2026 Ring Melt Ceremony

This year’s ring melt had the families of two 1950 graduates donate rings, Charles “Chuck” Friedlander and Louis Genuario.

Watch the ceremony below or at https://youtu.be/d_CXgMu8j3k?t=1441

2026 West Point Ring Melt Ceremony Live Stream

See photos of the ceremony below or at https://www.flickr.com/photos/wpaog/albums/72177720331352095/

Class Ring Memorial Program - Class of 2027

2026 West Point Ring Melt Ceremony Photo Gallery

At the 2025 Ring Melt ceremony last year, three classmates donated their rings, Bill DeGraf, Kilbert Lockwood and Volney Warner.

That ceremony can be watched below or at https://youtu.be/CC2LSXYmCnI?t=1690

2025 West Point Ring Melt Ceremony Live Stream

More about the Ring Melt Ceremony program can be found at https://www.westpointaog.org/services/class-rings/class-ring-memorial-program/

2026 Ring Melt Ceremony

Every year rings from past graduates are donated to be melted down and used to create rings for the newest West Point graduates. Through this process, the figurative aspects of “grip hands” become literal, imbuing each new West Point class ring with all the strength, wisdom, and principles of the “Corps of an earlier day.” 

This year's ceremony will include the donation of Lou Genuario's ring. 

The Ring Melt Ceremony will be streamed live on YouTube on Friday, January 9 beginning at 12:45pm EST. Tune in this Friday to the West Point Association of Graduates YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/WPAOG/streams

Please feel free to forward this link to family, friends, and classmates who may wish to watch. The video will be available for viewing at the same link after the ceremony.

Ted Crichton Burial at Arlington National Cemetery

Classmate Brig. Gen. Theodore “Ted” Pyle Crichton, USAF will be buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025 at 9 a.m.

Please arrive through the Memorial Avenue entrance by 8:15 a.m. if you are planning on attending. A Real ID or current passport will be required.

To RSVP and for updates, please reach out via the Contact Form

75th Class Reunion

Thank you to everyone who made it to the Class of 1950 reunion. It was a wonderful return to West Point with seven graduates and over 40 friends and relatives.

Below are a few photos. More photos from the reunion as well as from years past can be found at:

2025 USMA Ring Melt Ceremony

The West Point Ring Melt Ceremony, a cherished tradition where donated rings from past graduates are melted down and incorporated into new rings for the next generation of cadets, symbolizes the enduring bond between classes. Since starting in 2000, this annual event honors the legacy of those who came before and reinforces the timeless values of duty, honor, and country shared by all members of the Long Gray Line.

This year’s ceremony saw Bill DeGraf donate his ring which will be part of new rings for the the West Point Class of 2026.

A video reply of the ceremony, including this highlight for Bill’s donation, can be seen at https://youtu.be/CC2LSXYmCnI?t=4680

More information about the ceremony can be found at https://www.westpointaog.org/news/wpaog-hosts-25th-annual-ring-melt-ceremony/

Article about Charles L Butler

Vietnam magazine recently ran an article about Chuck Butler. LTC Butler, KIA near An Loc, RVN on June 21, 1972, was the last member of the class to die in combat. Thank you to LTC Butler’s son for sending in the article.

“DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY”

FROM THE BATTLEFIELDS OF KOREA TO VIETNAM, CHUCK BUTLER WAS AN INSPIRATION TO ALL WHO KNEW HIM

By John D. Howard

… As in the early 1960s, the only Americans fighting on the ground were a handful of U.S. advisers with the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN). One of them was Lt. Col. Charles L. “Chuck” Butler, an adviser with the 31st ARVN Regiment, 21st ARVN Division, who I met the first week of May ’72.

…Chuck Butler was a seasoned combat veteran. He had been an adviser in Vietnam from 1963- 64 and an infantry platoon leader during the Ko- rean War. He was a true font of knowledge and had a great perspective on the war. His counsel proved to be invaluable to me as I was getting my feet on the ground. Because Chuck was a modest man, I didn’t learn of his heroism in Korea until years later.

Read the full article

Classmate General Fidel Ramos Dies at age 94

Former president of the Philippines and class of 1950 graduate Fidel “Eddie” Ramos passed away on July 31, 2022.

Eddie graduated from West Point, fought in Korea, then went on to become a general in the Philippine Army before serving as the 12th president of the Philippines from 1992 to 1998.

Read General Ramos’s Obituary from NBC News and see details about his Distinguished Graduate Award from West Point.

Col. Walter A. Wood III Funeral

COL. Walter A. Wood III funeral service has been scheduled for November 7, 2022 at Fort Myers Chapel, Arlington Va. at 9:00 am.

If attending the service, please be at the Chapel by 8:15 am.

Please contact Douglas Wood at douglaswoododbc@gmail.com or call (703-593-1359) with any questions.