News

Jerome D. Salinger '36, TAPS - January 27, 2010

JANUARY 28, 2010 - With great sadness, Valley Forge Military Academy & College announces the passing of notable alumnus, Jerome D. Salinger '36.

Salinger died of natural causes at his home on Wednesday, the author's son said in a statement from Salinger's longtime literary representative, Harold Ober Agency. He had lived for decades in self-imposed isolation in the small, remote house in Cornish, N.H.

Known for "The Catcher in the Rye" and "Nine Stories", Salinger also penned the poem, "Hide Not Thy Tears" while he was a cadet at VFMA; now sung at both Academy and College commencement ceremonies.

Hide Not Thy Tears

Hide not thy tears on this last day-
Your sorrow has no shame;
To march no more midst lines of gray;
No longer play the game.
Four years have passed in joyful ways-
Would’st stay these old times dear?
Then cherish now these fleeting days,
The few while you are here.
The last parade; our hearts sink low:
Before us we survey-
Cadets to be, where we are now,
And soon will come their day;
Though distant now, yet not so far,
Their years are but a few.
Aye, soon they’ll know why misty are
Our eyes at last review.
The lights are dimmed, the bugle sounds
The notes we’ll ne’er forget.
And now a group of smiling lads:
We part with much regret.
Good-byes are said; we march ahead,
Success we go find.
Our forms are gone from Valley Forge
Our hearts are left behind.

~Words by Jerome D. Salinger ’36

Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends during this time.

Posted 01/27/2010