At first, transferring to the Azores was a dreaded thought. — In 1968, a group of high school seniors from all over the world united in this place called the Azores. Many of the students hated the thought of leaving their former school and classmates, and had great trepidation towards their parents being stationed in an area that most of us knew nothing about. Here we were on this island in the Atlantic Ocean that only looked like a pencil point mark in any atlas...and we were stuck here...senior year...what a drag this year will be! Or at least that is what we first thought...then we arrived in the Azores and strange things began to happen...we actually liked it!
What Great Classmates. — Upon any new student's arrival at Lajes High, you were met with big smiles and handshakes and welcomes, and you were immediately informed about the things to do and places to go. The big difference was that everyone went together to all of the dances, parties, roller skating, beach, teen club, snack bar, sneak (this was our Friday night ritual), meals at the Beir Mar, Carnival, horse-back riding, Santa Cruz, walking around, talking, laughing, and meeting every morning before school on the side of the hospital to have a smoke, carry-on, and talk about the previous night's activities or upcoming events. Its was fun and enjoyable.
The fun of being seniors! —
This was our year, and it didn't matter where we were...Man we were Seniors!! We ruled the school...we were cool...we took our duties and responsibilties as being seniors seriously...we had freshman to to initiate...kangaroo court to hold...most importantly this hodge-podge of people from all over the place had become friends. I don't mean friends like "Hey, how ya' doin'?" I mean friends like you have never experienced before! These classmates were always there for each other no matter what. No one was pre-judged, no one was better or worse than anyone else, there were no racial barriers...we were friends, and we knew it was something special...we would realize just how special over 30 years later.
A unique bond began to grow. — It wasn't long before all of the fears any of us had about coming to the Azores were gone. It was funny, you had made friends with people like you never had made friends before and at the same time you did not miss your old classmates "back in the world". This friendship was not exclusive to just the seniors, but with all of the high school students. We all had a group...each other! I know this may sound strange or unusual, but the only thing I can say to you is, "You have to experience it, to understand it."
The time of our lives. — Before we knew it, the school year was coming to an end and we were all preparing for our graduation day. We were excited, jubilant, and we knew we were going to change the world. All of us felt that we could accomplish things that no other generation could. As we prepared for our graduation night party on May 22, 1969, we knew we were going to have a good time and that night would be fantastic. Trust me, it was!...the Riveria (a club down on Praia Beach) was rented and we kind of drank the bar dry. It was a party!...we were sick the next day and we had another graduation function to attend the following night...a dance and party up at the golf course clubhouse.
Our final farewell as a class. — It was on May 23, 1969, that the realization hit us...this is the last night we will be together as a senior class. In the following days many of the class were catching flights back to the US or to Europe. The dance at the golf course Club House was to be our final night. We had one hell of a time on the hay ride up to the golf course...we were in a bit of a mess by the time we got there...from hay fights that is. Our friends and good musicians of the Portuguese band, The Sombras, provided the music and we all talked, laughed, and danced the night away. One of us even had their appendix rupture that night. But we realized that it would be a long time before we would ever be together like this again, and the chances of us running into each other again would be slim. It's funny, at the beginning of the year many of the new arrivals had such great trepidation about being at Lajes Field, and a few months later we had a feeling of great loss and sadness about leaving this place. How meeting a few people can forever change your life...we all know it, because we have experienced it.
Time marches on. —Since those days at Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal we have all had varied experiences and chosen and changed our careers in the world of ours. For most people that would be the end of the story...for us these last few months have been the new beginning to our story.
We are united again... this time by the Internet. —The Lajes High School Alumni web site, created and maintained by Kirsten Hartzell-Seyer, Class of ’79, was the catalyst for reuniting our class.
Not only has it brought the Class of '69 back in contact with each other, but classmates from Lajes High as far back as the early '50's.
For the Class of '69, we have been able to get back in contact with each other after wondering what has happened to everyone for over 33 years. What is totally ironic about this situation is the ability to pick up the phone and call one of your old classmates or send them and e-mail and ask them what have they been up to and finding yourself picking up where we left off 33 years ago. There is no apprehension on anyone's part to reconnect with each other. That same comaraderie is there, that unique bond is still there, and most importantly that same friendship is there.
We invite you to come and experience our lives from our time in the Azores to now. This web site is dedicated to the people from the Class of '69, and all others who have experienced that Lajes Field bond.
On June 6, 2002, a reunion of all Lajes High School alumni was held in Orlando, Florida and there was a good turn-out. The next reunion of all students and graduates from Lajes High is in 2004; this time it will be held on the island of Terceira, Azores, Portugal. This reunion will be attended by many of the past students and graduates...a large portion will be from the class of '69.
You are invited to browse through the following pages and get to know the people who have affected each other's lives more than they could have ever realized...both then and now.
Surnames A to C
