Here is some reunion information just received from Judy Zurlis.
Harlan

To:       345th Bomb Group Reunion Attendees
From:   The Host Committee
Date:    August 19, 2010
REF:    Reunion Updates

We’re down to counting DAYS, not months until the 345th Bomb Group XXIII Reunion Convenes at the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine, TX September 2 – 6, 2010. Phone: 1-817-778-1000.

I.
You will find the Registration Table in the Hospitality Room (aka Presidential Suite), room 8097, yes, the 8th floor.  For ease in locating your destination the hotel is divided into 3 sections of rooms.  We are in the Hill Country section of the hotel above the Main Entrance, Registration Lobby.  After registering continue to the right (away from the main entrance) to the elevators.  Zip up to the 8th floor; turn right when you exit the elevator (going back toward the middle of the hotel).  Room 8097 is on the Atrium side of the hall.

II.
Many have indicated on the Registration Form interest in touring the Cowboy Stadium (an ‘extra’).  Due to the TCU vs. Oregon State University football game on Saturday, the tour will be on Friday, Sept. 3rd.  We will leave the hotel at 1:00 P.M. for a 2:00 P.M. tour.  As you were notified earlier the tour rates have increased substantially to $20.00 per person for a tour group of 20 minimum.  At this date we only have 15 registered for this tour.  You have options:
    1.     Forget the group tour and pay $27.50 per person for the ‘individual tour’ of 15.
    2.     Share the $100.00 the other 5 tour members would have paid.  Divide $100. by 15 (presently signed up for the tour) = about $6.70 each. = $26.70 each.
    3.     Cancel the tour, get a refund for what you have paid, and do something else Friday afternoon if you do not want to visit in the Hospitality Room.

III.
We have a few that are interested in attending the TCU vs. Oregon State University football game Saturday night.  Paul Van Valkenburg, 501st VP, first voiced interest in the game.  He has a cohort, Marc Stevens, 499th, for this event.  I suggested Marc check out this website:  http://www.stubhub.com/tcu-football-tickets/tcu-vs-oregon-state-9-4-2010-946864/

Tickets for the TCU vs. Orgeon State U. game look promising.  Please contact Marc if you are interested.
Marc Stevens has been researching this event.  Here is his response:

I researched some other ticket sale websites: ticketliquidator,etc:  Most of the ticket under $100.00 are in the upper 400-series sections, with a few low ($125) tickets in some of the 200-series sections around the end zones with a few in groups of up to 4 in a section, but a lot of single tickets all over.  I don't have access to a recent STRAFER edition, so I have no contact with Paul Van Vaulkenburg.  Guess if a group of us want to go to the game, we need to have some coordination to get tickets together.  I plan to drive up for the reunion, so transportation to the game wouldn't be a problem if others also drive to the reunion.

If anyone (well, we may have to reconsider any Redskin fans  going since contaminating the stadium is a great possibility!) is interested contact Marc Stevens – marcstvns@yahoo.com or 325-651-5895 or on his cell 580-471-2392.

Marc Stevens has a new cell phone number as of yesterday --- 325-450-5966. Same email address:  marcstvns@yahoo.com

Paul Van Vaulkenburg – 607-842-6356; van@corland.edu

IV
In case you get lost, etc. we have cell phones!
Carol Hillman – 214-499-6884
Judy Zurlis – 972-658-2577

If we don’t answer, try again or call the hotel – 1-817-778-1000 - and ask for room 8097.  They will connect you to the Hospitality Suite.

V.
Remember.  The Greet the Troops tour is dependent upon the plane arriving at DFW Saturday morning.  We will know Friday night if and when it will arrive Saturday.  If, perhaps, it is cancelled we will tour the Cavanaugh Flight Museum at Addison Airport.

VI.
Driving to the Gaylord Texan?  The hotel is beneath the DFW flight path just east of Grapevine, TX.  Don’t get lost!  Bass Pro Drive is the secret to getting you there!

