A3 Avengers 50 Years since Graduation
Celebrating the Class of 1975 with stories and memories.
About the A3 Avengers
Our Legacy
The A3 Avengers are proud alumni of the Class of 1975 from the US Military Academy, West Point, New York. Our legacy is built on Duty, Honor, Country, and a unique camaraderie that continues to thrive through our shared experiences. We are truly more than friends: we have become family.
Reunion by Mark Hamilton, '67 (Thanks, Merk!)
REUNION
ALWAYS WE WILL THINK OF THEM IN SUNLIGHT.
WHITE HATS TOSSED HIGH IN THE JUNE AIR,
TURNING FREELY, BRASS SHIELD AND BLACK BILL,
SHINY AS THE MOMENT.
HELD ALOFT BY OUR COLLECTIVE JOY.
IT SEEMED THAT THEY WOULD NOT COME DOWN,
BUT REMAIN SUSPENDED AS WE TURNED BENEATH THEM
TO GRASP EACH OTHERS HANDS.
UP THERE STILL, AS WE SOUGHT A CERTAIN FRIEND
TO SAY THINGS FAR TOO SERIOUS FOR YOUNG MEN.
THERE STILL, AS WE HUGGED THE PEOPLE WE HAD LOVED
TOO LONG APART.
STILL THERE, MOVING WESTWARD,
AS THE IMPATIENT PLANET SPUN BENEATH THEM.
IT WAS MARCH WHEN THE FIRST ONE FELL.
SOILED AND TATTERED WITH NO HINT OF SUNLIGHT.
OTHERS FELL.
WE WERE YOUNG MEN, UNCERTAIN HOW TO GRIEVE,
CLINCHING OUR JAWS AGAINST THE AWFUL ROLL CALL.
THE YEARS HAVE CHANGED US ALL.
OUR RINGS ARE WORN SMOOTH
BY THE FRICTION OF OUR OWN FLESH.
YOUNG COMRADES HAVE BECOME COMPANIONS
WITH THE SHARING OF OUR LIVES.
WE HAVE COME TO SHARE WITH YOU AGAIN,
AS GROWN MEN, UNAFRAID OF SORROW,
AND SO, UNAFRAID OF JOY.
WE HAVE GATHERED FOR REUNION.
TO WALK TOGETHER THE SPAN OF BLACK STONE
AND SEE YOUR NAMES BLAZE WHITE IN SUNLIGHT,
SEE THEM RISE ABOVE US TURNING FREELY,
HELD ALOFT BY OUR COLLECTIVE LOVE,
TO JOIN AGAIN THE WHITE HATS
TOSSED HIGH IN THE JUNE AIR.
Mark Hamilton ’67