Quantico Reunion Information

 

The following will provide you with details and should answer most questions you may have about the reunion. If you need additional information, please contact Al Jennings at 630-858-1461 or by email at: awjennings@sbcglobal.net

 

The important information is this: If you want to attend the reunion, you have to do two things:

 

  1. Fill out the enclosed response form, write a check to cover the costs for yourself and guest(s) and mail it in by June 15th.

 

  1. Call the Crossroads Inn aboard the Marine Corps Base, Quantico, to make your room reservations.

 

Reunion Dates – Plan to arrive on Monday afternoon, August 10 and depart on Thursday August13.

 

Location – Quantico is located along I-95 approximately 35 miles SW of Washington, DC. All of the reunion events except for the Tuesday evening Sunset Parade at the Marine Corps War Memorial will be on the base at Quantico. Our group lodging has been arranged likewise, on the base.  The new Museum which was opened on November 10th, 2006 is also on Quantico property. It is just outside the main gate on US Highway 1.

 

Lodging – We have a block of rooms reserved for our group at the Crossroads Inn. This is a modern hotel/motel owned by the Marine Corps aboard the base. The facility is normally only open to active and retired military personnel, BUT for groups such as ours, they will accommodate us if you tell them you are with our group.  All rooms have private baths; many of the rooms have kitchenettes. A free continental breakfast is served every morning. Room rates for the standard room are $69.00 per night (no sales tax).  In that area, $69 per night is a bargain.

 

Alternate Lodging – If you cannot get into the Crossroads Inn there are numerous good choices in the Stafford, Triangle and Dumfries area.

 

The Holiday Inn Dumfries Quantico Center at: 3901 Fettler Park Drive, Dumfries, VA, (703) 441-9001   http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/hotel/dumva

 

The Comfort Inn Quantico at: 20 Salisbury Drive, Stafford, VA. (540) 659-8999

http://www.comfortinn.com/hotel-stafford-virginia-VA829

 

Again, these alternate sites are quite convenient to Quantico.

 

Room Reservations – Call the Crossroads Inn at 800-965-9511 for reservations. It will be first come first served. Tell them that you are part of the “1/8 – 2/2 REUNION” group (Group number 1457). If you are a retired Marine, you can make reservations independent of our group if it is within 60 days of your arrival.

 

Getting to Quantico – Driving: Coming from the South or North on I-95, get off at exit 150 for the main gate, or exit 148 for the back gate (the back gate closes at night). The back gate is closer to the Crossroads Inn. If you come in the back gate, the Crossroads Inn is a few miles inside the base on the right side. If you come in the main gate you will be driving down Fuller Road, which will turn into Barnett Avenue. The Crossroads Inn is a little over a mile, straight ahead on Barnett Avenue.

 

Flying: If you plan to fly to the reunion, the closest airports are Reagan National Airport and Dulles.

 

Cost – The reunion fee will be $130.00 per person (that does NOT cover lodging). We must put down deposits, and make guarantees for many of our events prior to the reunion. Therefore, it will be necessary to collect all fees from those attending the reunion in advance. We are asking that you return your payment by personal check or money order to us by June 15 (we have no mechanism for accepting credit cards). The fee will cover the costs of the Monday evening reception, all of our group meals, Marine Corps bus transportation, the cost of meals for guests and drivers, name badges, postage, etc.

 

Meals – We will enjoy a breakfast buffet (w/ SOS!) on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings in The-Clubs-at-Quantico building, which is next door to the Crossroads Inn. Other meals will all be in The-Clubs-at-Quantico or other Marine Corps Clubs and messes. Tuesday afternoon dinner will be at the club of Henderson Hall. Henderson Hall is a small Marine Corps Base adjacent to Arlington Cemetery near the Marine Corps War memorial.

 

Dress – The uniform for the entire reunion is casual; shorts are OK. It will most likely be quite hot and humid. For our Wednesday evening banquet, a coat and tie might be appropriate. Ladies will know what to wear.

 

Registration/Check-In – Please plan to arrive at Quantico on Monday afternoon in order to get checked in, obtain your vehicle pass if necessary, name badges, information packet, etc. prior to the evening reception which will start at 5:00 PM. Check-in will be in the room just off the lobby of the Crossroads Inn.

