Pete Knoetgen ’77 and Steve Frederick ’72
The Atlanta Chapter of the US Naval Academy Alumni Association (USNAAAA) held its 2018 Dark Ages Dinner Party at the venerable 57th Fighter Group Restaurant. On a rainy Saturday evening in February, a total of forty-eight (48) Atlanta area alumni and spouses braved the soggy weather of the “dark ages” and gathered for an intimate evening of camaraderie and fellowship at the World War II era aviation themed restaurant located adjacent to DeKalb-Peachtree Airport. The airport and restaurant occupies the original site of Naval Air Station Atlanta, which operated at the location from 1942 to 1959.
57th Fighter Group Restaurant
The USNA Alumni year groups represented during the evening spanned nearly forty years with Reggie Vachon ’55, the senior alumni present and DJ Marzetta ’94, the junior alumni present.
During the festive evening of re-telling sea stories and rekindling the shared experiences of USNA that bounds us together, the group took a moment to remember the loss of Carl McCallum, Class of 1960, who was a foundation of the Atlanta Chapter for more than five decades.
Steve ’74 and Diane Rasin, Dennis ’74 and Ursal Tate, Ed ’81 and Andrea Brownlee, Chad Hyde ’91, and DJ Marzetta ’94
Overall, the 26 Annapolis alumni present had an enjoyable and memorable evening of camaraderie and fellowship. The Dark Ages Party represents the third largest annual function hosted by the Atlanta Chapter.
As the evening concluded, Chapter President Ed Brownlee ’81 introduced incoming Chapter President Dante (DJ) Marzetta ’94; and, the evening ended with a rendition of Thai Academy alma mater…Navy Blue and Gold.
For more information regarding USNAAAA, please visit the Chapter’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/USNAAAA