To All Our CHS Class of '66 “Golden” Anniversary Celebrants

Rick Albrecht 1966

Rochelle Brack Albrecht 1966

By Rick Albrecht and Rochelle (Brack) Albrecht

When Carole Tonigan called to see if we would be interested in writing a short note about our time at the reunion, we said yes. Trust us when we say, when Carole calls, you just have to say yes. 

Plus, she’s practically our neighbor, her living in Tucson and us in Albuquerque. We couldn’t let her down. And thanks to Terry Rawstern, who will be the guy to get this to you. 

Our computer is so old, the internet is rejecting most of our attempted visit locations now because Microsoft no longer supports it. We think Moby Dick was a minnow when we bought our computer. 

Neither of us have been around our classmates much since leaving Aberdeen, and we’ve only attended two reunions. 

Like many of you, life happens and we just didn't have the opportunity or we had to work to pay the bills. However, both times we were able to go — our 35^th in Scottsdale and this year at our 50^th in Aberdeen—  we did have fun seeing everyone who did attend.

Rochelle with Rick in Navy Uniform

One of the neatest parts about our 50^th was seeing how good everyone looked (for 50 additional years tacked on) and how many have stayed in Aberdeen and helped it grow as a community. We especially liked our visit to old Central and rekindling friendships, which we hope will stay with us. 

We both really appreciated how the reunion committee remembered all our classmates no longer with us; additionally the honoring of all who served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Rick was one of those depicted. 

Overall, the Navy was a great career and as a side note here, it reminded us many times how small our world really is. In 1980 while serving in Great Britain, and on an official visit to Navy Headquarters London, Rick ran into Karla Sukut. When the elevator door opened up, there was Karla. She worked there too. 

What a small world!  It took until our 50^th to cross paths again.  She got “Lucky” since then. Her husband, Richard "Lucky" Cook, also happens to be an Army Veteran with lots of experiences similar to most who served during the Vietnam years. There was also talk of Karla and Lucky possibly moving to Tucson, so the neighborhood may be growing, Carole.
 
Seeing Ferrell Greene and meeting his bride, Linda, was a real special highlight for us. Ferrell if you recall, was part of our trio during the 1966 Eaglean Follies. We really enjoyed singing all the folk songs popular in our day. 

Rochelle, Rick and Ferrell Greene 1966

It is sad how we can lose contact with friends over the years, but reunions like this can bridge the gap. Hopefully we will have more of these opportunities to reconnect in the future. We're not getting any younger. Great memories!

Another fantastic time was seeing our dear friends and classmate Kathleen (Krueger) and her husband, Terry Brooks, again. They travel from Chamberlain, SD, to Phoenix, AZ, area most winters, and we see them when they pass through Albuquerque. Our Southwestern neighborhood grows larger in the winter.

We appreciated the opportunity to spend time with them and together we visited the Vietnam Memorial at Anderson Park. Terry is also a Vietnam Vet. If you have not had the chance to see this superbly designed memorial, please do so at your first opportunity. It meant a lot to Rick because of Vern Fried who is noted on this memorial. He was one of Rick’s closer neighborhood friends and the brother of our now deceased classmate Dennis Fried. 

Rick at 50th CHS Reunion

Rochelle at 50th CHS Reunion

Amazingly we were only going to write a couple of paragraphs, so we’ll close by saying we’re sorry for not being able to mention every visit. We do have a wonderful new set of memories and hope that if you are reading this and did not make our 50^th, you will take an opportunity to attend a future class reunion.  It is well worth it. 

A special THANKS to all those who made this golden class reunion happen!

Since many CHS students have gone to some of the same Aberdeen schools growing up, we’ve attached some of Rick’s found class photos.  Known names were added and we hope you can fill in the blanks. 

If you’re ever planning on passing through Albuquerque, send us a note at ralbrecht6480@comcast.net and let’s try to get together. 

Take care until we meet again! 

