Manila Class of 1971 gathers home

The Manila Class of 1971 gathered for a 40 year reunion on Saturday, July 23, at the Manila Depot. It had been 30 years since their last reunion so they had a lot to catch up on.

Thirty-two classmates and guests reminisced and got reacquainted with non-stop conversation and eating from 4 to 10:30 p.m. The group enjoyed looking at old year books, scrapbooks, newspaper articles, and other memorabilia from the 1960's and 1970's.

The group enjoyed music from the 1960's along with a barbecue dinner prepared by Craig and Teresa Costner. Mrs. Costner was a member of the Class of 1971.

The class enjoyed reading a tribute in the Town Crier praising their class for cleaning up the graffiti around town.

They especially enjoyed seeing James "Bull" Despain with his high school letterman jacket; Pam Vassar Hester in her letterman sweater, and Michael White in the Class of 1971 t-shirt.

Everyone enjoyed the evening and decided they need to have another reunion next year and not to wait another 30 years.

A special Class of 1971 cake in black and golf featuring the Class composite picture was served.

A memorial table in memory of the four deceased classmates held pictures of Perry Gray, Robert England, Steve Malloy and Cindy Jolliff.