Click HERE to see a list of those who have indicated they are going to attend the reunion.
Get complete details from the 2010 Spring Summer Digest you received in the mail or by opening the pdf file located on the home page.
The 2010 Reunion Dates.
Reserve September 29th through October 3rd (Wednesday through Sunday) on your calendar: Then, contact friends and make group plans to attend the 2010 RMPO Reunion in Washington, DC. The Host Team -- co-chairs Gil Meyer and Pat Lowrey -- and Committee Leads -- John Davies (registration), Joel Leson (Hospitality Room), Don Salo (Tours), Steve Andrascho (Wednesday Night Welcome Reception and Saturday Banquet), Gene Cromartie (Memorial Breakfast), and Don Ryder (golf outing) have planned a memorable event
Please return the registration form by located at the bottom of this page or in your Digest no later than July 31, 2010.
The 2010 Reunion Location.
The RMPO Reunion was last held in the Nation’s Capital in 1993. During the 17 years since, numerous members of the RMPO “Community” have indicated strong interest in returning to Washington, DC, to enjoy the extraordinary sights and wonderful national treasures located there. A large turn-out is anticipated. The reunion events are being held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Crystal City (Arlington, VA) across the Potomac River from the beautiful District of Columbia, our Nations' capital. Washington, DC is a very popular tourist site for both American and international visitors year round. Each year, over 15 million visitors come to the Washington metropolitan area joining the 5.0 million who live and work in the National Capital Region. Many of Washington’s museums, unlike Europe, are free. In the nation’s capital, you can easily save money by spending your leisure time exploring free museums, parks, memorials, and historic sites.
The 2010 Reunion Program -- A new Approach
Because of the large number of MP officer and warrant officer retirees (300 plus) in the DC area, an "ala carte scenario" is being used for participation in the three main events: the Wednesday evening (first night) "informal welcome reception", the Saturday memorial breakfast, and evening banquet. These major events will be priced separately to accommodate max attendance at the banquet by those who live and work in driving distance from the hotel. In addition, the annual Golf Outing is planned and the roomy, well-stocked hospitality suite will operate throughout the reunion. A modest registration fee is being charged for all the hotel guests and out of town attendees.
Reunion Events
Informal Welcome Reception The annual traditional "Cocktail Mixer" provides the opportunity to renew old acquaintances, mingle with new friends, and arrange for an impromptu casual or semi-formal evening dinner activity at one of the many local restaurants in Crystal City. Many eateries are within a short walk or cab ride from the hotel. A list of restaurants will be provided in the Welcome Packet upon arrival.
Dinner Boat Cruise. A scenic cruise on the Potomac River with food, DJ entertainment or band, and cash bar. Round trip transportation from the hotel to the waterfront dock is included.
Memorial Breakfast. A solemn "memorial tribute" to deceased MP Corps members and spouses will begin with the Memorial Breakfast held at the Hotel beginning on Saturday morning at 8:00 AM. A roll call of deceased over the past year will be read at the breakfast along with appropriate remarks by a guest speaker.
Saturday RMPO Banquet. The official coat and tie dinner is the highlight of the week's activities. The evening will begin with a cash bar cocktail hour. Dinner will be served after toasts. The dinner will continue with music and dancing until midnight. Following the dinner, brief remarks will affirm location of the next year's 2011 reunion site in Little Rock Arkansas and nominations for the 2012 site.
Tour Mobile. The sights and sounds of the Nation’s Capital are best seen by varied Tour Mobile shuttle tours. There are 40 scenic sites near or on the National Mall. The tours drop you off at a site of your choosing with unlimited free re-boarding when ready. Friendly narrators enlighten you with anecdotes and facts. Choose to stop, stay long as you want, then re-board and ride to another historic location. Tour Mobile offers the only riding tour of Arlington National Cemetery. This is the easiest way to customize a tour to permit stops to places like the Spy Museum, Georgetown, White House, Jefferson Memorial and Washington Monument. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial or the new World War II Memorial are stops. Lunch or shopping is available at various convenient city locations on the tour.
Wreath Laying. The Host Team is planning a special RMPO Reunion Wreath Laying Ceremony at Arlington's Tomb of the Unknowns. Visitor’s can view the unforgettable “changing of the guard” ceremony. A self guided walking tour affords the chance to see the eternal flame that lights the John Kennedy Gravesite. The Robert Kennedy grave site is nearby. Then, you can board the Tour Mobile for a narrated tour of the Cemetery or a day of sightseeing in Washington. For those with other plans, board a bus immediately after the ceremony for the return trip to the hotel.
Shopping Malls. Shop at some of Washington's finest retail centers such as Georgetown, Pentagon Row Fashion Center (near hotel), Tyson's Galleria, and Potomac Mills Outlet Mall. Information brochures will be provided in Welcome Packets upon arrival. Georgetown and Pentagon Row are accessible via the Metro train line. Crystal City Underground is closely adjacent to the hotel. Shopping at Tyson's Galleria or Potomac Mills Outlet Mail requires the use of a taxi or bus. Most shopping malls and sightseeing can be accommodated with local bus and metro rail.
Kennedy Center Show. The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts opened in September 1971. The Center produces and presents an unmatched variety of theater and musicals, dance and ballet, music (i.e., orchestral, chamber, jazz, popular, world, and folk), and multi-media performances for all ages. It is the nation’s busiest performing arts facility and annually hosts approximately 2,000 performances for audiences totaling nearly two million. This is an opportunity for a night out at the renown Center for the Performing Arts. The shows scheduled during the reunion are the National Symphony Orchestr, Beethoven's Symphony No 9 and Shear Madness.
