UPDATE 21 August 2025: Note - USMC Wreath Laying Ceremony this year will be on 07 November at the Iwo Jima Memorial
Go to the Battalion Runner Newsletter page for Number 25-2 for complete information and links to help out.
2025 Reunion
Our 33rd Annual Reunion
The 250th Birthday of our Marine Corps
The 50 year anniversary of the end of the war in Vietnam
What you will read below is basically a repeat of the April Battalion Runner issue. There are a couple of important issues I’ll address here but most of what was in the last newsletter still applies.
- Please let me know how many in your party will be going to the Birthday Dinner on 10 November. This is especially important if you are not staying at our reunion hotel, the Residence Inn. If you live or are staying locally but not at the hotel the only way I can count you in to the dinner is if you tell me you are coming and with how many people. That also applies to those staying at the hotel but if necessary I can contact those folks and see who is coming to dinner and who is not.
Dinner list so far:
Danny Schuster 2
Mike Hill 1
Henry Ostaszewski 2
Mike Netland 1
Dave Bigler 3
- The one major change is we WILL be heading to the Wreath Laying Ceremony on the 7th as a group.
- Please use the PDF version of this newsletter to utilize the direct link to our exclusive web page to make hotel reservations with our special rate for both the rooms and parking.
Mark your calendars folks, this will be a very special occasion, celebrating the 250th Birthday of our Marine Corps and the 50th anniversary of the end of the War in Vietnam. If you have ever considered attending a reunion but haven’t made it do it this year. Those of us that are Vietnam Vets are not getting any younger and the saddest, and worst, thing I have to do every year is add more and more of our brothers to the Last Patrol on our website.
Our reunion hotel is again the Marriott Residence Inn Rosslyn on North Oak Street in Arlington. The management and staff at the Residence Inn have always treated us in an outstanding manner, and continue to do so. Reservation information and a unique web page to make your hotel reservations are included there. While our “official” reunion runs from 08 November until 12 November, our contract includes our special room and parking rates from 06 November through 13 November. A little advice is called for since the number of rooms available on 06 and 07 November, according to our contract, are limited. If you try to make reservations earlier than an arrival date of 08 November and cannot, please contact me directly at twoninencoic@aol.com and do not call the hotel. I can communicate with our contacts there and expand our number of rooms if necessary.
Here is our reunion agenda as of this newsletter:
- 07 November, 1000 hours: USMC Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Iwo Jima Memorial. Transportation provided.
- 09 November, 1500- 1800 hours: Jam Session with Ben Hernandez and the Gallatin Canyon Band honoring the memory of Ben’s Father, Dan Hernandez, a 2/9 Marine. This event has become an integral part of our reunion and is outstanding!
- 8 or 10 November: Possible event, during the day, to replace the 10 November Wreath Laying Ceremony.
- 10 November, 1800 hours: Birthday Dinner at the Sheraton Pentagon City Hotel.
- 10 November, approximately 2300 hours: Our trip to the Wall to see our buddies and conduct our annual wreath laying for our lost brothers. We’ll return to the Residence Inn after the dinner and leave from there.
- 11 November, approximately 1300 hours: Veteran’s Day Ceremony at The Wall. This is not an official reunion event but normally there is a ceremony honoring all veterans. We’ll have more information at the reunion.
- 12 November: Say our goodbyes until next year!!
Transportation will be provided for both the dinner and trip to The Wall. If we do set up another event that requires travel transportation will also be provided for that event.
Our hospitality room will be open from at least 07 November to 12 November with free snacks, water, beer and soft drinks. If you live locally and cannot attend the entire reunion consider stopping in and saying hello and shoot the breeze with your brother Marines, or attend our Birthday Dinner on the 10th.
HOTEL ROOM RESERVATIONS
AND PARKING
Our special room rates have not changed since last year - $145 per night plus taxes and fees. Parking is $15 per night. The hotel does not benefit from the parking rates as that is a private contractor operation, but we do get our parking at half price - $15. Good sized pickups should fit into the parking garage but there is a height restriction that prevents some vehicles from entering.
Here is the link to the unique room reservation page set up for us by the Residence Inn. If you are reading this in the Word version the link won’t work. Open the PDF version where clinking on the link should take you directly where you need to go. Both Word and PDF versions of the newsletter are included in the email you got.