Posted on 02/02/2020 5:19:33 AM PST by real saxophonist
Stan Cass will live on … in gold.
Cass, who died in Greeley two years ago, was greatly honored at West Point this week in a Ring Melt Ceremony.
As an influential member of Greeley and Weld County, Cass was a retired colonel in the U.S. Army, a graduate of West Point, a Vietnam War veteran and was the founder of the Honor Flight Northern Colorado, a group that flies veterans to Washington, D.C., every six months to see the war memorials.
And it is because of his achievements that his family was at West Point this week for the Ring Melt Ceremony.
That is when they take the gold rings of past military officers, melt them down in a cauldron and remake the rings for the graduating soldiers at West Point. This year, they melted down 40 rings, including Cass’ ring, which his wife, Cecily, and daughters brought with them to the ceremony.
“This symbolizes that a part of Stan’s spirit will become part of Long Gray Line,” Cecily Cass said. “They had a banquet for the family members and the graduating class, and they watched a video of the ring melt. It was a very moving ceremony.”
She said the melted rings were made into a gold bar, which was presented to the woman who will melt it to make the rings. The first time West Point re-made the rings was for the class of 2002, they’ve been doing it for every class since. The new rings from this week’s ceremony will be given to the class of 2021.
Stan Cass was 84 when he died in April 2018. He was born in Greeley, graduated high school, went to Colo. A&M (CSU), graduated from West Point and earned a Master of Science in Meteorology from Texas A & M.
He was in the Army for 29 years, retiring in 1986. Back in Weld County and on the family farm, Stan Cass was very involved in the community. He was a past mayor of Ault, a member of the Masons, the Shriners, Community Foundation, West Greeley Conservation District and many other organizations.
His funeral in Greeley was standing-room-only, and he was buried at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Greeley. Many spoke of Stan Cass’ involvement with Honor Flight and how much it meant to them.
My landlord got out of the Marine Corps the year before I was born, and when I went to see the place he saw the sticker on my car, and we've had a great relationship ever since.
He was also involved with the Honor Flight, and through him, I was familiar with COL Cass, though I never met him.
VERY powerful stuff!
I was on one of those Honor Flights in 2018. Sharing the experience with other veterans was the real honor. God bless the founder of the program!
I know someone West Point class of 2021. They attended ring ceremony. Very moving.
Air Force does that also, not sure about Navy.
I was at National Airport several years ago when an Honor Flight arrived. Everybody inside the airport went nuts! Fun experience.
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