Sgt Grit Marine Forums

I really wish we could make it this year. I will have to see where things are around that time.

BamaMarine7276:

John Wear:

Reading of the Names
November 7-10, 2007
Vietnam Veterans Memorial 
The Reading of Names will take place for 65 hours over a 4-day period from November 7-10 during which approximately 2,000 Volunteers will read names as they appear on The Wall, chronologically by casualty date.  This will be the fourth time in The Wall's 25-year history that the names have been read aloud in Washington, D.C.

Wednesday, November 7	4:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.
Thursday, November 8	5:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.
Friday, November 9	5:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.
Saturday, November 10	5:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.

John, I've checked the VVMF website to see if they have the regisration forms posted yet,but didn't see them anywhere. Am I not looking in the right place? Just wondered cause as you know I plan to be in the Gritsters group reading the names that you will sign up, and I also hope to sign up and get a list with a specific name on it.

  Semper Fidelis,
     Chris

 

I got a reply to my inquiry while I was on vacation this week.  I am to check the website in a week or so.

Hey everyone the rooms have been set aside for us for the 9,10and 11 but I am still having  discussions with the head of sales about us using the Potomac Room for Friday and the small board room for Saturday. The other big group already has BOTH the Potomac room and the conference room booked for Saturday. As soon as she calls me be back on Monday and faxes me the contract to sign I will post here the details everyone will need. Thanks for your patience.

Alli,thanks for your work on this. I'm looking forward to be there again and seeing you again. Take care and God bless.

   Semper Fidelis,
      Chris

Okay this it it folks. The rooms are being held for Nov 9,10, and 11. Studios are $109. They have 6 of those. One bedroom is $139.00. They have 9 of those. They have been reserved for us under the Sgt Grit Group. BUT they want to charge us $75.00 for the use of the Potomac room on Friday and the same for the boardroom on Saturday. Since Bill did this last year there has been a change of policy. I have gone back and forth both with the head of sales and even the manager for the last three days and they will NOT budge. Even after I pointed out that we have been there for the past four or so years thay said that the Potomac room goes for $500 and because he saw that we had been there for a couple of years running  he would only charge us $75.00. I am just waiting now to see if you guys are okay with this. Let me know. The other group got BOTH the Potomac room AND the confrence room for saturday free only because they have booked over 100 rooms for the weekend. So let me know what everyone wants to do. I have done the best I could.

Alli:  Would you want to give the Iwo Jima motel (across the street from the Virginian Suites) a call to see if we can get a free meeting room with our hotel room block?  The 2 Bn / 9th Marines used to hold their reunions there until they had a flap with the motel management.  We may find a better deal there...especially since the VA Suites is so "fat and sassy." 

Sure I can try.

I checked and the rooms are available Bill but their confrence room has already been booked for those two night. They have a couple of large groups already booked.

Alli:

I checked and the rooms are available Bill but their confrence room has already been booked for those two night. They have a couple of large groups already booked.

 

I wouldn't have stayed there anyway.  The place is a dump, getting worse every year, and management of both the hotel and restaurant (conference room included), really SUCKS!  I have no problem ponying up a pro-rated share of whatever it might cost to get a room for each night at Va. Suites.  We should have enough people that the cost should be low anyway.  Actually it should be a requirement for all attending to pony up a few bucks to get those rooms.  Its an outstanding get-together and everyone that shows gets the advantages provided by having a place to celebrate and observe the Birthday and Veteran's Day together. 

Danny 

 

Danny

Danny having checked with my jobs booking agent even she said she has been doing this for over 20 years for the Kennedy Center at both small and large hotels and only if you book a very large number of rooms do you get those type of perks. She said the fact that they are only charging us $75. as opposed to the standard rate of $500 is saying alot.

Alli:

Danny having checked with my jobs booking agent even she said she has been doing this for over 20 years for the Kennedy Center at both small and large hotels and only if you book a very large number of rooms do you get those type of perks. She said the fact that they are only charging us $75. as opposed to the standard rate of $500 is saying alot.

 

Alli,

   I agree.  I used to book hotels and/or conference centers while still working for anywhere from 50-400 people.  Rarely did we get conference or meeting rooms on the house, and that usually happened when the numbers were in the hundreds of people attending, and that's when the rooms were for business, NOT pleasure, as our event is.  I think $75 each night is an outstanding deal.  I'm a 2/9er and don't have to worry about this a whit since I could easily use the other rooms along with them for nothing, but still have no issue helping pay for these rooms as small as the amount would be if each of us chipped in.  If we only get 20 people, and I expect a lot more than that this year, it's only $7.50 a head.

