Reunion 2004: Washington, DC


WHEN: Monday, 30 August through Saturday, September 4, 2004

WHERE: Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area

HOTEL: Doubletree Hotel, Crystal City (Across from the Pentagon. We're much impressed with the Hotel, plus their several fine restaurants!)

LOCAL COMMITTEE:

Chairman, Dick Lee
Assist. Chairman, "Chick" Cecchini
Members: Phil McAuliffe, Bill Scudder John Sherman

DATES: The Program will run from Tuesday, 31 August thru Saturday, 4 September, 2004. This could run longer if you choose to do some early or late sightseeing, a personal touring or visiting.

COST: It's too early to know what the registration fee will be. We do know that we'll be using buses for at least two trips and maybe three times more than for a typical reunion. For that reason, the cost will be higher than with the usual only one bus use.

GENERAL PLAN: Due to the wonderful military resources available to us in Washington, D.C. area we have decided to tap as much of it as we can to make this 2004 Reunion a truly memorable experience. This at a time which may, for many of us, well be the last our health and other circumstances will allow us to gather.

First of all, we realize that the sightseeing opportunities in the Nation's Capitol are without equal. Should you want to do some sightseeing we've made arrangements with the hotel to accept reservations for 3 days before Monday, August 30th and 3 days after Sunday, September 5, 2004.

The Reunion rate is $89 a night for 2 persons, plus tax (currently 9.75%). This arrangement is not To exceed 10 rooms each of the days before and after.

We alerted our Armed Forces Reunion, Inc. to offer a package of attractive tours for those of you who want to take this great opportunity to see those special places you may have missed over the years or are new. Notably among the new is the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial There are always the many wonderful Art Museums, various Smithsonian Museums, National Cathedral, National Shrine, National Archives, etc. If you don't have any special place to concentrate on but want a sort of panoramic tour, there is the very convenient bus (looks like an open trolley) to take you to a the sightseeing places. It lets you get off to look around as long as you want. Then you can get on another to continue the tour, all day if you wish.

Most important, though, we've put together a program for Wednesday, September 1 through Saturday, September 5, featuring the SILENT DRILL TEAM and the FIFE and DRUM Corps of the 3rd Infantry (The Old Guard) on September 1st. We plan a group visit to the Holocaust Museum on Thursday, September 2nd. On Friday, September 3rd, the ARMY BAND has agreed to entertain at the separate luncheons following the Membership Meeting. Their Strolling Strings play during the Ladies' Luncheon. The Men's Chorale will be singing about a half-hour during the Men's Luncheon.

For our special MEMORIAL SERVICE Saturday morning, we have been promised the use of the AMPHITHEATER of the TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN at Arlington National Cemetery for the first part of our observance…the reading of the names of our recent dead, organization by organization. Following, the widows present will lay their traditional rose. During this part of the ceremony, THE COLOR GUARD of the 3rd INFANTRY will stand in place. Following, the first part of our Memorial Ceremony, we then move to the front of the building to continue by laying a wreath at the TOMB of the UNKNOWN. For this second part of the ceremony, we've been promised the extraordinary privilege comparable to that usually provided only when the President or Head of State lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown. The Army Band, Two Platoons of the 3rd Infantry, and Tomb Guard will participate in our wreath laying.

For our Saturday Evening Banquet, the Army Band's Men's Chorale will entertain again. Still in The planning stage, though not yet arranged, we hope to offer a trip to visit the NATIONAL WWII MEMORIAL, scheduled to be completed and dedicated in the Spring of 2004.

Oh, yes, the HOSPITALITY ROOM The Doubletree Hotel has a super attractive, large room perfect for hospitality room purposes. It is up high with many windows offering a beautiful view of Washington. We have been promised this room. We'll have a cozy, single place for all attending the Reunion.

So vets of the 89th, wives, widows, all who can...set aside the date now! This will be a grand affair.