Thursday's Internet Edition, 04:40 PM, September 02, 2010.

That could be the theme for this weekend’s Walton High School All-Class Reunion. About 400 former WHS students have pre-registered for the event, with more expected to show up at Camp Sheppard in Gandeeville.

Betty Westfall Yeager (Class of 1953) is president of the alumni association. She said the all-class reunion helps renew relationships that remain strong despite the passage of time.

“I guess as we get older our friendships get more precious to us,” Yeager said. “This gives us a chance to get together and enjoy the day. When we were in school, we tried to get out as fast as we could and do other things like go to work. Now a lot of us have done all that and want to come back and visit.”

This will be the fifth all-class reunion since WHS closed in 1993 and consolidated with Spencer High to form Roane County High School. An estimated 3,000 people attended a two-day event over Memorial Day weekend in 1993. A 1995 reunion at Camp Sheppard attracted 700 people, including 326 alumni. Approximately 650 people, including 400 graduates, were on hand for the 2000 reunion. Five years ago, attendance was estimated at 500.

Registration begins Saturday at 8 a.m. and continues until 10 a.m. A program will start at 10 a.m., including a welcome address by Yeager and an invocation by Rev. Tim Ashley (Class of 1983).

Walton Boy Scout Troop 434 will conduct a flag raising. Linda Jones Ashley (Class of 1981) and Elta Kay Cottrell (Class of 1965) will play the national anthem and “Taps” on trumpet, and Cottrell will perform “God Bless America.”

A business meeting is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on the top floor of the camp’s dining hall.

Entertainment is planned starting at 1 p.m. on the dining hall porch featuring Cottrell and fellow WHS grads Denise Jones Greathouse and The Chandler Family.

The alumni association will sell souvenir caps, visors and t-shirts at the registration tent priced at $12 or two for $20.

Boy Scouts will offer concessions throughout the day, including a pancake and sausage breakfast, donuts, hot dogs, hamburgers, barbecue sandwiches, potato salad, dessert and drinks in the dining hall.

Walton Elementary/Middle School Athletic Boosters will accept donations on a filled Longaberger basket that will be given away.

Along with activities at Gandeeville, the former WHS building, now Lighthouse Ministries, is scheduled to be open for visits Friday from 4-8 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The alumni association’s room in the Walton Elementary/Middle football fieldhouse is also slated to be open during the reunion.

Yeager said the reunion program was kept to a minimum to allow plenty of time to reminisce and discuss more recent developments.

“You can come and go when you want to and leave when you want to,” she said.