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Ad Novos Mundos Resurrected to DVD
Any of you who attended the 1993 reunion likely remember the magnificent multi-media presentation that Ron Fogleman brought as a tribute to the first 30 years after graduation of the Class of 1963. Ron’s people gave us a Beta tape of the show, which runs a little over 16 minutes. In late 1993, we had a bunch of VHSs dubbed from the Beta, and the VHSs were distributed for a donation to the Class Fund.
A few weeks after the funeral for Cal Nay in December, his daughter, Natasha, remembered him showing her one of the VHSs and asked if anyone had a DVD of the presentation that she could get a copy of. She also asked about a copy of the recording of excerpts from our graduation on 5 June 1963.
Jim Kuhn immediately came up with a copy of the graduation record and gave us two MP3s of the audio, which Gil has had posted on the class webpage since early this year.
No one came up with a DVD of Ad Novos Mundos: The First 30 Years. I finally realized I still had the Beta from 1993. It is now converted to DVD, and I have been using that as a master to dub onto individual DVDs.
They aren’t perfect, but they are a very good representation of what we saw that night in 1993. I had forgotten how impressive the audio is to go along with the pictures. Class President Jim Diffendorfer has approved a project to distribute copies of the DVD for a $10 donation to the Class Fund. I believe that all classmates who get a copy will be pleased.
For a copy, send a $10 CHECK made out to the CLASS OF 1963 FUND and send it along with YOUR ADDRESS to: Jimmie H. Butler, 7635 Delmonico Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80919.
Since we all attended the Academy when it had a meaningful Honor Code, you can e-mail me at jimmieb@earthlink.net with your address and tell me a check will be on the way, and I’ll get the DVD in the mail a day or two earlier.
Anyone who views the DVD and isn’t moved by it must have read this message by mistake. ;-)
I don’t recall how many classmates attended in 1993, but I’m guessing about half the class has never seen the
superb presentation. So please pass on the info to other classmates you may be in contact with.
Early Reviews Are In:
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A few classmates got their donations in early to take part in a test to make sure the DVDs would work on
more DVD players than just my own. Jim Diffendorfer and Jerry Adinolfi were among the many classmates who
had not seen the original presentation in 1993 and had never seen one of the VHSs we produced back then.
So here are some of the comments from Diff and Jerry:
Great stuff; I've never seen the Ad Novos Mundos: The First 30 Years. Nice piece of work by Fogs's guys. The Gone But Not Forgotten section in there is pretty tough; especially when you see guys in your own squad. (Bill Ritchie, Tom Fiedler) or guys your later became really good friends with (Ben Frederick).Thanks again. Diff
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Congratulations on a superb job. It brought tears to my eyes. I had never seen the VHS or original presentation. How marvelous to see the classmates again, and then in the real world. I couldn't believe we had lost so many guys, and that was the first 30 (years) only. Heroes all. We the living owe our lives to continue the fight for what they stood for....liberty and justice for all. I even saw a photo of Dan Taylor, Jim Eggers, and myself when we visited Jim's parents in Modesto, CA during a summer training event at George AFB. Seeing JFK brought back many memories....what a magnanimous charge our class was given, and it carried it out to the full. Well done, good and faithful servants. Thanks, Jimmie.
Jerry
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