The students in our Interactive History summer school class took a field trip to the Petersburg Battlefield National Park on Wednesday. Photos from the field trip can be found in our online gallery at: 
http://photos.forkunion.com/…/Ju…/Interactive-History-Class/

COL Todd Giszack, the Academic Dean of Fork Union Military Academy, surveys the ongoing renovation work of the science classrooms.

Work is underway in Wicker Science Hall, where classrooms 1 and 2 are being transformed into 21^st-century lab space. The floor plans are completely new, and the design calls for improved bench space, new casework, modern finishes, and upgraded furnishings and safety equipment.  We have added windows and doors in each class space, and a display module for each classroom.  Through creative design, we will also be able to create a modern and effective teaching space earmarked for our STEM Education Program and Early College Scholars classes.  Work is scheduled for completion by late August.

More photos of the renovations can be found in our online photo galleries.

Two of Fork Union Military Academy's international students from China were hard at work in service to the local community this week, as Cadets Zhao and Xiang worked at our local nursing home, Envoy at the Village in Fork Union, to refinish a large wooden table at the facility. The young men sanded down the wooden surfaces of the table to remove the dents and scars from years of use, then applied a coat of shellac to protect the wood. After waiting for the sun to dry the coat of shellac, the cadets then finished the job by putting on a layer of polyurethane varnish. The cadets then helped move the table back inside the building where it now shines like new and will provide many more years of use for the residents and staff of the skilled nursing care facility.

COL Chris Nothnagle, a longtime teacher at the Academy and faculty advisor for the Woodworking Club, supervised the cadets' project and provided this photo of the cadets and their refinished table.

Cadet Xingjian Zhao (seen at left), a senior, is the son of Mr. Hong Zhao and Mrs. Fan Zheng of Hangzhou, China, and has been enrolled in the Academy since 2014. Cadet Du Xiang (on right), is a junior and has attended Fork Union Military Academy since the 8th grade. He is the son of Mr. Dehua Xiang and Mrs. Change Fu of China.

This morning at Fork Union Military Academy, dozens of cadets, joined by Academy Chaplain James Benson and a number of faculty and staff members, gathered at the school's central flagpole in Fraley Circle immediately following their morning formation for a few moments of prayer before beginning their school day. The gathering was to participate and show support for See You at the Pole 2016, a national student-initiated movement that began over twenty-five years ago in the Ft. Worth suburb of Burleson, Texas.

In 1990, a group of students in Burleson, Texas gathered around their school's flagpole to pray for their school, their leaders, their families, and their friends. The story of this small prayer meeting spread, and other students were inspired to hold similar prayer gatherings at their schools. The vision was that students throughout Texas would meet at their flagpoles and pray simultaneously. The challenge became known as "See You at the Pole" and students began to spread the word to other schools. On September 12, 1990, more than 45,000 teenagers in four different states met at their flagpoles to pray before the start of school. The next year, more than a million students across the country gathered simultaneously around their flagpoles on September 11, 1991. The movement has grown larger each year, as more and more students have gathered together on a September morning, usually now the fourth Wednesday of September, to help bring a moral and spiritual awakening to their campuses and communities. 

This year marks the 26th anniversary of that first gathering, and so many Fork Union cadets showed up this morning that they divided into several separate groups to engage in a few moments of prayer together before the start of the class day.

Weekly Schedule and Uniforms - Week of October 3-7

Upcoming Events

Important Messages

ABSENT NOTICES POLICY

If your son is sick and cannot attend school, we ask that you send an email to absent@fuma.org as soon as possible in the morning.  All that need to know about his absence will be notified (Dean, Faculty, Infirmary, Commandant).

If he is out for more than 3 days, he will need to return with a doctor's excuse.

DOCTOR/DENTAL APPOINTMENTS POLICY

Medical, dental, and orthodontic appointments should be scheduled after class time.  Routine appointments should be scheduled on school days off (certain Mondays throughout year) or during major lealves.

Any medical leave must first be directed to the academy Head Nurse in the Infirmary (infirmary@fuma.org or 434-842-4314).  The request is then forwarded to the Deputy Commandant for approval.  Any missed class time must be approved by the Academic Dean.

Day student parents are responsible for transportation to any appointments. 

