HERKIMER — The Herkimer Central School District Class of 1970 donated an alma mater banner that was unveiled during a homecoming pep rally at the Herkimer Junior/Senior High School on Friday, Oct. 21.

The Class of 1970 had its 50-year reunion delayed from 2020 to the summer of 2022 because of COVID-19 restrictions, and members of the class took a tour with school Principal Mary Tomaso.

When they visited the high school gymnasium, they remembered that there was an alma mater banner in the gym when they were students.

“We wanted to have a class gift,” 1970 graduate Dominic Frank said. “When we were in school, we had a banner. We wanted the current students and the future students to have the same experience we did.”

The white alma mater banner with green lettering was unveiled at the pep rally, and students sang the alma mater, as the fall sports athletes stood on the gym floor with their arms around each other and rocked back and forth.

Among members of the Herkimer Class of 1970 attending the pep rally were Kathy Quigley (Brenchley); Nancy Riecker (Clark); and Dennis Foster along with Foster’s wife, Mary Ann Foster, a 1970 Mount Markham graduate.

The Herkimer High School Alma Mater

Where the silvery Mohawk’s flowing,

As it wends its peaceful way,

There’s a spot of fondest memory

To alumni, young or gray.

There our dear old alma mater

Stands throned midst hills of green,

As the white clouds bend above her,

She’s the fairest ever seen.

Oh her sons and daughters love her

With a love that knows no end,

And with garlands fair entwine her

As her honor they defend.

For her ivy walls are sacred

To the scenes of glad-spent days,

And our voices rise in parting

As we sing her endless praise.