Brothers:
We are approaching a great reunion in Savannah, an opportunity to greet old
buddies, visit the sights and enjoy the activities the Beddows have arranged for
us. We also need to establish the course of our Combat Team Association for the
future. Other things are well taken care of so this letter focuses on what we
need to do on behalf of the Association.
RECEPTION FOR GUESTS FROM FRANCE AND BELGIUM
There will be a reception for our guests in the hospitality room Monday (15
Aug) evening. This will be a social occasion with an honors bar and finger food.
The guests honor our liberation of their homeland by celebrations, monuments,
and museums. This is an opportunity to say thanks for those who have enjoyed
their hospitality on trips to Europe. Those who have not had that opportunity
may learn what they are doing to honor and perpetuate the memory of our sweat,
blood and tears. Merle McMorrow, Allan Johnson and his daughter, Claire Giblin,
as well as Helen and Hal Beddow are in charge of this affair and will make plans
to see that it is both informative and social.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
The Board will meet on Wednesday, August 17 in the Chippawa Room. Because
of the agenda at this cross roads reunion, we have tentatively set two meetings,
at ten and two (1000 and 1400 Hrs.) The meeting at ten conflicts with the tour
of the low country. If this affects too many members, it will be a discussion
meeting only with votes to be taken later when all attendees are present.
BUSINESS MEETING
The business meeting will follow the mens and ladies luncheons on
Thursday. The first item on the agenda will be to adopt the auxiliary bylaws
amendment. When adopted, the male auxiliary members (members? family) will join
the ladies luncheon site for the auxiliary organizational meeting. The rest of
us will remain to decide the issues on the rest of the agenda. They
follow.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
The Board will be the nominating committee for the Association. We should
communicate on this subject before reaching Savannah, but the slate to be
nominated by the committee will be finalized at the Board meeting. Talk it up
and let us know in advance who you think best qualified to lead the troops into
the future.
The auxiliary will nominate and elect its own board and officers at the
auxiliary meeting to be held separately. Lou Darden has supplied a list of names
to kick off the auxiliary nominations and organizational plans. We need people
from the west. Bill Christian and his wife are working on that. There has been
enthusiastic interest in an official organization of 517th family
members who could assist us as our membership thins. The auxiliary is the answer
to that interest.
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE AUXILIARY
The auxiliary will be up and running by the end of the reunion. Its
officers and board members will assist their counter parts, the officers and
board members of the Association.
REUNIONS
Future reunions need discussion and decisions. One suggestion is that we
select one spot such as Ft. Benning or Bragg for all future reunions. Another is
to have a reunion every year. This might take the place of mini reunions with
all our effort behind the annual reunion. Whatever we do, we will have a place
and year for the next reunion. Start thinking and planning. If anyone is willing
to shoulder the job as Helen and Hal have done this year, we will listen.
DUES/FINANCES
We send out about 1300 copies of the Thunderbolt. The expense is borne by
about 100. We need a broader base of financial support and may need to pare the
list of recipients to those who have real interest. We should never cut off a
member who does not contribute because of financial need. Dues have been
suggested through the years, but we have always voted them down. Has the time
come for change?
SOUTHERN FRANCE MONUMENT
The Heurvis (sp?) family was in touch with Merle McMorrow and perhaps
others with the proposition of our raising a certain amount of funds with the
understanding that if we did, the French government would erect a monument in
Southern France honoring the 517th Combat Team for what we did there.
We did our part. We have more than the required amount. We have let them know
this, but have not received any response. Here is what we recommend. Make one
more contact before 15 Aug 05. If there is no French government plan for such a
monument, we should proceed to use the money we have raised to do something with
our S. French friends who have already honored us by their activities. We would
like to see a monument with the names of all the men who died in the liberation
of S. France. We honored them with a parade before we left. Let us do it again.
They deserve it.
ODYSSEY SALES AND DISTRIBUTION
Sales of this book have not gone as briskly as anticipated. We need to sell
more copies. We should promote it. We should also donate copies to historic
repositories. It should be available to historians who have an interest in WWII
and how it was fought. From past experience there will be revisionists,
contemporary and and future, who will write their own version. Our history
written by those who fought should be on the shelves of these repositories.
Those in charge of our history should come up with a list of prospective
recipients. Let?s see if we can have something on which we can vote at Savannah.
517TH HISTORY PERPETUATION
Records should be gathered and a repository selected. We will adopt a plan
at Savannah.
You may communicate your thoughts, suggestions, and recommendations to each
other, to me, and to Gene Frice who is slated to be our next president. Gene is
and has been much involved since he and the new directors and officers will
implement plans we forge at Savannah.
Highest regards,
Howard E. Hensleigh, President
517
th Parachute Regimental Combat Team Association, Inc.
3217
Fleet Landing Blvd.Atlantic Beach, FL 32233-7507
Phone 904-270-8797, hhensleigh@earthlink.net