|
2010 Reunion – Washington, DC By Steve Page – Reunion Chairman (updated June 11, 2010) Preparations are in full swing for the 25th Annual Reunion in Washington, DC. This is an excellent opportunity to meet your friends and share the brotherhood and camaraderie with other Blackhorse troopers. This is also perfect opportunity to make the reunion week a vacation and visit the Nation’s Capital. Washington offers many sightseeing opportunities, most of which are free. We are pleased to announce that Joe Galloway, famed author and former military correspondent, will be our guest speaker at the 2010 reunion. He is co-author, with Lt. Gen. (ret) Hal G. Moore, of the national bestseller “We Were Soldiers Once…and Young”, which has been made into a critically acclaimed movie, “We Were Soldiers”, starring Mel Gibson. “We Were Soldiers Once…and Young” is presently in print in four different editions which have sold more than 1.2 million copies. The reunion hotel is located just four blocks from the National Mall and within walking distance to all the Smithsonian Museums and monuments. There are plenty of restaurants in the blocks surrounding the hotel which offer a variety of food choices. Valet Parking is available at the hotel on a limited basis at $20 per day, no in-out. Self parking is $24. Additional parking is available at the parking lot directly across from the front entrance to the Hyatt at $20 per day. Several parking garages are also available in the immediate area of the hotel at $10-15 per day. The 500 rooms blocked off at the Grand Hyatt are sold out. We have reserved an additional block of rooms at a nearby hotel. THE DUPONT HOTEL ROOM RATE: $129.00 SINGLE/DOUBLE TRANSPORTATION IN DC The Washington Metro subway offers a convenient and inexpensive way to travel in DC and nearby Reagan National Airport, Arlington National Cemetery and the Marine Corps Iwo Jima Memorial. The METRO CENTER SUBWAY STATION is located at the Grand Hyatt Hotel lobby. This station serves the BLUE, ORANGE and RED lines. Information and maps for the entire Metro subway system can be found at: www.wmata.com The DuPont Hotel is located approximately 1.5 miles from the Grand Hyatt and one half block from the DUPONT CIRCLE SUBWAY STATION. Take the RED LINE subway from DUPONT CIRCLE STATION to the METRO CENTER STATION located at the Hyatt Hotel. It’s a short 5 minute ride between the two stations. Trains depart every 6-12 minutes depending on the time of day. Cost is less than $2.00 one way. PARKING For those driving to the reunion an alternative to parking in DC is to park at the long term economy parking lot at nearby Reagan National Airport then take the convenient Metro subway BLUE LINE to the Hyatt Hotel. The cost for parking at the airport is about $10.00 per day versus two and three times the amount in DC AIRPORTS AND DIRECTIONS Reagan National Airport (DCA) Take the convenient and inexpensive Metro Subway Blue Line from Reagan National Airport to Metro Center Station located at the Grand Hyatt. (Approximate 15 minute travel time) Dulles Airport (IAD) Use the Washington Flyer motor coach service to Metro Subway West Falls Church Station (approximately $18 round-trip). Then take the Metro Subway Orange Line from West Falls Church Station to Metro Center Station located at the Grand Hyatt. Washington Flyer motor coaches leave every 25 minutes. For complete schedule see: www.washfly.com ACTIVITIES AND POINTS OF INTEREST (free except otherwise noted) Arlington National Cemetery – Take the convenient Metro Subway Blue Line from the Grand Hyatt to the Arlington Cemetery Station (Approximately 15 minute travel time) http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/ Marine Corps Sunset Parade – Iwo Jima War Memorial, Arlington (Rosslyn), VA. Tuesdays – 7:00-8:00pm (admission free) This is a one hour performance featuring the music of "The Commandant's Own", The United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps and precision drill by the Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon. Take the convenient Metro Subway Orange Line from the Grand Hyatt to the Rosslyn Station. (Approximately 10 minute travel) Walk four blocks south on N Fort Myer Drive to the memorial. www.mbw.usmc.mil Marine Corps Evening Parade – Marine Barracks, 8th and I Streets SE, Washington, DC. Fridays – 8:45-10:15pm (admission free but prior reservations are required) This is a one hour and fifteen minute performance of music and precision marching. The Evening Parade features "The President's Own" United States Marine Band, "The Commandant's Own" The United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps, the Marine Corps Color Guard, the Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon, Ceremonial Marchers, and LCPL Chesty XIII, the official mascot of Marine Barracks Washington. Take Metro Blue or Orange Line from Grand Hyatt to Eastern Market Station. (Approximately 10 minute travel) Walk two blocks south on 8th Street to Marine Barracks. www.mbw.usmc.mil Other points of interest and activities: White House Visitors Center White House tours *see note U. S. Capital Visitors Center U. S. Capital tours *see note Smithsonian Museums (16 total) Smithsonian American History Museum Smithsonian Natural History Museum Smithsonian Air and Space Museum Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian National Mall Washington Monument ** see note Lincoln Memorial Jefferson Memorial Vietnam Veterans Memorial World War II Memorial Korean War Memorial National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial National Zoo National Aquarium ($) Holocaust Museum International Spy Museum ($) Library of Congress National Archives Union Station Ford’s Theatre National Postal Museum Bureau of Engraving and Printing *** * Public tours of the White House and Capital building are available. Requests must be submitted through your Representative or Senator. Please see the following websites for more information and how to request tickets.. www.whitehouse.gov/about/tours-and-events ** Washington Monument admission is free, but tickets are required. Tickets are distributed by the National Park Service. Please see the following website for more information on how to request tickets. www.nps.gov *** Bureau of Engraving and Printing tours are free but tickets are required. Please see the following website for more information. www.bep.treas.gov |