Highway 635 West from North Dallas
Exit 121 N/Bass Pro Drive (#36B). Keep right at the fork in the ramp. Turn left onto Bass Pro. Turn left on to Hwy 26, go thru next light (Fairway Drive) -- go approximately .3 mile to the next light, turn right into the hotel entrance on Gaylord Trail.

Highway 121 South from McKinney (US 75) and Lewisville
Exit Grapevine Mills Blvd. stay straight to get onto 26W. Go through light at Bass Pro. Go thru next light at Fairway Drive, go approximately .3 mile to next light, turn right into the hotel entrance on Gaylord Trail.

Highway 183 toward DFW Airport from Fort Worth
In Bedford, take 121 North to Grapevine. 121 North merges with 114 East in Grapevine going towards DFW Airport, take the 635 121 North exit, stay on 121, exit Bass Pro, turn left at ramp's stop light onto Bass Pro, crossover highway, continuing straight. Go thru light at Big Buck Drive, next light dead ends into Hwy 26, turn left. Turn right at second light, into the hotel entrance on Gaylord Trail.

Highway 114 toward DFW Airport from Fort Worth
In Grapevine, take the 635 121 North exit, stay on 121, exit Bass Pro, turn left at ramp's stop light onto Bass Pro, crossover highway, continuing straight. Go thru light at Big Buck Drive, next light dead ends into Hwy 26, turn left. Turn right at second light, into the hotel entrance on Gaylord Trail.

We look forward to renewing old friendships and making many new ones.  See you at the Gaylord!

Judy Zurlis and Carol Hillman

This is just in from Judy Zurlis for your information!
Harlan

I spoke with the Gaylord Texan yesterday and they have extended the deadline for the 345th members to book their rooms at the $99.00 special.  After that they rate will be $249.00 per night.

345th XXIII REUNION NEWS FLASH!

IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO JOIN YOUR 345th BUDDIES IN TEXAS!

The GAYLORD TEXAN HAS EXTENDED THE DEADLINE

for the 345th members to book their rooms at

THE $99.00 PER NIGHT SPECIAL RATE until WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2010!

GET WITH IT!   IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO JOIN YOUR 345th BUDDIES IN TEXAS!

Make Your Own Hotel Reservations

Headquarters: Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center
1501 Gaylord Trail, Grapevine, TX 76051
Reservations: 1-866-782-7897
Specify Group Code X-BMB10
Group Name: 345th
Room reservations received after the reservation cut off date of August 3, 2010, will be confirmed on a space-available basis at the best available rate at the time you make the reservation.

The Hotel

The hotel is the Gaylord Texan Hotel and Convention Center in Grapevine, TX. Please go to this web site http://www.gaylordhotels.com/gaylord-texan/
to see pictures of the hotel and learn more about it. Normal room rates begin at $309 for our block of rooms. We have secured a rate of $99 per guest room with single or double occupancy plus 12% taxes rather than the normal 18% tax rate. The resort service fee of $15.00 per room per night will be waved. Each additional adult will be $20.00. Rates will apply three (3) days prior to and following the reunion, so come early and stay late.

Parking Issues

Parking is about $15 per day. They will give us 4 free passes each day. We plan on having daily drawings to give these away. There is remote parking for motor homes but no hook-ups.

Airport Shuttle Service

The hotel is literally in the flight path for planes landing at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport. Got a parachute? Hop out! Otherwise, go outside the luggage claim area and catch a Super Shuttle to the hotel. Any Super Shuttle can deliver you to the hotel but the Super Shuttles with the Gaylord Texan logo in the window comes directly to the hotel. A Super Shuttle  picks up every 30 minutes. Cost is $12 per person.

From Dallas Love Field Super Shuttle departs every hour on the hour from outside the baggage claim area. Cost is $18 per person.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Come in early and enjoy the ambience of the Gaylord Texan. Yes, the Hospitality Room will be open daily with open bar and snacks! We will have bartenders manning the Hospitality Room from early in the morning until midnight. Then go to bed; Get some sleep!  Rest up for the rest of the reunion!!!

