USS Arlington AGMR-2 8th Annual Reunion

San Antonio, Texas – Mon, Oct  6^th – Fri Oct 10^th, 2008

Hotel: Holiday Inn Downtown/Market Square, 318 W. Durango Blvd, San Antonio, TX 78204

W. Durango Blvd is exit # 155-B of Interstate 10 / 37.

For Reservations: Phone: 888-615-0725. Be sure to mention USS Arlington Reunion so that you will be sure to get the Reunion Rate. If you experience any problem making reservations, either ask to speak with Tina Embry in Sales, if it isn’t during working hours, call back between 9-5 am.

USS Arlington  Reunion Rate is $109.00 + 16.75% tax. This rate will be good for 2 days before and after the reunion. The cut off date for the Reunion Rate is Sep 6th. After that date the reunion rate will be extended on a room availability basis. Our rate includes a hot, buffet breakfast every morning, and Guest Parking is free. (See page 2 for other Hotel Amenities).

Name: ______________________________________Rank:_________Yrs on USS Arlington_________

            As you want it to appear on your name tag !                                                         (Example 65-67)                                                                                         

Spouse/Guests Name(s): ___________________/*_______________________/*___________________

                                                        As you want them to appear on their name tags !

Address: _______________________________________________________________________

Phone: ___________________ Email: ________________________________________________

                                                           (Please Print Plainly)

Special Handicap needs (ex: wheel chair or oxygen): ________________________________

Complete this Form and write a Check or Money Order, payable to   KEN COX 

Mail this form and check to:  KEN COX, 104 WINTERDALE DR., LAKE ALFRED, FL 33850

If you have any questions contact Ken by Phone:  863-307-3187 or email kcox@tampabay.rr.com 

(Note: I will be gone to San Antonio for the USS Cony Reunion from May 11^th through May 19^th.

and will not be available for phone calls, but will be able to check my email.)

ADDITIONAL REUNION INFORMATION

The Holiday Inn Market Square is conveniently located near all of the Major San Antonio Freeways, and has a full service restaurant, “The Trolley Stop Café”. All rooms have a coffee maker, irons/ironing boards, hair dryers, in-room movies w/25 inch TV’s, wireless hi speed internet, and oversized decks. There is a heated pool and Jacuzzi. The hotel website, for a virtual tour is: www.holiday-inn.com\sat-downtown

A trolley stop is just across the street for inexpensive transportation to the River Walk, Market Square, Mexican Market, the Alamo, and the Rivercenter Mall. However, the Holiday Inn Market Square is just two blocks from the Mexican Market, where there are exclusive shops and many restaurants. River Walk Website: http://www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com/

Driving Instructions: The San Antonio Market Square Holiday Inn is conveniently located near the San Antonio Freeways.  W. Durango Blvd is Exit 155-B on Interstate 10 / 37.

Tuesday, Oct 7^th:  San Antonio Missions Tour, The bus will depart the Holiday Inn at 9:00 am and return at 2:00 pm. We’ll tour Mission San Jose, San Fernando Cathedral, the Alamo and end up at the Mexican Market where you can shop around or have lunch on your own at one of the many restaurants. We’ll be dropped off back at the Hotel at 2:00 pm. After you see the awe and wonder of these old Spanish Missions, you’ll truly “Remember the Alamo”.

Wednesday, Oct 8^th: San Antonio Downtown and Riverwalk Tour. The bus will depart at 9:30 am, and return at about 2:30 pm. This is a bus tour of the downtown area of San Antonio. We will stop at “La Villita” (the old village of San Antonio), where there are many shops and old architecture. Then we will go to the River Walk where you can enjoy a boat ride on the San Antonio River and have some free time for shopping and lunch at one of the many fine restaurants there.

Thursday, Oct 9th: Farewell Banquet: Menu for Farewell Banquet is a double entrée plate. Each person receives 4 oz Petite Filet & 4 oz. Grilled Chicken Breast, Garden salad, and Chef’s choice of Potatoes, vegetable and dessert. There will be a pay bar.

“Arlington Idol” Karaoke Party and Dance: After the Banquet there will be a Karaoke Party, where an  “Arlington Idol” will be chosen. We now have nearly 500 songs from the vintage 40’s thru the 70’s, love songs, classic Rock, classic Country, patriotic, Show and Movie tunes. Singles, Duets and Group songs are included. So singers get ready. Sing alone, pick a partner or a group and show us what you can do. At the end of the party, an “Arlington Idol” will be chosen and will receive a $100 prize. (If it’s a duo or a group – you gotta split it).  You will be able to sign up for the Karaoke in the Hospitality Room and the song lists will be available to browse through to pick the songs you would like to sing. You can email Ken at kcox@tampabay.rr.com and get a list of all songs available in order to find one to practice up on. Or, if you are a Karaoke fan already and have a CD with a song you like, you can bring it with you.

If the “Arlington Idol” Karaoke contest is successful, it will be come a tradition at all future Arlington Reunions.

Hospitality Room. The Hospitality Room will open sometime on Monday, Oct 6th, after Hosts Ken Cox and Jim Arnold can make Refreshment runs and get the Room ready to go. Volunteer help will be accepted. We’ll have an ample supply of beer, wine, liquor, soft drinks and plenty of munchies. A table will be provided for crew members to display any memorabilia that they wish to bring. A CD / Karaoke player will be available for music and announcements.

Association Meeting: The Association Meeting will be held in the Hospitality Room on Tuesday, Oct 7^th, at 3:00 (after return from Missions Tour).

Photographer: Dunning & Co from Theodore, AL (Who made our Reunion Memory books for the 2004 Mobile AL Memory Books, the ones with the white covers with the Arlington on the cover). Dunning will contract with a local photographer to take our portrait photos and some candids of the Thursday Banquet and Dance. Crew Members are encouraged to email candid photos to Dunning for inclusion in the Memory Book. Exact Information will be put in the Reunion Packet given to all registered guests.

USS Arlington Ball Caps.. In order to let Ken Cox know how many to have on hand, Reunion Attendees can order one with the Reunion Registration Form. Simply write the number of caps you want, include $15 per cap with your registration payment and your cap(s) will be waiting for you at the Reunion. Extra hats will be available, as well as extra souvenirs from previous reunions.

Registration Fee: This $25.00 fee is the only mandatory fee and is necessary to pay for the souvenirs, raffle prizes, miscellaneous gratuities and other expenses not covered in costs of tours and meals. As always, any monies remaining after the reunion will be deposited in the Association Funds. There will be a donation jar on the bar, but this is strictly for those shipmates who live locally and only want to stop by to say hello and visit in the Hospitality Room. Registered Reunion Attendees are NOT asked to put donations in the jar.

San Antonio Temperatures for October:

Average High:  82                 Average Low:  59

Record High     99                 Record Low:    27

Average Precipitation For October:  2.84 - 3.86 in.

AT BOTH OF OUR FAREWELL BANQUET, THERE WILL BE A PAY BAR FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE. PLEASE DON’T BRING DRINKS FROM THE HOSPITALITY ROOM.

SOME ATTENDEES WILL BE ATTENDING THEIR VERY FIRST USS ARLINGTON REUNION.  BE SURE TO   SAY “HELLO” AND WELCOME NEWCOMERS INTO OUR MIDST. WE ARE ALL AGMR-2  SHIPMATES, REGARDLESS OF THE DEPARTMENT/DIVISION WE WORKED IN OR THE YEARS WE SERVED ABOARD THE ARLINGTON.

 A REMINDER ---  IF YOU DRINK, PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY.

WE WANT YOU BACK FOR MANY MORE REUNIONS.