If you have a website and wish to add a Good Search Box to it that helps FMS, I have created a page with 6 different style boxes you can use. If you need help adding it or want me to shoot over the code in a .txt format please let me know.

Here are the boxes: http://www.olympusweb.com/good-search-boxes.html

- Brad Taylor

FMS Rings

What is a FMS alumnus? He doesn’t have to be a president, but he could be. He doesn’t have to be a famous lawyer, but he could be. He doesn’t have to be rich in money, but he could be. He is someone that took a road less traveled, he is loyal, outspoken, honest, and a lot of things. Most of all, he is a product of a system that has stood for over …130 years. He is a good guy for the most part, a saint, a sinner, and somewhere in between. He makes his path in the world with what he took away from Fishburne Military School.Even though we’ve changed and we are all finding our own places in the world, we all know that when the tears fall or the smile spreads across our face, we’ll come to each other because no matter where this crazy world takes us, nothing will ever change so much to the point where we are not all friends and brothers.

The FMS Facebook group is here for you. The purpose of this group is to connect to all Fishburne alumni both in this social media and in person, build a more fraternal organization, network for business, and benefit the school.

In a year of operation, we have been successful in extending ourselves in both professional and personal ways to show how the school has benefited us in life. Members of this group have reached out in person to assist their brothers in times of joy, sadness, job loss and hard times. Members have made business deals, been to weddings and funerals together, and attended formal school functions and a multitude of small informal gatherings literally across the country. Class membership, graduation status, cadet rank are erased. If you attended and benefited from Fishburne, you are welcome here.

Through our presence and participation in this closed group, we have learned that ethics, morals, loyalty and the FMS spirit has transcended generations of cadets. It has brought memories to us, and in our minds we have all visited the school, listening to stories and tales of our fellow alumni.

Our interests in the school should first be loyalty to the mission of the school, the trustees, and the superintendent. We should, as a group, remain at a distance from the day-to-day operation of the school, and allow the superintendent to do his job.

In our online discussions this past year, we have affected change at the school. We are not “official.” But there are officials who actively listen and participate in discussions here. Our discussions on traditions led to a review of traditions within the group and then a formal meeting of administration, trustees, and visitors. The strong feelings expressed here will result in changes to restore appropriate traditions. “It will never be as tough as it was when I was there” can be stated by any one of us.

We as a group should be an asset to the school, a symbol of pride to our instructors and the vision of the school. We should be ready as a group to come to her aid in the times of need, enjoy the benefits of the school’s reputation, and make the fraternity a group of envy to those who have never walked through our arch and because of their circumstances can never ever be us… their loss at being a member of the FMS Alumni.

The Cassions Go Rolling Along.
Alumni for a lifetime, brothers forever!

Rickie Hess

Online registration is now open for Alumni Weekend 2012! And if you register before April 9, you will be eligible for a discounted rate on the Friday night dinner and casino!

Register now at this link.

A full schedule can be viewed here.

You can also view the full brochure here.

On his finger is garnet and gold
A symbol of pride
His life’s story told

Of friends and Brothers and times of old
Wrinkled hands and worn gold
His hair is grey and his age is old
He smiles; as he sees the garnet and gold

Why wear a ring that no one sees
There is only him for it to please?
No one care what he wears
Why does he show how much he cares?

He wore it with pride when he was young
Now his life is almost done
Why does he wear the garnet and gold?
Because it tell the stories old

When he stands on streets of gold
And faces his judgment for all is told
GOD will ask him: why my son?
Do you wear the garnet and gold?

You see my Lord when I walked the stoops
My BROTHERS made me one of their troops
So in my heart I carry their love
Waiting for the time when we meet above

So now I explain why I wear
The symbol of pride
And how much we care

That is why I wear the ring
On my hand and in my heart
Because it tells the stories of old
That’s why I wear the GARNET and GOLD

By Rick Hess FMS 70

Alumni Ring

Several alum want a print of the pic for this profile. Anyone who wishes a print of the picture of the FMS alumni ring and sword: i am taking orders for prints, no i dont have a price for the print yet. HOWEVER, all proceeds will go towards a scholarship fund i am setting up. I promsie once i get the price of the print i will make it affordable to as many as i can so you can afford to get one. If you purchase a print i will make sure that my donation from the proceeds go under YOUR NAME in giving. The more orders i get the lower the price will be. no committments are needed just interest so i know how many to print. what a great way to comtribute to the school in your name and get a magnificent print. by the way the photographer will sign them for you for free.. rick ]]> http://www.fmsalumni.com/fms-ring-print-project/feed/ 0 http://www.fmsalumni.com/short-history-of-the-garnet-and-gold/ http://www.fmsalumni.com/short-history-of-the-garnet-and-gold/#comments Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:16:09 +0000 Rick http://www.fmsalumni.com/?p=158

“Mr. Kiser was the first Commandant and instrumental organizer of The Hudgins Rifles, Fishburne Military (FMS) drill team, in 1951. Serving as catcher for the FMS baseball team, he also had a life-long love for baseball.”
- Full article at The News Leader

From the 1979 FMS Yearbook:

Col. Morgan Hudgins and cadet Coy Kiser reviewing the Hudgins Rifles.

Rick Hess FMS 70

As FMS Alumni, we wear the Garnet and Gold in our hearts, in the way we live, and in the stories we share. For many of us, FMS rings that we received when we were cadets were an outward sign of the love we carried for our school and our brothers.

But some of our alumni have lost their rings, or feel that the rings they wore as cadets are no longer a good size for their more mature hands. Some alumni started talking about this during the 2011 Alumni Weekend and an idea was born.  Members of the FMS Alumni Facebook group (Join us at https://www.facebook.com/groups/FMSmembers/), talked about the idea and decided to move forward with the idea to create rings for FMS alumni.

Rings can identify us to each other, offer reminders of fond memories, and bring recognition to the school we love.

The Board of Trustees approved the recommendation of the Board of Visitors Alumni Relations Committee and Jostens was commissioned to create an alumni ring.

The ring is a larger version of the FMS cadet ring.  The ring is 40 penny weight; it is available in 10K gold, or in a gold alloy overlay called Lustrium Suncast. Other than its size, the ring is identical to the cadet ring design. Each alumnus may personalize his ring with the year of his graduation at no additional cost. The other option is an Old English “F” encrusted on the garnet stone, also at no additional cost. Whether you choose 10K gold or the gold alloy overlay, the rings carry a lifetime warranty. If the ring should tarnish, chip, or lose the look of the original ring, it is under warranty for life through Jostens.

The Alumni Ring is available to anyone who attended FMS. You may contact Rick Hess, FMS ’70, at rickhessfms70@g mail.com, or call him at 434-470-1871 for order forms and questions.

About 30 rings have been ordered so far, and the first was delivered in January to Drew Scearce of the class of 1955.  He wears his new ring with pride and is very pleased with the look of the ring.

“The project involved the ideas and comments of many alumni. I did the legwork on this project, but this was a collaboration by more than 600 alumni. It is a fine example of the fraternity at work, Hess said. “It was my pleasure to see this come to fruition as a member of the Alumni Relations Committee on the FMS Board of Visitors.”

Rick Hess FMS 70

Board of Visitors

Alumni Relations Committee