1965 – 1966 – 1967

We began the weekend on Friday night in the Atlantic Highlands Marina at On The Deck.  A local gathering hole for a bite to eat and a few drinks, lots of memories and quite a few laughs.  There were a number of classmates and friends that joined us to just have a place to talk, catch up on lives and loves lost and won and in general......have a good time.

On Saturday night, the party at The Shore Casino commenced with a cocktail party and plenty of hot and cold appetizers while the guests were checked in at the door.  True to fashion, Russ forgot about name tags.  While it appeared to be awkward, as everyone struggled to recognize old friends and acquaintances, it gave way to the old "MTHS battle cry....We are the Lions, the mighty, mighty Lions and everywhere we go, people want to know.....Who The Hell Are You????? and what class did you graduate with".....too funny, but we all made it work throughout the night.

Tom Veth and Russ Howard greeted people at the door, at the bar and all places in between, welcoming everyone and gladhanding old friends and new.  Lynda Dinardo Chiafullo and a crew of classmates from all 3 classes, checked the guests in.  Thanks to those hearty souls who had to struggle with the class list.....Russ also forgot to make the print on the Guest List large enough to see......

Once inside the room, everyone found tables and friends to sit with and listened and danced to music provided by the Power of 4, featuring Bethanne Clayton.  While they enjoyed the food, drinks and conversation they strolled around the Memorabilia Table, which had pictures, yearbooks, ViewPoints, Lions Roars, Playbills and various stories and photos of when we were all so very young!  Jack Cesar provided two pictures and frames that honored our fallen classmates from Viet Nam.   A special thanks to him for helping to never forget the sacrifices they made so that we had the opportunity to gather on this evening.

Russ opened the evening singing Glory Days with the Band, Billys Fault, that provided the crowd with Classic Rock both old and new.  Afterwards, he and Tom Veth made everyone welcome and thanks all who came for coming out.  Tom asked each classmate to make a committment to bring 2 more classmates to our 50th.  (Tom....are we going to do this again Russ asked?).  Russ replied to his own question by saying he would do it again and he would ask others to join in and help.  Of which, Russ reported, during the evening and following morning, he got those offers.  So watch for the 50th everyone.

Coach Dick Kleva was a special guest who paid his way to join the festivities with his wife.  He spoke to us all about what a great time it was in our lives and how, while he was athletically connected, he came to know so many students that had an impact on his own life.  He paid tribute to those that had fallen while serving our country in Viet Nam.  Thank you to Coach Kleva for reminding us and thank you to all of those who served.

We enjoyed a most wonderful buffet dinner that had many choices for everyones taste and certainly plenty of food to go around.  The night wore on as we all danced and partied our way through the evening.  Billys Fault played and Russ had the chance to sing a few more with the band.  George Ott, classmate of 67, was also a member of both bands and sang several songs as well.  George and Russ along with quite a few other classmates who were in attendance, recalled how they each had their own bands and how many places and opportunities there were to play back then.  Le Teendevous, The Cage, Hullabaloo, The Oaks-McGuires Grove, Beach Clubs, Church Halls, VFW in Middletown and countless other venues.  A great night for memories and music.

As the evening ended, everyone hugged and kissed and promised to return in 5 years and made those around them make the same promise.  A few hearty souls wandered over to On The Deck to party on some more, while still others searched for a quiet bed and some well needed rest.  On Sunday, a small group gathered back at The Shore Casino for brunch and conversation.  A finish to a great weekend.

Pictures have been posted on the site and anyone having more to share are welcomed to send them to Russ.  His email is posted below.

Thanks everyone for coming from near and far and making this 45th Combined Reunion a special one.  So, until the next one....Stay well and Stay Upright!

 If anyone has current information on classmates whereabouts, please contact me at this email address.  I lost the database that contained over 2500 names that included for many of them, addresses, phone numbers and emails.  We still have many we are missing, so any information you have will help me rebuild what was lost.  Thanks.

Contact Russ Howard at russellhoward07737@yahoo.com