11 Nov 2011
Association Newsletter 04
THE 68TH ASSAULT HELICOPTER COMPANY ASSOCIATION
NOVEMBER 2011 NEWSLETTER
Greetings Top Tigers,
I hope each and every one of you had a wonderful Veteran’s Day. With Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner let me be the first to wish all of you a Happy Holiday season. Most of us missed one or both of these holidays while we were in Nam. I remember spending Christmas Eve 1967 sitting in the Officer’s Club playing Hearts with Paul Hill, Kent Hufford, and Bob Selcer. Even though my thoughts that night were 12,000 miles away, back in Cincinnati, wishing I was with my family and girlfriend, I also knew that I was in some very good company, my friends and brothers in the 68th AHC. Attending the last six reunions has helped me realize how important those bonds we developed in Nam are. That is why I am hoping that our 2012 Reunion will bring even more of us together.
For those of you who have attended a reunion, I urge you to come back again and visit with your friends and brothers. For my 68th brothers who have not attended a reunion I strongly urge you to consider attending the 2012 Reunion. Don’t do it for me, do it for yourself and your fellow Top Tigers. One thing I can guarantee, you won’t be disappointed.
I know that we are all going through some tough financial times, so now is the time to begin planning for the reunion and trying to save a few dollars wherever you can so you can join your brothers in Atlanta/Marietta in September, 2012.
If you want to attend the reunion, but are having a hard time making ends meet and need a little financial help, we have a special fund setup for just such assistance. The Tiger Fund can help you defray some of the cost. It is handled confidentially so that only three people know. You need to contact Frans Vandenbroek at fvandenbroek@appliedmedical.com to start the simple process. The Fund was established specifically for those who need a little help. Use it if you need to.
2012 REUNION UPDATE
In my May Newsletter I told you that the Executive Board had selected the Atlanta/Marietta Hotel and Conference Center, which is on the northwest side of Atlanta. Take a few minutes to visit the hotel’s website www.atlantamarietta.hilton.com to see, first hand, what the hotel has to offer. The reunion dates are 9/20/12 (Thursday) to 9/23/12 (Sunday). The room rates are $119.00 per night for a standard room, and $159.00 per night for a Junior Suite (a large room with extra seating area, including a sleeper sofa). Included in each night’s room rental are two coupons for the breakfast buffet in the hotel’s on-site restaurant. You will also receive coupons if you check-in on 9/19/12. This means you could receive a total of 8 breakfast coupons for a four night (Wednesday through Saturday) stay. The normal price for the buffet is $15.95 per person, this is quite a savings for our members, and you don’t have to leave the hotel for breakfast.
Due to strict hotel regulations and Georgia Liquor Laws we are not able to use a meeting room for our hospitality area and purchase our own drinks. However, we were able to work out an agreement with the hotel to allow use of a Junior Suite and the adjoining room (with beds removed) for our hospitality suite. We will also have an additional hotel room (with beds removed) immediately across from the hospitality suite for additional space. This will allow us to bring in our own drinks, snacks, etc., which is another huge savings to the membership.
If Howard Smith is able to bring his extensive memorabilia items to the reunion we will have a meeting room in the conference center area of the hotel for his display. We also have a meeting room for our Saturday afternoon business meeting.
We are currently working on the menu for the Saturday night dinner and hope to keep the cost at around $40 per person.
Some things are still in the planning stages but right now we are planning two events. The usual golf outing for those who play. No driving to the golf course this time, the on-site golf course is only 100 feet from the hotel entrance. The other and most exciting event will be Huey Rides at the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation located about 20 miles south of Atlanta. Cost for a 10-15 minute Huey ride will be approximately $45 per person, perhaps your last chance to go up in a Huey. Sorry guys, no live firing!!! These events will be planned for Friday & Saturday. More info at a later date. If neither of these events excite you, you can spend the day visiting Marietta Square, a quaint old southern town square with many shops, museums, theaters, and restaurants. See what they have to offer at: www.mariettasquare.com.
HOTEL RESERVATIONS & REUNION REGISTRATION
To make your hotel reservations contact the hotel at their toll free number: 1-888-685-2500. Be sure to mention that you are with the 68th Assault Helicopter Company Reunion or use the group code: “SEHC” for our special rates.
If you are planning
to attend the reunion it is very important that you register for the
reunion on our website. This can be done at any time. You do not have
to wait until you have made hotel reservations to register. By
registering on the website this will give the planners a good idea of
how many are planning to attend and in what activities they have
interest.
Dave Holloway, President 68th AHC Association
“Top Tiger 49” & “Mustang 26”