Photos: Greenport's All-Class Reunion A Day of Laughter, Joy, Memories

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GREENPORT, NY -Purple and gold were the colors of the day in Greenport as hundreds gathered at the 5th Street Park for the 2016 Greenport High School All Class Reunion.

Graduates and lifetime friends came carrying class yearbooks and photo albums, bringing food and crying out in recognition as they rushed to greet one another with warm hugs and tears of joy.

The event takes place every two years, and planning for the 2018 event will begin in the next few weeks.

"Purple and gold pride runs wild this weekend," said TK Krumenacker, who came up with the idea of organizing the bi-annual event in October, 2011.

The reunion is a fundraiser for Greenport High School, he said. After the 2014 event, $4,800 was donated; that number is expected to double after Saturday's reunion.

At the heart of the reunion's incredible popularity lies the desire for old classmates and friends to get together, sharing fellowship and lifetime bonds and creating new relationships and memories.

"Alumni plan their family vacations around this event," Krumenacker said, with many working year round to organize the festivities.

He added that the event "was for the people of Greenport, taking place in the park Greenport. All of us sharing fellowship. This is not for the tourists."

School officials spanning the years, from current Superintendent David Gamberg and as far back as Krumenacker's former teacher and principal Herb Egert, attended.

Susan Mortensen Tasker represented the earliest class, the Class of 1945, at the reunion. Guests traveled from near and far, including some from California.

"I love the All Class reunion because I get to reconnect with old friends and meet some new ones. I even get to share the day with my parents, siblings and their classmates. It is truly a special event for one of the most wonderful places on earth — home," said Rose Heaney Baker.

And Annemarie Heaney Chouinard agreed. "I am proud to be a Porter and a GHS graduate. In order to put this event together, it takes a village. We all work together to make it a successful event. I am so fortunate to have grown up in a wonderful little town."

She added Saturday, "In today's world, we need people to come together." Chouinard, who now lives in Maryland, said friends where she lives are amazed that she's involved so closely with her alma mater and so many dear friends.

"It's just so touching. We all get along. So many people are not wanted in today's world. We're all wanted here. I've never been a part of anything like this before," she said. It''s so special."

Choinard, who attended with her sisters and mother, said the event spans generations, and bursts with love and diversity. "The only colors in Greenport are purple and gold," she said.

The All Class Reunion, said Chatty Allen, is unique. "The first year we had Alumni from the 1920s all the way up to 2012. In 2014, we had more than double the amount of alumni. It's really neat to see so many generations in one place. seeing people you haven't for years, decades, teachers, administrators. We have a saying, 'Once a Porter, always a Porter'. We are the only school that has done this not once, but now three times."

She added, "It is an amazing, fun filled — and, at times, sad day. Sad for those that are no longer with us. Anyone who has attended will echo, it's the most awesome day ever. Porter Pride is strong. As is the Greenport community."

Danielle Harrison-Meraz said she was onboard from day one to be on the committee. "I thought it was a great idea. What other school could pull it off? Many of us are there generations. It's more of a family reunion than a school reunion. The first two were wonderful. This one will be, too. And this one will be even more special for me. We are a unique and special community."

Friends at the reunion shared stories of how they met; memories of meeting their forever love on the school bus.

Pam Martin Dors, looking around at the crowd, said if a photo was taken of all in attendance, and posted on Facebook, Greenport could serve as a model for peace and unity. "It would change the perception of the race issues in the world," she said. "Here, today, race doesn't matter. Religion doesn't matter. Age doesn't matter. We're all here. This little tiny community could change the world."