Danny

I know everybody would like to "party" where their hotel room is, but I will throw out the offer we threw out last year----since we are local we dont mind holding the festivities here if we cant get a room booked for it.

Just a thought... and trying to help in any way we can.

Heather, thats a great offer BUT youknow SOME of us drink a bit and would not need to be out on the road to drive back to the hotel.

 

I  have no problem kicking in my part for the rooms. It is worth it to have a nice place to be together.

 

Thanks again Alli! Good job......I got your message today but will be out for part of the evening.

 

I have no problem with paying for the party rooms. I'd guess that one of us will have to initially foot the bill to reserve the party rooms and then have everyone else pay us back,cause there's no way they(hotel management) are going to take $5-$10 at a time from each of us until the party room fee is paid.

I still don't know what dates I'll be there as I still don't know what dates I'll be involved in the reading of the names on The Wall. It could be as early as Nov 7th or as late as Nov 11th.

As soon as I know that I'll call and make my reservations and will gladly pay the party room fee and let yall pay me back when you get there.Just let me know what party rooms I'm suppose to get and for how much.

  Semper Fidelis,
    Chris

I agree with the consensus thus far.  I'm happy to chip in to rent the rooms.  And you've done a great job Alli!

Okay so I will have the sales rep fax me over the contract tomorrow and then will post when everyone can start calling in.

Yeah!!!!   I will start practicing doing Hot Damns.... Not like Barb does them in DC though!!!   Of course I will chip in for the room and snacks etc...  I'll start checking out airline prices too,  I hope we get a bunch of folks from the PNW to show up. 

Top:

Yeah!!!!   I will start practicing doing Hot Damns.... Not like Barb does them in DC though!!!   Of course I will chip in for the room and snacks etc...  I'll start checking out airline prices too,  I hope we get a bunch of folks from the PNW to show up. 

And what do you mean " like BARB DOES THEM"  Who do we have a picture of doing a B J  two years ago? Its NOT  Momma Barb!!!!!!!

Hot Damns just come natural Tracy. We don't practice them

 

Great job Alli....

Okay everyone here goes: Starting TOMORROW after 12noon EST you may call in to the Virginian Suites to make your room reservations. The number is 1-800-275-2866 or via e-mail if you like at reservations@virginiansuites.com. Please be SURE to tell them you are with the Sgt Grit Group. Rates are $109. for studio,. They have 6 of those. And $139 for One Bedroom. They have 9 of those. These rooms are for the 9 and 10th of November only. Checking in is at 3:00pm and checking out is at 12noon. I have secured the Potomac room for us Friday night and the boardroom for Saturday night in my name. Parking will be $7.00. After Oct 10 2007 all rooms that have not be reserved will be released for general sale. Also and this is something new everyone., in order to accommodate all guests wanting to stay at the Virginian Suites , they ask that ALL guests verify their departure date and notify their reservations department of any shedule changes at least 48 hours prior to arrival. Think I have it all folks. Any questions just post them or e-mail me at allibeth68@Yahoo.com and I will help in any way I can. Again thanks everyone for your patience.

Ooo-Rah Allibeth!!!

barbara:

Top:

Yeah!!!!   I will start practicing doing Hot Damns.... Not like Barb does them in DC though!!!   Of course I will chip in for the room and snacks etc...  I'll start checking out airline prices too,  I hope we get a bunch of folks from the PNW to show up. 

And what do you mean " like BARB DOES THEM"  Who do we have a picture of doing a B J  two years ago? Its NOT  Momma Barb!!!!!!!

DOING,  WHAT??????????????

LMAO!!

gonefshn:

barbara:

Top:

Yeah!!!!   I will start practicing doing Hot Damns.... Not like Barb does them in DC though!!!   Of course I will chip in for the room and snacks etc...  I'll start checking out airline prices too,  I hope we get a bunch of folks from the PNW to show up. 

And what do you mean " like BARB DOES THEM"  Who do we have a picture of doing a B J  two years ago? Its NOT  Momma Barb!!!!!!!

DOING,  WHAT??????????????

You just never know what you are going to miss out on by NOT being in D C with us

gonefshn:

barbara:

Top:

Yeah!!!!   I will start practicing doing Hot Damns.... Not like Barb does them in DC though!!!   Of course I will chip in for the room and snacks etc...  I'll start checking out airline prices too,  I hope we get a bunch of folks from the PNW to show up. 

And what do you mean " like BARB DOES THEM"  Who do we have a picture of doing a B J  two years ago? Its NOT  Momma Barb!!!!!!!

DOING,  WHAT??????????????

You just never know what you are going to miss out on by NOT being in D C with us

Dang, may be some year I'll get there.