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REUNION !
We'll be gathering in Washington, DC to celebrate the 56th anniversary of our
receiving those shiny silver wings.
The
reunion proper takes place from Friday, September 26 through Sunday, September
28. To take full advantage of the
planned activities, you should plan to spend four nights: check in on the
afternoon or evening of Thursday, September 25 and check out Monday morning,
September 29.
For an even better experience, come early—before the reunion begins—or stay on
for a few days afterwards. You may never
again have a better opportunity to see the museums, monuments and memorials that
make Washington such a fabulous tourist destination.
Reunion Headquarters
Our reunion will be centered at the Sheraton National, a 16-story hotel located
at 900 S. Orme Street in Arlington, Virginia.
It is close to Washington National (recently renamed the Ronald Reagan)
Airport, and but a short cab ride to downtown Washington.
The hotel contains over 400 rooms, a large indoor swimming pool and a
fully-equipped fitness center for the physically ambitious.
Car parking underneath the hotel is complimentary for day guests of the
hotel; for overnight guests the usual $16 rate will be
discounted to $8.00 a day. Our
hospitality suite
will be on the ground floor of the hotel, just off the lobby.
It will be open much of the time during the reunion; opening and closing
times will be shown in the reunion schedule.
High-speed Internet access is available throughout the hotel.
Hotel Reservations
The
hotel room rate is just $99.00 a night (plus the inevitable tax) for either
single or double occupancy. For
triple occupancy the rate is $129; for four in a room, $149.
The same room rates apply for up to three nights before 9/25 and after
9/28, subject to availability.
To take advantage of these discounted rates, we
strongly encourage you to make your
reservation early! Here’s how:
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Call the hotel directly at (703) 521-1900 between 0900 and 1600 Eastern
time on weekdays. Ask for Denise
Hodge at in-house
reservations and request the “USAF Pilot Training Class 52” reunion rate.
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Alternatively, telephone Sheraton’s central reservation system toll-free at
(888) 627-8210, mention the Sheraton National and ask for the “USAF Pilot
Training Class 52” reunion rate.
You may cancel your reservation at any time up until 48 hours before arrival,
without penalty.
You may also request specific room types
(e.g., handicap-accessible rooms) when you call to make your reservation.
Hotel check-in time is 1500 (3:00 p.m.).
Do not count on getting into your room before then!
You will need to make a deposit or give a credit card number to guarantee
your reservation. The hotel is
holding a block of rooms exclusively for our group until
September 3rd or when they sell out, whichever comes first.
So, once again, make your room reservation
early.
To see details about the hotel, two websites may be of interest --
Starwood and
Sheraton National
-- with some overlap of content.
AIRLINES
The easiest way by far to get to the reunion is to fly into Reagan Airport
(DCA). The Sheraton National offers
complimentary van service only from and to that airport.
An airport limousine ride from Dulles Airport to the hotel costs about
$65 for up to seven (7) passengers, or you could rent a car there—but that’s not
recommended.
According to the latest information we have available, the following airlines
operate out of Reagan Airport:
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Air Canada
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Air Canada Jazz
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AirTran
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Alaska Airlines
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American Airlines
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American Eagle
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ATA
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Continental Airlines
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Delta
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Delta Connection
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Frontier
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Midwest Airlines
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Northwest Airlines
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Spirit Airlines
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United Airlines
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U.S. Airways
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U.S. Airways Shuttle
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U.S. Airways Express
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To see a current list of airlines that serve the Ronald Reagan (Washington National) Airport,
click
here. Try clicking on an airline's logo to visit their website. Toll-free telephone numbers are listed for each airline.
To see the schedules for many of the airlines, visit
Expedia,
Travelocity,
or
Orbitz.
DRIVING
Driving to or from the reunion is not for the faint of heart.
Traffic moves at high speed much of the time, except when the streets and
highways become totally congested—which is often.
Road signs are sometimes missing and often misleading; a GPS navigator
may help, but don’t count on it!
When and if you find the hotel (see driving directions below) there should be
ample parking. A large lot across
the street from the front of the hotel offers complimentary RV parking on a
first-come, first-served basis.
There are no hookups, however, nor should you plan to live in the RV during the
reunion. RV owners should call ahead
for current information before arriving.
The hotel offers the following directions for guests arriving by road:
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From the North: Take I-395 South to Exit 8, Washington Boulevard.
Travel in the far right-hand lane for ¼ mile and take the Columbia
Pike/Navy Annex exit. This will
place you directly across from our hotel.
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From the South: Take I-95
North to I-395 and take Exit 8A—Washington Boulevard.
Travel in the far right-hand lane for ¼ mile and take the Columbia
Pike/Navy Annex exit. This will
place you directly across from our hotel.
