Affirmation Ceremony - August 15 - 16 2026
Greetings! I write to provide details about our next official WPAOG 50th Year Affiliation Program activity, the Class of ‘28 Affirmation Ceremony.
The Affirmation Ceremony will take place in Eisenhower Auditorium on Sunday evening, August 16, 2026, the night before classes start for the Class of ‘28’s Cow year. Our own classmate, Lieutenant General (R) Tom Bostick will serve as the guest speaker for the Affirmation Ceremony.
COIN PRESENTATION. During the Ceremony, Company Representatives from our Class will present a Class Coin to each member of the Class of ‘28 to signify the affirmation of their commitment to military service and to solidify their membership in the Long Gray Line. Your Class Leadership Team is looking for two to three ‘78 classmates per cadet company, A1 through I4, to present our ‘78-’28 Class Coin to every member of Class of ‘28.
Affirmation Weekend Activities. The weekend of activities will include the Acceptance Parade for the Class of 2030, on Saturday morning, August 15. AOG will host a Class of ‘78 Social & Dinner at WPAOG’s Herbert Hall on Saturday evening. On Sunday evening, right before the Affirmation Ceremony,we will assemble another ‘78 Class Dinner in the Class of ‘63 Lounge in Eisenhower Hall. In addition to our Class Company Representatives and their spouses, this dinner will include the Academy’s Leadership Team and Class leaders from the Class of ‘28. At this dinner, we will unveil the Class of 1978’s History Plaque, to be displayed on the wall in the ‘63 Lounge. We will then hustle into Ike Hall for the Affirmation Ceremony. After the Affirmation Ceremony, the Class of ‘78 will host a social for the Class of 2028 in Eisenhower Ballroom.
YOU CAN PARTICIPATE! Click here for a detailed Schedule of Events covering the activities in August. Please reach out and let me know if you would like to participate @ william.harner@gmail.com or 864-322-3279. It's hard to believe that the Class of ‘28 is almost halfway to graduation.
BEAT NAVY!
Billy Harner
Affirmation Ceremony USMA Class of 1978
50TH Year Affiliation Program
USMA Class of 2028 Affirmation Ceremony Support
August 16, 2026
West Point Activities Context:
Monday, Aug 10 - Class of 2030 Lake Frederick Marchback
Tuesday, Aug 11 to Aug 13 - WPAOG Leadership Conference
Friday, Aug 14 - WPAOG Board Meeting
Saturday, Aug 15 - Class of 2030 Acceptance Parade (Bob Rogers, ‘78 rep)
Sunday, Aug 16 - Class of 2028 Affirmation Ceremony Activities
Class of ‘78 Command Post - Lodging, Holiday Inn Express - 25 Rooms (confirmed)
Class of ‘78 Participation Requirements:
Guest Speaker - LTG(R) Tom Bostick
X2(3) Classmates per cadet company = 72+ Classmates
Duty Uniform: Black sports coat w/ ‘78 Class Crest, white shirt, 50th YA tie (provided), black belt, gray trousers, black shoes
Class Gift to every Class of ‘28 cadet: Coin w/ Class Crests of ‘78 on one side and ‘28 on the other
Sequence of Events:
Aug 14th, Arrive Holiday Inn Express Hotel (25 rooms)/Thayer Hotel
Aug 15th
1000 hrs. Attend Acceptance Day Parade (Optional)
1200 hrs. Lunch - OYO
1300-1600 hrs. Tour West Point - Coordinated or OYO/Cadet Company Time
1800 hrs. Class of ‘78 & Spouse Catered Dinner at Herbert Hall, WPAOG
Aug 16th
1700 hrs. Class of ‘78 w/ Class of ‘28 Leadership Team Dinner & Presentation
Of Class History - Class of ‘63 Lounge, Eisenhower Hall
1900 hrs. Affirmation Ceremony - LTG(R) Bostick speech and presentation of
coins by ‘78 Company Reps
2000 hrs - UC Meet & Greet Class of ‘28 - Eisenhower Hall Ball Room