As we near the date of our 74th “Annual” Reunion, we have been working hard on our plans to have a great reunion.
This time, because we anticipate attendance by “first timers”, we will have a “Meet and Greet” on Wednesday evening. Those of us who have been to reunions will renew those friendships while welcoming newcomers to our ranks. On Veterans’ Day, we should be one of the first groups to tour the National Museum of the United States Army.
We plan to spend the day visiting the various exhibitions representing the history of the Army from its earliest days to the present. We can take our time on the first level going through the various eras and walk through the Soldier’s Stories Gallery. We plan to enjoy a box lunch at mid-day, and also conduct our Reunion’s First General Session. After lunch, we can spend the afternoon taking in the special exhibit (currently the “Art of Soldiering”) on the second level and the Medal of Honor Garden and Experience on the third level.
Individuals can also participate (for an additional fee) in activities in the Army Action Center which offers virtual reality (VR) and motion experiences. These include: Holdout! Bunker Defense VR ($12), VR Transporter ($10), and Army Action Pod ($8). The Experiential Learning Center is now open to the public. Here visitors can develop skills and have fun with Geography, Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (G-STEM). I am told that, while it is mostly for the school-age visitors, adults also enjoy the activities.
Our plan for Friday is to attend the WWII Memorial. We have received approval from the Park Service to conduct a wreath-laying and memorial service there. After our visit, we will have a short guided bus tour of Washington, DC. followed by a catered lunch at the historic Fort Myers Officers Club. Friday afternoon will be open for attendees to do as they wish. The current restrictions for the Smithsonian and the Holocaust Museums do not allow for large groups. The guidelines presently call for individual-timed tickets in groups of 6 to 12 (depending on the museum) that can be printed on-line. You can go to their websites to reserve your time.
Scheduled for Saturday is our morning membership meeting which includes the election of officers and a vote on the next reunion location. If we are able to hold our memorial service at the WWII Memorial, we will be free for the rest of the day until our 4pm Mass (details still being worked out). The reunion will be capped by our banquet, 50/50 raffle, silent auction/raffle and entertainment. Make your plans to attend.
We look forward to a great reunion
Kathleen Powers
Reunion chair
Hotel information below the picture!
Hosting us for the 74th Reunion will be the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Crystal City, Va. Reservations can be made from now until October 25, 2021.
Reservations can be made by individual call-in to 1-800-2-CROWNE (or 800 227 6963) or by clicking the button below to use our reunion’s custom reservation link.