Features that are provided by the Inn include:

Complementary passes to the YMCA, across the street

Member privileges to the Middletown Tennis Club

Internet access to all rooms

Enterprise Rental Car on site

In room coffee makers

Well lit rooms with work space

Room Service

Complimentary USA Today newspaper in the lobby

24 hour guest service through the front desk

Be sure to mention when booking that you re going to the 'Alpha Association Reunion' in order to receive the special rates and assure availability. Many members will be arriving early on Thursday so if you can, get there early and stay late. The official reunion will begin on Friday afternoon as attendees will be trickling into our function room. Our first meal will be served at 6PM.

What are the fees we are asking from the attendees?

In the interest of allowing as many of our members as possible, we've maintained the traditional $75. per veteran and spouse or significant other. Because of the higher costs associated with this reunion we are asking that additional family members who wish to attend contribute $50. per person. We think these are fair and reasonable rates to assure that sufficient funds are collected to pay all their costs relative to the reunion. The costs include the function room and meal costs. Meals will include breakfasts on Saturday/ Sunday, dinners Friday and Saturday. At times of publishing this sheet, meals were not finalized, but rest assured that the offerings will be plentiful and delicious.

In compliance to our charter, no one gets left behind due to inability to pay the reunion fees. Just let us know if you would like to go and cannot afford the fee and we will all chip in and assure that you will be there. Consider it payback for sharing your canteen with us back then. In addition, a limited number of rooms were offered by local members for those who don't have the funds to pay for hotel room. Contact me with your requirements and we'll get you set up.

If you haven't paid your annual dues for the year, you may do so with your fee for the reunion, if this is convenient, at time of registration.      

Who will be there?

In addition to the many men who have attended earlier reunions over the last 6 years, we're expecting new attendees from the Midwest area who somehow couldn't get to last year's get together. We're hoping word of mouth by last year's new arrivals will encourage them to join us this year.

We'll be seeing two men who will be traveling a long way to be with us this year. David Mendez and Asfred Maldanado will be arriving from Puerto Rico. You can read a bit about them in this newsletter. Great guys and we're looking forward to seeing them both fro the first time in 40 years.   

This year we are honored to have with us Mike Christenson of Hot Springs, Arkansas. Mike was A/2/12's Company Commander from June through September, 1968. Perhaps we can have him give us an update on the Company's history from his time in our Unit.  

As is customary, I will be posting a listing daily showing who will be attending. You can access this list along with web links to nearby attractions off of our website, WWW.ALPHAASSOCIATION.ORG. 

What's the agenda for the weekend?

Golf comes first; tee times have been set up for Thursday, June 1st at Weatherwax Golf Course for early arrivals. The first tee time is 11:30AM-11:54AM

Friday morning will once again feature the annual golf tournament, The Greater Ivy Open. Tee times for this challenge are 9:30AM -10:02AM.

Golfers will meet in the lobby at the Manchester Inn 1 hour before the scheduled tee times.

Contact Ernie Jarvis to register for the tournament and to receive specific details:

Ernest Jarvis,    5330 Burgundy Pl, Fairfield, OH    45014 

Telephone: 513-829-6709        E-mail: ejarvis@yahoo.com

Reunion attendees will be arriving and registering Friday afternoon. To prevent the confusion of last year's reunion I will be posting a schedule and hand them out upon your arrival so that you won't miss any of the events that are planned.

After breakfast Saturday morning we will be visiting the Veterans' Memorial that we traveled to last year. We plan on using the same mode of travel as last year, if the Unit that supplied the deuce and a half is not deployed. The Association has purchased a Memorial Block in honor of the men of A/2/12 and their fallen comrades, and this should be in place for that day.  Upon returning back to the hotel we will be served lunch. That will be followed by the Ceremonial segment of our weekend. Our Master of Ceremonies will be Allyn J. Palmer, Commander, A/2/12, 1966-67. He's done such a masterful job in the past that the Board Members have asked him to be permanent MC and Jon graciously accepted. After a tribute to our Honor Roll Members and some additional acknowledgments of Unit brothers, past and present, we will be honored to hear short addresses from some of the attendees. Anyone who has a thought to share with the attendees is invited to participate. Saturday dinner is served after this ceremony followed by the annual reunion photo. Saturday early evening hours will be left open for socializing until 9PM. For those who are so inclined, they can participate in our Great Nostalgia Show (or How come I remember Howdy Doody but not what I had for breakfast Show) being emceed by our very own Bob Livingston. We ran out of time last year but it’s a go for this year. Money prizes will be awarded, so if you have good recall, you may want to go.

