Ben:
Agree with you that we should take a good
look at the Armed Forces Reunion Organization in the manner you outlined in your
e-mail message messages.
We still have other options available such
as "piggy backing" on a larger Airborne Organization like the 82nd, 101st and
the Static Line. This could substitute for our National Reunion or one or
more of our Minis. There are also local Chambers of Commerce that
can be used for this purpose.
The current trouble is that some of our
people have not come to grips with reality.
We voted for Annual Reunions and that is a dead issue as far as I
am concerned. At the moment we are running around like "chickens with our head
cut off" going nowhere and doing nothing to solve the problem.
The Association Officers and Directors have
got to come to a decision on how to handle this problem and the time is now not
later. The Auxiliary Association must be included in this both now and in the
future. I suggest that we appoint a Joint Reunion Committee-Joint in this case
means both the 517th PRCT Association and the 517th PRCT Auxiliary Association.
This can be done by e-mail and the THUNDERBOLT. E-mail is preferred because of
the time limitations involved. I do not favor waiting for the next Annual
Reunion to solve this issue.
Would you please use our 517th PRCT Mail
Call to get some reaction started on behalf of both Associations. I,
like so many of our comrades, have health issues that will soon preclude future
participation in our Reunions. Let us get on with the job
of \melding the Auxiliary into our Organization and Plans instead of just
talking about it in the future tense.
Regards, Tom
Jim Royer
Ben, I was so glad to hear that you have contacted the Armed
Forces
Reunions, Inc. and are c willing to listen to them. In my further
talks
with John Schaffner of the 106 Div, he said the cost is $5/person,
added
to the Registration fee.. They do handle all the details, and in
expert
fashion. John said that last year they were scheduled for New
Orleans.
Katrina hit the area. They moved it further up north, but had to
cancel
that, and moved it to Washington, D.C. It was very successful.
Also,
two years ago, they received a refund of $5,000 after the reunion.
Thanks, again, Ben for looking into this for us.
Jim Royer
P.S. I was the only board member who voted
against every year reunions.
Barmey Hekkela
Lets wait until after the Portland reunion before making more
plans. don't think we have enough active guys to make any big plans just
now. Barney
Mike Kane
Hi Ben.
In the last Mail Call, Jon Bosse asked about morning reports for D
company for 1-23-45. If you are able to get that, could I get a
copy? That was the date my dad was wounded, I believe around St.
Vith.
Mike Kane
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