Submitted by Jan Martens
June 1st dawned grey but dry for the 31 grads and 13 spouses who were able to come for the class of 1971 reunion, 53 years and 3 days after our graduation day.
At 2 pm, old friends began to gather. Many “You haven’t changed a bit”, and a few “Help me out here; who IS that?” We wore name tags with our Grade Twelve yearbook pictures, and it wasn’t long enough before old stories were exchanged along with a good time of catching up.
Our more formal program began at 4 pm, with Dave Klassen ably running the show.
We began by paying tribute to those of us who have passed away: Jim Toews, Rudy Siemens, Mary Krahn Siemens, Linda Letkeman, and Rick Friesen. A memorial tree with their pictures was set up on the memorabilia table.
This was followed by some of the old choruses, sung by memory, and “freiwilliges” (i.e. open mic), some humorous, some moving.
After a delicious dinner provided by Gord and Karen Bergen, our program resumed.
In Dan Guggenheimer’s absence, Dave read the German Valedictorian’s speech, and some of us still understood it. This was followed by Ruth Unger Froese, who gave us a wonderful 2024 version of Valedictorian’s address, beginning with a Kierkegaard quote, “Life must be lived forwards, but can only be understood backwards.”
And, just as in 1971, our evening ended with Mr. John Neufeld conducting us in our class song, “The New 23rd” by Ralph Carmichael. (“Sit up straight,” he said to us before we began.) Of course, Ruth Balzer Ratzlaff accompanied. A fitting, moving acknowledgement of the Shepherd’s guidance in our lives after high school.
Previously Posted
Jan (Schmidt) Martens is starting plans for a reunion on June 1, 2024 in Abbotsford (venue TBD). Please email kandjmart@telus.net to express interest in the reunion, or to help with plans.
To Keep Informed
- Contact Jan by email > kandjmart@telus.net
- Update your contact info with the MEI Alumni Office
