Written by Richard A. Smith, President 17th Artillery Regiment Association
The 2006 reunion is now history. Each and every member contributed to help making it a great event. We couldn’t have asked for better weather. The trip to Ft. Sumter was a great historical event even though the Park Ranger asked a bunch of ‘Redlegs’ if we could imagine how loud the cannons were.
The dinner cruise had a delicious meal and a great ride through the Charleston Harbor. Several took horse and buggy rides through the old part of Charleston and around Battery Bay. Thanks to Norm Jones and others for doing the legwork on this trip and organizing it. During our business meeting we elected our 1st Vice President. Congratulations to our new VP Jack Stroud on this as well as not to forget he’s also our quartermaster too. We owe Jack a big thanks for taking on both jobs.
The reunion location was voted on for next year. The location will be San Antonio, Texas. Currently Wallace Bates and Mike Mason have agreed to make arrangements for our hotel location and itinerary. The tentative date is October 2007. (More on that later) Thanks to Mike and Wallace for taking this task.
Two scholarship funds have been named in memory of two of our late members who passed away this year. They were Jack Barron and Dietrich Neckien. I’d also like to thank the following members of the 2007 scholarship committee who are as follows: Tom Kurtz, Charles Riley, Barry Maurer, and Bert Ryan.
The annual donation of $200 will go to Operation Wounded Warrior at Walter Reed Army Hospital. This will help in purchasing phone cards for the wounded hospitalized there. It was also voted on that a plaque shall be presented to any corporation donating more than $500 to our Association. Also voted was a Challenge coin from our Association to any wounded soldier.
Discussion and money was taken up for the Christmas care packages to be sent to the 2nd Bn in Iraq. Please contribute to this worthwhile cause by sending a check to our treasurer Rich Siebe and mark it for Christmas Care package.
The Saturday night banquet was held with honored guests Lt. Col. Mike Borg and CSM Larry Werkheiser both with 1st Bn 17thFA. Both gave speeches and presented a slide show of our guys in Iraq. They donated five Iraqi Freedom challenge coins which were auctioned off. Mr. Charles Morrison was recognized as a WWII POW having been with the 17th FA when captured. He was held prisoner over 800 days. Freedom Team Salute packages were presented by Tom Kurtz from the Dept. of the Army to those who had served in the 17th along with Life Membership plaques to our new life members by President Richard Smith.
I’m glad everyone that attended could come and thanks for making it a great event. More to follow in the January newsletter.
The following pictures were taken at the reunion (Click On An Image To See Full Size).
