The date of the reunion is set for October 5th (Sunday) - 8th (Wednesday), 2008.  The reunion home will be on the shores of the Mississippi River at the Stoney Creek Inn in Moline, Illinois.  Room price is $89 per night plus tax, and that includes breakfast.  Reservations are now being taken.  Remember to mention that you are with the Noxubee Reunion.  Their website is: http://www.stoneycreekinn.com/locations/index.cfm?LocationID=10.

Marilyn and I have been busy planning the 2008 Nouxbee Reunion to be held in the Quad Cities, USA (Moline, Illinois), October 5^th – 8^th. The site for the reunion will be the Stoney Creek Inn, Moline Illinois. This is a small cozy inn right on the shores of the Mississippi whose staff is excited about having the Shipmates call this their reunion home.

You can now make your reservations by calling Stoney Creek at 1-800-659-2220 and press #4 for the QC Location. You can also call direct at 1-309-743-0101. Mention that you are with the USS Noxubee to get the Reunion room rate of $89. This rate includes an "expanded" continental breakfast that includes hot items such as French toast and biscuits and gravy.

Festivities start on Sunday, at 3:00 in the Stoney Creek "John Deere Room" which will be our "Old Salt Gathering Place" for the 2008 Reunion. Hors D’ Oeuvres and beverages will be available as we greet shipmates that come from near and far, renew old friendships or make new friendship with other shipmates who have had the honor of serving on the USS Nouxbee. We will then gather for an opening banquet to celebrate us coming together once again.

There is so much to see and do around the Quad City area it was difficult to decide what to show you as a group. Since Moline is home to John Deere Corporation, on Monday we will be "Experiencing John Deere." Plans are being finalizes but on our list is visits to:

The John Deere Commons - This area includes the Pavilion - that showcases an array of John Deere equipment. The Collector Center – which is a restored 1950’s Deere Dealership complete with a working repair shop (with ongoing restorations) and a display floor of vintage tractors and of course the John Deere Store with everything John Deere Green.

Deere Home – We will be visiting one of the two preserved Deere homes in Moline. See where the Deere family lived and entertained in grand style.

TPC at Deere Run - This 170 acre wooded site had been home to the PGA Tour "John Deere Classic" since 2000. We will be enjoying lunch in the Club House, which overlooks the course and have a chance to purchase items in the TPC Pro Shop.

Harvester Works or World Center Tour – This is still in the planning stage but we are trying to get a tour of the J D Harvester Works where the Maximizer combine is being built. The tours are limited and reservations cannot be made more than 6 months in advance but we will try for a spot on the calendar. If this cannot be reserved we will go to the J D World Center.

 

On Tuesday morning we will be visiting the Rock Island Arsenal. This historic military instillation was established by an act of congress in 1862.  The arsenal has been an active manufacturer of military equipment and ordnance since the 1880s.  Diverse products have been produced here included leather horse equipment, meat cans and canteens, paper targets, artillery recoil mechanisms and carriages, and the Model 1903 rifle.

A tour guide from the RI Arsenal Historic Society will board our coach for a driving tour of the Island where we will view the manufacturing areas, historic sites such as the clock tower building, national and confederate cemeteries, and see Quarters One, which is the second largest government owned home in the US. (Only the White House is larger).

Stops on this tour will include:

The Rock Island Arsenal Museum - which is the Second oldest Army Museum in the US where there are over 1100 weapons and military memorabilia on display. The Rock Island Arsenal Museum was established on July 4, 1905.  It is the second oldest US Army Museum in the United States.  

On Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday, no formal activities have been scheduled to allow free time to choose optional sites around the QC. Some possibilities are a visit to Andress' Prairie Rose Farm for a hayrack ride and prairie tour. Other activity possibilities are trips to places such as the Putnam Museum, and the Field of Dreams movie site (93 miles from the motel). Or you can just sit around the "Old Salt Gathering Place" and visit.

Closing banquet and ceremony will be held in the evening on Wednesday.

We hope these tours will give you a taste of what’s available in the Quad Cities. We are looking forward to having many Nouxbee shipmates join us for these four days of fellowship, reminiscing, seeing old friends and making new Nouxbee friends.

Looking forward to seeing you in October.

Don & Marilyn Andress

     
                             Quad City, Illinois
Click on the picture below for a tour.

       Check the online March '08 Newsletter for more information.
m