Fellow Vets/Association Members,
In mid-October I provided the Initial Notice for 31st Engineer Battalion 2017 Reunion which was a heads-up on our next reunion to be held in Colorado Springs, Colorado, 5-8 October 2017. My main goal then was to give you the opportunity to start your planning early and to give you the information needed to make your reservations at the reunion site, the Hotel Elegante Conference and Event Center. Some of you have already made your reservations…that is appreciated. Please note in the Invitation details that you must make your room reservations NLT 18 August 2017 in order to obtain the group rate(s).
For your information and planning I’ve included a three-page invitation package which consists of: 1) The Invitation; 2) the Draft Agenda; and 3) Additional Information supplementary to the Invitation and the Agenda. Soon I will be contacting some of you, unless you volunteer first, to help plan/coordinate/perhaps oversee any of the following: Registration, Hospitality Room operation, the proposed Friday evening Dinner Group outing, the Banquet, etc. Charles Bruckerhoff will again be doing Group Photos. The Agenda is a draft, so please study it carefully. If you have any suggestions, ideas to improve our reunion, or any questions, let me know.
In mid-October I had several Mail Delivery Failures and have deleted the following from this group send: Don Fleming, Greg Jennings, Lee Pelton, William Stockinger, Marty Salmonson, Charles “Wes” Slaughter, Maynard D. Copeland, and Alvin D. Spiker. If anybody knows anyone listed, please help get them back in the loop for our reunion and communications. Also, we have a battalion roster (also broken down by company) of our people who did not/may not have email. The following group will be reaching out to find/contact them: HHC- myself; A Co-Don Rusbult & Bob Mackey; B Co-Stephen Johnson & Cam McConnell; C Co-Fred Webb; D Co-Tony Janairo & Chuck Moseley. Email addresses for these contact persons can be found at the To: listing for this email.
For your information, it is sad to report the following losses since our 2015 reunion: HHC-John Frye, Maint. Warrant, HHC Maurice Modisette, George Ingram, and Linda Willis (wife of Ed Willis); C Co-Rich Hopkins, Dave Young, Doyle Dietsch, and Robert Solvedt; and D Co-Al “Sarge” Sandlin. Pray for the repose of their souls and may they RIP.
We will keep you posted on matters of importance between now and our reunion. Also, be aware that our website 31stengineerbattalion.com is available for viewing, getting updates on the reunion, seeing photos, and posting. June Robbins, our Webmaster, is doing a commendable job. We appreciate her.
A Christmas Blessing to all. Let us give thanks for the gift of family, love, and our continued friendship within the 31st. Wishing you good health and looking forward to seeing you in Colorado.
Sincerely,
Leonel (Leo) Farias
Association Director