Our twelfth Boxcar Reunion gathered at the Imperial Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada from 21 to 25 July, 2002. Twenty-six Veterans were present (25 Boxcar Vets plus a "Huey-Guy" guest) as well as wives, significant otheres, kids, and other guests. This was the long-awaited "Vegas Reunion", and rather than our familiar military focus, Vegas itself was the attraction this year: casinos, shows, buffets, the street scenes, Lake Powell, Hoover Dam, and plenty of Veteran and Family cameraderie in our meeting room on the eleventh floor of the hotel.

Vets present included:

Weldon Allen - Florida Roy Austin - Alabama Bob Black - Georgia Dan Bolick - North Carolina Don Bryan - Pennsylvania Lary Busbee - Florida Pablo Chavez - California John Cottman - Virginia Mike Dondero - California Dan Driscoll - Washington Joe Hawkins - Nebraska Dick Janousek - Kansas Andy Killian - California

John LeCates - Maryland Josh Logan - Florida Jim Marx - Oregon Bob Means - California Bill Meyer - Maryland Dean Nelson - Minnesota Ron Quigley - Oregon Dan Shoplock - Arizona Bill Sly - Virginia Al Stratton - Nevada Jim Strawn - Kansas Tom Tocco - Virginia Ron Wilkerson - California

President Al Stratton presided over our Annual Business Meeting on 23 July. We discussed past Reunions, the Vegas Reunion, future Reunions, the Boxcar Newsletter, keeping the Treasury in the black, Boxcar Calendar for 2002 and 2003, and held Annual Elections. We chose Pensacola, Florida as our 2003 Reunion Site; mid-to-late September as dates; and Larry Busbee as Site Host / Co-ordinator.

There was a suggestion to move back West again for 2004, but no specific decision was reached (We'll need a willing host for '04 ... You will see a reminder in each Newsletter until the next Reunion).

Elected Officers for 2002-2003 are:
PRESIDENT LARRY BUSBEE
VICE PRESIDENT WELDON ALLEN
TREASURER JOHN LeCATES
SECRETARY DEAN NELSON.

Also re-affirmed as HISTORIAN, DICK JANOUSEK.

By Wednesday night, the 24th, most of us were pretty well "Reunioned out" and "Vegas'd out", and were ready to depart on the morning of 25 July. Next year on the beach.

2003 Reunion ...President Busbee has already settled on the Hampton Inn - Pensacola Beach on 21 - 24 September, 2003. Click for info on the Hampton Inn

Plans so far include a visit to the National Museum of Naval Aviation at Pensacola NAS, and a day-trip to the Army Aviation Museum at Ft. Rucker (which was closed during our 1998 Reuion in Dothan, Alabama) ... and relaxation on the Beach!