Text of other pages in this issue: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
THE OBSIDIAN - JUNE 1957 5
JIM NEWSOM (Continued from page 4)
(the long gray line) assembled at Thayer monument and the oldest living graduate present, General Hodges, placed a wreath at the base of the monument. General Maxwell D. Taylor, Chief of Staff, United States Army, and his aides arrived by helicopter just in time for this ceremony. This was followed by an Alumni Review (parade). The Graduation parade and recognition took place in the late afternoon, and the formal Graduation Hop in the evening.
Graduation exercises were held in the Field House on Tuesday, June 4. It was a thrill to watch the cadets receive their diplomas in order of scholastic rank; and then, when the last man ("goat") had returned to his seat, toss their caps into the air. 546 of them made quite a show.
On their return trip west they visited several interesting places. Timpanogos Caves National Monument, near Salt Lake City, reminded them of the Oregon Caves, when they were inside, but they hiked a mile and a half up the side of the mountain to reach the cave entrance. Bryce Canyon National Park, often known as the "Wonderland of the Pink Cliffs," was reached in the late afternoon and a reconnaisance trip for the next day was taken to various vantage points. It started to rain that evening, rained all night and the next morning so that it was too muddy to go down into the canyon. No time to wait for it to quit raining, so they drove on to Zion National Park, "Canyon Land of the Big Rocks," where it was also raining and the water running down the walls of the cliffs, and innumerable waterfalls pouring over the cliffs.
The next day, Mt. Lassen National Park was visited and snowbanks 10-15 feet were found along the road at the higher elevations. The sulphur works were still busy, beautiful Lake Helen was covered with ice, the devastated areas were interesting but we all commented that we thought our Three Sisters area with its lava flows was just as impressive.
Editor interviews F. Newsom
THE FOLLOWING POEM, inspired by my participation in the Obsidian Summer Camp of 1954 on the north side of Mt. Hood, was published last March in "The Preface", a University of Portland literary magazine. I will always remember those two weeks as the most enjoyable vacation possible and sure hate to miss the Summer Camp this year. I do hope to make at least one climb this summer and will look forward to seeing all my Obsidian friends again.
The Climber
He stops to marvel at the fragile beauty
of a wildflower in a lush mountain meadow;
Then turns to face a citadel of rock and snow--
A cathedral with soaring pinnacles and knife-sharp ridges.
Glacial streams send down the lifeblood of the valley below
As fleecy clouds, sharply outlined against
the azure sky, drift by the upper crags.
He has felt the bitter cold and biting
gales of the desolate world above timberline.
He has seen the first red glint of sunight strike the snowy crest, and later,
watched the eerie light of alpenglow at dusk.
He has tasted the bitterness of fear
while pitoned to an icy cliff, with dark emptiness below.
He has known sorrow in defeat from heights
unconquered, but gloried in the challenge that they offered.
In victory, he acknowledges the Hand of God, Who has wrought such power and majesty in created things, and humbly prays that he will not adore them in place of the Creator.
For he has run the gauntlet of the senses and emotions, and offers all on the high altar of the world.
Tom Bricher
Following is a letter from Dr. John F. Bovard, Honorary Member of Obsidians, Inc. The Board thought the membership might like to read it too. J. Jeppesen, Jr.
Dear President Henry:
It has been a long time since visiting you and my fellow Obsidians. Not because Iam not interested in what you are doing. Quite to the contrary--my greatest disappointment is that I have not been able to visit you all in Eugene and perhaps to take a summer trip with you. However, I read all the literature you send to me and I rejoice in
(Continued on page 6)
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