Seventh Reunion of the USS Plymouth Rock

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Reunion Update

St Louis, MO Reunion
September 18-21, 2008
Plymouth Rock Reunion Coordinators
David Dortch, BT2
870-236-3725  e-mail:  tazrhondave@yahoo.com
Richard Mathis, BMSN
870-566-2619  e-mail:  rmathis98@yahoo.com

Gateway to St. Louis Introductory Tour
Friday, September 19, 2008
9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

This itinerary includes a tram ride at the Gateway Arch, a VIP tour of the Anheuser-Busch brewery, views of Laclede’s Landing with lunch on own, a tour of the New Cathedral in Midtown, and a Forest Park overview if time permits.

            Visit the famous Gateway Arch, the Nation’s tallest monument commemorating the gateway to the west for thousands of 19th century pioneers. Here, take a tram ride to the top for a unique bird’s eye view of the city or watch a documentary on how this magnificent steel structure was created. Just east of the Arch, pass the excursion riverboats and the floating casino that calls the Mississippi River home. 

Enjoy a view of the Old Cathedral, the oldest cathedral west of the Mississippi. Across the street is the Old Courthouse, the setting for cases involving slavery, the fur trade and equal rights. Of these cases, the Dred Scott Freedom Trial is the most notable. You will pass the new Busch Stadium and the International Bowling Hall of Fame, as well as St. Louis Union Station, once the busiest rail terminal in the world. Today, Union Station has undergone a magnificent renovation and is home to a luxury hotel and more than 70 specialty shops and restaurants 

Your Destination St. Louis tour guide next traces the history of St. Louis beginning with the city’s original settlement, Laclede’s Landing. It is now a nine-block historic district filled with renovated turn-of-the-century buildings housing shops, eateries and offices. Your group will have time to enjoy lunch on own while exploring Laclede’s Landing before completing the rest of your tour. En route to the King of Beers—the Anheuser-Busch Brewery your guide will familiarize you with the rich history of the colorful Busch family. Situated in a complex with over 70 red brick structures on 100 acres, the brewery buildings are known for their unique architecture and several are National Historic Landmarks.  

During the tour, you will see the World Famous Clydesdales, the Fermentation Building, the Packaging and Bottling Plant, the Brew House and a film about the brewing process. No visit would be complete without a stop in the hospitality room to sample the family of Anheuser-Busch products. A VIP tour of the brewery is included.

Next you will tour the New Cathedral where you will see one of the largest collections of mosaics in the world - 84,000 square feet in 8,000 shades of color!  The tiny pieces of tessere and glass portray scenes from both Old and New Testaments, the life of Saint Louis IX, King of France and many men and women prominent in the history of St. Louis.  

Cost:  $48.00 per person based on a minimum of 35 participants per motor coach. Includes Destination St. Louis tour guide, admission to Gateway Arch, a donation to the New Cathedral, 10:00 a.m. VIP tour of Anheuser-Busch Brewery (arranged by client), cooler of chilled bottled water, 47-passenger motorcoach transportation, driver and guide gratuities, on-line/mail/fax pre-registration services and on-site coordination. 

Our Military Heritage
Saturday, September 20, 2008
9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

This itinerary includes a visit to the Soldiers’ Memorial Military Museum, a boxed lunch at Jefferson Barracks Historic Park, a memorial service at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, and a guided tour at the Jefferson Barracks Museum.           

            Your first stop is the Soldiers’ Memorial Military Museum, dedicated by President Roosevelt in 1936 to the 1,075 St. Louisans who died in action during World War I. The museum contains photographs and memorabilia pertaining to St. Louisans’ military involvement since the Civil War. You will also see the colorful mosaic ceiling of the loggia, dedicated to the mothers of St. Louisans who died in wars, as well as the four massive Bedford Stone sculptures depicting Courage, Sacrifice, Vision, and Loyalty which guard the entrances of the Memorial.           

            Enjoy a box lunch en route to Jefferson Barracks Historic Park and the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, the 4^th largest in the nation. More than 100,000 veterans or their dependents, including Union and Confederate soldiers, are buried here. Here your group can perform a memorial service at either the old flag pole or National Cemetery chapel.             

            The Historic Park was established in 1826 and stretches over 1,702 acres, this former military post overlooks the Mississippi River and was once the largest military post in America. Its strategic location helped open the West and protected American interests in the newly-acquired land.         

            Your last stop is a private, guided tour at the park’s museum. Take a historical journey through the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, and World Wars I and II.  

Cost:  $48.00 per person based on a minimum of 35 participants per motor coach.  Includes Destination St. Louis tour guide, all admission fees, donation to Soldiers’ Memorial, boxed lunch, cooler of chilled bottled water, 47-passenger motor coach transportation, guide and driver gratuities, on-line/mail/fax pre-registration services and on-site coordination. 

