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504TH MILITARY POLICE BATTALION ASSOCIATION
August 2, 2010
TO ALL MEMBERS:
The 504th M.P. Battalion Association is in the process of updating our website. Please check here periodically to see how I am progressing. You can also check the Newsletter page for our last issue from Fall 2009 (my first try). We are looking forward to hosting our 57th reunion in the western suburbs of Chicago next September. Our plans for the 2010 reunion are coming together. The dates are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday; September 16th, 17th and 18th. It will be at the Marriott Suites Hotel, 1500 Opus Place Downers Grove, Illinois, 60515. The reservations phone number is (800) 228-9094 or (630) 852-1500. Reservations are under the Association name. Rooms will be $89 per night with breakfast buffet (for 2). They will also honor the rate for a couple of days before and after the reunion dates for those who want to do some additional sightseeing. We reserved 30 rooms. I don’t think we’ll have any problem getting 30 Dragon Fighters, probably double that. I hope to get even more, because there are a lot of people I haven’t seen at reunions for a few years. There are many restaurants and shopping areas within a mile or so from the hotel. The hotel has arrangements with a limo service for an airport shuttle.
Hotel Reservations should be in by August 30, 2010.
Our agenda as we are planning it should include the following:
On Thursday Night, Sept 16th, we will be going on a Lake Cruise to view the skyline of Chi-Town at night. If President Mike Zenisek can get the good rates for the "booze cruise" it will be even better. That one includes bar and appetizers buffet on a 4 hour cruse. Mike is still negotiating the cost, but it could be as low as $30 a couple. We are still waiting for an answer.
On Friday, Sept 17th, we will be visiting Cantigny Park. It is the former home of Col. Robert McCormick, founder of the Chicago Tribune, WGN radio and TV. The park also houses, the 1st Infantry Division Museum. We will have the entire museum opened up to us, including the archives, which is not open to the public. We will (the 504th MPBNA) also be a part of the ceremony for POW MIA day (Sept 17). Cantigny Park also has the McCormick Museum, the gardens and the lovely grounds (it's about 300 some odd acres) and we will be having lunch at the Visitors' center (Catered). Hopefully the ladies will want to come with to see the beautiful grounds and the McCormick Mansion. I understand Cantigny has a pretty good golf course, too.
Saturday, we are looking into providing transportation to downtown Chicago for those interested. A bus to drop you off and pick you up later. There’s Navy Pier, now loaded with restaurants and specialty snacks, booths for buying all sorts of trinkets, etc, etc. There are several museums including Natural History, Aquarium, Planetarium, and the Art Institute. Chicago’s “Magnificent Mile” for shopping and site-seeing isn’t too far away. These are just a few of the things to see. You can also go down on the commuter trains from the Downers Grove Station if you wish.
For Saturday night's dinner Mike’s Scout Troop will provide the honor guard and we will have the Troop's collection of Historic Flags on display in the dining room. Mike is trying to get a duet to sing the National Anthem. If they do, they will sing the first and fourth verse. The fourth verse is the one going around the internet now. It should be quite memorable.
We hope to have a representative from the Battalion in attendance again this year. Mike and Harry Yates attended the dedication of the 504th M.P. Bn. bench on the Memorial Walk at Ft. Leonard Wood and spoke with LTC Voorhees, CPT Sterling (Chaplain) and 2LT Moyer about the dinner.
Let me give you a brief update on the Battalion. The 504th’s HHD and the 170th MP Company have recently deployed. Also, the 66th and 571st MP Companies will be returning soon. If we get a representative from the Battalion, they will update us on activities (that are “unclassified” as they say).
Our e-mail address 504thmpbna@comcast.net, please send me a quick reply if you are planning to attend this year’s reunion. I hope to be deluged with e-mails, but it will sure help with our planning. It doesn’t have to be definite, because I know some plans change at the last moment. We would just like to get a ballpark figure. I think we should have about 12 rooms booked and I’ve received pre-payments from a half-dozen Dragon Fighters already.
Finally, I keep hearing that there are still some out there who have not gotten the word on the reunion even though the date and hotel information went out a few months ago. If you know of someone, or if you get a call asking about it, please have them e-mail me. I’ve found some misprints in e-mail addresses and I can pick up the correct one from the incoming message.
If you are a past member of the 504th Military Police Battalion, we would like to have you as a member if you are interested. We still have a few from WW II and everything up to Iraq and Afghanistan soldiers and veterans. If you would like to be a member of our Association, e-mail 504thmpbna@comcast.net and I will reply with an information form. Thanks for checking in. That is all for now.
Terry Abma
Secretary / Treasurer
RVN 1968-1969
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