2007 DUSTOFF Reunion

If you'd like to have your reunion photos included, send them to photo@dustoff.org. Please label who the folks are in the photo and from what year reunion they are from.

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Saturday Professional Meeting was well attended – a video was provide by Pat Fries of Arrowhead films of the 57th inactivation – what a great show – sad – but great –

http://www.arrowheadfilms.com/57th.html

The business meeting  adopted several items for work:
1. Egor’s proposals were adopted – so we are going to begin to work on some linkages with the new “Charlie” companies to like them to their “lineage” – we will also begin to work on an educational brochure to inform new members what a DUSTOFF Unit does and what the history and lineage means to them – we will try to figure out how to help retain the call-sign DUSTOFF as well.

2. We began our “repay” program – we need about 75 men with $100 – this will repay our savings for money spent to start the Scholarship and to provide coins for returning units – I got $1,050 from the first ten men/women with $100 –

3. We passed the resolution to change to “ALL Life Membership” – there will be no more annual dues paying memberships – a new version of the constitution will be out shortly

4. We elected LTC Bob Mitchell as our next VP – he is on this email string. We did NOT elect a secretary – there were no nominees nor volunteers. (this is NOT good)

The Awards ceremony was one of the most moving and memorable I have ever participated in. What a great group of winners – these soldiers we honored are the best America has to offer – they were articulate, humble and proud DUSTOFFers. Germany flew the 159th winners in and Fort Hood provided funds for the C-2/4 folks (old 507th) – Judy Craig the widow of SSG Heathe Craig accepted the trophy on behalf of her husband who was killed in Afghanistan – MAJ Rob Howe spoke on her behalf. Mike Novosel Jr. did a great job introducing Jason DiDonato our first Aviator of the Year – and Jason simply “nailed” with his three reasons why he returned to Iraq after taking a 50-cal round through the chest – And Egor did a marvelous job accepting his induction into the Hall of Fame. It was a great day.

The dinner/dance was fun and lively and the One-man Band was totally entertaining. Thanks Joe Madrano for fixing that up.

We raised over $1250 during the raffle – after expenses we have $1000 to add to our memorials/scholarship funds.