Past Reunions

This was our very first reunion and it was absolutely wonderful! There were 37 people present and so much joy in being together again after so many years had passed. There was a lot of sadness also for those who could not be with us. This reunion was a really plain and simple gathering with the Wall of Honor stapled to the side of a cabin, no outside lights, beer in coolers, and no tent. Just people getting to know each other all over again. We were there only three days and two nights but we packed a lot of fun in those days. The weather was great, not too hot and not too cool. For those of us who were there it was the best reunion ever.

There was a larger crowd there for this reunion with 99 people attending. We were saddened by the loss of Ron “Doc” Parlee who died suddenly in April. He will be missed. We had a tent with lights, a beer buffalo, and some actual tables and chairs. All the cooking was done field mess style. This was the first year we had a chaplain, color guard, and a bugler from Albany Logistics Base, MCLB. It did rain on Saturday but quit long enough for the ceremony to be held. It was a very good reunion.

We had such a crowd this year we had to begin using the Layfayette Garden Inn for the overflow. We had around 149+ people present. The tent we had was larger and we had a brass quartet come with the chaplain and color guard from MCLB. The weather did not cooperate at all! The nights were cold, the days were cool, and it rained on Friday and Saturday. It was a great reunion in spite of the weather.

We must have been doing something right as we were booked up at the marina by the end of August 2002. There were at least 246 people present. The tent set-up grew from one large tent to a larger tent and two small ones. This was also the first year we had a raffle. It was a lot of fun and a huge success! There was another first, a professional photographer to take group photos. The folks from MCLB came back again to join us. It did rain Thursday but it was beautiful the rest of the time.

We numbered 241 people this year and we also had more women and children than we've ever had before. We also had a live band, the George Britt Band, from Lowell GA. We had Cpl. Jeremy Thompson, who had just recently returned from Iraq, place the new PUC on the battalion colors during the ceremony. We all had a great time, good weather, with a few light showers. Nothing major.

We had some really, really bad weather! Friday it poured rain from after lunch until well into the afternoon. It did clear up for Saturday as it always seems to do, and everything went off without a hitch. There were 240 in attendance this year and we were happy to see them all. We had found out right before the reunion began that the marina had been sold to a couple from the midwest. We had a brand new Wall of Honor that was made by Valerie Steele. A new chaplain also, Anthony Headrick, came from MCLB with the other folks from there.

The weather was almost as beautiful as it was in 2000. Some wonderful days at this reunion. We had 289 people in attendance and we had some extra people attend the ceremony on Saturday. There were some changes made this year. We had a better place to put the tent set-up and we moved the Wall of Honor to the old tent site. The Wall is more visible now and looks so nice, especially at night with the torches lit. We lost five of our people this year due to various illnesses. They will certainly be missed. The George Britt band returned and so did Chaplain Headrick and the marines from MCLB.

The marina is still undergoing a lot of changes as it becomes more of a family type place rather than a place for fishermen to crash at. The weather was absolutely lovely with no rain and not too hot or too cool. There have been four pavilions for people to gather under. Chaplain Headrick returned and brought the young marines from MCLB. It seems that this will be his last visit with us as he is transferring to California. Sgt. Maj. Glen Wright has been very sick and was unable to be with us this year but the George Britt band was back.

This reunion was a great success! It was the last one at Highland Marina as we will be moving elsewhere. We had rain this year, especially on Thursday! It rained all day long and we know some people took home some of our GA red clay on their shoes and clothing. It will never come off and is a great GA “souvenir”! No rain on Saturday though. The new chaplain is Chaplain Ranard. He came up from Albany with the rest of the young marines along with Sgt. Maj. Kennedy and Col. Haliday. George was back again also. He does an excellent job with our music.

This reunion was held at Hickory Knob State Park in SC right off the Savannah River. It was nice to have a restaurant on the premises that was equipped to serve everyone so we didn't have to cook outside. We didn't have to fool with the tent set-up either because they have several large meeting rooms and a large common (great) room. People enjoyed using the pool, golf course, putting green, and hiking trails. I know at least one person brought a boat. We placed the overflow in the Cullars Inn in Lincolnton, GA and the Savannah Lakes Resort in McCormick, SC. We had the first ever golf tournament, organized by George Blankenship. George also designed the trophy. Whoever wins it has to bring it back next year for another winner. There was a KIA walk put together by Karen Ford. This allowed us to walk to honor a fallen brother's name. George Britt sang for us on Friday night and for the Recognition Ceremony on Saturday. The ceremony was held at 4 pm instead of 3 pm as it has always been. We had some shade and that was good. We had the Lincoln County High School Band to play and the color guard came from the Marine Corps Reserve Center in Greenville. SC. All in all, a very good reunion and a wonderful time.