The 1^st Signal Brigade Association hosted its 2012 Reunion in Colorado Springs, Colorado beginning on Thursday, September 6^th through Sunday, September 9, 2012.  This was the Association’s 8^th reunion since 1995.  The reunion took place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, just north of Fort Carson. 

While the Association has hosted many great reunions in the past, attendees said that the 2012 reunion in Colorado Springs surpassed all to date.  Here are some of highlights of this reunion:

• Eighty-two former members of the 1^st Signal Brigade participated, including vets from both Vietnam and Korea.  With their spouses and guests, we had 151 attend the Saturday evening banquet dinner at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

• Each attendee received a Welcome Packet, which included a welcome letter from John Hickenlooper, Governor of Colorado, and letters from the City of Colorado Springs and the Colorado Springs Visitor Information Center.

• The Association conducted 5 optional tours during the reunion period to popular Colorado Springs’ sites including the USAF Academy, the US Olympic Training Facility, Pikes Peak, Garden of the Gods, the M Lazy C Ranch, and the Edelweiss Restaurant (for Friday’s Association Business Meeting/Dinner).

• At Friday’s Business Meeting/Dinner, 120 members and guests heard LTG Peter Kind (US Army – Ret.), Chairman of the Association discuss the many activities of the Association, its charitable giving and the benefits of membership.  Rich Lindekins, a Brigade vet and member of the Association, briefed attendees on the Association’s September 2013 trip to Vietnam and Korea.  Rich help organize the upcoming trip based on his five trips to Vietnam over the past few years.

• Our guest speaker for the banquet dinner on Saturday, September 8, 2012 was Colonel E. Deedrick, US Army, the Commanding Officer of the 10^th Special Forces Group (Airborne).  He addressed some of the unique challenges in preparing Special Forces soldiers and units for mission deployment.

• In addition, Colorado State Representative Mark Waller welcomed attendees and introduced the guest speaker.  The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs Army ROTC Mountain Ranger Battalion provided the Color Guard for the event.  Colonel Gaylord E. Hatler (US Army - Ret.), a resident of Colorado Springs, was the Chaplain for the dinner.