A report from Dale Bowlin on the Western Reunion!

America’s Vancouver went all out for the 103 folks who registered for the 20th Anniversary Western States Reunion from May 1 - 4. Trailblazers arrived from New Hampshire, Massachusetts, South Carolina, Florida and many other states to join the Friday bus tour that featured a Cathlapotle Indian Plankhouse reconstructed on the banks of the Columbia River at a site Lewis and Clark visited 200 years ago. Wine tasting and a picnic lunch followed at the nearby Bethany Winery. That evening there was a buffet supper at the Water Resources Center also located on the Columbia River three miles from the Red Lion Inn at the Quay, the headquarters hotel. Vancouver’s mayor, retired Army Colonel Royce Pollard, extended a warm greeting. Bill Scott, AM and chairman of the Association’s Scholarship Committee, briefed the group about the value of the program. Clips from the 2005 Return to Europe Tour Trailblazer interviews on Amy and Jim Dantzler’s DVD, "Courage Under Fire," were viewed and a local pianist, Melodie, entertained, thanks to Gene Burtner, L/276, and Annette. First Timers Warren and Wes Hurst, were introduced since they were flying home the next morning. Their father, Warren Hurst Sr. served in F/275 with Doug Jeffery.

As usual the Hospitality Room was a popular hangout with soft drinks and snacks provided by the local Pepsi Cola and Frito-Lay companies. Committee member Phyllis Bowlin arranged the popular continental breakfasts. Saturday morning President Elect John Hildebrand, A/274, chaired the general meeting with introduction of First Timers and report from President Andy McMahon. First Timer Ed Bates, HQ/2Bn/275, and his wife, Abbie, who have lived in Vancouver for fifty years, learned of the Association when the local paper ran an article about the upcoming reunion. Ed was a cook and shared some of his WW II memories. Another Vancouverite, Art DeKoker, D/275, was attending his first Western States Reunion. Bob Hall, A/274, and Paula, volunteered to head up the 2009 Western States Reunion committee. Diane Kessler, AM and Association Secretary, gave an interesting Power Point presentation illustrating how she researches information for families of WW II Trailblazers, many who were KIA or died in German POW camps.