This is an update to the PWG reunion announcement that Bubba Armintrout forwarded to his master PWG member list on 03 March 2008. This page was last updated on Wednesday, 05 March 2008.
Make your plans now to attend our next Prop Wash Gang reunion in Maryland during the period 30 August through 2 September 2008 -- (check out of hotel on 3 Sept 2008). Details follow.
Background
The PWG is holding its 2008 reunion in conjunction with a special rededication ceremony for our C-130 60528 Aerial Recon Memorial in National Vigilance Park at NSA HQ, Fort Meade, MD. The AF 70th Intel Wing (Fort Meade) will conduct the rededication service on 2 Sept 2008 - the 50th anniversary of the 60528 shootdown by Soviet MiGs. Many PWG old-timers lost a friend aboard 60528, and PWG reunion attendees will have the privilege of sitting together in NVP bleachers during the rededication ceremony. Join us for this special tribute to our departed Silent Warrior brothers on 2 September--time of the ceremony will be announced later.
PWG Reunion Headquarters
Our Reunion Headquarters/Hospitality Suite will be in the Holiday Inn at BWI Airport:
Holiday Inn, BWI Airport Conference Center, 890 Elkridge Landing Road, Linthicum Heights, MD 21090 - Telephone (410) 859-8400 Fax (410) 859-8060
Holiday Inn/BWI is located directly adjacent to BWI Airport-about 11 miles north of NSA HQ/Ft Meade. Check out the hotel's website for driving directions, hotel amenities, etc.
Room Rates
With 260 guest sleeping rooms, the Holiday Inn/BWI offers free 24-hour airport shuttle, free parking at the hotel and 24-hour complimentary business and fitness centers. The reduced room rate for reunion attendees is $114.00 plus tax (currently 13%) per night - a significant reduction from standard room tariff in this area. Check-in time is 03:00pm and check-out is 12:00pm. The hotel is extending the special $114.00 rate one day prior to major check-in and one day following major check-out - i..e., you can reserve a room @ $114.00 rate from 29 Aug to 4 Sept 2008. The cut-off date for booking a room at the reduced rate is 3:00pm on 30 July 2008. Booking after this date will be on a space and rate available basis.
How to reserve your room
To reserve a room at the $114 rate, call (410) 859-8400 and use booking code PWG. You will be required to guarantee your reservation with one night's pre-paid room and tax or with a major credit card. (If you guarantee with a credit card, your card will not be charged until you check in. You can cancel your room reservation with no charges made to your credit card if you cancel before 0600pm on check-in date).
The hotel is comprised of kings (one bedded rooms), doubles (two bedded rooms) and/or queens (one or two bedded rooms); Smoking and Non Smoking. Rooms are reserved based on availability; if requested type room is not available, the next comparable room type will be reserved at same $114 rate. Book your reservation early to obtain desired room type.
NOTE: You can also use a toll-free number-(800) 315-2621-to make your reservation, but I advise against that approach. You will be connected to an automated voice system that may drive you crazy before you are finally able to talk to an International Reservation Clerk, who will eventually complete your reservation transaction. Trust me, it is not worth it!
You can also reserve your room by going to the reservation website: BWI Holiday Inn
Again, online reservations at a generic hotel reservation website can be confusing trying to obtain your PWG discount rate as you maneuver through a maze of options. Much easier to call (410) 859-8400 and make the reservation with the desk clerk at the Holiday Inn/BWI.
Refrigerators for Guest Rooms: I recently learned that the Holiday Inn/BWI does not include refrigerators in its guest rooms, but it has a limited supply of mini-fridges that it rents to guests who request them. The normal rental fee is $10.00 per night for a fridge, but I negotiated a flat rate fee of $10.00 for the entire 4-night stay for PWG members.
Rental of a fridge is handled separately from making your room reservation. After reserving your room, if you want a fridge in the room, contact Jennifer Dabel (Sales Assistant) directly @ 410-694-6020 to request a refrigerator at the special rate.
PWG Reunion Attendance List
Lonnie Henderson has volunteered to maintain a list of PWG members who will be attending this year's PWG reunion. To assist with reunion planning, if you will be attending the reunion, please inform Lonnie in an email providing your NAME (and spouse's name), ARR/DEP dates, HOME PHONE, CELL PHONE and relevant COMMENTS. In turn, Lonnie will provide the gang an updated list of planned attendees aperiodically.
PWG Reunion Banquet
The PWG will hold its banquet dinner catered by the Holiday Inn/BWI in one of its meeting rooms on Sunday night, 31 August 2008. Dress for the banquet (and other PWG reunion activities) is casual.
The hotel will serve an American dinner buffet for our banquet in the Chesapeake - Annapolis Room (next door to our hospitality suite in the Earhart Sheppard Room) from 6:00pm to 10:00pm. There will be an open cash bar from 6:00pm to 8:00pm in the banquet room and the buffet serving line will open at 7:00pm.
The two entrees on the buffet are pork loin and chicken, served with salads, relish tray, potatoes, vegetables, rolls, coffee and tea. For dessert, there will be a selection of pies and carrot cake.
Banquet & Miscellaneous Reunion Costs
A $40 fee is being charged to all reunion attendees to pay for banquet meals, a hotel bartender serving at the open cash bar during the banquet, a $100 county liquor license for our hospitality suite, banquet dinner for our guest speaker, etc. Jon & Shelia Gwinn have volunteered to be our PWG Banquet Managers - collecting monies from reunion attendees and interfacing with the hotel's banquet manager. Make your checks payable to Jon Gwinn for the appropriate amount ($40 x number of attendees) and write "PWG" on the memo line of the check. Mail your checks before 10 July 2008 to:
Jon Gwinn
355 Chaptico South
Laurel, MD 20724-2417
If you include your email address with your check, Jon will acknowledge receipt of your check via email.
Hospitality Suite
The hotel is providing a complimentary meeting room (Earhart Sheppard Room) for our Reunion Hospitality Suite. The PWG has authorization to provide its own alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and pre-packaged snacks (chips and dip, nuts, pretzels, etc.-but no deli-trays of food) in the hospitality suite. The PWG must provide its own ice chests/portable coolers, but can obtain ice from hotel ice machines. To satisfy liquor license requirements, the PWG "must provide the hotel with a one day (one event) liquor license from Anne Arundel County 14 business days prior to the event."
Ancillary Events/Things to do in the MD/DC areas
A plethora of attractions (historic and scenic points of interest, guided tours, special events, etc.) are within close proximity of the Holiday Inn/BWI. We have a volunteer to oversee special events. Additional details will be forthcoming.
Reunion Coordinator
Larry Tart is the PWG's point of contact with the Holiday Inn/BWI Group Sales Manager and has volunteered to serves as the reunion coordinator for our upcoming event. You can contact me directly as follows:
(snowbird address & phone until mid-March 2008)
2936 Scenic Gulf Dr., Condo # 206
Miramar Beach FL 32550
850 837-4597
(home address--use after mid March 2008)
562 Brittany Drive
State College PA 16803
814 238-7067
email: LarryTart@AOL.com
The basic reunion contract and the banquet event order have been signed.
Direct all reunion related queries to Larry Tart.