DAY STUDENT DRIVERS

Day students that drive to campus, must park near the outdoor basketball courts.       Drivers ARE NOT allowed to move or park their vehicle in another location unless approved by Commandant's Department.  Day students are not allowed to park in front of or behind Estes Athletic Center at any time.  This can cause driving privileges to campus to be revoked by the Commandant's Department.

PARENTS DROPPING OFF & PICKING UP CADETS

Just as a reminder, the road around the Jacobson Hall building is now one way.  Please enter from the first corner of the building (at Charlie Company) and follow around to the end.  For the safety of ALL cadets, we ask that you form one line and DO NOT attempt to pass stopped vehicles to the left as cadets are bringing dropped off.  When picking up cadets, if you would like to park -- please pull off to the side of the road.

For more information, contact Amy Reese, Activities Coordinator (reesea@fuma.org or 434-842-4238)

Virginia's premiere lifestyle magazine, Virginia Living, has named Fork Union Military Academy an Editor's Choice on their list of 2016 Top Schools in Virginia.

The October 2016 issue features the magazine's "State of Education" feature in which the editor's highlight Fork Union Military Academy's capital improvement projects, in particular, the new STEM classroom laboratory facilities that are scheduled for a ribbon cutting ceremony at the school's 2016 Parents Weekend.

This marks the fourth year in a row that the Academy has been honored by inclusion on Virginia Living's list ot Top High Schools and Colleges in Virginia. In past years, the magazine has highlighted our school's holistic "body, mind, spirit" approach to education, our unique One Subject Plan curriculum, and our status as the #1 college prep school in the nation in turning out NFL players. Last year, Fork Union Military Academy's Early College Scholars Program was highlighted as the reason for the Academy's selection as a Top School in Virginia.

Weekly Schedule and Uniforms - Week of October 10-14

Upcoming Events

Important Messages

ABSENT NOTICES POLICY

If your son is sick and cannot attend school, we ask that you send an email to absent@fuma.org as soon as possible in the morning.  All that need to know about his absence will be notified (Dean, Faculty, Infirmary, Commandant).

If he is out for more than 3 days, he will need to return with a doctor's excuse.

DOCTOR/DENTAL APPOINTMENTS POLICY

Medical, dental, and orthodontic appointments should be scheduled after class time.  Routine appointments should be scheduled on school days off (certain Mondays throughout year) or during major lealves.

Any medical leave must first be directed to the academy Head Nurse in the Infirmary (infirmary@fuma.org or 434-842-4314).  The request is then forwarded to the Deputy Commandant for approval.  Any missed class time must be approved by the Academic Dean.

Day student parents are responsible for transportation to any appointments. 

DAY STUDENT DRIVERS

Day students that drive to campus, must park near the outdoor basketball courts.       Drivers ARE NOT allowed to move or park their vehicle in another location unless approved by Commandant's Department.  Day students are not allowed to park in front of or behind Estes Athletic Center at any time.  This can cause driving privileges to campus to be revoked by the Commandant's Department.

PARENTS DROPPING OFF & PICKING UP CADETS

Just as a reminder, the road around the Jacobson Hall building is now one way.  Please enter from the first corner of the building (at Charlie Company) and follow around to the end.  For the safety of ALL cadets, we ask that you form one line and DO NOT attempt to pass stopped vehicles to the left as cadets are bringing dropped off.  When picking up cadets, if you would like to park -- please pull off to the side of the road.

For more information, contact Amy Reese, Activities Coordinator (reesea@fuma.org or 434-842-4238)

At Fork Union Military Academy we have a wide cross-section of the world's population represented in our student body, so as events happen across our society, good or bad, whether it is an outbreak of a new strain of flu virus, a new dance craze, or, in this case, a new kind of scam being perpetrated by con artists, we are likely to become aware of it fairly quickly through incidents affecting the families of some of our students. We have once again been made aware of a scam that criminals are using to prey upon grandparents or other family members to take advantage of their love and concern for their family. We wanted to warn our families and friends to be on the lookout for this type of scam because just within our own student body we have again received a report of at least one family that has been contacted by perpetrators of this fraud in recent days.

"Grandma! I'm in trouble..."

Imagine for a moment that you are a grandparent and you get a phone call in the middle of the night. The voice on the other end says, "Grandma! I'm in trouble and I need your help. But please don't tell my parents because they'll only get upset and overreact, and besides, they don't have the money to help me right now." As you fumble for the light switch and try to find your eyeglasses, your "grandchild" says, "I'm going to put the police officer on the phone and he can tell you what you need to do. Thank you so much for helping me, I love you!"

