Dear Fellow Veterans,
As your new one year President I want to wish each of you a Merry Christmas and a fantastic New Year.
Since our reunion at Fort Rucker the months have flown by. I don't know about all of you but Jean and I have been busier than ever. She got hired the 27th of August by a local school district and I got called out of retirement in September to manage a large fleet of school buses whose drivers were on strike against the contractor. It was supposed to be temporary; however, it is now December and I am still therewith no end to their dispute in sight.l
I have not heard from our two outstanding site coordinators, however, I feel they are hard at work communicating, coordinating and supervising all aspects of the Philadelphia reunion site. The other day I checked my e-mail and was surprised, as there were messages from four previous Boxcars.
Their names are:
Tom Cox (1966) controller, ops, gunner.I have forwarded their addresses and phone numbers to Dean for enclosure in this newsletter. Perhaps maybe many more will show up on e-mail soon.
Billy Jones (1970) engine shop, FLT Engineer.
Perry Van Evans (1968-69) maintenance.
Joe Altimari (1969) 132nd ASHC (Hercules)
Although we are still about six months or so from Philly I do hope everyone can adjust their schedules so we have a large turnout.
I would like to see a sit-down lunch or meal somehow this year. One where we can take a few hours to all be together over a meal rather than wandering in and out of a crowded hospitality room.
Anyway we have plenty of time to debate this subject over the next few months. Send your suggestions to the site coordinator Eddie Monroe, his assistant John Logan, Dennis Pullen, or myself.
Use e-mail or Carrier pigeon. My e-mail address is chinook@nothnbut.net
Last but not least I would like to see all my rock scrounging buddies this year as Penn is a great rock state.
Till our next newsletter I remain,
(Rock hound) Stratton