Reunion 2019, the fifteenth biannual reunion of the 114th Aviation Company Association, was another great time for all the Knights and their families to gather, to renew old bonds of friendship, and to forge new ones.

   The reunion, which ran from September 4-8, was held at the Hyatt Place Hotel in the Old Market section of Omaha, NE. Hosted by Ken and Janet Emken, the events of each day were prefaced with an inspirational thought for that day.

   Wednesday’s post reminded us to “make new friends, but keep the old; those are silver, these are gold.” The Wednesday Golf Tournament included Bob Codney, Al Weiler, Steve Grissom and Jeff Carr. The hospitality room, which was filled with the traditional state flags, patriotic table decorations, and memorabilia, opened with a welcome reception and light lunch. Later everyone enjoyed greeting each new arrival. Free time in the evening was the perfect time to stroll along the streets of the Old Market and enjoy the flavor of Omaha.

  “What is friendship? One soul in two bodies,” was the quote for Thursday. The bus tour to Freedom Park and through historic Omaha took us to a delightful lunch with great shore-side entertainment. We then boarded the River City Star for a narrated tour of the sights and landmarks along the river. Thursday evening’s meal at Upstream Brewery gave everyone a chance to sample some craft beers while enjoying the buffet. After a pleasant walk back to the hotel, the hospitality room was the place to be to chat and retell war stories.

   Friday began with the thought “WHAT a thing friendship is, a World without end!” We toured the Strategic Air Command Museum and wandered among dozens of amazing aircraft. Lunch was enjoyed under the wings of the enormous SR71 Blackbird. After lunch it was on to the impressive Pioneer Courage Park filled with larger than life bronze sculptures, and then the famous Father Flanagan’s Boys’ Town, its museum and the giant stamp ball. The evening meal was enjoyed in the hospitality room where the Knights and ladies partied late into the night.

   Before the business meeting on Saturday, we were reminded that “FRIENDSHIP improves happiness and abates misery, by doubling our joy and dividing our grief.” While the Knights were meeting, the ladies enjoyed shopping or walking to Iowa via the Bob Kerry bridge. Some of us took time to visit Omar, the blue troll who now lives under that bridge. Saturday afternoon provided an opportunity to step back in time with a visit to the Durham Museum, an Art Deco railroad station where there are exhibits ranging from Omaha’s earliest inhabitants all the way to World War II era talking statues The banquet at the Omaha Press Club gave members the ”best view in town,” and we enjoyed looking at the lights of the city 22 floors below us.

   “Old friends are the great blessings of one’s latter years….” was the farewell thought as members gathered Sunday morning for the memorial service and to say goodbye until 2021’s reunion.

   Ken and Janet Emken did a remarkable job of planning a pleasant mix of sight-seeing, delicious meals, and time to catch up with old friends and make new ones. Downtown Omaha’s Old Market was fun to explore, the museums we saw were filled with interesting details, the tours and the river cruise were delightful. But the best part of the 2019 Omaha reunion was the opportunity to spend valuable time with each other.  

May Jones
Knight Newsletter Editor