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From the East: Take I-95
South to I-495 West to George Washington Parkway.
Follow the Parkway for 8 miles to I-395 South/Route 27 (Lyndon B.
Johnson) exit. Stay right at the
fork and take the exit for Route 244 West (Columbia Pike/Navy Annex).
The hotel is on the right.
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From the West: Take I-66
East to Route 110/Pentagon Boulevard.
Stay in the right lane and take the Washington Boulevard exit to the
Columbia Pike/Navy Annex. Our
hotel will be directly in front of you.
There are usually several taxis parked at the hotel cab stand for the use of
guests. The hotel personnel can call one
for you if the cab stand is empty.
Reunion Registration
There is a flat fee of $50 for each registrant—including yourself,
your spouse or other guest—and specific charges for various tours and
reunion events. The $50 registration
fee helps to meet the cost of the Friday night reception and Sunday morning
breakfast, as well as the routine reunion expenses borne by your Association.
You may either send one of the copies of the Reunion Registration form that were
mailed to you, or print
this form
and fill it in.
Keep a duplicate for
your own records.
Your check should be made out to Military Reunion Planners, not to Pilot
Class 52-G or –H. Mail the check together
with a copy of the completed form to MRP at P.O. Box 1588, Colleyville, TX
76034.
Note that the registration deadline is August 15th.
After that you may register if space is still available, but there’s a
$10 per person late fee.
REUNION CANCELLATION INSURANCE
Protect yourself from unforeseen expenses caused by sickness,
injury or any other causes that impact your travel plans. This insurance
enables a refund of all of your registration fees, tour and meal money (less $10
per person processing charge) up until three (3) days before the start of your
reunion. If you need to cancel, please call Military Reunion Planners’ office
immediately (817-251-3551) for a cancellation number. If you have not purchased
cancellation insurance all registration fees, tour and meal money become
non-refundable 6 weeks prior to the reunion.
Please refer all questions about registration to MRP at (817) 251-3551 (weekdays
only) or send e-mail to
info@MilitaryReunionPlanners.com
SIGHTSEEING IN THE DC
AREA
DC
Area Attractions and
events and map
(courtesy
of
the
Arlington Convention and Visitors Service)
Sheraton's suggestions.
TOURS AND EVENTS
We’ve arranged a number of tours that we think you’ll enjoy, whether this is
your first visit to our Nation’s Capital or your fiftieth.
Please read the descriptions before completing the Registration Form.
Note that there are two tour options on Saturday and two on Sunday.
If you have had your fill of aviation museums you may find the Hillwood
Museum and Gardens and/or George Washington’s Mount Vernon to be delightful
antidotes. Also note that you’ll need to
make an advance choice of entrée for the Sunday night banquet.
EVENT A:
WASHINGTON , DC SIGHTSEEING 1/2 DAY TOUR
Friday, September 26 (0900-1230)
Board your luxury motor coach at your hotel for a very special day. You will
begin the day with a visit to the recently unveiled WWII Memorial. America's
newest National Memorial is a lasting tribute to the World War II generation.
You will then have the opportunity to visit some of the other famous memorials
in Washington, including the Air Force. Korean, and Viet Nam Memorials . Later
your professional tour guide will relate interesting anecdotes as you enjoy a
riding "windshield tour" of DC. Some of the sites you will see include the White
House, Capitol Hill, the Pentagon, Watergate, Jefferson Memorial, and the
Washington Monument. Although time does permit visiting all of the attractions,
there will be frequent opportunity to step off the coach to take photos. Be sure
to wear your walking shoes.
Extend your Tour --- Upon completion of the guided tours, you will have your
choice of returning to the hotel or getting off at the Smithsonian's American
History Museum on the National Mall. Many other museums are within a 5-block
radius. Admission to the Smithsonian Museums is free and most of the museums
offer options for lunch on your own. The coach will depart from the American
History Museum at 1530 to return to the hotel.
WELCOME RECEPTION
Friday, September 26 (1800 at the hotel)
Join your friends for a reunion celebration featuring an informal reception at
the hotel. This is a great chance to see who is here this year while enjoying
light hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar. Don't miss this opportunity to catch up
after your first day's outing. There are no other scheduled events for Friday
evening.
Please Select Event B or Event C for Saturday, September 27
EVENT
B:
UDVAR-HAZY AIR & SPACE MUSEUM
Saturday, September 27 (0900-1500)
Udvar-Hazy is the National Air and Space Museum's newest facility, located at
Dulles International Airport. The museum has over 80 aircraft and dozens of
space artifacts on display, including the Lockheed SR-71 'Blackbird', the Boeing
B-29 Superfortress 'Enola Gay', the Space Shuttle Enterprise and the Concorde.
