This blog entry really doesn't talk about life on Kwaj, but a part of my life that I am truly proud of. On Saturday, February 12 (Sunday, February 13 Kwaj time) North Miami Senior High School opened its doors to alumni one last time. For obvious reasons, I couldn't attend (namely me being 7300 miles away in a little rock on an atoll in the middle of the Pacific Ocean), but I followed the event by making a couple of phone calls to a few alumni (my phone bill is gonna be expensive when it's due next month!) who did attend and viewing the many pictures and videos taken on Facebook. Over 3000 alumni attended the event last night and there was not a dry eye in the house...
As some of you may know, I am a graduate of the Class of 1983 of North Miami Senior High School in North Miami, Florida. From 1951 (the first senior class graduated in 1955) until 2009 the original school building was a part of the North Miami community. A brief history of the school I wrote can be read here: A Short History of North Miami Senior High School . A new North Miami Senior High has been built to take its place a block away, but the memories of the old school will never fade. Within a few weeks, the old school will fall to the wrecker's ball (with the exception of the gymnasium, wich was donated to the City of North Miami) and become an open field again. This time, it'll become the athletic field for North Miami Middle School and a joint-use park by the City of North Miami.
Thirty years ago when I first walked the halls as a 'baby Pioneer' (the traditional moniker for 10th graders at the time - the 'baby Pioneer' title now goes to the 9th grade) I wasn't very big into school spirit; it eventually grew into me until by the time I walked across the stage three years later to accept my diploma, I truly bled the school colors of green and gray. I'm proud to know some famous people as Pioneer alumni but the closest relationship I have is with my own graduating class, many of whom I still keep in touch to this day.
I may be nearly 7300 miles away from my alma mater according to the Great Circle Mapper, but I'm still proud to call myself a Pioneer!
...to thee we pledge our loyalty, to thee our minds and hearts
From thy radiant Green and Gray, our love will ne'er depart!
Hail to North Miami, hail to North Miami, hail to thee!
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