2015 LRRP/Ranger Reunion - Hosted by Dave & Loretta Hill and Dave Flores at the Nugget Resort and Casino in Sparks, Navada
Attendees:
John & Patti Candiloro |
Ramona Catherwood Guest Leahrae |
Sue Cook |
Barry & Maryann Crabtree |
Ron & Gaitha Crews |
David Christian |
John & Debbie Douglas Family members Andi Hemphill & Daughter Libbi |
Dave Flores |
Richard & MaryAnn Gamez |
Don "Giant" & Becky Hildebrandt |
Dave & Loretta Hill |
Henry Hoshino |
Gary & Wendy Hund |
Ronnie & Sally Imel |
Bob & Judi McGath |
Denny & Sandy McLaughlin Family Members Son Matt & his wife Kara & granddaughters Kaylene & Ashley |
John Savage Family Member his son Sean |
Mike & Susan Sharp Family Member daughter Shaina |
John & Mary Juarez |
Harry "Frenchie" & Shyron Suire |
Danny & Brenda Wiggins |
Mike & Nancy Wise |
Service Dogs: Abby (McLaughlin) Goldie (Douglas) |
Your name should be here! |
Our official 1st Infantry Division LRRPs and Rangers reunion was held at the J.R. Nugget Casino Resort in Sparks, Nevada on June 17-20, 2015 with Dave and Loretta Hill and Dave Flores hosting. This was one of the most attended reunions the group has had to date. There were 22 veterans who brought 32 friends and family members to make a total of 54 participants.
Many started arriving in Reno/Sparks a week in advance of the official reunion date to fellowship and visit some of the area sites. And see the sites we did. (More on that later.) Some veterans and their families stayed several days after the event was over to continue traveling to nearby sites and attractions and to continue enjoying each other’s company.
Everyone met as they arrived at the hotel in the Poolside Terrace banquet room. It was a huge, yet intimate, meeting place where everyone could spread out and comfortably catch up with old friends and meet new faces. The room was adjacent to the huge swimming complex on the 5th floor that was convenient for those who wanted to swim or relax in the hot tub. The room was surrounded on three sides by floor to ceiling glass doors and windows with access to the balcony, which overlooked the airport and snowcapped Sierra Nevada Mountains.
The accommodations at the resort were top notch with many amenities including phenomenal views and really comfortable beds. It is also a pet friendly hotel that was so nice for our two service dogs, Goldie and Abby. These two four-legged family members were such a fantastic addition to our reunion and to all our activities! Maybe next time we’ll have even more furry friends.
The weather was fabulous during our stay with lows in the 50’s and highs in the 90’s with only 5% humidity. Some of us from various parts of the country were in disbelief of this low humidity level! There was a delightful breeze that blew each day to keep us cool and to make the evenings so pleasant as we walked to nearby shops and restaurants.
Our days were filled with a variety of activities with some golfing, some shopping, some shooting at the range and others just chilling in the meeting room. In order to keep guilt at bay, some (ok, a few) chose to exercise in the Health Club. Believe it or not, there were quite a few who managed to make it down to the 24-hour casino to pull a few handles. Some won, some lost, but all had a great time.
Many chose to go to nearby Virginia City, which is a still “back-in-time” authentic western silver mining town with cowboys and live animals walking the streets. While there we visited the St. Mary’s Catholic Church which was the earliest Catholic congregation in Nevada in 1886, the Fourth Ward School museum which is a beautiful four story wooden second-empire style school, and several saloons-The Bucket of Blood, Ponderosa, and Red Dog. We enjoyed delicious meals at several of the local eateries. Samuel Langhorne Clemens lived here about two years refining his writing style and choosing his famous penname- Mark Twain. Some of us were so taken with this lovely mining town that we went back a second day to see what we may have missed the day before.
Another day trip was made to Lake Tahoe, a huge 1,645 foot deep fresh water lake located at 6,254 feet in the Sierra Nevada Mountains along the border between Nevada and California. The views of the lake from the top of the mountains are astounding. Food was great, too. Of course, we had to eat.
Each evening we would all meet back up to make dinner and evening plans. We tried to see just how many restaurants we could hit while we were there. We ended each night back in the Poolside Terrace to continued catching up with friends.
Saturday we had the official business meeting where President Danny Wiggins welcomed everyone and presented plaques of appreciation to those who had contributed much time and energy to the Unit helping everything run smoothly and efficiently. Members who had never attended or had not attended recently were welcomed as were family members and friends. Matters of business were discussed and voted upon.
The Missing Man presentation was made during which our fallen comrades were honored. This is a very solemn and sacred part of our reunion. Saturday night we had our buffet dinner at the Nugget’s Rotisserie Buffet Restaurant where we enjoyed wonderful food and great fellowship. We dined on international cuisine, which insured we were all satisfied and well fed. We ended the meal with an amazing dessert bar with an awesome selection of delicious pastries.
