Peachtree – Julie’s Place hosted the 70th reunion of Murphy High School classmates Thursday.
The momentous occasion had been long planned, but COVID-19 interjected itself, so the Class of 1952 had to wait it out.
Their party opened with social time for the class to reacquaint themselves with each other. Retha Swain took a class photo and Harry Ingram offered the invocation. Mary Ann Gaddis Thompson received the Gold Star Banner and Citation. As he does at every class reunion, Ron Hill presented his custom designed 70th Anniversary Medallion to each class member present.
Harry Ingram was called to double-duty when he provided the keynote address but, just as they had in school, many of his classmates made comments as well. Out of the 77 classmates who walked across the dais in 1952, more than half the surviving class attended the celebration.
Ron Hill, a former Cherokee County manager, was coordinator of the reunion.
“It makes us feel good that we were able to get together with fellow classmates we have known so long, and that we are still able to have something in common and to enjoy ourselves,” he said.
With only 29 students remaining in their class, Hill was grateful they could all spend time together. A total of 15 out of the 77 graduates were on hand.
“When you get to be 88, it’s wonderful to have old friends that you can get together with and talk about old times,” he said. Among the wisdom passed around the room, Hill added, “Happiness is being with an old friend after a long time and feeling like nothing has changed.”
The 2022 reunion for Murphy High’s Class of 1952 graduates included Mary Ashe Fleming, Clara Clayton, Carlene Bates, Aline Ware, Vallie Houston, Marie Dockery Fleming, Retha Swain, Helen Gibson, Mary Lou Hughes, Mozelle Shields, Mary Ann Thompson, Bob Boling, Fred Johnson, Ron Hill and Harry Ingram.
Hill presented a custom-designed “70th anniversary” medallion to all present. He also awarded a Gold Star Banner and Citation to Mary Ann Gaddis Thompson of Cherokee County, whose brother was killed in action during the Korean War.
The banner was presented to Thompson, and the citation read by fellow classmate Harry Ingram recognized the loss of “Corporal Andrew Jackson Gaddis, who was killed in action on May 28, 1951, in Kyongju, Korea, while defending our nation and the freedom of oppressed people. Corporal Gaddis dedicated service and selfless sacrifice bring great honor to his country and to his family. The Gaddis family name will be added to our Gold Star Banner Honor Roll.”
“No one has given more to our nation than our service members lost in combat and the Gold Star families left behind,” Hill said. “These heroes paid the ultimate sacrifice in order to protect our freedoms, and we remain in service to their families as they carry on with courage and dignity despite their devastating loss.”
The Blue Ridge Mountains Chapter of the Georgia Sons of the American Revolution Society was chartered on April 1, 2000, and is nationally recognized as one of the top five chapters of more than 600 chapters worldwide. For details, visit www.sar.org.