Friday, September 3, 2010

9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Registration in Hospitality Suite.

Enjoy the open bar and snacks while you visit with old friends. Interesting displays will be in the Hospitality Suite all weekend. Please bring your pictures, books, scrapbooks, and other items to show to all of us.

6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Welcome-To-Texas Buffet & Entertainment

You are in TEXAS!  When we say buffet we mean BUFFET! Join us at the Gazebo for a delightful Fiesta Dinner Buffet that will fill you up, eliminating the need to go out for dinner afterwards. Besides, we’ve planned some wonderful entertainment in the Yellow Rose Ballroom especially to set the mood for the weekend. You don’t want to miss this night.

8:00 PM – Midnight

Hospitality Suite is open!  Y’all come!  Visit with your friends.

Saturday, September 4, 2010

7:00 AM – Midnight

Join us for a light Continental breakfast (until 10 AM).  Registration continues as does swapping tall tales with your 345th buddies.

Meet the Troops at D/FW
Time to be Announced

Currently a plane from Iraq and Afghanistan lands at D/FW Airport at 8 AM bringing troops home for R and R. By next Labor Day the plane landing may be as late as 10 AM. Hundreds of citizens gather in the terminal lobby to greet and cheer these brave soldiers as they walk out of the customs gate into the arms of their families. Many of the troops will be transferring to other planes for the next leg home and will not have family there to greet them. We get to give them hugs! We know you will love being a part of this moving event. Please bring clothing with B-25s or 345th Bomb Group or your Squadron “stuff” to wear. If original hats or flight jackets are still around, wear them. Veterans are placed at the beginning of the welcoming line immediately after the welcoming families. There is always someone making a video of the arrivals then each soldier gets a DVD of their arrival as a keepsake. Usually there is newspaper or TV coverage, which I would expect on the day we greet the troops. One never knows until the night before what time the plane will land and we, too, will have to work with that flexibility. The bus company will work with us on this timing. We are on the official schedule to greet the troops on Saturday.

If, by chance, that Saturday should turn out to be one of those rare days that a plane does not land, we will take a bus trip to one of the numerous museums in this area dedicated to planes and war memorabilia.

If we end up going to a museum, there will be a small entrance fee but we will not know that until late Friday night when we hear that there will be no troops plane landing on Saturday.

Saturday Afternoon

The afternoon is opened for you to take advantage of the many sidebar activities available. Choose the ones that suit your tastes. See the Extras! Extras! Extras! Section below.

Saturday Evening

Squadron Parties and Squadron Business Meetings

There are zillions of great restaurants all around the area and public transportation to get the people there. Each Squadron will be responsible for  their own get-together but we will work with each group to help them find the perfect place. Squadrons will want to hold their short business meetings during their parties.

Sunday, September 5, 2010

7:00 AM – 9:15 AM

Continental Breakfast in the Hospitality Room

9:30 AM – 11:30 PM

General Membership Business Meeting

Election of Officers and selection of the destination for the XXIV reunion. Please let the 345th BG officers know where you want to go for the next reunion. AND, if you would like to host the reunion, speak up!  Don’t be shy!

12:00 PM – 2:00 PM

The TEXAS MYSTERY Luncheon (formerly known as the Ladies Luncheon)

Due to popular demand (since the men didn’t get to see the Paris Fashion Show at the Addison, TX Reunion, 2002), we are extending a cordial invitation to the men to join the ladies for this Texas Mystery Luncheon. Can’t tell you anything else…it’s a MYSTERY!!

12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Hospitality Room Open
Next-to-Last chance to visit with your friends!

5:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Banquet Cocktail Hour with a
cash bar provided.

