thedrifter
09-10-07, 07:54 AM
VMI's new cadets make traditional pilgrimage to D-Day memorial
At Bedford site, they hear history from the source.
By Courtney Cutright
981-3345
BEDFORD -- Traditions at Virginia Military Institute -- such as the rat line, or the freshman rites of initiation -- are ingrained in the college's 250-plus year history.
In 2002 a new tradition was added to freshman class rituals, and on Sunday the new cadets visited the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford for the sixth consecutive year.
The outing was established to remind the rats of the significant achievements of the Allied forces on June 6, 1944, according to April Cheek, the memorial's director of education.
Ten chartered buses carrying 500 cadets traveled from Lexington on Sunday afternoon, immersing the rats in two luxuries often sacrificed in the rat line: air conditioning and television. The cadets watched the 1998 film "Saving Private Ryan" en route to the memorial to prepare for the visit.
"It starts you thinking," said first-classman Evan Roddenberry of Vass, N.C., one of several upperclassmen accompanying the rats. "It is a good time to take yourself out of the rat line."
In years past, the trip to Bedford occurred at the end of matriculation week, commonly referred to as "Hell Week" by the cadets. This year, the trip was moved up to three weeks after cadets arrived on campus.
The staff at the memorial set up nine stations for the nine companies of the class to rotate among. World War II veterans manned three of the stations.
Former Sgt. Dan Villarial spoke to the rats about his 12-year experience in the U.S. Marines, including tours of combat during WWII and the Korean War. In 1948, he was part of a U.N. peacekeeping mission in Palestine during the Arab-Israeli conflict.
"The younger generation should know what happened to keep this country, in fact this whole world, out of the control of the regime of Japan," said Villarial, 78, of Bedford.
The pistol and rifle sharpshooter was 19 years old when he was first stationed overseas.
"I saw the devastation and destruction," Villarial said. "Just coming home to see Old Glory flying was a wonderful feeling."
Beneath the 44-and-a-half-foot Overlord arch at the memorial, another company of rats, dressed in crisp white uniforms and shiny black dress shoes, listened intently as the sun shone down on the 90-degree afternoon. Charles "Buster" Shaeff recounted his service on a landing ship tank on D-Day. On his third round of transporting troops to Omaha Beach, Shaeff's craft had to be evacuated after it hit something in the water. He was rescued by another LST.
"It makes you quit feeling sorry for yourself because it could be a whole lot worse," said first-classman Nicholas Cutting of New York City.
The rats' visit concluded with a ceremony in which a plaque commemorating VMI's service during WWII was unveiled.
According to Cheek, the plaque is the first of several that will honor military academies and institutes for defending the country's freedom.
Ellie
At Bedford site, they hear history from the source.
By Courtney Cutright
981-3345
BEDFORD -- Traditions at Virginia Military Institute -- such as the rat line, or the freshman rites of initiation -- are ingrained in the college's 250-plus year history.
In 2002 a new tradition was added to freshman class rituals, and on Sunday the new cadets visited the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford for the sixth consecutive year.
The outing was established to remind the rats of the significant achievements of the Allied forces on June 6, 1944, according to April Cheek, the memorial's director of education.
Ten chartered buses carrying 500 cadets traveled from Lexington on Sunday afternoon, immersing the rats in two luxuries often sacrificed in the rat line: air conditioning and television. The cadets watched the 1998 film "Saving Private Ryan" en route to the memorial to prepare for the visit.
"It starts you thinking," said first-classman Evan Roddenberry of Vass, N.C., one of several upperclassmen accompanying the rats. "It is a good time to take yourself out of the rat line."
In years past, the trip to Bedford occurred at the end of matriculation week, commonly referred to as "Hell Week" by the cadets. This year, the trip was moved up to three weeks after cadets arrived on campus.
The staff at the memorial set up nine stations for the nine companies of the class to rotate among. World War II veterans manned three of the stations.
Former Sgt. Dan Villarial spoke to the rats about his 12-year experience in the U.S. Marines, including tours of combat during WWII and the Korean War. In 1948, he was part of a U.N. peacekeeping mission in Palestine during the Arab-Israeli conflict.
"The younger generation should know what happened to keep this country, in fact this whole world, out of the control of the regime of Japan," said Villarial, 78, of Bedford.
The pistol and rifle sharpshooter was 19 years old when he was first stationed overseas.
"I saw the devastation and destruction," Villarial said. "Just coming home to see Old Glory flying was a wonderful feeling."
Beneath the 44-and-a-half-foot Overlord arch at the memorial, another company of rats, dressed in crisp white uniforms and shiny black dress shoes, listened intently as the sun shone down on the 90-degree afternoon. Charles "Buster" Shaeff recounted his service on a landing ship tank on D-Day. On his third round of transporting troops to Omaha Beach, Shaeff's craft had to be evacuated after it hit something in the water. He was rescued by another LST.
"It makes you quit feeling sorry for yourself because it could be a whole lot worse," said first-classman Nicholas Cutting of New York City.
The rats' visit concluded with a ceremony in which a plaque commemorating VMI's service during WWII was unveiled.
According to Cheek, the plaque is the first of several that will honor military academies and institutes for defending the country's freedom.
Ellie