55 SRWA 1998 Reunion ... 20-23 May 1998, Sheraton Hotel, Colorado Springs $83 per night plus tax Reservations: 1-800-981-4012

A ROCKIN' REUNION IN THE ROCKIES

MAY 20-23

Up Date: 12 May 98

Reunion Agenda
Banquet Guest Speaker... .. BGen Ambrose	AF Museum Director to Speak	Cripple Creek Trip
Handicap Considerations	Dates for Hotel room special	Banquet Guest Rate

The splendor and the scenic beauty of springtime in the Rockies, from the prairies of the eastern plains to the top of 14,000 ft Pike's Peak, as well as a great time of camaraderie, activities, the telling of war stories (and probably discussions of various ailments and bodily functions), await members of the 55^thSRW Association who will reunite May 20-23 1998 in Colorado Springs, CO.

The Sheraton Hotel will be the headquarters for the festivities planned by Reunion Committee Chairman Keith Smith, members Phil Carr, Rick Smith, Chuck Holte, Tom Reed and a host of volunteers. Room reservations ($83 per night plus tax) should be made directly with the Colorado Springs Sheraton Hotel at 1-800-981-4012 no later than April 20 to assure you get the guaranteed Reunion rate. Travel arrangements at bargain rates may be made by contacting Bob Denny at A Better Way to Travel, 1-800-347-9002.

For those of you driving to the Springs via car, RV, motorcycle, covered wagon, et al, the Sheraton is located at 2886 South Circle Drive, just east of I-25 exit #138 on the southern part of the city. The hotel provides courtesy shuttle service to and from the airport and rental cars are available.

If you have not yet made those reservations and travel plans, time it is a passin'. Get it done!

 

Send in your Reunion registration form (see attachment to this newsletter) and check by April 20^th so the committee can gets its "head counts" for the various events.

"Fifty-Fifthers" arriving on Wednesday, May 20, will be able to register and enjoy gathering in the Hospitality suite, both of which will be open noon to midnight. Registration and the Hospitality suite will be open at convenient hours throughout the Reunion.

While there are a variety of scheduled events, there will be plenty of time for sight-seeing and dining on your own, or for meeting with friends, comrades and former crewdogs to reminisce and/or catch up on each other's doings.

On Thursday, a trip to the historic mining and gambling town of Cripple Creek will be available in the afternoon, returning that evening. There will be a nominal fee for bus transport (what you spend at Cripple Creek will be your own affair). Sign-up will be that day, but please indicate your interest on the registration form so the committee will have, in this case, a "seat count".

Friday features the obligatory morning golf outing for duffers, hackers and pro-wannabes (wait 'til you tee up at 7000 ft and let 'er rip) at the USAF Academy course; a bus tour of the USAF Academy and Garden of the Gods, and Old Colorado City from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; and the dinner show at the Flying W Ranch that evening.

Saturday begins with a slate of historical briefings at 9:00 a.m. (no charge). Svend Christensen of the Danish Institute of International Affairs will discuss the highlights of USAF operations in Greenland, including the story of the northernmost jet landing ever made: an RB-47 at Nord, Greenland 510 miles from the North Pole in January 1957. Also invited are representatives from the USAF Museum to discuss the RB-47 and Cold War display, and from the Pentagon's POW-MIA Office for an update on Korea/Cold Wars' research.

Additionally, Cargill Hall, the Chief Historian of the National Reconnaissance Office, and TSgt. Craig Kibbe, the 55^th Wing Historian, will attend to interview and gather oral history from 55^th veterans who had compelling experiences in the early years of Cold War recon. (Bring your war stories. Like we need to tell ya).

Following the historical session, there will be a general membership meeting to elect the Association Board of Directors, decide on the where and when of the next reunion (Fall 1999?), review Association business since the last reunion, and discuss other business members deem appropriate.

The Hospitality suite will close at 5:00 p.m. The gala banquet will begin with a cocktail hour (pay as you go) at 6:00 p.m., with dining and dancing until midnight, which will be the cap to what we all anticipate will be another memorable reunion.

Breakfast or brunch on your own Sunday as farewells are said and plans made to keep in touch and for meeting again. Be there or be sorry you weren't!

55th SRWA Reunion Registration Form ... Just click, print and Mail-in! Use your browser BACK button to return to this page.

E-mail comments are invited. Forward your correspondence to: dgrif@ns.net
http://www.55srwa.org