The 2004 Kelsey Kindred Annual Reunion
On the bright, sunny weekend of September 10 - 12th, 2004, 64 adults and children, all members of the Kelsey Kindred, met in Gettysburg, PA for our Annual Business Meeting and Reunion.
We began gathering on Friday afternoon with registration in the Hospitality Room at The Best Inn. For the attendees' enjoyment, on display around the room were several Civil War items and documents, namely a school project put together by Samuel Hall about his Civil War ancestors. Thank you to all members who provided items for the displays. We also enjoyed 'hardtack and coffee' along with other 'themed' snacks and beverages prepared by Krista Carter Shaffer. Midway through the evening we held our annual meeting followed by our raffle. We adjourned early so members could be well rested for the full-day of activities ahead on Saturday.
Our busses arrived promptly at 8:30 AM and by 9 AM our two guides had been rounded up and we were on our way to listen and learn about the events surrounding the Battle of Gettysburg during the Civil War. As we traveled around the battlefield, one bus listened to Licensed Battlefield Guide (LBG) Sue Boardman who spoke to us about the stories surrounding the town's people, soldiers, animals, and other little-known, interesting facts and events that occurred during the battle days of July 1 - 3, 1863. Our other bus traveled the battlefield listening to LBG Tom Vossler who provided us with the military insights and aspects of the battle. After a short lunch break we traded guides and boarded our busses for the afternoon, meeting back at the motel around 4:30 PM. By 5:30 PM we were ready to be bussed to the Dobin House, where we posed for our annual photo session and then enjoyed a buffet style dinner and dessert. After dinner our busses showed up, once more, to return us to the motel. By now we felt we had really gotten to 'know' our bus drivers and were calling them by their first names! The rest of the evening was spent in our hospitality room socializing, reviewing and reminiscing about the day's stories and activities, playing our annual 'Trivia' game (my how smart we were...everyone seemed to have answers!), and our other raffle.
Sunday morning began normally but soon it became evident things were about to take an abrupt turn-a-round -- the 'gas hose' for the gas grilles got left at home, we blew electrical circuits after switching to the electric grilles and fry pans, we even had to put the stovetop into service and began cooking out of one of the rooms. We all pulled together and, just as expected, our members were seated and enjoyed a 'Pancake & Sausage' breakfast hosted by the board members of The Kelsey Kindred. During breakfast we were visited by Rev. Roy Frampton (LBG), dressed in period clothing, who provided us with our Sunday morning service, Civil War style. The balance of the day on Sunday was left open for each family to enjoy. Some revisited the battlefield, some the cemetery, some visited other local shops, museums and attractions, while others began their trips home. A small handful extended their weekend through Monday before heading back home, ahead of the onslaught of hurricane Ivan.
Thank you to our Civil War Soldiers (Sam & Jay Hall, Kasey Shaffer, and Cameron & Garrett Carter) and our 'Belles' (Johcelyn Shaffer & Mikenna Pozzi), who dressed in period clothing at various times during the weekend to provide a little additional 'spirit'. Thanks to all of you who attended the reunion and to those who didn't, why not join us in 2005?
….ooOOoo…
REUNION ATTENDEES FOR GETTYSBURG, PA SEPT 10-12, 2004
William, Anita & April BELCHER, CLINTON CT
Howard and Nancy BOWMAN, SOUTHINGTON, CT
Kathleen & Paul BRANDA, NEW YORK, NY
Kenneth & Paula CARTER, CORNING, NY
Krista CARTER, OWEGO, NY
Johcelyn, Kasey SHAFFER, OWEGO, NY
Mikenna POZZI, OWEGO, NY
David GABER, CENTERVILLE, VA
John GABER , MANASSAS, VA
Scott GABER, FREDERICKSBURG, VA
Deron, Lori, Garrett, & Cameron CARTER, WHITNEY POINT, NY
James CLARK, PLAINFIELD, NJ
Jennifer and Stephen CUMMING, MAMARONECK, NY
Albert and Virginia DANIELS, MAMARONECK, NY
Alice FLANAGAN, CLINTON, CT
Lynn Gorecki and David TENDLER, GUILFORD, CT
Suzanne, Johnathan, Samuel & Jared HALL, NORTH GRANBY, CT
Mary Lou HESS & Tom Van Decar, SALINE, MI
Carl & Sadie KELSEY, FARMVILLE, VA