Sunday morning we all gathered to bid adieu to our friends who were leaving the reunion to go back to our homes with a renewed sense friendship and comradery. It was so great to be with our brothers and their families once again. We look forward to seeing everyone (and others) next year at our mini-reunion in Wheaton, Illinois at the 1st Infantry Division Museum (or in Lake Authur, Louisana. More info to follow.) We will be together again in 2017 at our reunion in Fort Benning, Georgia. Make plans now to attend.
We want to offer our sincere thanks to Dave and Loretta Hill and to Dave Flores for being our hosts and making everything so comfortable and so much fun!
Many started arriving in Reno/Sparks a week in advance of the official reunion date to fellowship and visit some of the area sites. And see the sites we did. (More on that later.) Some veterans and their families stayed several days after the event was over to continue traveling to nearby sites and attractions and to continue enjoying each other’s company.
Everyone met as they arrived at the hotel in the Poolside Terrace banquet room. It was a huge, yet intimate, meeting place where everyone could spread out and comfortably catch up with old friends and meet new faces. The room was adjacent to the huge swimming complex on the 5th floor that was convenient for those who wanted to swim or relax in the hot tub. The room was surrounded on three sides by floor to ceiling glass doors and windows with access to the balcony, which overlooked the airport and snowcapped Sierra Nevada Mountains.
The accommodations at the resort were top notch with many amenities including phenomenal views and really comfortable beds. It is also a pet friendly hotel that was so nice for our two service dogs, Goldie and Abby. These two four-legged family members were such a fantastic addition to our reunion and to all our activities! Maybe next time we’ll have even more furry friends.
The weather was fabulous during our stay with lows in the 50’s and highs in the 90’s with only 5% humidity. Some of us from various parts of the country were in disbelief of this low humidity level! There was a delightful breeze that blew each day to keep us cool and to make the evenings so pleasant as we walked to nearby shops and restaurants.
Our days were filled with a variety of activities with some golfing, some shopping, some shooting at the range and others just chilling in the meeting room. In order to keep guilt at bay, some (ok, a few) chose to exercise in the Health Club. Believe it or not, there were quite a few who managed to make it down to the 24-hour casino to pull a few handles. Some won, some lost, but all had a great time.
Many chose to go to nearby Virginia City, which is a still “back-in-time” authentic western silver mining town with cowboys and live animals walking the streets. While there we visited the St. Mary’s Catholic Church which was the earliest Catholic congregation in Nevada in 1886, the Fourth Ward School museum which is a beautiful four story wooden second-empire style school, and several saloons-The Bucket of Blood, Ponderosa, and Red Dog. We enjoyed delicious meals at several of the local eateries. Samuel Langhorne Clemens lived here about two years refining his writing style and choosing his famous penname- Mark Twain. Some of us were so taken with this lovely mining town that we went back a second day to see what we may have missed the day before.
Another day trip was made to Lake Tahoe, a huge 1,645 foot deep fresh water lake located at 6,254 feet in the Sierra Nevada Mountains along the border between Nevada and California. The views of the lake from the top of the mountains are astounding. Food was great, too. Of course, we had to eat.
Each evening we would all meet back up to make dinner and evening plans. We tried to see just how many restaurants we could hit while we were there. We ended each night back in the Poolside Terrace to continued catching up with friends.
Saturday we had the official business meeting where President Danny Wiggins welcomed everyone and presented plaques of appreciation to those who had contributed much time and energy to the Unit helping everything run smoothly and efficiently. Members who had never attended or had not attended recently were welcomed as were family members and friends. Matters of business were discussed and voted upon.
The Missing Man presentation was made during which our fallen comrades were honored. This is a very solemn and sacred part of our reunion. Saturday night we had our buffet dinner at the Nugget’s Rotisserie Buffet Restaurant where we enjoyed wonderful food and great fellowship. We dined on international cuisine, which insured we were all satisfied and well fed. We ended the meal with an amazing dessert bar with an awesome selection of delicious pastries.
Sunday morning we all gathered to bid adieu to our friends who were leaving the reunion to go back to our homes with a renewed sense friendship and comradery. It was so great to be with our brothers and their families once again. We look forward to seeing everyone (and others) next year at our mini-reunion in Wheaton, Illinois at the 1st Infantry Division Museum (or in Lake Authur, Louisana. More info to follow.) We will be together again in 2017 at our reunion in Fort Benning, Georgia. Make plans now to attend.
We want to offer our sincere thanks to Dave and Loretta Hill and to Dave Flores for being our hosts and making everything so comfortable and so much fun!