Legacy Day 2023

VMI saw fresh faces April 29, 2023, as the children and grandchildren of alumni arrived on post for Legacy Day 2023. One-hundred-and-three youths, ages 5-18, attended Legacy Day, an event providing alumni and their families an opportunity to return to the Institute and share the VMI spirit with the next generation.

Legacies began their day with breakfast in Moody Hall before heading to formation on the Parade Ground to meet their cadet group leaders. They then marched to the Corps Physical Training Facility, where they were challenged with various activities, including rope climbs, rock climbing, relay races, and a low crawl. Overseeing the event was Maj. Isaac Slone, CPTF facilities director, and his cadet cadre, led by Josh Davis ’23. The oldest legacies, ages 15-18, transitioned to Kilbourne Hall, where they participated in the shot simulation program guided by Col. Bill Bither, Corps marksmanship director and NCAA rifle coach.

Groups then split off, with some walking through barracks on cadet-led tours from the S5 staff, while others enjoyed time on the Parade Ground with VMI’s very own Moe. The youngest legacies, ages 5-11, enjoyed drawing in Moody Hall with VMI coloring books and exploring science in a demonstration headed by Lt. Col. Dan Harrison, Ph.D., associate professor of physical chemistry, in the Mallory Physics Lecture Hall. Meanwhile, the oldest legacies attended an admissions presentation from Maj. Chase Perry ’07, which highlighted the one-of-a-kind experience of VMI. Finally, all groups dismissed to Crozet Hall for lunch before heading to Gray-Minor Stadium to watch VMI baseball take on Samford University.

“It was great to see all the alumni and children return to VMI,” said Ed Johnson, VMI Alumni Association chief operating officer. “The day kicked off with a rousing Old Yell for Legacy Day.”

Ethan Carpenter ’23, VMI Alumni Association intern and Legacy Day cadet-in-charge, said he was pleased with the event’s success and touched by witnessing alumni sharing the VMI tradition with their children and grandchildren. “After months of planning and preparation, we were all very excited to see so many wonderful families come back and spend some quality time on post,” said Carpenter. “Getting to see the kids running around and making friends is what it’s all about. You can see the pride the parents and grandparents feel when they are watching their children and grandchildren trying on a coatee that’s three sizes too big—you never get those kinds of moments back. It was really amazing to witness and be a part of sharing the VMI spirit with the next generation; this, among many other things, [is part of what makes] this Institute so special and dear to our hearts.

“Thank you to everyone who helped put this together, and thank you to all those who made the trip to participate; it truly means the world. We hope to see you all back on post soon! Rah Virginia Mil!”