by Shawn Nowlin
As the saying goes, “Can’t nobody do it how the Colonels do it.”
For months, a group of dedicated William Fleming High School (WFHS) graduates worked in unison to put on a memorable all-class weekend reunion celebration at Washington Park on Aug. 23. Engaging alumni across different decades was no easy task, but worth it at the end of the day, noted Jonathan Holland ‘05.
“For the vast majority of us, Fleming is the only high school that we know. We never got to experience the new building, but the memories we made on the old campus are as fresh today as they were years ago,” Holland said. “Social media made it a lot easier to get in contact with people.”
All of the details were very intentional. Attendees enjoyed a DJ, food, games and much more. Current WFHS cheerleaders performing different routines added to the experience.
The celebration was filled with heartfelt conversations and laughter. Former classmates reminisced about their teen years and shared details about their lives since walking across the stage to get their diplomas.
“I wasn’t going to miss the opportunity to catch up with friends for anything. My classmates and I have long moved past the feeling that we must prove ourselves like we once did. Today, none of that pressure exists,” Arnetta Saunders ‘78 said. “I left the reunion with renewed connections and a deep appreciation for the bonds we formed more than four decades ago.”
Pam Banks ‘86 made sure that she and her friends broke out their dance moves when the music started jamming, just like old times. “I loved everything about the reunion celebration, especially the dancing. I often run into fellow Fleming graduates. All of us share a bond of immeasurable pride,” she said.
Fond memories were shared, such as the time when Jeff Dearing ‘87 worked up the courage to ask his crush out on a date. “I can’t tell you how many times I practiced in the mirror before I was confident enough to do it for real. High school was some of the best years of my life,” Dearing said. “I tell young people all the time to enjoy these moments because they go by so fast and you can never get the time back.”
Before the celebration concluded, enough pictures were taken to fill up the largest photo album book in Virginia. As classmates bid farewell and returned to their respective lives, many agreed to do a better job of keeping in touch.
