When Dawn and I started the planning of the Washington DC reunion in late September (2011) we found out several things very quickly: that Washington DC can be a very expensive place to visit and that hotel room rates vary greatly depending on the time of the year. When looking for a hotel to host the reunion, we looked not only for the best possible room rate - most hotels told us that the beginning of August was a slow time and offered the best rates then - but also the amenities that the hotel had to offer and the difficulty of getting to and from the hotel via cab, METRO or shuttle service. We also took into consideration the availability of restaurants and stores around the hotel site and the ability to get to these locations. We selected the Sheraton National Hotel because it gave us the best value for our members, provided shuttle service to and from the Reagan International Airport, METRO lines and Pentagon City restaurants and stores every half hour. The Fashion Centre at Pentagon City offers two shopping areas - Fashion Centre and Pentagon Row – with more than 170 stores, restaurants, and a food court. The METRO blue line provides access to the National Mall area, Smithsonian Museums and Crystal City locations, without having to transfer to another line.

     Our next problem was trying to decide what our members might like to see or do in Washington DC.  There are literately hundreds of tours and sites to see.  When we decided on our trips, we looked for those that did not require a lot of walking and were accessible but would still be interesting for our members and their families. We also looked at past GCV and 1^st Division reunions to avoid doing the same activities as in past years. The tour and transportation companies require a minimum 30-day notice and a minimum number of people to book a bus or shuttle, so we must be able to give these companies a definite count on the number of people who will be taking the trip by early July. Therefore we have put a deadline of June 30, 2012 on the registration for these trips.  We must have a required minimum number of people per trip by the cutoff date or we will cancel the trips. Also, remember that the deadline for hotel reservations at the reunion price of $109/night is July 5, 2012. After this date, you will be subject to prevailing rates and availability. The hotel has agreed to extend the GCV room rate for 2 days before and after the scheduled reunion dates. This should make it easier for our members to make travel plans.

     Looking forward to seeing all of our old friends and making new friends in Washington DC.