Fellow Old Guardsmen,

   Had enough of the pandemic?  Tired of Covid19?  Are you finally ready to have a great time, to enjoy the comradeship of your former buddies, to take a trip down nostalgia lane and to create some new happy and lasting memories?  Then, on behalf of the Officers, Directors and Staff of The Old Guard Association, it is my pleasure and privilege to invite you to the 23rd Annual Reunion to be held once again at the luxurious and convenient Sheraton Pentagon City in Arlington Virginia, located only one block from historic Arlington National Cemetery and your former home, Fort Myer.   Most of you probably know by now that the Defense Department has seen fit to rename our former Army quarters, Joint Base Myer Henderson Hall, but it will always be Fort Myer to those of us who served there so many years ago.  The hotel also runs a regular shuttle service to the airport and a nearby Metro station making trips into the city for sightseeing easy and inexpensive.  Our hotel package includes free parking and in room Wi-Fi.

   And this year for the first time in our 23 years of holding a reunion our fellow Old Guard veterans from the Fife and Drum Corps Alumni Association have decided to coordinate their reunion with that of our Association.  The reunion will be held starting on Wednesday afternoon September 15th and will conclude Sunday morning September 19th.  FDC already has a large group registered for the reunion and our combined attendance is expected to exceed 300 former members of the Regiment.  Registration forms for both the reunion and the hotel have been updated on the website to accommodate additional options for registration, including an opportunity to attend the FDC banquet and “jam” session which will be held Friday evening in the 16th floor Galaxy Ballroom.  For the many of you who have already submitted your registration you are neither forgotten nor too late to update your plans to attend the FDC functions on Friday evening.  Simply send a check for $50 per person to TOGA Treasurer Ralph Jones who will update your existing registration package.  Ralph’s address is 2811 Oakton Manor Ct., Oakton, VA 22124.  

   As usual the Hospitality Room will be open throughout the four days of the reunion stocked with a wide assortment of your favorite beverages and snacks.  Also, right outside the doors of the Hospitality Room please stop by and visit the Quartermaster Store.  Nelson has a fresh inventory of clothing items and Old Guard accessories to add to your personal collection.

   On Saturday morning the members of the Association will gather at the hotel to conduct the Annual General Meeting for the purposes of reporting on the health of the organization as well as elect a new slate of Directors to serve the next two years.  Everyone is welcome to put their name on the ballot and we strongly encourage your participation in this process.  Each year there are a lot fewer members attending the AGM than are registered for the reunion.  Maybe it’s just the result of the prior evening’s activities, but we truly need your voice at the meeting to provide new ideas for growth and to make the Association even stronger.  Please come!

   While the men (and perhaps a few ladies) are at the AGM, the remainder of the ladies are invited to a sensational tea which will be held in the Stars room adjacent to where the members are attending the AGM.  From the sounds of laughter next door the ladies always have more fun than the men.  We are desperately seeking someone (presumably female) to host this year’s tea.  Sharron Jones has graciously volunteered to organize the Hospitality Room and Debbie Forsburg and Lisa Stender have once again agreed to decorate the ballroom for our Saturday evening gala, but as of this writing we do not have a person to host the tea.  Please help!  If you can, just email me at vicepresident@oldguard.mystagingwebsite.com.  I know most of the men would rather be at the tea than at the AGM.

   Saturday evening brings the lavish Association gala hosted in the lobby level ballroom of the Sheraton.  Your dinner choices are listed on the registration form so be sure to mark your selection when you mail in your registration.  I’m not swapping for your chicken if you forget to choose.  Our keynote speaker this year will be Mr. Kenneth Fisher, Chairman and CEO of Fisher House Foundation.  Mr. Fisher is a business leader and philanthropist with a passion for serving those who have served our country.  He is a tireless advocate for those who have made tremendous sacrifices for our country including military service members, veterans and their families.  Mr. Fisher oversees a network of 90 Fisher Houses throughout the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany.  Fisher Houses are a home away from home for the families of service members and veterans who are being treated for an illness or injury far from home.  Over the years, the Foundation has provided more than 10 million nights of lodging for military families and on any given night, more than 1,300 families are sleeping at a Fisher House. Musical entertainment for the evening will be provided by our own Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps.

   Sadly and all too soon, Sunday morning rolls around and it’s time to pack up and head home.  You’ll still see everyone in the lobby for that one last story, a parting hug or handshake, and a promise to “See you next year” for our 24th anniversary celebration.  We can’t wait to see you in September!  Get that registration filled out now and make your hotel reservations.

Old Guard!

Martin Cassidy, Vice President                                            Ross Andrews, President
The Old Guard Assoc.                                                         Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps Assoc.
(On behalf of President Philip ‘Flip’ Godfrey)