While in Paris over Thanksgiving, I had dejeuner avec Jean-Claude a l'Hotel Marriott who looks wonderful, en pleine forme et de bonne sante.

He wanted to know about everyone's interest in another reunion in Orleans, and when I said it looked as though the idea was dying aborning, he threw out a terrific idea that may get us back on track.

He said he would be willing to act as liaison between us and le maire d'Orleans to see if he, the mayor, would be agreeable to erecting a commemorative plaque with a bit of history explaining the role of the US militaire and its contribution to Orleans during, quoi, 1954-1967. Jean-Claude also had the creative idea for us to hold our reunion in May so we could, with the support and agreement of Monsieur le maire, participate in the Jeanne d'Arc parade.

Jean-Claude made the interesting observation that many people in our old hometown are of such recent generations they have no idea we were even there.

Jean-Claude "arranges things between governments," as my brother Jon once put it, and as un avocat, Jean-Claude's legal negotiating still takes him to Africa where he's fluent in several languages.

Regarding our reunion, Jean-Claude is interested in contacting the mayor of Orleans to propose this idea and take the lead in what the plaque would say and how to maneuver through all the steps.

Just imagining this possibility, I invite anyone interested to begin thinking how we might have our fathers' contributions--and our own--remembered. If we begin now to discuss through email exchanges in shared broadcast, we have the luxury of having five months to plan.

Rick Negrete organized our first Orleanais reunion, and all of us riding on the bus from the Olivet side of the Loire remember the moment we collectively saw the stunning view of our charming, magical city, and spontaneously burst into tears.

Am smiling as I write, thinking of all the growing-up nonsense we got into and how that could be commemorated in a Bill Murray-Woody Allen film . . . and plaque?

By the way, "Midnight in Paris" was featured on the flight home, and I recommend it. Non-Orleans friends popped out of the woodwork to urge me to see it. Now, my second day back from Paris, am already taking steps to return.

Let's hear from each other!

Bisous,

Melissa             (Her email is KELLY90016@YAHOO.COM) 

                www.magnanpayne.com       
                www.zazzle.com/magnanpayne   
                www.fineartamerica.com/profiles/stan-magnan.html  

I am still on the Island of Providenciales (Provo), in the  Turks and Caicos Islands ...  since 1985.  I grow Palm trees and sell them to the hotels, condos, and whoever else wants them and has money......   www.sunshinenursery.tc

My hobby is old french cars, which I got hooked on while living in Orleans,  then later in Germany,  (Graduated K Town 1970)  and my first 17 cars were Peugeot 404's, I was buying them from german junkyards and fixing them up, a little then selling them to GI's and the green license plates..

I participate in many car rallies with these cars, now mostly Citroen Traction Avant,  I have 5 total,  2 in Australia, where we have done 4 major cross country rallies since 98,  I keep one in France, (we have a house in Aix en Provence), and have driven it to Moscow and St Petersburg,  then I have 2 here on Provo ..  hey the Island is 20 miles long.  That web site is:  http://mikegiese.wordpress.com/

This would be a great place for a reunion sometime in the middle of Feb. when its freezing up where you are,  check it out...  airport code is  PLS...   and plenty of airlines are flying here now...   not like when I got here...    when we were happy to have a couple charters a week....

Update on Agent Orange Claims for Veterans:

The Veterans Administration is required to look at cases submitted during the the period 25 Sep 1985 to 31 August 2010. There was a class action suit and you may find more information on this by googling "benefits to certain Nehmer class members" or contact a veterans organization for assistance.

Ischemic Heart Desease was added to the list of diseases related to Agent Orange. I believe there was approximately 11 million gallons of
agent orange dispensed in all 4 combat zones of Vietnam. To get consideration, whether a living veteran or survivor of a veteran, you must show proof that claimant was in Vietnam. A DD 214 or efficiency reports will do as well as medals.

In my case, Aubrey White, the Texas Veterans Commission has been a big help. Do not count on the VA helping you. Most states have a similar type state organization to help veterans. You may now also use civilian medical records as well as military medical records. There is potentially tens of thousands of dollars available per claimant, so it is worth investigating eligibility.

You may contact Aubrey White for more information if desired  
white@iat.utexas.edu or aubrey.white@mail.utexas.edu

What a coincidence - - Rusty and Nancy Ralston & Jim and Donna Christol happened to book the same river cruise/winery tour 4 June 2011. The cruise was up the Rappahonnack River to the Ingleside Winery. There was a good tour of the winery and lunch.  They had a nice little museum and of course a gift shop.  The wine tasting was popular with the four of us.  Rusty was well prepared on the boat with wine and cheese plus beer in his cooler.  Good time!

"Almost 62 in a few days.  Started a new career with a large Australian/USA firm not quite a year ago.  Am VP of MFG  with plants
located in FL, TX, CA, AZ, WA, CO, MO, NV, Mexico and Trinidad.  Couldn't take the retirement gig.  After getting about 5 handicap,
jumping in my pool, traveling lots, too much Crown Royal (much too early in the day)....etc......I decided to go back to work.  Best thing I ever
did.  I have an office in LA, Atlanta and Florida.  Life is good and I am very lucky.   Just got back from South Beach, Miami, last weekend.  I
have a factory just north of Miami.  I love Miami and love the beaches in Florida.  Once in awhile I think about how I got to the USA with $200 in my pocket and that is it.  After I graduated from OHS in Orleans, I left Belgium in Sept. 1967 by myself, having only been to the USA once for about 3 months in 3rd grade.   My grandfather in Liege, Belgium wished me well and then I left.  What a trip.  I got to Ohio and didn't
even know where that was.  Had to show my grandparents on a map.  And of course they could not pronounce Ohio correctly, nor could I.

PS: Bert Flannery----I was on the side of road between France and Germany when I saw you on your Honda with your parents following you as we were leaving France.  Won't tell you what I was doing on the side of the road..................unless you ask.

I head to Sacramento and San Fransico next week.

And this coming October/Nov I head back to Brussels, Paris, Orleans and then Bratislava, SK (where I worked).  Have already taken about 20+ of my USA friends over to Paris and Orleans over the last few years.  Been back many many times since I left Europe and while living Slovakia.  Have to get my Orleans fix.  Always!

And have a trip on the Siberian Express planned soon.  Moscow to Beijing.  Back pack, toothbrush..............and life!  Life begins at 60!!!!!

Dave------Anyway, hopefully one day we can have a reunion in Miami or TampaBay and I would be glad to make it happen.  Both places are great with many beaches.   Of course I prefer South Beach for many reasons.  And,  I think about Orleans lots."