Atlanta Airborne Awards Festival By Ken Hamill
June 2013
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Vol. 8 No. 2
Atlanta Airborne Awards Festival
By Ken Hamill I arrived at the Atlanta Airport Marriott on Wednesday 1:00 PM and was informed that self parking for those attending the airborne awards festival was free. The attendant unloaded us in a friendly and efficient manner and took the luggage cart to the lobby while I parked the car. The front desk called to verify that the room was up to my liking. I asked for a fridge & more towels and soon had them. We unpacked and headed downstairs to register with the host Atlanta Chapter. Annette Purcell and P.E. Wolfe worked registration and were very courteous as they did their thing. Isaac Epps was a great help to anyone needing help. We visited the PX and Minnie from Texas had lots of nice things. Her vast collection of pins representing every branch of service drew a lot of customers. We saw perhaps 40 to 50 airborne connected people in the hotel the first day. The hospitality room was open for folks to come and go at their leisure. About ten men and women worked the hospitality room. They kept the tables provided with snacks, ice on the soft drinks, tended bar and served us food and drinks. They had draft and canned beer, wine, booze and soft drinks to go with the snacks. At 5:00 PM they brought out the evening meal. Mostly sandwiches made of meat, cheese, and a few mixed things on rye, or white bread and croissants. We enjoyed the company of Jim and Jerry Strickland and several new friends. I also spent some time with Bill Patenaude who was my point man for a while in Vietnam, when I was a Platoon Sergeant in Delta Company, 3rd Bn, 173d Airborne Brigade. It was a good evening and we stayed until around 8:00 PM. I took a bunch of photos. We took friends to the Memorial Luncheon on Thursday. There were a couple dozen people at cocktail hour just prior to the official gathering. The Marriott prices were very high at their portable bar: $7.50 for a highball, $7 for wine, $5.50 for a beer and $4.00 for a glass of...
...ginger ale. About 70 people attended the luncheon which started at noon. Atlanta Chapter Chairman Gil Gilliland introduced special Guests and Pastor Ogy Sneidze explained the missing man table and performed the invocation. The meal of fruit, chicken, asparagus, rice, dessert and coffee was very good. A candle lighting ceremony followed. Volunteers were introduced and they moved to the front of the room to light a candle. Each candle represented a war or conflict where paratroopers made the ultimate sacrifice, WWII to the present. On command, the Fort Benning Color Guard retrieved the Colors. Ogy Sneidze then gave the closing prayer. It was a very solemn ceremony and a memorial luncheon to remember. We gathered at a salon room for a class about "sequestration" ? meaning the military would save money in every way possible. The planes would fly less, the paratroopers would jump less, and the soldiers in training would shoot less. We then received a briefing about the duties of the 82 Airborne Division. A briefin DVD had been sent to Atlanta from Fort Bragg. The Colonel at Bragg spoke to us on a phone hookup while Gil Gilliland monitored and asked questions. The supper meal was a mix of sandwiches & salads. On Friday, most people attending took the bus to Benning for the airborne demonstrations. We looked around Atlanta. We caught the free Marriott shuttle to the Airport. Bought a Breeze Card and caught a MARTA train for the 35 minute ride to Lenox Square and Lenox Mall. It was a $6 round trip. The Friday supper was Chick - Fil - A sandwiches with chips, dip, olives, pickles, beer, wine and a lot of good hearted conversations. Saturday breakfast, I ate at the main bar and eatery where they featured an excellent buffet for $13.60 with senior discount. The 101st Abn Div briefing started at 10:00 AM. I was told the ladies brunch was a nice buffet followed by free Bingo with good prizes. It was a gorgeous day so we spent an hour or two sitting in the sun and reading by the pool...
