The First U.S. Naval Beach Battalion
Reunion 2008

May 1 – 4, 2008

San Antonio, Texas

Residence Inn by Marriott – San Antonio Airport
1014 NE Loop 410
San Antonio, Texas  78209
(800) 648-4462

The 51st  (?) reunion of our 1st US Naval Beach Battalion  will take place May 1-4 this year, hosted by Bob White and his family. Bob's son Steve is organizing the event which promises to be filled with both interesting activities and plenty of time to sit back, relax, and visit.   

HOTEL ARRANGEMENTS

We were hoping to get rooms on the San Antonio Riverwalk, but we were competing with the Texas Dental Association's annual convention.  When we tried to lock in the rooms we requested, we were told we needed a $10,000 deposit – needless to say, we did a little more checking and ended up at a Residence Inn close to the airport.  The accommodations are very nice – all the rooms have microwaves and refrigerators and all the usual amenities.  The hotel provides free shuttle service from the airport.

I need to have an idea how many people will be attending, so it is very important to return the attached form to me, but you need to contact the hotel directly to secure your reservations.  There is a block of 25 rooms set aside, but if we need more, they are available, but you need to make your reservations by April 12, 2008 in order to be guaranteed a room at our discounted rate.

NOTE AGAIN:  It is important to contact the hotel directly for your reservations and to return your information form to Steve White.  I need an accurate count of the number of people attending to make sure we have enough spaces reserved at the restaurants and enough transportation to get everyone back and forth.

 GENERAL INFORMATION

• Transportation to and from scheduled events has been donated to us by a local limousine company.
   

• All reunion attendees will receive a welcome packet containing the names of many of the downtown restaurants with a brief description and a list of some of the many attractions within a short walk of the hotel.
   

• All breakfasts and lunch on Friday are on your own; we will go as a group to lunch in Fredericksburg just before going to the Nimitz Museum.  The museum is dedicated to the war in the Pacific, but will be enjoyed by anyone who ever wore a Navy uniform and, of course, their families.  The museum has agreed to waive the nominal admission fee in honor of our Navy veterans.
   

• There will be a charge for dinner on Friday at the Tower of the Americas. The price for the dinner and the number of selections from which you will be able to choose will depend on the number of attendees.  There will be a short program and a "surprise" guest.  The restaurant sits atop a tower that was constructed for the 1968 World's Fair.  As you eat, the restaurant revolves and you get to see a panoramic view of San Antonio.  The restaurant makes one revolution per hour.
   

• Dinner on Saturday is at a very authentic Italian restaurant owned by two native Italians (one Roman and one Sicilian) who have been friends of Steve White for 25 years.  They have graciously donated the meal and some nice bottles of wine.  Who knows, maybe another surprise guest!
   

• All attendees will also receive an information packet regarding the hotel and how to get to the hotel from the airport.  All of the hotels that are on the final list have shuttles from the airport.  The airport is a 15 minute ride from downtown San Antonio.  San Antonio's airport (SAT) is served by most major airlines, but Southwest Airlines usually has the best fares and schedules.  The founder, Herb Kelleher, was a San Antonio lawyer for many years, and he made sure he could get back home as easily as possible.  Delta, Continental  and American also have quite a few flights to and from SAT.

Click here to register.

Tim White
Revised  March 20, 2008