Sunday morning the attendees will share a breakfast together and begin saying their final goodbyes for the weekend. It's a sad time for most of us, but a rewarding period as we are once more allowed the opportunity to renew old friendships and in some cases forge new ones. By noon time, everyone is on their way back home after sharing a memorable weekend with the men and ladies of Alpha Association.

What attractions are  in the area?

We realize that some of the attendees will be traveling long distances to arrive in Middletown and it would be nice to take advantage of the attractions in the area. We're fortunate in having a number of great sites to visit in the Middletown area. 

Here are a few attractions in the area of the reunion. For the ladies in particular, there are two flea markets that are about five miles from the Manchester. Lebanon and Waynesville are towns with a lot of antique shops that are only about 20 miles away.   Kings Islands will be open at that time if there are any young people coming who like amusement rides.

Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is in nearby Dayton. The US Air Force Museum is located at the base and open to the public. Many of last year's attendees spent Friday at this museum and were impressed by its offerings.

 The United States Air Force Museum cares for over 42,000 objects, and has on loan 19,000 others to 400 museums worldwide. Millions of historical documents and photographs preserve U.S. Air Force history for the future. More than 440,000 square feet of exhibits tell the US Air Force story from 1907 through today's technological wonders. In 1997, more than one million people from around the world visited the Museum complex.

Cincinnati offers its visitors a fine selection of attractions which is certain to appeal to a multitude of tastes. Here are some of the noteworthy must see sites in the city:

The Cincinnati Museum Center features the OmniMax Theatre, Cincinnati History Museum, Museum of Natural History and Science, the Union Terminal Museum and the Children's Cinergy Museum.

The world famous Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens is rated the #1 attraction in Cincinnati and one of the top five zoos in the nation by Zagat Survey. It has also been recognized by Child Magazine as one of "The 10 Best Zoos for Kids." Over 1.2 million people visit the Zoo's award-winning exhibits, and more than 500 animal and 3,000 plant species annually.

Just outside of Cincinnati, in nearby Newport, Kentucky is located the Newport Aquarium. This is how there website promotes their facility:

 A state-of-the art facility, the Newport Aquarium brings to the banks of the Ohio River some of the world's most advanced, creative technology -- not to mention amazing animals -- all designed to take you around the globe, visiting each continent, every ocean and hundreds of waterways in between.

And what a way to travel: Underwater tunnels. See-through floors. Walk-around exhibits. And a touch pool. No one before has combined, with such mesmerizing flare, the magic of entertainment and the power of education.

Chris and I went to every one of these attractions last year and were amazed by the sites. Don't miss them.

Here is a list of Internet links to some of the attractions in the area of the reunion: 

Cincinnati Museum Center:  http://www.cincymuseum.org/

Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens: http://www.cincyzoo.org/ 

Kings Island Amusement Park:  http://www.pki.com/ 

Wright Patterson Air Force Museum:  http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/index.htm 

Newport Aquarium:  http://www.newportaquarium.com/

What should I do first?

You'll note with this package you will have received two cards relative to this year's reunion. One is a postcard addressed to me that will officially register your intention of attending this year. In addition there is another card and envelope addressed to Peter Filous, our Treasurer. On the card specify the number attending and include a check made out to ALPHA ASSOCIATION to cover the fees as spelled out in the card. Mail the payment using the provided addressed envelope. You're in. See ya in Ohio!

How DO I GET TO THE REUNION SITE?