Scattered throughout the Calendar for ’76 Brides are some interesting bits of trivia (though certainly not trivial) and factoids about or experienced by the Spirit of ’76. Here are some of them, perhaps even a few you may remember.
Quoting from the calendar:
- On July 27, 1972, BCT for the Spirit of ’76 was interrupted temporarily by an horrendous hailstorm.
- August 21, 1972, was the first day of Academics for the Class of ’76.
- September 1, 1972, began Parents’ Weekend for ’76ers. Due to the terrible fog, their families had to take their word that the Academy was really there.
- October 13, 1972, arrived in a blizzard that kept the Mitchell Hall waiters at home.
- On January 20, 1973, the Spirit of ’76 got to wear civvies!
- In March 1973, ’76er Randy Spetman became the first in that class to win a Wing Open boxing championship while still a Doolie.
- April 23, 1973, was the night of the Carpenters Concert, a big event for the Doolie ’76ers.
- May 5, 1973, was Recognition Day for the Class of ’76.
- The 1973 June Week parade was canceled – due to snow!
- On August 10, 1973, the Spirit of ’76 earned the privilege of entering the doughnut line at Mitchell Hall. On August 11, 1975, the ’76ers began mandatory full breakfasts, thereby improving their health and overall efficiency.
- August 14, 1973, was the ’76ers’ first day as Third Degrees.
- On November 15, 1973, Lt. Cdr. DJ Bell honored the Noon Meal Formation with a spectacular fly-by. Coming in low in his F-8, he turned it on wing and flew sideways between the mountains and the Cadet Chapel, below the level of the Chapel! The Cadet Wing promptly went bananas.
- In spring 1974, the Air Gardens were drained, filled with earth and planted with trees.
- During June Week of 1974, the Spirit of ’76 removed the display F-104 from the terrazzo and placed it on the Parade Field. It looked lovely there.
- March 15, 1975, was the first day of Bankers’ Weekend, when the Spirit of ’76 made the loans for their cars.
- On April 5, 1975, the Locator Board went into effect, making it a lot more difficult to get “lost.” (Q: Was this the bank of lights over the CCQ desk that nobody knew what its purpose was?)
- On May 29, 1975, 250 members of the Spirit of ’76 picked up their new wheels in Detroit.
- On Dec 18, 1975, United Airlines went on strike, just in time to confuse everyone’s plans for the holidays.