Was that really your grandson on the phone? It sounded kind of like his voice, but your hearing is not all that great when you've just been awakened in the middle of the night. It's all happening so fast. Before you can even ask any questions, an authoritative voice comes on the phone and tells you that your grandson has gotten in a bit of trouble. There's been an accident and he has been arrested. You need to send $4,400 to pay his bond or he'll have to be put in jail. This is his one phone call and you have to send the money right away via a wire transfer, a bank routing number, or perhaps by a prepaid money card. The very persuasive person on the other end of the phone line will be quite helpful in talking you through the process to send the money right away, and quite insistent that your grandson needs your help without delay.

The Grandparent Scam

It's called "The Grandparent Scam" and it has been around for a few years now. The FBI says that their Internet Crime Complaint Center has been receiving a growing number of reports of such scams since 2008. The stories told by these scam artists may vary and the scenarios differ from case to case. According to the FBI, sometimes the criminal pretends to be a doctor at a hospital, or perhaps a lawyer. In some cases, as in the example we first described, an accomplice impersonates the grandchild and then hands the phone to a second con artist who plays the role of some person in authority. Sometimes the contact is made by email rather than by phone. But the common factor is that the con artist is preying upon the grandparent's desire to help and protect their grandchild and to help get them out of the trouble they are supposed to be in by sending money.

The FBI reports that these scammers and con artists are getting more and more sophisticated. Using the internet and social media sites, these criminals can gather a wealth of personal information about their intended victims, which makes their impersonations even more believable. For example, as the FBI describes it, the real grandchild may post on Facebook or Twitter that he is a freelance photographer who often travels to Mexico. When calling the grandparents, the scammer impersonating the grandson may claim to be calling from Mexico and say that his camera and passport has been stolen and he needs money wired immediately.

No Connection Found to Fork Union Military Academy

There is nothing in the report we've received from within our student body that leads us to believe that families are targeted because of their connection to Fork Union Military Academy. We do not believe that this scam is in any way tied to our location here in Fork Union, Virginia, either. The fact that three families within our own student body were targeted last year, and one family so far this year, for this type of scam is simply an indication of how widespread and common this scam is becoming. 

Steps We Have Taken

• Even though we believe these three cases to be unrelated and simply a coincidence due to our large number of students and the growing number of such scams being committed, we have still taken steps to increase our state of vigilance on campus. At Fork Union Military Academy, we do not maintain any comprehensive databases or phone directories of grandparents of our cadets, but last year, RADM Burhoe, the school's president, requested that our IT department review the security of our parent and alumni databases to insure that they are protected to the extent possible from any data breaches that might jeopardize the security of the family information we do have.
• We are also publishing and distributing this warning to our student families and alumni so that you are made aware of this growing scam and can take action within your own households to protect yourselves.

What Can You Do?

• Talk with your family members about this scam and make sure that elderly members of the family are educated about the techniques used by con artists.
• Resist the pressure to act quickly.
• Encourage grandparents who receive a call for help like this to contact the parents of the grandchild or another family member to determine if the call is legitimate.
• Never wire money based on a request made over the phone or in an e-mail. Wiring money is like giving cash. Once you send it, you can't get it back.
• Download the "Grandparent Scam Tips" document available from the Consumer Federation of America at http://www.consumerfed.org/pdfs/Grandparent-Scam-Tips.pdf
• If you receive a call that your son or grandson at Fork Union Military Academy is in trouble, contact the school at 434-842-3212 and speak to a staff or faculty member. If it is after normal business hours, call the Guard Desk at 434-842-4232. The Guard Desk is staffed until 10:00 PM and after that time, voicemail messages can be left for the Night TAC Officer if he is away from the desk making rounds of the barracks building. You can also contact the Infirmary at 434-842-4310.

Weekly Schedule and Uniforms - Week of October 17-22 *

Upcoming Events

Important Messages

ABSENT NOTICES POLICY

If your son is sick and cannot attend school, we ask that you send an email to absent@fuma.org as soon as possible in the morning.  All that need to know about his absence will be notified (Dean, Faculty, Infirmary, Commandant).

If he is out for more than 3 days, he will need to return with a doctor's excuse.

