70 Pleasant St. Cohasset, MA.02025 *781 383 0215 * Mail Call : Ben
Barrett
Ben517@aol.com
Hello,
We are still interested in collecting voluntary contributions to enable our
European friend to attend the Portland reunion.
Ben
REGISTRATION FORM
Lud Gibbons
Ben~~
Received a phone call from Yoko, Jack Dunaway's friend,
informing me that Jack had passed away on May 6th.
I phoned Jack's son Michael, who told me that Jack was in
the hospital for 5 or 6 days with various ailments
before passing at age 91.
His family is having a remembrance get together on
Saturday May 20th from 3:00 to 5:00 at:
2737 Edwin Place
Los
Angeles, CA 90046
We are going and any of his friends who wish to attend are
welcome.
Lud
Gene Frice
Ben,
Likely too long for
publication as is? How about publishing just the initial “Greeting” thingabob
and the rest as a link? How are you-I am back
(again).
Gene
-------------------------------------
Ben,
To Ben
and all of the 517th Family
Greetings from
Southern France
Our French
friends-Visitors
517th Portland Reunion-July
06
Supporting visitors and the Thunderbolt
funding
Our French Friends:
I
bring you “Greetings from the South of France,” and I hope all
mothers and non-mothers had a Happy Mothers Day.
Strange incidents do occur. I had business on the “Promenade des Anglais,” in
Nice. You recall the location, it is where years ago the wealthy English
gentlemen and their ladies would Promenade with their parasols, big hats, and
long gloves. Much later, on infrequent occasions, the 517th and our fellow
military comrades would also Promenade, seeking “Rest and Recuperation (read
Rehabilitation)” on the same locale.
At any
rate, last week with the finish of business, I visited Le Muy and met with our
two friends Jean Michael and Eric, of the Musee de la
Liberation.
They intend to be at the Portland
reunion, however several problems exist:
1. I took the responsibility of advising them the 517th would provide
lodging at the Red Lion during their visit. As Helen Beddow stated at one
time-”all participants to the reunion will register.” This of course means other
expenses will arise. I must point out again, the two young gentlemen and our
other friends in France and Belgium are, in part, prime elements contributing to
the continuing existence of the spirit of the
517th.
2. They mentioned difficulty with
the governmental agencies granting visa’s to enter the US. Not that the US does
not have it’s full ration of visitors; legal and illegal-we need to assist our
friends in obtaining the necessary approval of which ever government that may
present the problem-I assume it is the Immigration or the State Dept. I
recommend that a brief
letter be forwarded to our friends in the form of “To Whom it May Concern,” and they in turn may present them to the respective
officials. Initially, the letters should come from myself and Gen. Seitz. Time
is critical.
The 517th Portland
Reunion, July 17-22, 2006:
Your
517th Reunion staff-Troopers and Auxiliary have been working like beavers in
developing an outstanding program-one which all will
enjoy.
I will not dwell on steamboat trips,
visits to the Spruce Goose, inspecting the wineries and drinking their vintage
wine, or business meetings, etc.
I would like to
mention one day in the planning schedule. The day has been briefly (possibly too
briefly) described as Day in the Park. The day is not
designed to merely sit in the sun and drink beer (although I am sure that some
will fall to the evil of sin in doing so).
The
day will be spent in Vancouver, Washington, immediately across the River from
our hotel, the “Red Lion on the River.” The site is a 1862 Hudson Bay Company
(HBC), and the U.S. Army Post, Vancouver Barracks of similar age. The site
continues this day, as it did in 1862, with military encampments and the
re-enactors who man the posts-including the villagers at the HBC. Their tours
are disabled friendly. The US Army utilizes the Post to this day and the
“officers quarters” remain as beautifully maintained park and buildings of that
period. A nice place.
Time does not allow a
detailed description of our gathering with US Army involvement with music,
helicopters (Troopers only), visit to WW2 museum, US Army Rangers jumping into
our site, our traditional BBQ; and a challenge of the boy and girl youth of the
517th Auxiliary and whatever we can put together for the aged troopers in an
ancient so called sport “Baseball.” The White Water Rafting Trip is still
scheduled for those courageous individuals who desire to join us in to combating
rapids; or a organized, with guides, trip for those that merely desire a calm
and smooth drift, in the sun, down river. We have done this many, many times.
However, watch out for our River Pirates who want to eat our
lunch.
Time is running out. We need your
reservations ASAP, as does the Red Lion Hotel. Our ability to meet all the
planning requirement is based upon your early reservations. Make choices of the
events you desire as your planning committee and the hotel needs to
know. A cut off date for reservations is June 17, 2006; 30
days prior to the event
The
Thunderbolt:
The 517th’s ability
to meet our financial obligations is based only upon your individual financial
support in the form of dues or contribution. The reunions, the Thunderbolt,
lodging support of visitors, and most other functions are paid by contributions
or personal payment for scheduled events. IRS restrictions and therefore, the
517th By Laws, do not allow use of organizational funds for such events.
Bob Christie is making heroic endeavors to keep
the Thunderbolt alive - it
is a necessity to keep the 517th together. The cost is approximately twelve
dollars per person/per publication. For many years the 517th operated with no
dues. Last year the Board of Directors recommended a $ 30.00 a year dues to
assist in alleviating our financial problem. Further, Bob Christie, necessarily
imposed a 517th rule, ”if you do not contribute-you will not receive the
Thunderbolt.” Also, multiple receipt of the publication to the same address has
been curtailed. I guess all of the above goes with the cost of fuel...a sign of
the times.
God Bless all and see you in Portland
in July.
Gene Frice, President