Coincidence or Fate? Maybe just help from Dad and his classmates?!

I will reuse Vic Otero’s words:  “This is destiny and fate working together. Who can doubt that Kevin was with his kid during that climb. 1200 plus plebes and little “block” gets to the top. All of 1985 has a special place in our heart for Chris Bianchi, we will always watch over him.”

Maybe Kevin and the rest of our classmates up there knew we were nuts to try climbing Herndon again and gave us truly one heck of a reminder.  Who better than an ’85 offspring to succeed!  A hearty congratulations to Chris.

Read the Navy Times article here.

Navy vs. Notre Dame Weekend Nov. 4-6, 2016

EMAIL Blast 6 Jan 2016

Class of 1985,

I am VERY excited to announce the preliminary plans for our 31st  Class Reunion in Jacksonville, FL. on the weekend of November 4-6, 2016. Navy plays Notre Dame in EverBank Stadium on Saturday November 5th and the Class of ’85 (like we did in Dublin 2012 and will again in 2017 in Hawaii) “WIN” the weekend. I only took a few days off in Cancun after the reunion and then back to the grindstone planning this weekend and so far so GREAT! Here is what I have:

1) We have a block of 40 rooms for Nov. 3rd and 100 Rooms for Nov. 4th and 5th at the Marriott Resort Sawgrass (where they play the TPC Golf tournament every May). The block rate is $179.00 per night and there will be more information soon on how to reserve your rooms.

2) On Friday we are planning a golf outing at one of the TPC Sawgrass courses (most likely the Valley course since the Stadium course will be closed for renovating). On Friday there will also be a day trip to beautiful and historic St. Augustine for the non-golfers. That night, we will have an amazing dinner party at the Marriott’s Cabana Club on the beach. (once again, more details to follow, but we are locked into this location for that night).

3) On Saturday (game day), we have secured a private lot just blocks from EverBank Stadium and will be building our Class of ’85 Tailgate (Sponsored in part by Classmate Jim Anderson of 16th Co.) I have a commitment from NAAA for a Class of ’85 ticket block at the price of $85 per ticket. We get access to purchase our block prior to the opening of normal ticket sales. I will have motor coaches from the beach to and from the stadium for the tailgate and game.

So…. here is what I need to get this going. On the Class website Angela Orlando has helped set up a survey for those interested in attending. I need everyone who plans on attending to PLEASE fill this out. You are not obligated by doing this, but I need a rough count for tickets so that I can give NAAA a good number to reserve for our class. I expect this to be a hard ticket to get because of the time of the year and because both fan bases travel so well. I will have a full roll out of final details and sign ups when I have completed all the contracts and setting up of events and web links. For now, I just wanted all of you to “SAVE THE DATE” and prepare yourself for our 31st reunion (no Hurricanes this year!!). Stay tuned and go to this this link for me: http://1985.usnaclasses.net/2015/10/24/notre-dame-2016/. Fill out the brief survey and stay tuned for more to come.

I would also encourage those you who have not taken a look at Classmate Dave Marquis new Chesapeake Brewing Company Brewpub under “construction” on West Street Annapolis to please do so. They have opened their “Plankowner” program to our class and I am proud to say I am an early plankowner in the Beat Army Bar. It will be great to partner with Dave and Carolyn for years to come in Annapolis and to have Chesapeake Brewing Company Beer and Food as a staple at our home tailgates. The link for plankowning is on our class website here.

Happy New Year Class of ’85 and no better way to kick off 2016 by announcing another GREAT Class of ’85 Event. Cheers to all of you and stay tuned for more good news to come.

As always, please feel free to email, text or call me: robertsmith5@att.net, or 502-432-6185 with questions or comments or join our USNA ’85 group on Facebook. Go Navy and Beat EVERYONE!!

Bob Smith ’85

Congratulations classmate!

A hearty congratulations to Ricky Williamson on his second star!!  Way to go ’85!

Rear Adm. (lower half) Ricky L. Williamson (USNA ’85), selected for promotion to rear admiral, will be assigned as commander, Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia; and commander, Maritime Air Forces, Naples, Italy.  Williamson is currently serving as commander, Navy Region Mid Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia.

If anyone hears of other promotions or retirements, please pass them along to Angela Orlando for public class acknowledgement.