Classmate Pam Parker Schneck Designed Aberdeen's Vietnam Memorial and Many Others

Pam Parker Schneck

On US Highway 12 East in Aberdeen, on a grassy plain in Anderson Park just west of where Moccasin Creek crosses under the road, three tall dark granite stones surround a flagpole. Each granite slab is etched with a poem, a drawings of soldiers or the names of local men who died in the Vietnam War of the 1960s.

The moving memorial — quiet, slightly understated and sturdy — was designed by a 1966 graduate of Central High School, Pam Parker Schneck. The memorial made such an impression that Schneck went on to design more war memorials in South Dakota, Minnesota, Santa Cruz, NM, and other towns.

"It became the greatest honor I ever had," said the tall, quiet and talented artist. Schneck got the assignment because of her job at Rausch Brothers Monument Company, which has offices in Sioux Falls, Big Stone City and Sheldon, Iowa.

For the Aberdeen Vietnam Memorial, Schneck spent hours and hours with local veterans and studying books about the war. For the drawing of the soldier Schneck drew a picture of a friend who had a full uniform. Another panel contains a drawing of men in action during the war, including a PT-type boat, men aiding one another, and men in battle.

The most moving panel contains the names of Aberdonians who died in Vietnam. Many in our class served in Vietnam, but fortunately we had no direct casualties. The class of 1965 had at least two and the class of 1967 has several names on the memorial, and includes their job description, date of death and unit location in Vietnam. Those bases are familiar names to people of our generation: Da Nang, Pleiku, Chu Lai, Bien Hoa, Quang Tri, Dak To, and South China Sea.

Another panel contains a poem of remembrance, including
the words:

If you are able,
save for them a place
inside of you …
and save one backward glance
when you are leaving
for the places they can
no longer go.
 Be not ashamed to say
you loved them,
though you may or
may not have always …
 Take what they have left
and what they have taught you
with their dying
and keep it with your own …
and in that time
when men decide and feel safe
to call the war insane,
take one moment to embrace
these gentle heroes

Watch a video tribute to your classmates who served in our country's military

Watch a video tribute to your classmates who served in our country's military

A Tribute To CHS Class of '66 Classmates Who Served In The U.S. Armed Forces

There is no greater respect than that given to those individuals who serve our country through military service.  These individuals protect and preserve the freedoms and liberty that all Americans enjoy each day, whether at work or at play.  Our country does not employ compulsory military service or conscription to maintain its’ rank and file, rather it depends on volunteers ready and able to serve.  These brave men and women deserve our highest regards for the sacrifices they have made in keeping our nation free.  The Aberdeen, South Dakota CHS Class of ’66 pays tribute to those classmates who served in the United States armed services with a video on our YouTube site.  To those classmates who served but were not shown in the video, please let us know and we will promptly add them.

Mike Baldridge, U.S. Navy

Marti Bigbie, U.S. Air Force

Military Service Request

Tributes to '66 Classmates Who Served In Our Military

by Bob Couser

There is a no greater respect than that earned by those who have sacrificed while serving their country in military service.  Their actions guard our country and protect our way of life, in order that we all can live in freedom.  To any and all classmates, please let us know who in our class has served so we can pay them their due recognition.  We seek pictures of our military brothers and sisters in uniform to create a tribute video for all to share and remember.  To echo previous comments, please send to Tim Schreiner or Bob Couser names of those who you know who have served in the military.  If you are one of these who has served, send us a picture in your military uniform as shown.  Please send the pictures to chs1966videos@gmail.com.

Veterans: We Need a Photo for a Video Tribute

Class of 66 Vets:
We're putting together a video tribute to vets in the class. If you know a classmate who was a vet, please tell us.
If you are a vet, please let us know, and send a photo (preferably in uniform if you have one) to timschreinerlsu@gmail.com or aberdeenclassof66reunion@gmail.com.

We need this info pronto, so help us out.