 

Vehicle passes – If you don’t already have a DOD military decal on your vehicle, you may need a temporary vehicle pass to drive aboard the base. Usually at Quantico if you just show the sentry your driver’s license and tell them where you are going, they’ll wave you through. Some days the security levels are higher and they will make you stop for a visitor pass. We will provide the PMO with a roster so it should not be a problem in any case. If you do need to get a visitors pass, be aware they will want to see your registration, drivers license and proof of insurance.

 

Guests – First of all, your wives (or significant others) are definitely invited; do not leave them at home. Additionally, this is not a private reunion or one limited to former members of 1/8 or 2/2. If you wish to bring your grandson or granddaughter, or your brother-in-law who is an old Marine, or whoever, you may do so. Just remember, it is $130.00 per person.

 

Reunion Transportation – We will be using military buses from the Quantico Base Motor Pool and will reimburse the Marine Corps for the expense.

 

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

 

Monday, August 10, 2009

 

Registration/Check-in - We will begin the registration/check-in process at 2:00 PM in the room adjacent to the front desk area of the Crossroads Inn.

 

5:00 PM Reception – There will be an informal “Welcome-Aboard” reception at The-Clubs-at-Quantico (TCAQ) which is next door to the Crossroads Inn.  Heavy hors d’oeuvres (meatballs, little eggrolls, roast beef, etc.) will be served until approximately 7:00 PM. There will be a cash bar for beverages of your choice.

 

Tuesday, August 11

 

After breakfast, we’ll visit the fantastic new National Museum of the Marine Corps (NMMC). Lunch will be available in the Museum in either the “Tun Tavern” or the “Messhall” and that lunch is NOT covered in the reunion fee. In the mid-afternoon, we’ll travel by bus to Henderson Hall, which is a small Marine Corps Base in Arlington, Virginia, for an early dinner at their club. After the meal, we’ll go to Marine Corps War Memorial to attend the Sunset Parade featuring the “Commandant’s Own” Drum & Bugle Corps, a Marine ceremonial guard company, and the most notable “silent drill platoon.”

 

The Sunset Parade is held on the grounds of the War Memorial, which is surrounded by a well-manicured lawn. There is no seating. It is a relaxed and informal picnic-like setting; the audience (including us) has two choices: sit, or stand. Most people bring a blanket and sit on the ground; others bring their own lawn chairs. So, if you don’t want to stand or sit on the grass, bring a blanket or lawn chair. It might get crowded on the bus with a lot of lawn chairs, but hopefully, we can work it out.

 

Wednesday, August 12

 

Buses will pick us up after breakfast and transport us to several interesting Quantico facilities as mentioned in the cover letter.

There may be some time left over for relaxation or PX calls.

 

On Wednesday evening we’ll have a banquet in the “Club.” There will be an appropriate after-dinner speaker and other Marines as our guests.

 

Registration Form - Enclosed is the Reunion Registration form and a return envelope. If you are coming to the reunion, we ask that you please fill it out completely, attach your payment check made payable to:  “Reunion” and mail it promptly in the enclosed envelope so that it arrives at Jim Thompson’s house no later than June 15th, 2009.

 

Internet Links - The following internet “links” contain information of interest to our group and this reunion. If you do not have access to the internet, you can probably get it at your local library, or better yet, see one of your grandchildren.

 

Pictures from previous reunions:

 

http://www.astro5.com/awj/clnc/

 

Roster – We have a master roster of all the 1/8 and 2/2 people that we have found. It is on the internet at:

 

http://www.astro5.com/awj/clnc/CLNC2009Roster.pdf         It IS case sensitive.

 

If you have any additions or corrections to that roster, please send me an email at: awjennings@sbcglobal.net

 

News and announcements about this upcoming reunion. This will be a “dynamic” site that will change as things develop. Check it often if you can… we’ll try to keep a list of people who plan to attend along with the latest details and updates.

 

http://www.astro5.com/awj/clnc/Quantico2009Reunion.htm  Case sensitive

 

ADDITIONAL MAILINGS:  There will be none. This will be the last reunion mailing that you will receive.

 

QUESTIONS/COMMENTS: If you have any, please contact Al Jennings by telephone or e-mail:

 

(630) 858-1461           awjennings@sbcglobal.net

 

FINALLY …

 

We truly hope that all of you will attend this reunion. We know it will be a fun and meaningful event that will bring back memories, renew friendships, and reassure all of us, that the United States Marine Corps is still in good hands.