Bob Linscott (Desc 86-G), Sue Hagerman (Desc 86-SVC), COL (ret) Matt Fitzgerald and SSG Katherine “Katie” Bolcar, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, NY
New England Chapter veterans and descendants began their 2026 event schedule early this year by attending Army Mountain Warfare School’s (AMWS) Class 26-002 graduation ceremony on Friday, January 23rd at Camp Ethan Allen in Jericho, VT. Class 26-002’s graduation was historically significant as it marked the first official pinning of the newly authorized “Military Mountaineering Badge”, replacing the traditional “Ram’s Head” device. The ceremony also highlighted the joint nature of AMWS’ training, with U.S. Air Force Captain Moseley, a Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) member assigned to Ft. Drum, NY, being awarded the Army Achievement Medal as the class’s Distinguished Graduate, and the first USAF Airman to earn the new Military Mountaineering Badge!
New England Chapter veterans and descendants made their way back to Jericho, VT, on Saturday, February 28th to participate in the solemn dedication of AMWS’s “Catamount 7 Memorial Ski Lift” in memory of former 1st Sergeant, Sergeant Major (SGM) Stephen M. Guion who passed away unexpectedly at his home on December 7, 2023. He was 63 years old.
This year’s 29th running of the Hannes Schneider Meister Cup Race on Saturday, March 14th, found New England Chapter veterans and descendants putting their racing skills to the test in their annual competition with Army Mountain Warfare School and the 10th Mountain Alpine Club, Fort Drum, NY, for the coveted 10th Mountain Division Cup! New England Chapter teams contending this year:
- New England Chapter, 10th Mountain Division Association’s, “Mountain Vets”: Led by Association member, COL (ret) Matt Fitzgerald (AMWS/CC) and team members, CAPT (ret) Ray Gilmore (10th Mtn Div L/I), MSGT (ret) Andy MacDonald, 1LT (ret) Karl Chandler and SFC (ret) Duncan Domey.
- HQ Vermont National Guard’s, “Silver Sergeant Majors”: Led by Vermont Command Sergeant Major (CSM) (ret) Paul Edwards, his son Peter and daughter Gretchen, and team members, SGM (ret) Slade Farnham (HHC 3-172 IN MTN) and Margaret Dean.
- New England Chapter Descendants’, “Sempre Avanti”: Led by Harris McWade (Desc. 87-HQ-3), along with team members, Marcin Kunicki (Assoc. 87-HQ-3), Emilie Kunicki, (Desc. 87-HQ-3) and their sons Theo and Thad.
- New England Chapter Descendants’,”Team 87-I”: Led by Brewster Bartlett and his son Warren (Desc 87-I) along with David Prescott (Desc 86-HQ-2), Dave Elliott and Jeff Guion (AMWS).
All four teams raced superbly against very talented and well-seasoned Army Mountain Warfare School and 10th Mountain Alpine Club teams! But after the powder settled, Army Mountain Warfare School won 3rd Place with a combined team time of 4:04.92 mins. 10th Mountain Alpine Club took 2nd Place with a total team time of 3:47.37 mins. 1st Place and this year’s 10th Mountain Division Cup went to “Mountain Vets”, with a blistering team time of 3:13.25 mins! Congratulations to all New England Chapter teams and racers!!
In other New England Chapter happenings, Andrea Miller (Desc. 87-I) and Dennis Pinkham hosted two 10th Mountain Division history presentations this quarter: the first at the Marshfield Senior Center Men’s Breakfast on February 27th, the second at the Scituate Senior Center Men’s Breakfast on April 7th. They also showed the films, “Climb to Glory” and “The Last Ridge” on separate days in both Marshfield and Scituate. Audience response at both venues was extremely favorable! Andrea is currently working on another presentation to be hosted at Ft. Devens, Ayer, MA, sometime this year!
Upcoming New England Chapter Events
2026 “Operation Flags for Vets”, Memorial Day Flag Ceremony
(also honoring SFC Jared Monti, 10th Mountain Division Light Infantry, KIA Afghanistan, 2006, CMOH recipient)
– Location: MA National Cemetery, Connery Ave., Bourne, MA (arrive early, parking is limited)
– Plant flags: (tentatively) Saturday, May 23rd, following the 10am ceremony
– Collect flags: (tentatively) 9 to 11am, Saturday, May 30th
– POC: Bob Linscott
– More details to follow
28th Annual Bartlett-Crist 10th Mountain Memorial, Saturday, July 18th
– Location: Donnellan Family Farm, 239 West End Road (Route 302), Landaff, NH
– POCs: Lloyd & Joanne Donnellan, (Desc 87-I)
– More details to follow
44th Annual Mt. Washington Climb & Memorial Ceremony
– Climb to Lake of the Clouds Hut, Wednesday, August 12th
– Memorial ceremony on the summit, 11:00a, Thursday, August 13
– Picnic lunch immediately following at Dolly Copp picnic area, Route 16, Gorham, NH
– There are 23 open reservations to climb. Reservations can be made (first come, first served), for Group Reservation No. 740593, by calling AMC Reservations, (603) 466-2727 on or before Wednesday, July 1st.
– POCs: COL (ret) Matt Fitzgerald, Bob Linscott and Sue Hagerman
– More details to follow
2026 “Operation Flags for Vets”, Veterans’ Day Flag Ceremony
(also honoring SFC Jared Monti, 10th Mountain Division Light Infantry, KIA Afghanistan, 2006, CMOH recipient)
– Location: MA National Cemetery, Connery Ave., Bourne, MA (arrive early, parking is limited)
– Plant flags: (tentatively) Saturday, November 7th, following the 10am ceremony
– Collect flags: (tentatively) 9 to 11am, Saturday, November 14th
– POC: Bob Linscott
– More details to follow