6:00 PM

Banquet
Keynote speaker to be announced in the March Strafer.
The food for this banquet will be spectacular. The reunion planners have negotiated with the hotel to get the price of the meal cut almost in half. Please indicate the quantity of desired entrees:

After the Banquet – Midnight

Last chance to visit with your friends
 in the Hospitality Room as it will
close for good at midnight.

EXTRAS! EXTRAS! EXTRAS!
What can we do on Saturday????

Restaurants are Everywhere
There are 4-5 restaurants, bars, sports bars, nightclubs all inside the hotel.

Practically every known restaurant chain in the free world is in Grapevine. Very affordable transportation is available to all of the restaurants.

Activities for Adults
The “Big Boy Toy Store”, Bass Pro, is literally just down the street from the Gaylord Texan Hotel. For those who prefer Cabela’s, there is a huge store just 20 minutes away.

Across the street from the Bass Pro is the Grapevine Mills Outlet Mall.

Historic and quaint Main Street in downtown Grapevine is filled with boutiques and specialty shops plus eateries.

Want to play golf? The Dallas Cowboy’s Golf Course is associated with the Gaylord Texas Hotel and is also just around the corner.

Don’t forget to check out the boutiques, wine tasting room, video game room, and other activities available in the hotel.

Activities for the Younger Guests
There is a huge outdoor swimming pool at the hotel for the kids of all ages and another large indoor pool for those who want to avoid the sun. Plus, we are told that by next summer the hotel will have installed their own outdoor water park for their guests. The kids (of all ages) will love playing there. We hope you will bring the second and third generations to the reunion.

Spoiling of the Guests
The most luxurious Spa is waiting to pamper you. A state-of-the-art fitness center is waiting to keep you in shape.

What Else!
Cowboy Stadium, Six Flags Over Texas Entertainment Park and Texas Rangers Ballpark at Arlington are all next door to each other.

We can arrange for tours of Cowboys Stadium for those who are interested. Tours last 1¼ hours and the costs are:
Individual tours – Adult $15.00; Seniors (65+) and Children (5-12) $12.00;
Group tours of 20 or more – Adult $12.00; Seniors (65+) and Children (5-12) $9.00. Children under 5 are free. If 20 or more sign up for the tour, you will receive a $3.00 per person refund

Ticket prices at Six Flags are $49.99 for guests 48”+ tall and $31.00 for guests under 48” tall. Purchase these at the gate.

Costs for tours of The Ballpark are Adults $10, Seniors (62+) $8, Children (4-18) $5. If 25 or more sign up for the tour, you will receive a $2.00 per person refund for adults and seniors and a $1.00 per person refund for children.

Super Shuttle will transport you to Cowboy Stadium, Six flags or The Ballpark for a fee.

There is much to do and see in Dallas-Fort Worth, all the way from the historic Fort Worth Stockyards (and Billy Bob’s legendary honky tonk) to the Kennedy Memorial in Dallas.  Let us know if you would like to see these places.

Renee Armstrong has a desire to compile more video histories of the veterans during the reunion. Please share your time wither for an interview as she continues to do research for her book centered on one of our members.

A Final Word

Our goal for this reunion is to provide the most luxurious atmosphere for this special reunion. We have strived to provide much, much time for the veterans to visit in the Hospitality Room yet intersperse fun events throughout the weekend. We have purposely left off long tours of museums and military bases to allow more time for the veterans and their families to visit with each other and teach the younger generations about what the vets and the 345th BG members did during the war.

Our hope is that you will bring the 2nd and 3rd generations.  There will be much for all ages to do at this reunion.

If we have left off something that you are wanting to do, let us know. We are flexible and will be glad to try to accommodate your request.

Please register early…don’t be a slow poke! Slow Pokes ain’t fun but Cow Pokes are! Come on down to Texas and have a grand time at the 345th Bomb Group Reunion!!

Melvin and Gladys Best, Carol Best Hillman, and Judy Best Zurlis
 

Click here to download the information flyer and/or registration form:   Information Flyer     OR    Registration