Members of the Bradford High School Class of 1965 celebrated their 57th reunion as well as their 75th birthdays, as all of them reached or will reach the ripe age of 75 this year.
Meeting at Belle Oaks Barn in Brooker. The lovely background and beautiful sunshine enhanced a day of gathering to remember the good times, kid about a few of the mischievous times and honor those who were there in spirit, if not in person.
After a meet-and-greet, a blessing was given by one of the pastors/class members. A delicious and plentiful barbecue dinner was served buffet style, which the men especially took advantage of, returning for second helpings.
A remembrance of highlights and activities of the class was followed by the singing of the alma mater and an entertaining and thought-provoking celebration of the class members and the contributions they’ve made.
Many male class members were called to serve in all branches of the armed forces as the Vietnam War was raging halfway around the world. Men stood as the theme song of the branch they served in was played: Air Force (5), Army (22), Marines (5), Navy (10) and Florida Army National Guard (23). Several class members spoke about the sacrifices made by these men, recognizing the efforts they made in serving the country.
Other class members spoke about the contributions to society made by all who served in some way to make life better than others. The occupations they filled run the gamut: farmer, firefighters, business owners, managers, government employees, beauticians, secretaries, bankers, CPAs, lawyers, judges, medical staff, military staff and officers, teachers, professors, police officers, missionaries and mechanics. No occupation was more important than another as all were noble in their efforts to make the world a better place for future generations.
The Class of 1965 originally consisted of 164, though some of those members moved to other schools before graduating. The class currently consists of 116, with 94 living in Florida. Of those 94, 25 remained in Starke, while 12 reside in Lawtey.
The remaining class members live in states such as Alabama, Arizona, California, Georgia, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.
Sadly, 52 class members have passed away, but they are still in their classmates’ hearts and thoughts.
After much recognition of everyone’s efforts to come together again to celebrate their lives and friends, a toast was given, followed by members singing “Happy Birthday” to each other. As they enjoyed birthday cake, they were reminded that their 60th reunion will be held in 2025.
