Charlie Snauffer ’72 Remembers His First Founders’ Day

I got a full on taste of Founders’ Day my first year at Howe (’65-’66). Warnings about screwing up during one of the 3 parades we had that weekend, because every parent of every Cadet would be there and you had better not make any mistakes. Back then and up to my graduation (’72) Founders’ Day was non-stop with one event after another. The play Upper School Cadets put on on Friday night, parade Saturday morning where we would open ranks and our families could come out and take pics and whatnot; football game on Saturday afternoon, followed by Retreat parade Saturday afternoon/early evening, around 5 p.m. if my memory is correct. Followed by the formal dance on Saturday night which was mandatory for all Cadets. Then 2 Chapel services (both in St. James) on Sunday morning to accommodate all of the parents then another parade at Noon when all of the Senior officers received their sabers. Then a chance to catch your breath before parent/teachers meetings Sunday afternoon. All in all, I think I spent the better part of the weekend in full dress uniform. Those crossbelts were a royal pain in the (belt) to put on. Toss into this mix that in the Fall of ’65 the School didn’t want parents to visit us for those first 6 weeks (at least in the Lower School) so we could get adjusted to life at Howe.