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Green GI
Group: Registered User
Last Login: 9/23/2008 6:16 PM
Posts: 27,
Visits: 78
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2006 509 Reunion report
Over 175 troopers, family and friends attended this year's reunion in Dayton, Ohio. This was number one as far as sponsor duties go for Pegster(Joe Fite's daughter)and it was done up well.
22 original 509ers were present this year, along with 54 active duty 09ers from Fort Polk. The active duty 09ers executed a parachute drop from 2 C-47 aircraft, with many in vintage jump suits. After forming up on the drop zone they marched to where the original 509ers were sitting and presented the colors. After being dismissed from formation the 3rd generation 09ers presented the original with Gingerbread man pocket patches that they wore in combat in Iraq. Greatly appreciated by all that received them. At the dinner LtCol King and CSM Sharkey updated all on the status of the 1st Bn 509th(Abn)Inf. Our 3rd Bn 509th(Abn)Inf could not attend this year due to operational tempo. The Color Guard performed flawlessly and received many compliments from all at the dinner.
Business meeting on Saturday, with more than 40 members and officers present. Barry gave a financial report and we are on firm ground there. Dues, coin sales and other merchandise has helped us there. We still need to work on getting dues in on time. With donations from the members present we were able to cover the final cost of the memorial at Fort Snelling, Minn. Our next goal is the one at Fort Benning, more on that later. A reminder to all to contact your Congressional rep to push for 16 August being named National Airborne Day. We still are working on our personnel report(membership list)we need help on this. If you have any information on 09 members contact Barry with it. Issues that we are working on is getting a website running again,and cutting cost of newsletter mailing.
Reunion sites for the next two years were voted on and selected. Reno, Nevada won the vote for 2007 over Punta Gorda by 9 votes. John DeVanie's daughter is working this one,it will be at the Circus Circus Casino/Hotel, July 18-22. We will hold the 2008 reunion at the All Airborne Awards in Atlanta, April 2008, Don Lassen sponsors this event every year and it is always a good one. This will give everyone a chance to get down to Fort Benning again. More on that one later. We have a group of 2nd generation 09ers that have formed a NE Chapter of the 509th, with informal get togethers once a year. Rob Young, 509 and retired NY police officer, calls manifest to that chalk, all 09ers are welcome to attend.
I am going off the net, to cut transmission time, for now but will send more later,
DM Aldridge
"The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers it can bribe the public with the public's money." Alexis Tocqueville.
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