Merry Christmas ’85! Beat Army Bar Plank Holder Program

Email Blast 15 DEC 2015

Dear USNA ’85,

Class of 1985, I want to first of all wish you a very wonderful, safe and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year this year. Navy kicked off the season with #14 over Army as I am sure most of you saw and quite a few of you watched it with the class in Philly this past weekend. GREAT memories of a great weekend for sure. We will continue to support a Class of ’85 pre-game event in years ahead. I know many of you asked me about the Military Bowl, there is plenty of ticket information on the Navysports.com website and I suggest you go there for ticket and parking information. The game is December 28th at 1430 at NMCS in Annapolis. Here is the official website for that game: http://militarybowl.org/tailgate/. Our class will not be having their own tailgate and suggest meeting together at the Northrop Grumman Tailgate prior to the game. The Class of ’85 will meet at Fado’s Pub up the street by the Westin after the game to celebrate, so stop by and warm up with your classmates at Fado’s. Details available on the class website at: http://1985.usnaclasses.net.

I have a VERY exciting announcement to make in support of the Chesapeake Brewing Company and Classmate Dave Marquis. As many of you know, we have successfully partnered with Dave and his wife Carolyn both on our 30th Class Reunion and now at our home game tailgates. Dave and Carolyn are proud to announce they are opening the first true Annapolis Brewpub at 114 West Street Annapolis in the old Fire Station that was previously the “Crush” wine bar. As part of the new Brewpub, Dave is naming a bar inside the Brewpub the “Beat Army Bar”. The entire place will be a shrine to all things Naval Academy and obviously Beating Army is the main focus of life at USNA. I have asked Dave to start a “Plankholder” program to allow our Class and other Alums a chance to buy into his concept and give each of us a chance to support Dave and Carolyn and also be a small “owner” or stakeholder in his new bar. I have attached his Plankholder Application form that will allow all of us a place to call “Home” in Annapolis and see our name forever part of the “Beat Army Bar”. This is a pseudo “Fund Me” program and as Dave grows his business, our Class will continue to partner with him and always have a place to congregate when in Annapolis. I am proud to say I own the first plank at his new pub and encourage ALL of you to join me in supporting this venture as we will be the be the only USNA Class to be able to say our classmate owns a Brewpub on West Street in the heart of Annapolis. GREAT GREAT Christmas gifts for that grad out there or that son or daughter who attended USNA or that parent who really really loves coming to back to Annapolis for home games and dining. Here is how you sign up:

Chesapeake Brewing Co. Plank Holders Society Chesapeake Brewing Co. will be opening their new operations in Annapolis at the old Firehouse located at 114 West St. in the next 90 days. They have just announced that they will have a BEAT ARMY BAR for former and current navy personnel. They are offering for a limited time to any USNA CLASS members or friends of USNA Class Members, a ‘PLANK HOLDERS’ membership that includes some really great benefits. ‘IN PORT’ PLANK HOLDERS – Nearby Patrons $950. Commemorative Growler with 1 free refill per month for a YEAR Engraved beer goblet that stays at the bar with $1 off refills all day, every day Plank Holder Membership Certificate framed Friends and Family discount to host your events or fundraisers Special package discounts with any away events (i.e. 2016 Notre Dame vs. Navy Jacksonville being planned) Special notice of all Navy Sport events & specials Plank Holder’s Name engraved on the wall of BEAT ARMY BAR and date Special Chef samples when available while dining T-shirt celebrating the BEAT ARMY GOLDEN LAGER release Advance Notice of all tasting and tap take-overs Participation in Annual Founders Party & Sunset Cruise Voting on new Beer Names (i.e. Fear the Goat Ale or Goat Milk Stout) The growler with refill, T shirt, and Founders Party are only the initial year; all other deals and specials will be ongoing for original Plank Holders.

‘OUT TO SEA’ PLANK HOLDERS – Out of Town Patrons $475. Commemorative Growler Plank Holder Certificate framed Special notice of other Navy Sport events & specials T-shirt celebrating the BEAT ARMY GOLDEN LAGER release Invitations to all tasting and tap take-overs Voting on new Beer Names (ire. Fear the Goat Ale or Goat Milk Stout) These make a great holiday or anniversary gift option. This will greatly help with start up costs associated with doing business in Annapolis by getting it off the ground and in the right direction. We plan to have a BEAT ARMY BAR within the establishment, blue & gold Mid-garita’s, beers from Eastern Shore breweries and fun food options with a Eastern Shore flair, as well as events and musical guests. We will show all Navy sporting events as much as possible and will have a clock counting the days until the next Army Navy game!