DOCTOR/DENTAL APPOINTMENTS POLICY

Medical, dental, and orthodontic appointments should be scheduled after class time.  Routine appointments should be scheduled on school days off (certain Mondays throughout year) or during major lealves.

Any medical leave must first be directed to the academy Head Nurse in the Infirmary (infirmary@fuma.org or 434-842-4314).  The request is then forwarded to the Deputy Commandant for approval.  Any missed class time must be approved by the Academic Dean.

Day student parents are responsible for transportation to any appointments. 

DAY STUDENT DRIVERS

Day students that drive to campus, must park near the outdoor basketball courts.       Drivers ARE NOT allowed to move or park their vehicle in another location unless approved by Commandant's Department.  Day students are not allowed to park in front of or behind Estes Athletic Center at any time.  This can cause driving privileges to campus to be revoked by the Commandant's Department.

PARENTS DROPPING OFF & PICKING UP CADETS

Just as a reminder, the road around the Jacobson Hall building is now one way.  Please enter from the first corner of the building (at Charlie Company) and follow around to the end.  For the safety of ALL cadets, we ask that you form one line and DO NOT attempt to pass stopped vehicles to the left as cadets are bringing dropped off.  When picking up cadets, if you would like to park -- please pull off to the side of the road.

For more information, contact Amy Reese, Activities Coordinator (reesea@fuma.org or 434-842-4238)

Weekly Schedule and Uniforms - Week of October 24-28

Upcoming Events

Important Messages

ABSENT NOTICES POLICY

If your son is sick and cannot attend school, we ask that you send an email to absent@fuma.org as soon as possible in the morning.  All that need to know about his absence will be notified (Dean, Faculty, Infirmary, Commandant).

If he is out for more than 3 days, he will need to return with a doctor's excuse.

DOCTOR/DENTAL APPOINTMENTS POLICY

Medical, dental, and orthodontic appointments should be scheduled after class time.  Routine appointments should be scheduled on school days off (certain Mondays throughout year) or during major lealves.

Any medical leave must first be directed to the academy Head Nurse in the Infirmary (infirmary@fuma.org or 434-842-4314).  The request is then forwarded to the Deputy Commandant for approval.  Any missed class time must be approved by the Academic Dean.

Day student parents are responsible for transportation to any appointments. 

DAY STUDENT DRIVERS

Day students that drive to campus, must park near the outdoor basketball courts.       Drivers ARE NOT allowed to move or park their vehicle in another location unless approved by Commandant's Department.  Day students are not allowed to park in front of or behind Estes Athletic Center at any time.  This can cause driving privileges to campus to be revoked by the Commandant's Department.

PARENTS DROPPING OFF & PICKING UP CADETS

Just as a reminder, the road around the Jacobson Hall building is now one way.  Please enter from the first corner of the building (at Charlie Company) and follow around to the end.  For the safety of ALL cadets, we ask that you form one line and DO NOT attempt to pass stopped vehicles to the left as cadets are bringing dropped off.  When picking up cadets, if you would like to park -- please pull off to the side of the road.

For more information, contact Amy Reese, Activities Coordinator (reesea@fuma.org or 434-842-4238)

The students in our Interactive History summer school class took a field trip to the Petersburg Battlefield National Park on Wednesday. Photos from the field trip can be found in our online gallery at: 
http://photos.forkunion.com/…/Ju…/Interactive-History-Class/

Weekly Schedule and Uniforms - Week of October 31-November 4

Upcoming Events

Important Messages

ABSENT NOTICES POLICY

If your son is sick and cannot attend school, we ask that you send an email to absent@fuma.org as soon as possible in the morning.  All that need to know about his absence will be notified (Dean, Faculty, Infirmary, Commandant).

If he is out for more than 3 days, he will need to return with a doctor's excuse.

DOCTOR/DENTAL APPOINTMENTS POLICY

Medical, dental, and orthodontic appointments should be scheduled after class time.  Routine appointments should be scheduled on school days off (certain Mondays throughout year) or during major lealves.

Any medical leave must first be directed to the academy Head Nurse in the Infirmary (infirmary@fuma.org or 434-842-4314).  The request is then forwarded to the Deputy Commandant for approval.  Any missed class time must be approved by the Academic Dean.

Day student parents are responsible for transportation to any appointments. 