Golf Tournament. Plenty of golf opportunities will be available for those interested golfers. The tournament will be at Ft Belvoir on Friday.
Pentagon Tour. Metro train departs vicinity of the hotel. Briefing will be provided by the PMG Office followed by a guided tour of the Pentagon. The tour includes a stop at the September 11th (9/11) memorial. Lunch is available in the Pentagon cafeteria or at a metro line eatery. A number of restaurants and dining establishments can be found in or near metro stations (Blue and Yellow Line) in Rosslyn, Virginia or Washington, DC.
Mount Vernon Tour Take a day trip through historic Mount Vernon, George Washington’s estate. Explore the 14 room Mount Vernon mansion plus the grounds.
US Capitol/Holocaust Museum Tour.
Visit the United States Capitol or the nearby Library of Congress. The Capitol is a monument and a working office building. It is one of the most recognizable symbols of representative democracy in the world. The Holocaust Museum's Permanent Exhibition “The Holocaust” spans three floors. The Exhibition presents an unimaginable narrative history with more than 900 artifacts, 70 video monitors, and four theaters. Most first-time visitors spend two to three hours to see this self -guided exhibition containing historic film footage and eyewitness testimonies. The exhibition is divided into three parts: "Nazi Assault," "Final Solution," and "Last Chapter.” The narrative begins with images of death and destruction witnessed by American soldiers during the liberation of Nazi concentration camps in 1945.
Visit the United States Capitol or the nearby Library of Congress. The Capitol is a monument and a working office building. It is one of the most recognizable symbols of representative democracy in the world. The Holocaust Museum's Permanent Exhibition “The Holocaust” spans three floors. The Exhibition presents an unimaginable narrative history with more than 900 artifacts, 70 video monitors, and four theaters. Most first-time visitors spend two to three hours to see this self -guided exhibition containing historic film footage and eyewitness testimonies. The exhibition is divided into three parts: "Nazi Assault," "Final Solution," and "Last Chapter.” The narrative begins with images of death and destruction witnessed by American soldiers during the liberation of Nazi concentration camps in 1945.MP Corps Update.The active duty MP Corps Leadership will present a short briefing in the hotel with questions and answers period on the state of the MP Corps.
The active duty MP Corps Leadership will present a short briefing in the hotel with questions and answers period on the state of the MP Corps. Self Guided Tours. The public transit system of the Metro rail subway and the above ground Metrobus form a safe and efficient link from the hotel to popular Washington attractions on the National mall, such as the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, WW II Memorial, and the Smithsonian Museums. Underground shopping mall (Crystal City) is close by. Registration packets will contain brochures, specific instructions and directions to assist you in making your visit a memorable one.
Farewell Brunch (Hotel) A no host “Farewell Brunch” is planned for Sunday in the hotel dining room to allow groups to dine together and say good byes. This is the only scheduled activity for Sunday. Information on religious places of worship will be provided in registration packets and in the Hospitality Suite.
Food for Thought.
Air Travel. Washington DC is serviced by three airports. Travel by air into National Airport is recommended, if possible, since it is actually located in Virginia and is only about ten minutes travel time from the hotel. Dulles International is about 29 miles away and Baltimore-Washington International is about 36 miles away. Car rental agencies service air travelers at each airport, but a car reservation should be made concurrent with air travel reservations because of the high demand for rental cars. Rental costs depend on size of the auto. Taxis, limousines and courtesy shuttles serve all hotels and the cab fare from National airport to the Crystal City is modest. Metro rail (Blue Line) also services Crystal City from National Airport but there is no Metro rail to the other two airports.Local Travel. Bus transportation will be scheduled for sponsored activities and functions. Special travel arrangements for the golf outing will be provided upon arrival. The Reunion hotel is served by the underground subway (Metro Rail Blue Line) and extends within the "beltway" to Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC on the Orange, Red, and Green Lines. You can take the hotel shuttle or a 10-15 minute walk to the Metro entrance. About 75% of the walk to the Metro from the hotel is under cover. Transfers from Metro rail to Metro Bus are free. Prior planning enables visitors to travel to any desired spot in the National Capital Region. Specific local travel instructions will be provided in the registration packet and in the Hospitality Suite. Taxis are abundant but fares for travel in Washington DC are based on zones. In Virginia, taxi fares are based on meters. Regardless of mode of travel, perceptible differences will be noted during rush and non-rush hours. Hotel Accommodations. The Hyatt Regency of Crystal City is located at 2799 Jefferson Davis Highway; Arlington, VA; 22202. The Hyatt Regency is again selected as our "2010 Reunion" site because of its convenience to the Nation’s Capitol, the Washington National Airport, and proximity to local National Capitol Region rail metro transportation. The hotel accommodations have been especially negotiated. All guest rooms have hair dryers, coffee makers, clothes irons, and data ports. Valet parking is discounted for those with POV or rented vehicles at $10 daily. Daily room rates for attendees are $119 + tax for both single or double room. Triple occupancy rooms and deluxe king size rooms are a bit more. Our Hospitality Suite is located on the second floor. Hotel reservations can be made on a dedicated Hotel website for the RMPO Reunion or by calling 888-421-1442. The website has been created to make, modify and cancel hotel reservations online, as well as take advantage of any room upgrades, amenities or other services offered by the hotel. To access the website, please click the following link: Disregard the space requesting an access code. It is not needed for RMPO use -- all rooms are at the negotiated price. Upon completion of registration, Hyatt will issue an "Acknowledgement Number" to the registrant.
Make Hotel Reservations Now and Then Complete Your Registration Form
For any questions concerning the above, please feel free to contact John Davies at 703-907-2682 or jdavies@ausa.org
Look Forward to hearing from you and seeing you in September 2010
Your 2010 Reunion Committee
