The 2011 Reunion was held at the Wyndham Hotel, Gettysburg, PA during the period Oct 5th through Oct. 9th. Lessons learned included the fact that Fall Reunions are well attended and the weather could not be better to be out and about.

We began our gathering on Wednesday with registration as usual. Our advance party of Lane and Daddy Snake made absolutely sure on Tuesday that we would not run out of beverages during the course of our assembly.  Some ladies, very innocently talking near the trap I set, were quickly ensnared and drafted to perform registration duties. Without Norma, Peggy, Donna and a few others I would not have made it.  As it was, registration ran 8 am until 6 or 7 pm Wed thru Fri.

Thursday came upon us with a gorgeous, sunlit day with temperatures cool but not cold. We met Big Red, our driver, boarded our bus and headed for Lancaster. Big Red, or Danielle, was our driver for two days and regaled us with tales of both what we saw and what we didn’t see along the route. Then to Bird-in-Hand and Intercourse. We stopped in each village for a little shopping and food or drink.  Next we stopped at Amish Village where we picked up our guide for the Amish Experience tour. Paul was great, knowledgeable and entertaining.

We saw much of the country side and lots of horse and buggies.  One six mule team (side by side across) pulling a baler down a road. Little room for us! We stopped alt Plain and Fancy Farms for dinner.  Country fried chicken, pot pie and all the fixings served family style. You sit and eat and they keep filling up empty dishes.  After stuffing ourselves it was off to Kitchen Kettle Village for shopping. We arrived back at the Hotel about 6 pm.

On Friday the good Lord gave us a repeat of the perfect day we had before. What a day to see the town and battlefield of Gettysburg! Big Red picked us up at 8 am but had to bring Paul and his bus for our overload.

We started at the Cyclorama, a film and the museum. Next we toured the battlefield with guides from the park service providing detailed information about the various aspects of the battle. Two busloads of Yankees and Rebels had a great time, but could agree on one thing.  Both sides sent troopers who had far more than their share of stamina and courage. The Wheat Field, Devils Den, Seminary Ridge, the site of Pickett’s Charge were but few of the many places we stopped and listened in awe as we heard the guides describe the action at each.

We interrupted our visit long enough to visit Hickory Bridge Farm for another family style dinner.  This time it was sauerkraut and pork with all the trimmings. Anyone who left hungry was 3 bricks short of a load! Then it was back to the battlefield and we got to pick where we wanted to stop and hear more about. On the way back to the hotel, we stopped in town and visited famous buildings, seeing some that still showed battle damage.

We arrived back at our hotel about 4:30 pm, just in time to ready ourselves for a showing of a privately made movie. The owner of the conference center had a movie made of the battle.  He hired historians, directors and re-enactors to make a true to history version of the battle.  Very well done, I sat with a historian who after the show said he saw only one error.  All the Rebels had shoes when in fact few did!

Each evening on entering the hospitality room you could almost hear the whump, whump, whump of the approaching steeds of the Knights of the Air as they once again approached the hot LZ or the medevac or the resupply point. Stories were told and retold, some embellishment to be sure, but no untruths! This is what reunions are all about and this one was great as are they all!

Saturday saw the General meeting. I will leave that reporting to Lane and the EC but I must comment. We had a detractor or two who used to spread the word that our Association was an officer’s thing. George and I hated that. All 4 of the founders were enlisted to start our careers in the army. On this Saturday morning, we saw an all enlisted EC complete its first tour of duty in a manner so exemplary that it was re-elected by acclimation to serve another term. Congratulations to one and all.

Saturday night was our banquet! Served buffet style all was great.  I would be remiss not to tell you that we had wine personally delivered by Colonel Larry Stroble, little brother of our Frank Stroble.  Frank couldn’t make it due to illness but he sent some good (great!) Pennsylvania wine to be placed on each table. Frank’s instructions were followed and bottles of both white and rose’ were found on each table. (Frank, we toasted you and Larry, then killed the bottles).

On Sunday, Charlie Stone conducted our memorial service, always an affair close to our hearts. Upon completion of the service, reunion 2011 was placed in our history books and we began looking at ‘reunion 2013.

My thanks to the staff at the Wyndham hotel and Bailey Transport who made this Reunion what it was.

Charlie Brown