DAY STUDENT DRIVERS

Day students that drive to campus, must park near the outdoor basketball courts.       Drivers ARE NOT allowed to move or park their vehicle in another location unless approved by Commandant's Department.  Day students are not allowed to park in front of or behind Estes Athletic Center at any time.  This can cause driving privileges to campus to be revoked by the Commandant's Department.

PARENTS DROPPING OFF & PICKING UP CADETS

Just as a reminder, the road around the Jacobson Hall building is now one way.  Please enter from the first corner of the building (at Charlie Company) and follow around to the end.  For the safety of ALL cadets, we ask that you form one line and DO NOT attempt to pass stopped vehicles to the left as cadets are bringing dropped off.  When picking up cadets, if you would like to park -- please pull off to the side of the road.

For more information, contact Amy Reese, Activities Coordinator (reesea@fuma.org or 434-842-4238)

Winter Sports Tryouts and Start Times

 Winter sports are just around the corner and we encourage every cadet to participate! Below are the tryouts and start times for each winter sport:

PREP BASKETBALL

** TRYOUTS ** 

November 7-8 from 3:20-5:15 PM

Thomas Gym

First practice will begin Wednesday, November 9 at 5:30-7:15 PM

Coaching Staff: James Pelham (head coach) Cameron Noon (assistant coach)

JUNIOR PREP BASKETBALL

** TRYOUTS ** 

November 7-8 from 5:30-7:15 PM

Thomas Gym

First practice will begin Wednesday, November 9 at 5:30-7:15 PM

Coaching Staff: Stephen Barnette (head coach) Reggie Barnette (assistant coach)

WRESTLING

** OFFICIAL PRACTICE BEGINS **

Monday, November 7 at 3:20-5:15 PM

Estes Wrestling Room

Coaching Staff: Dean Hall (head coach) Bennett Radinovic (assistant coach)

OFF-SEASON CONDITIONING

 ** The program will start after Thanksgiving Break on November 29 **

After Thanksgiving Break, if a fall or spring athlete is not playing a winter sport, they are required to report to this program Monday through Thursday from 3:30-5:00 PM unless they have an excused absence. 

Directors: Xan Thomas, Mark Shuman, Jake Ingersoll, Nikki Hackenberg, Josh Acree

Weekly Schedule and Uniforms - Week of November 7-12*

Upcoming Events

Important Messages

ABSENT NOTICES POLICY

If your son is sick and cannot attend school, we ask that you send an email to absent@fuma.org as soon as possible in the morning.  All that need to know about his absence will be notified (Dean, Faculty, Infirmary, Commandant).

If he is out for more than 3 days, he will need to return with a doctor's excuse.

DOCTOR/DENTAL APPOINTMENTS POLICY

Medical, dental, and orthodontic appointments should be scheduled after class time.  Routine appointments should be scheduled on school days off (certain Mondays throughout year) or during major lealves.

Any medical leave must first be directed to the academy Head Nurse in the Infirmary (infirmary@fuma.org or 434-842-4314).  The request is then forwarded to the Deputy Commandant for approval.  Any missed class time must be approved by the Academic Dean.

Day student parents are responsible for transportation to any appointments. 

DAY STUDENT DRIVERS

Day students that drive to campus, must park near the outdoor basketball courts.       Drivers ARE NOT allowed to move or park their vehicle in another location unless approved by Commandant's Department.  Day students are not allowed to park in front of or behind Estes Athletic Center at any time.  This can cause driving privileges to campus to be revoked by the Commandant's Department.

PARENTS DROPPING OFF & PICKING UP CADETS

Just as a reminder, the road around the Jacobson Hall building is now one way.  Please enter from the first corner of the building (at Charlie Company) and follow around to the end.  For the safety of ALL cadets, we ask that you form one line and DO NOT attempt to pass stopped vehicles to the left as cadets are bringing dropped off.  When picking up cadets, if you would like to park -- please pull off to the side of the road.

For more information, contact Amy Reese, Activities Coordinator (reesea@fuma.org or 434-842-4238)

Athletics Academic Honor Roll – Term 1

The Fork Union Athletics Department is pleased to announce its first Athletics Academic Honor Roll - an award that will be given out after each term honoring undergraduate student-athletes who participated in a fall sport and displayed an outstanding performance in the classroom.

