317th Veterans Group                                                                

2007 Reunion

October 4 - 7, 2007

St. Louis , Missouri

 

The St. Louis Reunion is all set. All the arrangements with the hotel are completed and you can start making your reservations.

The dates are October 4 through October 7. Thursday, Oct. 4 is registration day and the 317th Veterans Group meeting room will be open all day. The reunion will close on Sunday, 7 Oct. with a Farewell Breakfast at the hotel.

The hotel is the Crown Plaza St. Louis Airport and operates a shuttle service to and from the airport to the hotel. To make your room reservation call: 314- 291-6700 and tell the reservations person you are with the 317th Veterans Group to receive the special rate of $72 +tax per night. There is no 800 number for the hotel and you can not make your reservation through the Central Booking Center of the Crown Plaza hotel chain to get this special rate. So please contact the hotel direct, the 317th VG has a block of 100 rooms for the reunion that will held open until 15 September. The special rate is valid for 3 days before and 3 days after the reunion dates. It is important that you make your reservations early as we are expecting a large turnout  for this reunion and the rooms are going fast. You may cancel or change your room reservation right up to 24 hours before your reservation date.

Mike Heilman our 2007 Reunion Chairman has been working on setting up our reunion events. He lives in the St. Louis area and if you need any additional information about the area you can email him at: m.heilman@sbcglobal.net

The following is our 2007 Reunion Schedule:

On Thursday evening there will be a wine and cheese reception in the meeting room and a general meeting to go over the schedule and answer any questions.

On Friday 2 tours are scheduled. One tour will be to the town of St. Charles . Step back in time with a visit to St. Charles . Founded in 1769 by French Canadian, Louis Blanchette, St. Charles is the oldest city on the Missouri River . During May 1804 this area served as the Lewis & Clark's Corp of Discovery's first campsite along the Missouri River . It is the largest designated Historic District in the state of Missouri with buildings dating from 1790 to the late 1800's and lined with gas lights and charming restored buildings filled with antique, craft and specialty shops. You can stroll the 10 block historic district, visit the Lewis & Clark Museum, tour Missouri's first state capitol, walk a portion of the Katy Trail or just sit along the river and enjoy the view. A wide choice of restaurants is available for lunch on your own.

The other tour will be to Scott Air Force Base, which is about an hour drive away. The activities include a bus tour of the base, lunch on base, and special military ceremonies honoring our WWII 317th TCG Jungle Skippers .

On Saturday morning will be a tour to the St. Louis Arch with a return to the hotel in the early afternoon. Buses will be contracted for these tours and the final price has yet to be set.

Saturday night will be the banquet and dance along with the picture taking for the Memory Book and group photo.

Sunday morning will be the Farewell Breakfast.

The hotel will allow RV'ers to park in one corner of the parking lot, but they want them to stay in the hotel as there are no hook-ups.

Reunion event registration forms were sent in our Jan. and May newsletters and will be in our Sept. newsletter as well.