53 Officers and Wives who served with the 2nd Battalion, 28th Field Artillery Battalion, Anbach , Germany, attended a Reunion, Nov 9-11, 2007, Columbia, Maryland, and Washington DC.
Click on "comments" below to see what some of the attendees thought about the gathering... also scroll through the pictures and make comments. Don't miss reading the Bio and Short Stories document and seeing the wonderful video which was professionally done by Rick Kupferer.
Where we stayed: The Sheraton Columbia Hotel, Maryland, overlooking the lake!
Saturday's Washington D.C. Tour
Sunday Brunch The Cheesecake Factory
Please upload your photos to Flickr at 2/28FA Group!
13 comments:
Fellow 2/28 FA Redlegs:
I just want to express my THANKS for a superbly planned and executed REUNION. It could not have been better! THANKS BILL, JIM, DON, SCOTT, KARON and everyone else who had a roll in making this FIRST CLASS event happen! I've set up a FLICKER Group where you can upload your pictures and see fun we had...
http://www.flickr.com/groups/2-28fa/
I hope you will take the time to browse and comment on the pictures.... also, you are welcome to assist in labeling the photos. PLEASE UPLOAD YOUR DIGITAL PHOTOS to the Group! I recommend downloading the "Flicker Uploader" which makes the process painless!
Again, thanks to Bill Savage and Jim Christner for providing the inspiration, leadership, and motivation that resulted in the reunion. And, thanks Jim and Debby for sharing your warm home! The food, drinks and fellowship could not be beat!
It was great seeing everyone after all these years... when is the next reunion?! GERMANY!!!???
Warm regards.
D.I. Smith
www.dismith.com
GREAT WEEKEND guys...
can't wait for the European version.
DD
I echo Don's comments. It was great seeing everyone and "catching up".
Doesn't seem like 30 years does it? I was genuinely impressed with how well everyone is doing.
I am confident our leader, Mr. Savage, will work out the details for the next event and keep us all informed. He told me, in private, he was thinking of renting a section of a crusie liner or some exotic vacation spa for all of us. I don't think he should go to that expense, however, it does show his committment to the group and says volumes to what kind of guy he is......
Bill, you continue to do "One heck of a job" and we all appreciate your herculean efforts. Your service and sacrifice to the group has not gone unnoticed. Keep up the good work as you continue to serve with pride and distinction.
Jim
I just wanted to confirm the thoughts that DI, Don, Jim and Pat have already expressed. It was so great to see everyone again, and to finally put faces to names/stories of people I had heard about over the years. My only regret is that we couldn't get everyone there - well, almost everyone. The people and my experiences from 2/28 are very special to me. Let's not wait 25 years to do this again
Thanks to Bill, Jim D, Rich, Jim C, and Karon for organizing and hosting the event
Lou
Yea...What he said! Seriously, thank you all for a GREAT weekend. Thanks to all who made it happen!
Jeff Myers
It was really fun. The only problem was finding enough time to talk with everyone that we wanted to. I guess that means we need another one.
Rick and Jo Randolph
Thanks to everyone again that had anything to do with setting this outstanding event up. I would also like to thank all those that took the time to attend. Most of you know Linda and I used this time to continue working with our adoptive son. I want to personally thank Jeff for his encouraging comment to our son. Jeff told Brad how good the picture he took was Sunday morning of the group and that a professional could not have done a better job. Sometimes small things we say and do have a big impact. Linda and I have been looking for an excuse to visit Germany again. Bill I hope that option works out! Thanks again for a wonderful reunion!
Linda and I were also so glad that we attended the
reunion. It was good to see the folks that attended an
catch up on what folks have been up too. We hope that
this will not be the last time that we do this. I know
Ansbach was mentioned as a possible site for the next
reunion but for Linda and I, the people are more
important than the place. So wherever we meet, we look
forward to it.
Pat and Linda
Both Sarah and I agree that the reunion was a great success. Really nice seeing old friends and meeting with other former members of the 2/2th FA BN.
Bill, Thanks for all your hard work and the other members of the committee.
