in our Facebook group have been sharing (no fake news here!). Pictures of our Academy days, days in the fleet or corps and all the years since. Great family photos of our kids doing amazing things as they all follow in our footsteps now that we approach retirement and hopefully more travel to Class events and Navy Football games together!

Speaking of Class travel, I have an important update for upcoming Class trips. First off Hawaii; I have been offered seats in the Navy section and since they were upper deck end zone seats I reached out directly to the University of Hawaii ticket office and they have committed to giving our class a block of tickets on the lower Navy Sideline. They cannot commit to the exact location yet, but that a block of seats will be available for the numbers we need. I will use the sign ups from our class website and reach out to those attending and confirm ticket orders since I will have to collect money from you via PayPal for these tickets and then have Rich Tighlman pick them up for us in Hawaii and get them to those attending prior to the game. More details to follow, but if have signed up to attend that game, you will hear from me. If you have not, please go on our class website and sign up to attend so I have you on the list as needing tickets (http://1985.usnaclasses.net). We are still working the full schedule of events for that weekend that will be published in the next few weeks, so stay tuned and contact me with any questions. News on the Navy vs. Notre Dame trip to San Diego; we have sold out our 150 seat block for that game. Tickets are still available via ticket master, so you can still attend the game and still attend all the class events that weekend if you were not able to buy seats in our class section. I still urge you to join us if you want to attend a great weekend with many of your classmates in a beautiful setting. The schedule of events will also be published soon for that San Diego trip and I will have to start collecting money for the Friday cocktail reception and the Saturday pre and post game tailgates, also via PayPal. Stay tuned and if you have not signed up, once again, you can do so on the Class of ’85 website. In addition to our 2 away game trips, we are making plans for the normal home Class of ’85 tailgates for this season and for tailgating at the Army/Navy game in Philadelphia. So, lots to look forward to this year.

I want to take a moment and congratulate everyone who has a high school or college student graduating this year as we ourselves celebrate our 33rd Anniversary of our Commencement. My oldest is graduating high school and I am a very proud father as I see him venture into the world like we did 33 very “short” years ago today.

As always, Go Navy and Beat Army!   Bob Smith ’85