50-Year-Reunion

Fifty years ago, 342 seniors (according to our commencement program) graduated from Bluefield High School on a warm June 5 evening at the Brushfork National Guard Armory.

How is that even remotely possible?

I have distinct memories of some of those events. And when I hear certain songs, my memory is quickly ushered back to those days once again. Ah, the amazing power of music!

This Reunion Yearbook was indeed a crazy and yet wonderful idea. It has taken a lot more hours than I ever imagined, but it has indeed been a labor of love. Thank you for the privilege and joy to put this together for you. And now it is a piece of history, a book that matters. It tells our story. A huge shout - out to Don Poe who came up from North Carolina to help proofread and help me with final edits, over a six - day period, for over 25 hours. No kidding!

More than once, my over - worked computer has grown weary of the Copy and Paste option. That wonderful technique has made this publication possible. Yay, Microsoft Publisher for the power of designing a book from my computer!

As I sat in my office, after proofing the book for the 37th time, I reminded myself, that at some point, I needed to draft some reflection. Here we go.

I truly believe the Lord gives us ideas at certain moments, for certain reasons.

My mind went back to Move - Up Day. Remember that? We had skits and presentations that focused on the Past, the Present, and the Future. I remember our planning meetings at Dorcas Aliff ’ s house.

Oh, how fun it would be if VHS video cameras had been invented back then, and we had a copy of our “ Future ” skits to see once again.

After all the frivolity of Senior Skits on Move Up Day, your memory and your heart may recall what happened next. In those heavy gray caps and gowns, we circled the auditorium, after the sophomores enthusiastically had come down from the balcony, and the juniors had moved up to the front of the auditorium, and we sang a song.

Thanks to the power of google, here are those meaningful lyrics, that definitely have more profound significance than we realized that June day in 1975.

Peace, I leave with you, my friends Shalom, my peace in all you do Peace I leave with you, my friends I give to you so you can give to others too

To share God ’ s love is why I came To show God's kindness to the world Go now my friends and do the same Until I come again Take my hand and be at peace The spirit of our love I send And with this love you shall be free Until I come again With this love you all will know That loneliness is at an end Rejoice my brothers though I go Until I come again

lyrics & music by Rapp Repp, copyright 1967

Check it out on YouTube. I bet hearing this once again will take you back to the BHS auditorium one more time.

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