USS Plymouth Rock LSD29 Tour Order Form
Please Return to:
Destination St. Louis, Inc
7710 Big Bend Blvd.
St. Louis, MO   63119

or by Fax:  314-727-2277

or register online:  www.destinationstlouis.com/plymouth.htm

Advance Registration Deadline is September 4, 2008

TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

Advance reservations must be received by September 4, 2008. Tickets will be sold on-site, space permitting, and an additional $5.00 per ticket will be added.
Tours depart the Doubletree Westport, Main entrance. Tickets will be held for pickup at the Tour Desk in the Reunion registration area of the Doubletree Westport.
Destination St. Louis, Inc. reserves the right to cancel a tour if a minimum number  is not met or if an attraction becomes unavailable for reasons beyond its control.
Payments will be refunded by mail if a tour is sold out/ cancelled.
Tour tickets will NOT be mailed out, and instead will be distributed on-side at the Tour Desk
"Destination St. Louis" will provide (4) hours on site registration to distribute pre-registered tickets and to sell tickets available for tours from 12:00 to 4:00.

If you have any questions please call 314-727-2400

Tour desk hours are as follows:
Thursday, September 18, 2008  12:00 pm-4:00 pm

Special Needs:  If you have a disability that may influence your participation in the Tour Program, please attach a written description of your disability needs to your registration form.  We cannot assure the availability of appropriate accommodations without prior notification of need.

• Make all checks payable to Destination St. Louis.

• All credit orders will be charged a 4% service fee on total amount of purchase

• All cancellations received after September 4, 2008 are subject to a $5.00 processing fee.

USS Plymouth Rock LSD29 Meals Reservation  Form
Please Return to:
Paul Mohawk, Treasurer
5558 Canyon Lands Dr.
Forth Worth, TX  76137

Reservation form and check must be sent to Paul Mohawk prior to September 10, 2008.
Check for Meals must be made out to USS Plymouth Rock Association
If you have any dietary restrictions, please indicate below

USS Plymouth Rock LSD 29
With the link below, you can make your reservations on line.
http://doubletree.hilton.com/en/dt/groups/personalized/stlwpdt_upr/index.jhtml

The Doubletree Hotel, St Louis at Westport

Other incidentals we are receiving from the hotel include:

    Complimentary Full Breakfast for (2), per room per day
    Complimentary Beer, Wine and Cheese Reception on Thursday for 1 hour.
    Banquet for Saturday Evening $30.00 inclusive.
    Complimentary Hospitality Room from 12pm 9/18/08 to 8am 9/21/08.  Alcohol is allowed in the Hospitality Room.
    Complimentary airport and 5 mile radius of hotel shuttle.

Reservations:  Made by each individuals, need to be made by August 18, 2008.  Reservations can be made by calling their central reservations office toll free at 1-866-786-8088 or the hotel reservations dept. at 1-314-434-0100.  Personalized online group bookings of reservations cannot be made until after Sept 23,2007. Additional information will be made available in newsletter and website as received by webmaster.

DIRECTIONS TO
DOUBLETREE HOTEL ST. LOUIS AT WESTPORT

FROM NORTH OR AIRPORT: 70 WEST TO 270 SOUTH, EXIT PAGE EAST 16A, TURN RIGHT ONTO LACKLAND, FOLLOW LACKLAND UNTIL ROAD TAKES A SHARP TURN TO THE LEFT WHERE IT TURNS INTO CRAIGSHIRE, 11 STORY BUILDING ON RIGHT SIDE OF ROAD 

FROM SOUTH: 270 NORTH, EXIT PAGE EAST 16A, TURN RIGHT ONTO LACKLAND, FOLLOW LACKLAND UNTIL ROAD TAKES A SHARP TURN TO THE LEFT WHERE IT TURNS INTO CRAIGSHIRE, 11 STORY BUILDING ON RIGHT SIDE OF ROAD

For those of you interested in camping in the St. Louis area, we have listed below is the campgrounds & RV Parks:

1) Casino Queen RV Park
  (Full service park located across from Gateway Arch)
   200 S. Front St.
   East St. Louis, IL
   800-777-0777
   Rates are $22.95-32.95)

2) KOA St. Louis West
  (Long pull-throughs, full hook-ups some with 50-amp electric. 
  "Kamping Kabins", pavilion playground (Open March-Oct.)
   18475 Historic Rt. 66
   Eureka, MO
  (636) 257-3018 or 800-562-6249
   Rates: $24-$42

3) Pin Oak Creek RV Park
   Big rig sites, restrooms, playground, fishing lake, miniature golf,
family         activities.  Open year round.
   1302 Hwy. AT
   Villa Ridge, MO
   636-451-5656 or 888-474-6625
   Rate: $27-$40

4) St. Louis RV Park
   Only RV Park in Downtown
   900 N. Jefferson
  (314) 241-3330 or 800-878-3330
  Rate: $24-$32

5) Sundermeier RV Park & Conference Center
   Premier RV Park in historic St. Charles; a Best Park in America.
Open year round. 111 Transit St.
   St. Charles, MO
   636-940-0111 or 800-929-0832
   Rate: $41-$53
  (This one is fairly close proximity to your hotel location for your
annual   reunion).

6) Yogi Bear's Jellystone Resort at Six Flags
   Award-winning camp-resort.  Free six-flags St. Louis tickets with
minimum stay.
   5300 Fox Creek Rd.
   Eureka, MO
   636-938-5925 or 800-861-3020
   Rate: $24.95-$44.95