The room rate will be $82.00 (single or double) plus 16.75% tax. There are four handicapped rooms available. When making your TOLL FREE reservation using 1-800-288-3927, mention you are on the USS Salamonie Association Rate. This group rate is good for two days before and two days after our reunion dates subject to availability.
SATRANS runs a shuttle bus from San Antonio International Airport to and from downtown hotels. You can catch it just outside the baggage claim area.
The hotel has an outdoor pool, fitness center, restaurants, gift shop, and a bar and lounge overlooking the river. Coffee makers are in each room.
The cost of the banquet Saturday night is $52.00. This includes a full Mixed Grill dinner, beverages, glass of wine, keg of beer, and use of a separate hospitality room on Saturday and Sunday.
The cost of the Fredericksburg Day Trip by bus is $53.00. This includes a boxed continental breakfast to eat on the bus, the bus trip, a seat at the U.S.S. Salamonie Memorial Wall Commemorative Plaque Dedication, a tour of the Museum, and a German Buffet Lunch at the Frederick Brewing Company.
The cutoff date for room, banquet, and Fredericksburg Trip reservations is one month before the start of the reunion; i.e. April Fools Day!
Send your payment for the Banquet and Fredericksburg Trip to:
The Four points by Sheraton is on our famous Riverwalk and only a ten-minute walk from the Alamo. There is much else to see in Old San Antonio: the Missions, Institute of Texan Culture, and our two theme parks Sea World and Fiesta Texas, Historic San Fernando Cathedral, the oldest Catholic cathedral in the U.S., is only a short walk away as are several other historic churches. Frequent, inexpensive "trollies" run to the Alamo, restaurants on the Riverwalk, the humongous River Center Mall, and the churches.
On Monday, May 5, we will take a bus to Fredericksburg and The National Museum of the Pacific War. There we will have the U.S.S Salamonie Memor- ial Wall Commemorative Plaque Dedi- cation. I believe it will be a very mov- ing event to have Salamonie shipmates gather to honor our shipmates who served aboard "Old Sal" during World War II many of whom I hope will be able to attend.
To learn more about the Museum visit www.nimitz-museum.org. All sub- sites listed are informative, but particularly are:
Memorial Wall. There are rows of plaques honoring ships and units of the Navy, Marines, Army Air Force, Army, and others from Australia, New Zealand and Britain. The Salamonie plaque will be in distinguished company. Our sister tankers Kankakee and Mattaponi are represented. The Nimitz Foundation lays on a very nice memorial service at plaque dedications followed by a Museum tour.
George Bush Gallery with a real B-25 aboard a simulated Hornet flight deck, as in Doolittle's Raid, and a Japanese miniature submarine about to be launched to attack Pearl Harbor, among much more, it is awesome.
The Pacific Combat Zone this a new large area with, among many other things, an Avenger torpedo pane, tanks, and a PT Boat.
The Japanese Garden of Peace This is an interesting story as to why this beautiful garden was built in the Texas Hill Country.
After the Museum tour, we will have lunch ("liberty") at a good old German beer hall, The Fredericksburg Brewery. Home Brews, or Margaritas! The girls could then shop-till-they-drop in the many antique stores!
We can all sleep on the way back to San Antonio.
Fredericksburg is a very picturesque town in the beautiful Hill Country. It was settled by Germans in the 19th century and has now become a popular tourist destination. It is a scenic 65 mile ride from San Antonio.
Even though a firm commitment on reservation is not required until April 1, an early as possible notification of interest to John Lichoff or myself would be appreciated. We would particularly like to know how many will stay over through Monday and go to Fredericksburg to determine how many busses we will need.
You may want to notify those interested in attending your reunion that they are eligible for 50% off Amtrak train travel, if they are a member of Veterans Advantage. Just go to www.amtrak.com and click on Veterans to learn more and sign up for the program or call toll-free 1-866-Vet-Rewards (1-866-838-7392.)
The Veterans Advantage card program is just $19.95 a year. Once you join, as a Veteran you are also eligible for benefits from other top U.S. corporations who wish to honor their service with special everyday discounts on car rentals from Alamo, Avis, Hertz, Enterprise, Budget and National Car Rental, hotels, dining, and other travel benefits, entertainment discounts, 10% off Dell computers, 25% off Airborne shipping, 50% off North American and Global Van lines, phone services from 3.9 cents a minute! , free wireless phones with calling plans, a free drug discount card (AARP charges $19.95 just for this one benefit alone!) and more.
Hope this is helpful in getting your group to your reunion!
Lin Higgins
Veterans Advantage
www.veteransadvantage.com
1-866-Vet-Assist x12
Veterans Advantage...delivering recognition, respect and rewards for your service!
AOL KEYWORDS: Veterans Advantage or VetRewards
P.S. Veteran family members, National Guard, Reservists and active duty military and their families are also eligible to join and receive benefits and may enroll on the member web site at www.veteransadvantage.com. (Family members are eligible for all benefits except Amtrak travel discounts)
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