Fork Union Military Academy hosted its annual Military Ball on Saturday, April 26, marking a special milestone as the event was held in the Beatty Library for the first time ever. The Military Ball remains one of the Academy’s most cherished traditions, tracing its roots back to the very first Ball held on April 12, 1969.
While cadet-sponsored dances were a common sight from 1916 to 1932, these social events were held off-campus, following a Board of Trustees directive aimed at improving cadet life. However, in 1932, then-president Dr. John J. Wicker reported to the board that he had abolished all social fraternities and dancing, believing such activities offered little to the Academy’s mission.
For the next 36 years, Fork Union remained without organized dances, continuing through the tenure of both Dr. Wicker and his son, Dr. James C. Wicker.
This changed in 1968, when Colonel Kenneth T. Whitescarver assumed the presidency. Seeking to restore a sense of social engagement among cadets, he appointed Richard G. Huffman to develop a new program of formal and informal dances. Huffman established the Quadrille Club, and the following year, the very first Military Ball was held in Thomas Gymnasium on April 12, 1969.
The student newspaper, The Sabre, captured the excitement of that inaugural evening:
"Tonight, Fork Union Military Academy will be conducting the first Military Ball in the school's history. Both cadets and faculty are looking forward eagerly to this dance. The arrangements for the ball have been well underway since Christmas time. The Cadet Quadrille Club and the Faculty Advisory Dance Committee have worked together to make the plans for entertainment and decorations.
"The dance will be attended by cadets, faculty, parents, and friends of the Academy. Dress for the dance will be black tie or military full dress worn by parents who are in the armed forces. Cadets will wear white ducks, white shirts, and battle jackets; cadet officers will wear coatees and sashes. No headgear will be worn this evening.
"Music for the dance will be provided by the Dee Roberts Orchestra, which will play all types of music.
"The decorations for the dance will vary from the many colors of the girls' formal gowns and corsages. The gymnasium will be decorated in the Academy colors, red and blue. The lights will be blue and red, with red and blue streamers forming a canopy. Weather permitting, dogwood and redbud will also be used in decorating the gymnasium. There will be potted blooms and branches interlaced in the windows.
"During the dance cadets and their dates will be free to come and go to the Sabre Shop where refreshments may be purchased. Punch will also be served at candlelit tables in the gym.
"Girls have been invited from St. Anne's and St. Catherine's Schools, and also invited again were girls from St. Margaret's and Fairfax Hall, who were wonderful dates at our last dance and are enthusiastic about returning to the academy. Girls coming unchaperoned will be staying in faculty homes.
"At the magical hour of 12:00 o'clock midnight, the dance will come to a close, and, along with the prom favors, we hope all who attended the Military Ball will take away with them memories of a wonderful evening.”
The Sabre, April 12, 1969
More than 50 years later, the Military Ball continues to be a highly anticipated event in Fork Union's calendar. While the music today often comes from digital playlists rather than live orchestras, and the evening may end earlier than midnight, many beloved traditions remain, especially the grand Arch of Sabres and the formal dress code.
This year’s theme, Iron & Ivy, set a stunning tone for the evening. With the historic move to the Beatty Library, the event offered a fresh and memorable setting for cadets and their guests. Attendance remains an honor reserved for juniors and seniors, who enjoyed a night of celebration, tradition, and camaraderie.
Check out the gallery below for highlights from this unforgettable night! To view all the pictures from the night, click here.
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