CLASS OF 2002 - LAST CLASS SPEECH

All Juniors, stand up please. Knobs and Sophomores look at the men standing around you. These are members of the Class of 2002, The Last Class. None of you will ever know the pride that comes with being a member of this elite group. In our 3 years here we have changed from the high school kids that reported to men ready to join the Long Gray Line, we have taken care of ourselves, come together when we thought that we couldn’t physically endure anything else, we policed our own to make sure that everyone is deserving of the Band of Gold, some have slipped through the cracks, but they know who they are..

We struggled through long sleepless nights, we endured physical and mental pain that you will never know. We made sacrifices to ensure all of us would be here today. These are all qualities that you don’t have and never will. You will never know what it feels like to look around you and see all of your classmates smiling because they put out as much as you did. You can never talk of class unity; we are the last ones to have that. Well then, all of you knobs start bracing for once and you knobmores can do it too.

Here is why we are the last class:

· Last knob class to paint boards, 2 years in a row, no less · Last class to paint all four banners · Last class to have after dinner sweat parties · Last class to know what a real “KNOB SHOWER” is · Last class to have Spirit Runs every week…… REGARDLESS · Last class to have boots and utes runs · Last class to have Spirit Runs with rifles · Last class to stand up on Hell Night · All 2002 members of Alpha, Delta, F-Troop, Golf, Mike, and Tango: you know what we have in common, be damn proud of it · Last class to DePuy, Wyman, Somerall, Greer, Cheverie, Comino, Gilmore, Meleves, Sweat, Hughes, Forward, Paine, Huberty, Mehe, Greenfield, Goeble, Jimmy Keith, Swatski, Yount, Haarlow, Fitch, Garry, Linnehan and all the others that we will never forget. · Last class to get dropped to the Corps when they reported · Last class not to have condiments · Last class to brace past Corps Day · Last class to brace during Open Barracks · Last class to pay for and endure Ring Night our knob year · Last class not to have the Ombudsperson on speed dial · Last class to know how brooms broke in half · Last class to have a true Haze Maze · Last class to have Recognition Day start a whole day before · Last class who can define the word “SYSTEM” · More than that however, we are the Last class to have tradition instilled upon them.

Knobs you can stop bracing now, knobmores keep it in!!! Juniors be proud of what you have and what you are going to become. When you look back on the times we have spent here, I hope that you will think about all of this, remember the sacrifices we made, and remember how we have come together.

TIME CHECK TAC, Post!

Thank you all and God Bless the Class of 2002!!!