You can walk among the artifacts on the floor and view hanging aircraft from
elevated walkways (skyways). Many engines. rockets, satellites, helicopters,
airliners, ultra-lights, and experimental flying machines are on display for the
first time in a museum setting. This museum is truly awe-inspiring. (Note that
this tour is also available on Sunday.)
OR
EVENT
C.
HILLWOOD MUSEUM & GARDENS
Saturday, September 27 (1000-1500)
Hil!wood Museum and Gardens exhibits the extraordinary legacy of its
founder, Marjorie Merriweather Post (heir of the Post Cereal empire), and
her world-class collections of Imperial Russian and Western European fine
and decorative arts. Encircled by woodlands, this 25-acre estate boasts the
Pleasure Gardens, a site where you will enjoy incredible gardens in a
peaceful and inviting setting. Inside you will see first hand one of the
most extensive collections of Faberge in the United States. The mansions &
the gardens are self-guided, so you can spend your time visiting the areas
that interest you the most. Lunch is on your own at the Café located in the
museum.
EVENT
D: "SHEAR
MADNESS" AT THE KENNEDY CENTER THEATRE
Saturday, September 27 (1900-2300)
Now in its 16th year, this popular comedy "whodunit" is set in a fashionable
part of DC at the "Shear Madness Hair Styling Salon". The salon is the scene of
a wacky murder, and the audience helps to solve the crime. The play is filled
with up-to-the-minute spontaneous humor and plays on current events ~ it's
different every time you see it.
With improvisation and audience participation,
surprises are always just around the corner. Note that this theatre is
located in the famous Kennedy Center complex but is NOT a formal theater —
dress is very casual. There will be an opportunity to explore this famous
landmark on your own and enjoy the spectacular view from the roof. Soft
drinks, beer, wine and light snacks can be purchased at the show. If you
wish to have a full meal please eat before this event.
ASSOCIATION BREAKFAST, MEMORIAL SERVICE & BUSINESS MEETING
Sunday, September 28 (0900 at the hotel)
Our traditional Memorial Service will be held at the hotel, beginning
promptly at 0900. A complimentary buffet breakfast will be served nearby
starting at 0730. Please check the final reunion schedule in your
registration packet for the location of these events. There will be a brief
business meeting following the Memorial Service. This meeting should
be adjourned in ample time for you to join the tours to the Udvar-Hazy Air &
Space Museum or Mount Vernon, both of which will depart at
1030. There is no need to pre-register for the Memorial Service, the
breakfast, or the meeting.
Please Select Event E or Event F for Sunday, September 28
EVENT
E:
UDVAR-HAZY AIR & SPACE MUSEUM
Sunday, September 28 (1030-1530)
Udvar-Hazy is the National Air and Space Museum's newest facility, located
at Dulles International Airport. The museum has over 80 aircraft and dozens
of space artifacts on display, including the Lockheed SR-71 'Blackbird', the
Boeing B-29 Superfortress 'Enola Gay', the Space Shuttle Enterprise and the
Concorde. You can walk among the artifacts on the floor and view hanging
aircraft from elevated walkways (skyways). Many engines, rockets,
satellites, helicopters, airliners, ultra-lights, and experimental flying
machines are on display for the first time in a museum setting. This museum
is truly awe-inspiring. (Note that this tour is also available on Saturday.)
OR
EVENT
F:
HISTORIC MOUNT VERNON TOUR
Sunday, September 28 (1030-1530)
You will make a pilgrimage to the home of America's greatest founding father,
George Washington. Mount Vernon was the beloved home of George and Martha
Washington from the time of their marriage in 1759 until General Washington's
death in 1799. He worked tirelessly to expand his plantation from 2,000 acres to
8,000 and the mansion house from six rooms to twenty-one. Mount Vernon is the
most popular estate in America. You will have ample time to visit the Mansion
house, and more than a dozen outbuildings including the slave quarters, kitchen,
stables and greenhouse. Don't miss the Ford Orientation Center and the new
Donald W. Reynolds Museum. There are many options for lunch on your own at Mount
Vernon, and there some unique shops located on the estate.
RECEPTION & BANQUET
Sunday, September 28 (1800 at the hotel)
Join your classmates this evening for the final event of the reunion, a
reception with cash bar and hors d'oeuvres beginning at 6:00pm followed by a
Gala Banquet at 7:00pm. A special after-dinner musical treat is planned.
Please make your entré selection (beef or chicken) on your reservation form.
Notes:
- Tours may be cancelled if a minimum of 30 people per bus is not met. In
this case, full refunds will be given.
- Please understand that a certain amount of walking is necessary from the
bus to attractions and in some instances also to see the attractions. Please
consider your abilities before purchasing tours.
- All tour times are subject to change. A final itinerary will be given to
you at registration.
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