Embedded Files
Alma Mater
Alma Mater
All Sons and Daughters
Hail to thee our Alma Mater!
Sing loud her praises, ever laud her name.
In thankfulness to her, oh what can we give?
Keep her before us, by her example live.
Here then, Elmira, mem’ries that inspire
A lasting and loyal love and devotion to you.
When we leave your fair halls, untried paths to know,
As you have taught us, be it ever so.
Eulogy by John McHugh
Eulogy by John McHugh
We cast our boat from the shores of our youth
Across the waters of our hopes and our dreams
Each year our eyes are opened to this gift
As we here today commend unto our waters
Our friends ….. whom in their life
And our lives together played no small part
Into what and who we are today
Each year we accept this gift
To remember each friend, roommate, nemesis and lover
To hold them in our thoughts
Seamlessly speak to them in our dreams
Their image sculpted upon our fingertips
Each year we are witness to this gift
Couched in our memories,
As rocks skipping from the shore
Come to rest... echoes of their lives
Each ring caressing the next
Each year we rejoice in this gift of life
Let us all make sure we share it always
Each one of us
Hold onto us
Remember us
About Viking funeral ships, and ours
About Viking funeral ships, and ours
Viking funeral ships were a real but uncommon burial practice for elite individuals, where the deceased and their grave goods were placed in a ship, which was then either buried under a mound or, less frequently, burned and launched at sea.
Those pictured above not actually members of the Class of 1978.
One reunion, our good friend, John McHugh (aka Johnny Mac), showed up with a replica Viking funeral ship he had constructed in his home workshop.
He had placed shields around the gunwales of the ship with the names of our friends and classmates who had passed away. His intent was to sail the ship in the puddle and light it on fire.
We managed to talk him out of the fire part. He did sail the ship, with small candles on the deck. Thus began the Da Boat Ceremony tradition, which we continue today.
Google Sites
Report abuse