More than 90 former Marine Corps officers and their families gathered at the National Museum of the Marine Corps on June 15, 2013, to dedicate a monument honoring the Basic Officers Class 3-57 which graduated in 1957.

Five hundred and fifty volunteers were made into Marine officers during that class and, 56 years later, about seventeen percent of them and their families reunited to reminisce.

“This monument being dedicated is very impressive,” said Mike Tivnan, retired Marine officer from Woodbridge. “We come for the tradition and camaraderie,” said Barbara Tivnan, Mike’s wife.

Laughter and handshakes rolled through the crowd as many reconnected and shared stories. They took turns locating names they recognized on bricks that lined the perimeter of the sidewalk that connect the Memorial Chapel and the museum.

With a loud, “3-57, fall in,” from Dan Mullally, former Marine major and organizer of the event, the men of the 3-57 formed themselves into columns according to companies they graduated from and followed a bagpiper down the Semper Fi Trail, where they would pause for a ceremony at the monument.

“The 3-57 is a fraternity from a very special time in history,” wrote retired Gen. Carl Mundy Jr., in “The Boys of 3-57.”  “We were kids of World War II, raised to be patriots.”

Throughout the ceremony, participants were moved with emotion, as seen by tear-filled eyes, and hearty laughs, but especially by the heart-felt singing of “America the Beautiful” and “The Marines Hymn.”

“There is no more sacred part of a person than their name,” said Charles Riddle, retired captain. This monument is about names, about special human beings, special Marines,” said Riddle, about the monument enscribed with the names of the 550 who comprised Basic School Class 3-57.

As Marines touched the monument, and returned the way they came, they left a piece of their lives at that place. They left a piece of history for those who follow.

Many things that used to exist have changed, said Munday. This monument represents us and the things we experienced.

“I’m looking at these 70-80 year olds through different eyes and seeing them as lieutenants with great physical fitness scores,” said Mullally. “But, they are older and heavier today. This, our 56th, may be our last reunion.”

Munday summed up the event with a simple statement:

 “This monument is about you, the boys of 3-57.”

Correspondent: samuel.l.ellis@usmc.mil