Mexico Reunion Recap Written By Attendee & Alumni Brian Kaufman S’93

Attention on campus!

Attention in the barracks!

Attention Old Boys Everywhere!

“There is no way it’s been 30 years,” we said. It can’t be, that almost two-thirds of our lives have gone by since we stood beneath the flagpole and launched our Service Caps into the air- no doubt returning home with one that belonged to someone else. But it had.

For myself, and the motley crew of misfits with whom I lived some 3 decades ago, it was as if zero time had passed. It felt like just yesterday when we last stood face to face and joyfully degraded each other as only brothers could. But here we were, in Mexico City, a short 2,200 miles from the Guard Path, where many of us forged the friendships that still stand today (I am looking in your direction Juan Menchaca). Sure, a few of us had put on as many pounds as the years that passed, and sure, some of us would have zero chance of failing a hair inspection these days, as “none” seemed to be a very popular look that evening. But change happens, whether we like it or not. Anyone who has recently been to campus can attest to that fact. Gone are the President’s Home, Holt House, and Golf Course- however, something infinitely more consequential has survived the test of time – the foundations with which lifelong friendships are built upon, they remain as strong as the old class stones which dot the campus to this day, some, older than Jon Bennett himself!

Make no mistake about it, this was by no means a get together for a few overlapping years, I don’t believe I have seen so many generations of Old Boys represented since graduation weekends some 30+ years ago. There were well known alumni, familiar names to generations of the academy, like the illustrious Victor Trevino S’58 to guys whose paths I never had the pleasure of crossing before, like Thomas Lovell Williams SN’00, grandson to another legendary Old Boy, Captain Jim Lovell. No matter our age, the years between all of us seemed to dissipate throughout the evening as the bond of our simple, yet profoundly powerful, shared experience, grew stronger.

Old friendships were rekindled that evening, and new friendships were formed. It’s safe to say that none of this would have been possible without the hard work and dedication of Jon Bennett. I would be remiss if I didn’t say that on behalf of everyone in attendance, a heartfelt thank you to Richard Sokol for hosting us that evening. To both, we all need to raise a glass, because Mexico City 2024 was just the start.

Carry on, cadets.

Brian Kaufman S’93