70 Pleasant St. Cohasset, MA.02025 *781 383 0215 * Mail Call : Ben Barrett Ben517@aol.com

Hello,

We have in this Mail Call the introduction of the Vice President's speech and in a future Mail Call we will have the Vice President's speech. If you have a video of the speech or a video of the reunion please let us know. Send Photos and mail.

Please let me know if you want to receive Mail Calls or if you have a problem receiving them. You can always read Mail Calls by clicking on www.517prct.org/archives

Ben

Website www.517prct.org
Mail Call Ben517@aol.com

Mail Call Archives www.517prct.org/archives
Roster www.517prct.org/roster.pdf

We are happy that reunion reports are continuing to come in! Please, if you came and had a good time, share a line or two with us in Mail Call!

I wanted to hit some of the highlights in this Mail Call:

We don't have the final numbers yet, but were supposed to have been over 300 for the final banquet. I know of at least a few that were unable to attend, but we were definitely pushing 300 for the banquet. Fantastic turnout!
Several families used this reunion as a family gathering. It was great to see the Smiths and the Barrretts, especially, having so much fun with extended family. Great idea for the future, as we move into the middle of the country!
So many people wound up helping with hospitality needs! Thank you to all of you!
Great to see grandchildren getting troopers to sign their Paratroopers' Odyssey books! Wonderful to see the kids meeting the vets! This is what the Family and Friends - 517 Auxiliary is all about! The children and grandchildren are the future of the 517 and will be the custodians of the history and the legacy, and we're thrilled that so many came!
For the first time (at least, in recent memory), we provided space to a living history organization in the Hospitality Suite. Vets were able to visit with reenactors, examine artifacts, and answer the questions from children and grandchildren. It really helped open up the lines of communication across the generations. Thanks to the Tri-State Living History Association, in conjunction with Liberty Jump Team.
Tri-State Living History-Liberty Jump Team worked tirelessly to bring a static line jump to our vets and families. So many things can cancel a jump (bad weather, too much wind, mechanical trouble, to name only a few) that it was really a leap of faith to put it on the schedule. But the gods smiled and the weather was great, and many of us got to see our FIRST static line jump ever! Again, this was one of those times that we could hear the conversations going with grandfathers and grandchildren. How was this the same? Different? The team fundraised for months to bring this event to the vets, and their publicity person was moved to tears when the vets gave the jumpers pins and - totally spontaneously - passed the hat and donated back over $1000. in five minutes!
We were so happy that our dear friends from France were able to attend! Many of the reunion attendees met Jean Michel (or Jimi or Michael - he will answer to all of them), his wife Lizy, and their son Adrian (on his first trip to the US). Together with Eric Renoux, Jean Michel runs the Museum of the Liberation (La Musee de la Liberation) in the small town of Le Muy. Le Muy was one of the first towns in the south to have been liberated, and they are firm friends of the 517. When Lizy was meeting a veteran, she told him, "It is an honor to meet you. It is because of you that I am speaking French."
Armed Forces Reunions, Inc., provided our administrative services for this reunion. This was our first time with them, and they proved to be the best investment ever. They negotiated the hotel, the meals, the hospitality suite and the tours. They took care of the formatting of the reunion attendance forms and prepared the packets and tickets for everyone's arrival. They manned the registration desk. They also boarded the bus tours and provided an escort with each tour. They freed us up to stay focused on the reunion, and they were invaluable as we prepared for the Vice President's visit. Future reunion chairs should not be concerned about living near the venue (I live about 4 hours away from DC; Ben lives about 9 hours away). The main concerns are keeping the Hospitality Suite well stocked with liquor (and you guys give us a run for our money!) and food (easier than the liquor!).

Finally, as a reunion co-chair, I want to say that I am hoping our next reunion co-chairs will also be from the ranks of the Sons and Daughters-Family & Friends-517 Auxiliary. It's really a rewarding and fulfilling volunteer opportunity.

Stay tuned for more reunion reports!

Claire Giblin

The great success of the reunion was due to Claire's diligence. I was the inspiration and Claire was the perspiration. - Ben

Darrell Egner

Patrick O'Donnell the Keynote speaker did a great job and of course our General Dick Seitz really capped it off as usual. The most remarkable thing is I did not observe any one leave the Banquet room the whole evening. The only thing I didn't enjoy was being called to say a few word following Claire's speech. How do you top Claire, also know as Fire.

There is no way I can thank the many people that worked tirelessly to make this one of the very best Reunions ever. Just to name a few Ben and Claire the co-chairs worked 24/7 to solve the many last minute details that are bound to come up. Donna Hilliard, Helen Beddow, Leila Webb, Leo Dean, Barrett girls and the Frice girls did a great job. Little Molly Dey from the Armed Forces was every where you looked. And how about the eight young men that did the Demonstration jump? It was my privilege to talk to each of them. After spending a great deal of time talking to them I discovered that with men like that our country is in good shape. Please forgive me for not mentioning the dozens of others that helped, it would fill a page.

Gosh I almost forgot! Thanks Troopers for electing me your new President and bring your friends and families to the Reunion. The last count I had was over 280 people were there. I would also like to thank the Past President, Gene Frice for heading up the Portland Reunion last year. Great job!

On a personal note I was so happy to see Irene Lewis, widow of Bill Lewis our long time Secretary. There is no doubt in my mind that he was a big part of keeping us together. Then our 517 lucked out and Ben and Bob Barrett stepped forward and made it even better. And the editor of the Thunderbolt, Bob Christie does a super job keeping us informed. Thank you!

Many people have asked me what my agenda will be as President. It's very simple. I will work with the Auxiliary through Claire Giblin so that long after most of us are gone the 517 will always exist for our Children and Grand Children. I will also work with the Officers and Board members to determine where we will meet for our National Reunion in 2008. It will be some where in the Midwest.

Our hard working girls Donna Hilliard and Leila Webb are already working on the Florida Mini which will take place January 20,21,22, 2008 in our usual place in Orlando. I'm sure Bill Christian will hold his West Coast Mini in April as usual. Bill please keep me posted, I plan to attend.

This is getting to be a book instead of a letter so I better close. It is my privilege to serve 1500 (guess) of you and more coming on every day. If any of you have any suggestions on how to improve the 517 Parachute Regimental Combat Team my door is always open.

Introduction of the Vice-President of the United States to the 517^th Parachute Combat Regiment Team and Guests at the Re-union Dinner July 1, 2007 by Frank Ramos.