Sarah and Pat Patty
EVERYONE: I HAVE TO DIDO THE COMMENT BY RICK. IT WAS GREAT SEEING EVERYONE. MY WIFE AND I HAD A GREAT TIME. I WISH WE COULD HAVE SPENT MORE TIME WITH EVERYONE. JUST I JEFF SAID.. YOU ALL ARE A GREAT BUNCH OF GUYS AND WE MIGHT KEPT THE TREND GOING NOW.
KARON
Friends,
Debbie and I were so pleased to see all of our 2-28 family that attended the reunion. Great job to the organizers -- Bill, Don, Karon, Jim C., Jim D., Rich, etc for all the great thought and planning that went into the event.
The friendships were forged in a crucible of high stress and concern for each other. From my prospective it was truely rewarding to see all the young officers that matured and contributed to the Army and the civilian community in mighty ways. I am proud to have served with a group of officers that to the last man I can call friend. Ladies present and past of the 2-28 FA you also served and were often taken for granted, but we do appreciate your help, guidance, and love. This reunion was fantastic and I hope it to be only the start of an assembling of 2-28 FA family.
Frank and Debbie
Like everyone else, I am proud to be a "friend of Bill's" and a veteran of the 2/28. I am honored to have been able to participate with all of you and to have served with those of you who were the 2/28th in my time. It was nice to see and meet some faces that went with the names which were legends by the time I arrived on the scene in Ansbach. Thanks to all for your hospitality and friendship.
Rick Swain
Dear 2/28ers,
All the feedback from the reunion in Washington DC was extremely positive. I think everyone had a wonderful time. Diane and I are grateful for all your kind comments sent after we all returned home. I would once again like to express our appreciation to the Christner's for offering their lovely home for Saturday's "Hail and Farewell". Everyone enjoyed the ample and delicious spread of food. There so much to eat, even enough for Karon Price's legendary appetite. Speaking of Karon, he did a great job on the Reunion T-shirts. Rich Kupfefer's posters, DVD's, map, web site and other contributions were greatly appreciated. Rich, the problem is, we now know how talented and resourceful you really are. Thank you Don Davidson for the scheduling of events and your stint as tour guide. We could not have found a professional who could have done a better job. Jim Dubinsky's short stories and biographies from the 2/28th was a real hoot. Great job, Jim. I would also like to thank Jerry Eversmyer for his research and efforts to put together the histories of the 2/28th and Ansbach. Jerry, I thought the family tie in to Ansbach and 2/28th was remarkable. I would also like to thank Dave Mohan for the name tags; Jeff Myers, Pat Patty, Jerry Eversmyer and others for bringing their photo albums and memorabilia. "I love it when a plan comes together" - Hannibal of the "A" Team.
I would like to extend a special thanks to Jim and Debbie Christner and Don and Loni Davidson for their hospitality and kindness shown to Diane and me during our stay in Washington. I would also like to thank Dave Mohan for the wine. Your taste in wine is exceptional.
I would finally like to thank the wives. For those who experienced the 2/28th first hand, thank you for sharing the memories of that special time. For those who are new to the 2/28th family, thank you for coming and welcome. I bet it was more fun than you thought it would be.
Pat Troy, here is the list you requested. Thanks to Bill Gates, I had to reformat my entire e-mail.
D.I. Smith has been a tiger in setting up post reunion photo sites and keeping us updated on the activities of 2/28ers. Thanks D.I. for keeping the 2/28th spirit alive.
Duane Scarborough sent me several web sites of tour firms that set up international tours for groups. They take care of the details and secure sizable discounts for tickets and lodging. Thanks Duane; no work for Bill is a good thing.
Concerning the 2nd Battalion, 28th Field Artillery Reunion II.
1. My thought is that the reunion will be open to anyone that was stationed in the 2/28th. Comments?
2. Do you think the next reunion should be in:
a. 2 Years (2009)
b. 3 Years (2010)
c. 5 Years (2912)
d. Other
3. I thought we would center the 2/28th reunion in Ansbach, Germany. I addition to 3 or 4 days in Ansbach, would like to add on a:
a. River cruse (5 to 7 days)
b. A bus tour
c. a few days in Munich
d. A few days at the military recreation center
e. Other
Please let me know what you might be interested in doing for 2/28th Reunion II.
As a side note, I have formed committee to impeach the current President of FARC. Please let Jim Christner know if you would like to join.
Have a wonderful Christmas.
Regards, Bill
William D. Savage
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