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A3ADV reunion on hold until Spring 2022

A3ADV Reunion Upate:

Aboutface on Covid restrictions puts reunion on hold

My Fellow Spearheaders:

As you know, we had just finally fixed dates for our next reunion; secured a replacement hotel after the original one closed; secured a number of spectacular venues for ceremonial events; and confirmed a number of notable speakers with close ties to the Division. Based upon initial feedback after the dates and hotel were announced, we also know that there is pent up energy and demand for this reunion from you, our members.

Unfortunately, just as we had put the print newsletter to bed, the specter of COVID-19 once again reared its ugly head with adverse consequences for our reunion plans. In the last several days, we have learned about the re-imposition of COVID-19 masking and social distancing restrictions at all of the venues that we will frequent during the reunion -- including the hotel, the US Army Museum, the Women’s Military Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, and the Pentagon. Ironically, this is the exact same situation that existed last year when we decided to reschedule the reunion.

Following much discussion among the Board as well as interaction with groups of members to determine their enthusiasm for a reunion which would be fundamentally different from past reunions because of these COVID-19 restrictions, the Board has reluctantly decided to reschedule the fall reunion to spring 2022.

There were a number of factors that went into this decision, which included reluctance of many members to commit to the reunion if COVID restrictions were in place; uncertainty over the very real possibilities of venue closures in the immediate future; concern over the financial exposure to our members if there had to be a last-minute cancellation; and the ultimate financial risk taken by the Association, which always has to underwrite the final cost of any reunion.

Personally, like many of you, I am extremely disappointed in this situation since I was hoping that we were returning to normalcy and the reunion would ring in the new normal. I miss seeing old friends, colleagues and comrades and it’s simply a damn shame that we have reached this point once again.

However, as we know from the familiar song, “the Army goes rolling along” and so does your Association. In lieu of this year’s reunion, we intend to conduct at least three “virtual reunions” by Zoom meetings during November. During those meetings, we will conduct our Annual Membership Meeting as well as pay tribute to comrades who have fallen during the past two years in the traditional “missing man table” ceremony. Details on these events will be forthcoming in the next several weeks.

In the meantime, I hope that you all will be healthy and safe until our paths can cross again.

Spearhead!

Don Duckworth, President