Message from GCV National President Elmer Hawkins

 I am looking forward to seeing each and every one of you at our annual reunion in August. I know that we will have a great time and I can vouch for our hotel as I stayed there for five days last year with the First Marine Division Association reunion. It doesn’t seem possible that a year has gone by since we met in San Diego, but time goes faster as we grow older or it appears that way. All of you who belong to the First Marine Division Association should consider attending their reunion, which will meet in Portland, Oregon starting on August 11, 2012. I know that Mary, Carolyn and I will be there and I’ve been told that it’s a beautiful city. Some of you may live in the Northwest.

     I have been in contact with a two-star retired army general as well as a two-star Marine general requesting their help in finding a speaker for our banquet, but as of today, no one has given me a name. If any of you have a contact for a speaker let me know and I can stop twisting arms. With the Pentagon being a few blocks away there should be a good selection of Military Officers available.

    We are losing about 600 WWII Veterans a day and most of us are in our late eighties and some in their nineties. This being the case, once again I beg you to make this reunion if your health will allow. All of us will welcome you with open arms. The hospitality room will not be the same without you.

Semper Fi

Elmer Hawkins