As hard as Lee White, Bob Selsor, and Jimmy Brennan worked, they deserved a sunny day.  And they got it!

Before a crowd of about a hundred,
Chapter 451's own M-551 Armored
Reconnaissance/Airborne Assault
Vehicle was dedicated on May 31,1997.

Former 11th Armored Cav Commander Col. Frank Varlgen delivered the keynote address, and it proved educational and informative to every listener.

The vehicle was designed in the early 60's by GM's Cadillac Division, and when finally accepted by the Army, could swim, be parachuted to a landing drop, and kick ass and take names -which is to say it contained a radical armament capability moving at a dazzling speed.  Nicknamed the JUNGLE BUSTER and utilized primarily by the 11th Armed Calvary Regiment, it's firepower featured the 152mm artillery, 2 machine guns, and grenade launchers.  It's ability to blast away thick vegetation, detonate booby traps, explode mines, and hurtle through rice paddies supplied great comfort to it's accompanying Black Horse soldiers, and it's versatility was proven in Operation Just Cause in Panama, Desert Storm, Grenada, and Bosnia.

After the initial kinks were ironed out, it's effectiveness in Nam was such that it served with the 82nd Airborne for 25 years.  Appropriately, a group of Sgt. Majors journeyed from Ft Bragg to partake in the dedication, and they cut a most distinctive

Masterfully hosted by John Bartkowiak, the New Mission Singers provided beautiful music and the Chapter Honor Guard the proper sanctity.  Other dignitaries included Cmd. Master Sgt. Rafael Ramos from the 3rd of the 73rd, Allan Hathaway, President of the 11th Armored Cav, Vietnam and Cambodia Veterans Association, our own Col. Don Myers, and above all, the dedicated Sheridan Tank, which was the first one to arrive in Kuwait, prior even to the Bradleys and the Abrams.