At a dinner party several weeks ago, the conversation turned to what event or circumstance made the biggest difference in your life. The dinner guests represented a variety of professions and careers and as you could imagine, the stories ran the gamut. When the discussion reached me I recounted my three years at Greenbrier Military School.

I can’t tell you if it was the drill and ceremony, the weekly inspections, the beat, or the many other activities I endured that eventually formed my character. Certainly for many of you, it was all those things and more. They say we are the sum of our experiences over time. If that’s true, that may explain how our time at Greenbrier contributed to our success as productive citizens.

Although we have graduated our last Cadet and the Battalion is growing smaller, there is a program that is offering today’s youth those values and principles that we have always held in high regard. The Greenbrier Leadership Institute, (GLI) through the guidance and direction of your Alumni Association, provides programs and resources that promote the core values of truth, duty and honor that we learned as Greenbrier cadets. Along with live leadership programs, GLI will be offering online instruction and packaged educational materials including DVDs available to schools and libraries throughout West Virginia.

I encourage you to attend the next leadership session during our upcoming reunion on Friday, October 14 in the old GMS auditorium on the campus of WVSOM. I’m sure after seeing the interaction and enthusiasm of the students you will believe as I do, that The Greenbrier Spirit is still alive. You will see first hand, why this program has received high praise from educators throughout West Virginia and why GLI is quickly expanding to new venues in 2012.

The future success of The Greenbrier Leadership Institute will depend directly on the financial support of our alumni and friends. For the last three years GLI has operated totally with alumni volunteers. To continue the good work and reach more youth, we’ll need to replicate the program using all forms of technology as well as conventional resources.

That’s why we need your help. When writing your check for the upcoming reunion weekend, consider adding an additional amount in support of GLI. You can be assured your generous financial gift will be used to extend the legacy of Greenbrier Military School for generations to come.

Grey Webb, Vice President, GMSAA