Junior Prep Soccer

86% - Athletic Honor Roll

Athletic Director’s List (A)

Maximus Holm

JaeSeong Park

Shareef Al-Khteeb

Kilian Olen

Nicholas DiGuilio

John Soler

Brennan Stone

Captain’s List (B)

Chasyn Yescas

Amaan Rahman

George Torres-Fernandez

Alec Springsteen

Joshua Julien

Blake Chiovaro

Patrice Leroy

Austin McCusker

Will Hamilton

Cross Country

82% - Athletic Honor Roll

Athletic Director’s List (A)

David Greenspon

Ryan McEnroe

Walker Lander

Edmund Acevedo

Robel Lulseged

Benjamin Zwilling

Alexander Birch

Nathaniel Strickland

Sulaimon Abubakar-Shidi

Jacob Rhodes

Captain’s List (B)

Julian Yescas

Mark Toombs

Giovanni Desgrottes

Thomas Betters

Grayson Cash

Clark Martin

Michael Tidwell

David Bell

Middle School Soccer

79% - Athletic Honor Roll

Athletic Director’s List (A)

Marcus Billingslea

Tim Cooper

Drew Leydig

Hollan Biss

Captain’s List (B)

Julian Barberan

Gavin DeMorro

Davis DeVault

Logan French

Jackson Manglicmot

Tommy Pham

Jacob Sylvia

Prep Soccer

74% - Athletic Honor Roll

Athletic Director’s List (A)

Henry Branscome

Maurice Khoury

Mohamed Hassanin

Matthew Bazan

Conrad Cardie

Stephen Hamilton

Captain’s List (B)

John Graves-Marchand

Ben Chiovaro

Jonathan Villain

Denzel Hunter-Shaw

Nicholas Heath

Ebruba Etta

Andrew Hawley

Kyle DeGarmo

Prep Football

61% - Athletic Honor Roll

Athletic Director’s List (A)

Nathan Disbrow

William Stupalsky

Franklin Wallace

Brennon Garrison

William Henry

Zack Pace

Captain’s List (B)

Nickolas Farrar

Iosefa Pua’auli

Logan Justice

Hayden Miles

Abimbola Banjoko

Ian McGlamery

RC Walbrook

Zion Phifer

Tassir Scott

Seth Robinson

Aaron Pace

Jacob Marks

Ivy Cash

Luke Baker

Travis Gibson

Junior Prep Football

46% - Athletic Honor Roll

Athletic Director’s List (A)

Aaron Reese

Kirko Kirkov

Drue Hackenberg

Steven Smith

Jacob Wood

Xavier White

Abraham Ullrich

Robert Wood

Gabriel Green

Captain’s List (B)

Ian McGlamery

Daniel Reynolds

Trokon Woods

Corey Fraser

Thai Pay

Ryan Dynski

Luke Antesberger

Sean Crothers

Weekly Schedule and Uniforms - Week of November 14-18

. * PLEASE NOTE THAT UNIFORMS WILL CHANGE TO WINTER (CLASS B WINTER AND BDU WINTER) AFTER 

     THE THANKSGIVING BREAK.  WINTER UNIFORMS ARE LONG-SLEEVE.

Upcoming Events

Important Messages

ABSENT NOTICES POLICY

If your son is sick and cannot attend school, we ask that you send an email to absent@fuma.org as soon as possible in the morning.  All that need to know about his absence will be notified (Dean, Faculty, Infirmary, Commandant).

If he is out for more than 3 days, he will need to return with a doctor's excuse.

DOCTOR/DENTAL APPOINTMENTS POLICY

Medical, dental, and orthodontic appointments should be scheduled after class time.  Routine appointments should be scheduled on school days off (certain Mondays throughout year) or during major lealves.

Any medical leave must first be directed to the academy Head Nurse in the Infirmary (infirmary@fuma.org or 434-842-4314).  The request is then forwarded to the Deputy Commandant for approval.  Any missed class time must be approved by the Academic Dean.

Day student parents are responsible for transportation to any appointments. 

DAY STUDENT DRIVERS

Day students that drive to campus, must park near the outdoor basketball courts.       Drivers ARE NOT allowed to move or park their vehicle in another location unless approved by Commandant's Department.  Day students are not allowed to park in front of or behind Estes Athletic Center at any time.  This can cause driving privileges to campus to be revoked by the Commandant's Department.