The location at the Annapolis Firehouse, right next to the Lowe’s Hotel is a great place to have a NAVY BAR! There are ADDITIONAL BENEFITS that will be available to all Navy customers that sign up for our monthly newsletter/blog: BEAT ARMY! Show your class ring and get your first beer as the price of your graduation year. If you graduated in 75 your first beer is .75 or if your class is 2012 then you pay 2.12 8.5% of all BEAT ARMY Golden Lager sales during televised Navy Sports broadcasts, goes back to NAAA to support all sport teams as they strive for greatness. BEAT ARMY BAR will match whatever is raised! Free give-aways and drawings during Navy Sports commercials Free munchie bar at the BEAT ARMY BAR during Navy Sports televised with College Sports Network Invitations to New Beer ‘Coming Out’ Parties and Tap Take-overs Invitations to Celebrity Chef events and A&E Activities (We are located in the Arts & Entertainment District) Invitation to ‘Navy Trivia’ nights ** If anyone has Naval Academy/Duty Station pictures we could copy or any Navy memorabilia – that would also be appreciated. January is slated for necessary cleaning and renovations. The soft opening time frame is slated for mid February, depending on permits and license schedules. Plank holder form is attached:

PLANK HOLDER FORM

Plank holder Level: Out to Sea _________ In Port __________

Your Name: __________________________________________________

Plank Holder Name: __________________________________________________

Nick Name/Call Sign: __________________________________________________

Date: __________________________________________________

Mailing Address: __________________________________________________

Month/Day Birth: __________________________________________________

Phone: __________________________________________________

Email: __________________________________________________

Web: __________________________________________________

Business Industry: __________________________________________________

Title: __________________________________________________

Desired Engraving: __________________________________________________

If USNA Graduate, Year? ______________

Any Additional Information: (let us know if this is intended as a gift)

Plank Holder form and checks may be sent to: Chesapeake Brewing Company. 2103 Montevideo Dr. Jessup, MD 20794 You can email the form to chesbrewco@yahoo.com and we can send you an invoice for online payment. Carolyn Marquis http://www.chesbrewco.com/ Chesapeake Brewing Co. Regional Sales VP 443 783-5705 GO NAVY! BEAT ARMY!

Class of ’85, I am extremely excited for this opportunity to help get our classmate off the ground here and to ALWAYS have a place and a friend in Annapolis we as a class can call “OUR HOME”. I will continue to partner with Dave and Carolyn in our home tailgates and special Class events as have this past fall. If you have some cool USNA ’85, Navy or Beat Army memorabilia, Dave and Carolyn would love to have it to start their collection. (you are always welcome to come and visit it). I want to thank you all in advance and also wish you a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year in all of 2016. Go Navy and Beat Pitt!!

Regards, Bob Smith ’85 President

 

Final Update for the Army/Navy game this Saturday

Email blast sent 8 Dec 2015

Class of ’85,

For anyone who needs one more reminder about our pre-game Tailgate this Saturday, December 12th, here goes:

  • The Stadium Sports Bar at the Holiday Inn Philadelphia Stadium, 900 Packer Ave., Philly. http://stadium-bar.com
  • Starts at 1130 and goes through 1430 in time to depart for the March on.
  • The Cost is: $30 for Adults and $10 for kids 12 and under. This includes a food buffet and discounts on selected beers and wine. PAY AT THE DOOR to the bar staff in cash or Credit.
  • Drink prices will be good for pre and post game if you care to return after the game to celebrate our win.
  • You can park at the hotel for $30 and be right there for the tailgate and then a 12 minute walk to Lincoln Financial Field.

So…. COME EARLY, STAY LATE AND BEAT ARMY!!

I have 2 Club seats in Sect. C4, row 7 (Navy side of course!) to sell. Face Value is $135 and I paid far more than that but am willing to make a deal. (I am still going but was offered seats in a sky box). The Club Seats are AMAZING, so if you want to make a last minute plan for seeing us win the CIC trophy and enjoy a mid 60’s December day in Philly, give me a call or text: 502-432-6185. See all of you SATURDAY and super excited, our group is over 50 and growing.

Also, we have rolled out a new line of Fall Class of ’85 items. We have 2 really great tops, one fleece (unisex) and one a lightweight athletic top in men’s and ladies’ styles and sizes. Check out our Class of ’85 Apparel store and get your orders in for a great Christmas Gift!! http://usna85.deco-apparel.com

I have seen all these tops and REALLY LOVE THEM! You will too.

Safe Travels and enjoy the big game wherever you get to view it. Cheers and BEAT ARMY #14!!

Bob Smith ’85