Five years ago Stan Barr wrote a recommendation for a young man, John Kidder Marston. On June 14 I was among the thousands of attendees at the 245th Dartmouth graduation ceremony to see him receive his diploma, cum laude. It was a picture-perfect day and Hanover was showing off its greenest finery. There were four valedictorians (only one spoke, thank goodness), eight salutatorians and 1,093 undergraduate degrees conferred. The graduating students came from 47 U.S. states and 32 countries. With all appropriate pageantry and expectation, the Green overflowed with family and friends and members of the class of 1965 celebrating their 50th reunion. I was reminded of ’44’s 50th-year reunion, which was held in Leede Arena due to a rainy, cool day. Old traditions never do grow old, and Dartmouth put on a wonderful show. The speaker was David Brooks, journalist, author and political and cultural commentator, currently at The New York Times. Honorary degrees were awarded to four Dartmouth alumni: Russell Carson ’65, William Neukom ’64, Terry Plank ’85 and Valerie Steele ’78. President Philip Hanlon “got the last word” as he congratulated the class of 2015 and they commenced the next chapter in their lives. It was stirring to see the eager, optimistic young men and women parade to the podium as the day unfurled and watch Dartmouth send a new generation into the wide, wide world. Ave atque vale.

Don’t miss the class mini-reunion September 25 and 26.

We have been notified of the death of Daniel Jackson Donahue on March 20, and extend our sympathies to his family.

—Betty Munson, 23 Linscott Road No., York, ME 03909; elizmunson1944@gmail.com