PARENTS DROPPING OFF & PICKING UP CADETS

Just as a reminder, the road around the Jacobson Hall building is now one way.  Please enter from the first corner of the building (at Charlie Company) and follow around to the end.  For the safety of ALL cadets, we ask that you form one line and DO NOT attempt to pass stopped vehicles to the left as cadets are bringing dropped off.  When picking up cadets, if you would like to park -- please pull off to the side of the road.

For more information, contact Amy Reese, Activities Coordinator (reesea@fuma.org or 434-842-4238)

Our cadet-led Veterans Day Service will be held on Friday, November 11th, at 11:00 AM at the Veterans Memorial on the campus of Fork Union Military Academy. The featured speaker at this event will be our own CSM Glenn Sidwell, a decorated US Army veteran who served multiple tours in Vietnam.

The Eleventh Hour of the Eleventh Day of the Eleventh Month

This is the first time in recent memory that we've been able to celebrate Veterans Day, originally known as Armistice Day, at this traditional time – the Eleventh Hour on the Eleventh Day of the Eleventh Month the year. This marks the moment the armistice signed between the Allies of World War I and Germany began, with the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front officially taking effect at 11:00 AM on November 11th in 1918.

Veterans Memorial

The Veterans Memorial that stands on the front of campus is a lasting monument to former FUMA cadets who gave their lives in service to our nation. It was dedicated on October 17, 1998 during FUMA’s 100th Anniversary Celebration. Each year on Veterans Day, and during a memorial service on Alumni Weekend, friends, family, and the community gather with the Corps of Cadets at this special monument to pay their respects to those fallen heroes who have fought for our freedom and our country. During the original dedication service in October 1998, forty-eight names were honored on the wall. Today, there are 57 names of FUMA alumni who died in service to our nation inscribed on the wall.

WWI-era 4.7-inch Field Gun 

On prominent display atop our Veternas Memorial can be found a rather imposing cannon, itself a veteran of World War One. This large artillery piece is a Model 1906 4.7-inch Field Gun. This gun, originally designed in 1906 (as the name implies with subsequent Model 1907 and Model 1908 offering some minor improvements), is an example of one of the early guns with which the United States entered World War I. The field gun was capable of firing a 60-pound projectile, 4.7-inches in diameter, at a speed of 1,700 feet per second out to a range of about seven miles.

This gun is relatively rare today, as no more than 200 were produced. The 4.7-inch field gun was replaced by a newer 4.5-inch design in the late 1930s, just prior to World War II. A number of these World War I era cannons were donated by the U. S. Army to American Legion Posts across the nation in the mid-1930s. This particular field gun was then donated to Fork Union Military Academy in 1937 by American Legion Post #140, through the efforts of the post's commander, Hunter G. Bransford. The field gun was originally placed at the south end of the Middle School Circle where it remained for the next six decades. In 1998, through the generosity and hard work of Mr. William Reiser, Jr., FUMA Class of 1952, this artillery piece was completely and painstakingly restored and moved to its current place of honor above the stone memorial wall.

First Virginian Awarded the Medal of Honor

Another Fork Union Military Academy alumnus we remember this day is the first Virginian to be awarded the Medal of Honor, a hero of the First World War who was fortunate to return safely home to his family. Earl Davis “Foots” Gregory, born in Powhatan County, came to Fork Union Military Academy at age fourteen and graduated with the Class of 1915 as a lieutenant of “B” Company. He joined the Virginia National Guard and after graduating from FUMA he went on to fight in World War I. When his unit came under heavy machine gun fire, Sergeant Gregory said “I will get them,” and he advanced toward the enemy position. On his own, armed only with a rifle and a mortar shell he used as a hand grenade, Sergeant Gregory captured the machine gun nest, a howitzer, and 22 German soldiers. He became the first Virginian to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. After his return from the war, he attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute, now known as Virginia Tech, graduating in 1923. Virginia Tech’s precision military marching unit of the Corps of Cadets is named The Gregory Guard in his honor.

We Invite the Public to Join Us in Honoring All Our Veterans

We honor all our alumni and members of our community who have served in our nation's armed forces, all of whom have sacrificed for the good of us all. Some gave all, but all gave some, and for this we are eternally grateful.

We invite all members of the public to join us for this special community ceremony to honor our veterans.