145th COMBAT AVIATION BATTALION (VIETNAM) ASSOCIATION

2017 Reunion information packet

This is the information packet for the 2017 Reunion of the units that served with the 145th Combat Aviation Battalion in Vietnam.

The planning for the 2017 Reunion is well on its way. It will be held in New Orleans, LA and I’d like to see all of you there. I really enjoy seeing everyone I have met at the past reunions and meeting many new friends at each reunion. We have many members that have attended most of the reunions over the past 30 years, we have many members that have attended only a few, we have many members that have not been able to attend any of the reunion so far, I would like to see each and every one of them at the reunion, that's what makes all the work worthwhile.

At the 2013 Reunion we asked for ideas and volunteers to organize our 2017 Reunion. We decided we wanted to go to New Orleans, LA and Mike Breaux volunteered to organize it for us. Mike told us at that time that New Orleans is really expensive and he has worked really hard to get us really good deals.

Mike talked about getting a hotel around the central business district and the French Quarter. He thought a tour of The National WWII Museum, Plantation tour and maybe a swamp tour would be fun activities.

Our main Banquet on Saturday night will be right at the hotel.

We are planning a Plantation Home Tour / Swamp Boat tour with a brown bag lunch on Thursday 18 May. The buses will leave the Hotel about 8:30 AM and return to the hotel around 2:30 PM.

The National WWII Museum Tour, we are working on getting a special Victory belles Lunch show on Friday 19 May. To be able to do this we must guarantee at least 50 people. And we need to know before January 12, 2017 if we have the 50 people, so let us know as soon as possible.

This is just an over view of what we have planned for the Reunion. In the next couple of pages I will highlight each item a little more. We really want you there. Some of the items are time sensitive for the minimum number needed to schedule the activity. We need to hear from you as soon as possible so we have a better idea of the numbers we are looking at.

Mike Breaux and his wife Catherine have been working hard to put together a fun, relaxing, and affordable reunion in New Orleans. They have gotten some really good deals in the city best known for being expensive. They have many interesting activities scheduled and still enough free time for everyone to visit the other points of interest in New Orleans.

Wyndham Garden

Baronne Plaza New Orleans

201 Baronne St

New orleans, LA 70112

1-504-522-0083

The Wyndhan Garden, Baronne Plaza is our Reunion Hotel. Please call 1-504-522-0083 to make your reservations. Please let them know that you are making a reservation for the "145th Aviation Reunion".

You will need a credit card to guarantee your reservation. You must call before April 17, 2017 to reserve your room in order to guarantee availability and group rate. On or around April 17, 2017 your credit card will be charged for the amount of the first night's room and tax as a deposit for your stay. The remainder will be charged upon arrival.

Prepared especially for: 145th Combat Aviation Battalion Reunion May 17th - 21st, 2017

Wednesday 05/17/17 $99.00

Thursday 05/18/17 $99.00

Friday 05/19/17 $199.00

Saturday 05/20/17 $199.00

Group Rates: $10.00 per additional adult after double occupancy ~ Rate is net non-commissionable ~ Hotel policy requires groups that fall over weekend dates must stay a minimum of 2 nights ~

Miscellaneous charges: Room Tax: 15.75% Occupancy Tax: $1.00 per room per night

Hotel Features & Amenities:

The hotel is located on the border of the Central Business District and the French Quarters. It is only 2 blocks from Bourbon Street as well as 1 block from the ever busy Canal Street. You can venture into uptown only a few steps away by catching the Street Car and sight see the beautiful architecture that is only New Orleans. Only footsteps from their doors you will find restaurants, bars, night life, shopping, Harrah's Casino, the Superdome, The River Walk, Canal Shopping Center, The Aquarium and so much more!

At the hotel, P.J.'s Coffee House opens evey morning. They also offer complimentary Wi-Fi in both the sleeping rooms and meeting spaces, they also offer a fitness center and business center. All the rooms feature flat screen TV, mini-fridges, in room safes, alarm clocks and in room coffee & tea services. You will be inspired by their warm surroundings and remarkable staff who create a unique atmosphere.

Parking: The hotel offers self-parking for $20 per day as well as valet parking for $30-$35 per day. These prices are subject to change due to special events and are on availability only. Please note larger vehicles MUST be valet parked because they will not fit in their clearance. Parking is limited and on a first come first serve basis. Motor coach parking is available within a 3-5 block radius of the hotel and can range from $50-$100 for overnight parking.

Thursday, 18 May 2017

Destrehan Plantation and Swamp Tour by Boat in a short 6 hour trip.

Pickup at the Hotel at 8:30am with a short 30 minute ride to Destrehan Plantation. You will spend 1 hour 20 minutes viewing the oldest standing plantation in the Mississippi Valley that is surrounded by majestic 300 year old Oak Trees. The house has been beautifully restored to it's original glory. The plantation house and grounds has a professional tour guide that will enlighten and entertain you on this trip through history. A Slave Quarter museum is a part of your tour of the plantation grounds.

Then off for a Cajun Blast! Enjoy the best that the Cajuns have to offer. Experience the Barataria Swamp by Tour Boat or Airboat. (the airboat is an extra fee, paid at that time). See gators up close. The Swamp tour returns back to the dock by 1:50pm. Arrive back at your hotel usually by 2:45pm. The price of $103.50 per person includes a sack lunch.

Friday 19 May 2017

The National WWII Museum in New Orleans is one of the best rated museum in the US and the world. They offered us the discounted group Military rate to visit the Museum galleries including the Beyond All Boundaries 4-D movies (produced by Tom Hanks) for just $19.06 per person including tax. They just ask for 1 form of payment for all of the tickets upon arrival.

They also offered us a special lunch show option. They would be able to add a Victory belles Lunch show on May 19th. The Victory belles lunch show is $37.55 per person and this is inclusive of all tax and gratuity. In order to add a public show on this date we would need to guarantee 50 tickets purchase by our group. We need to have 50 people signed up for that before 12 January 2017. If we need more than 50 tickets, that's no problem, the theater holds 160 people. Any tickets not purchased by our group would be open to the public for sale.

Saturday morning we are planning on holding the Business Meeting. Saturday evening we will have our Dinner Banquet, (includes salad, two meats, vegetables, fresh baked rolls deserts, tea and coffee). Most of the day Saturday is open time to spend with friends, visit sites, and enjoy the Reunion.

3. PLATATION TOUR / SWAMP TOUR
                                                                _______ PEOPLE @ $103.50 EACH =                                             _________

4. NATIONAL WWII MUSEUM TOUR
                                                                _______ PEOPLE @ $19.00 EACH =                                               _________