Dahlgren for most kids could only be defined as Utopia. I lived on base from 1975-1979 (Graduate, Dahlgren Class of 1979) and enjoyed some of the greatest experiences a kid could dream of. I've read about all of the fireworks experiences, but I assure you, there could have been no better fireworks performance as the one I witnessed in the 1976 Bicentennial Show.Everything was within walking distance, the bowling alley, the theater, the community center, the gym, and the swimming pool. We lived right next to the school so we also had pretty much our very own playground not to mention the, what seemed to be, endless bike paths put in around the base. I miss the friends I met there and often wonder what happened to them all. Most were military brats, but there were a few civilian families that still lived there. After all these years I have come back to KG to live and really enjoy hearing some of the names of these people I used to know. Most importantly, there were the teachers at the school, Mr. Morton A. Jones Jr. (Principal, 8th Grade English Teacher, and Basketball Coach), Mrs. Steppe, Mrs. Slusher, Mrs. Clark, Mrs. Mangleburg, Mrs. Singleton, Ms. Johnson, Mrs. Ashton, and Mrs. Franks to name a few. Thank you to you all, even though all of you weren't my direct teachers, you all had positive influences on my life, especially Mr. Jones. I can't wait to walk the halls again!
- A.J. Pete Petrasek Jr.