Page 2, Devils Digest, June 2013
...The Saturday evening banquet was spectacular. It looked like 200 people attended. The men wore dress blues or civilian coat and tie. The ladies wore colorful dresses. Army people in attendance paid their own way, I'm told. It was a great roast beef dinner with all the trimmings. We had two Captains from the Airborne School at our table, they were women. Both were lovely and looked great in their dress blues. The guest speaker was LTG Allyn, CG of 18th Airborne Corps. General Allyn has made four stars and now commands U.S. Army Forces Command. FORSCOM is the Army's largest command. It was an excellent Airborne Fest in Atlanta. The dates for the next Atlanta Airborne Festival are 2-5 April 2014. I look forward to next year's Atlanta Airborne Festival, please join us!!!
Jerry Strickland lights a memorial candle
Gil Gilliland, Isaac Epps, P. Wolfe & Annette Purcell greeted and registered us when we arrived.
Rakkasan and Korea veteran, CSM Bob Gilbert received a ROK award presented by LTG Allyn
Memorial Luncheon candle lighters including Jim and Jerry Strickland wait their turn.
Airborne School CSM and Battalion Commander with LTG Allyn and Gil Gilliland
Page 2B, Devils Digest, July 2013
Atlanta Airborne Awards Festival Isaac Epps was very helpful
Atlanta Airborne Awards Festival Hospitality Room All volunteers were helpful and friendly
Atlanta Airborne Awards Festival Hospitality Room All volunteers were helpful and friendly
Atlanta Airborne Awards Festival Hospitality Room A great sign and the DI looks real
Atlanta Airborne Awards Festival Hospitality Room Jerry & Jim Strickland represent the 508 very well
Atlanta Airborne Awards Festival PX pin display Bill Patenaude point man D Co, 3rd Bn, 173 Abn Bde
Page 2C, Devils Digest, July 2013
82 Abn Div Assn President Harold Schroeder and his wife Edna in the Hospitality Room
The lovely Hospitality Room Volunteers prepare to serve Supper
The Atlanta Airborne Awards Memorial Luncheon Almeda Medlin, Nita and Pete Howard
The Atlanta Airborne Awards Memorial Luncheon The Strickland's are ready in coat and tie
The Atlanta Airborne Awards Memorial Luncheon Ogy Sneidze gives the invocation
The Atlanta Airborne Awards Memorial Luncheon This Gold Star Mother sat on the Dais
Page 2D, Devils Digest, July 2013
Atlanta Airborne Awards Memorial Luncheon Candle Lighting Ceremony
Atlanta Airborne Awards Memorial Luncheon A Rakkasan veteran does the honors
Atlanta Airborne Awards Memorial Luncheon Gil Gilliland does the honors
Atlanta Airborne Awards Memorial Luncheon A WW II veteran does the honors
Atlanta Airborne Awards Memorial Luncheon Isaac Epps does the honors
Atlanta Airborne Awards Memorial Luncheon Ogy Sneidze gives the closing prayer
Page 2E, Devils Digest, July 2013
Gil Gilliland prepares to give a class on "Sequestration"
Chow line in the Hospitality Room
Jim Strickland in the Hospitality Room
Jerry Strickland in the Hospitality Room
Gil Gilliland presents a class about the 101st Airborne Division
The Saturday Ladies Brunch was a fun time with Bingo, Door Prizes and good food
Page 2F, Devils Digest, July 2013
Atlanta Airborne Awards Festival Banquet
Atlanta Airborne Awards Festival Banquet
Atlanta Airborne Awards Festival Banquet Jeanie Adkins-Peine and Leon Peine
Atlanta Airborne Awards Festival Banquet
Atlanta Airborne Awards Festival Banquet Annette Purcell & Rock Merritt
Atlanta Airborne Awards Festival Banquet Bill Patenaude D Co, 3rd Bn Point Man on left
Page 2G, Devils Digest, July 2013
Atlanta Airborne Awards Festival Banquet
Atlanta Airborne Awards Festival Banquet Past 82 Abn Div Assn President Bill Eberle
Atlanta Airborne Awards Festival Banquet Two Airborne School Captains enjoy the fest
Atlanta Airborne Awards Festival Banquet Gil Gilliland and Ogy Sneidze
Atlanta Airborne Awards Festival Banquet W. Snow, Bob Gilbert & Pete Becerra
Atlanta Airborne Awards Festival Banquet
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