We practiced Friday morning and
afternoon and had a great cocktail party at the Marriott Courtyard on Friday night.
Saturday morning we met at the Armory for some early marching, culminating in the
dedication of a PDT plaque.
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The Legacy plaque
Ron Neubauer made an inspiring speech covering the
history and legacy of the Team.
Speaking of the Team's legacy was particularly
poignant at this reunion because it may be the last time the Armory is available for
PDT reunions and marching. President Mitch Daniels had recently announced that
there were plans afoot to repurpose the Armory. Some of the possible uses mentioned
were another food court or administrative spaces. One wishes that the Armory had
been put on the National Register of Historic Places to insulate it from such a
fate. Hindsight tells us that perhaps we should have initiated such an effort.
Saturday afternoon's drill concluded with a “last pass.” Steve Edwards commanding,
PDT and PDTA members formed up and made a “last pass” on the drill deck where we spent
so many hours. There were more than a few damp eyes.
PDT & PDTA's last pass in the Armory
PDT & PDTA members
PDT & PDTA members and their families.
Saturday night we met at Mountain
Jacks for the banquet where we presented Dave Snyder with a miniature replica of the
National Drill Meet Washington Monument trophy for his outstanding job organizing this and
prior reunions. Larry Hutson made the trophy as he had done for Lyle Lockwood and Bill
Holder for their work on the Team's Legacy Scrapbook.
This was the best attended reunion since our first in 2001. Seventy marchers and spouses
attended the reunion and ninety attended the Legacy plaque dedication. The Legacy plaque
dedication was undoubtedly a big draw for this reunion.
Sunday was a goodbye & farewell at Marilyn & John Weilbaker's home featuring a
BBQ'd pig, loads of Hoosier side dishes and their famous Bloody Marys.
We may not have the Armory in 2021 but we plan to have another reunion.
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