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 The 5th
Reunion of the 6/27th Artillery Vietnam was once again
held at the Flamingo Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas,
Nevada on September 19 and 120, 2012.
The photo above shows those attending.
This year's reunion brought many last minute
cancellations due to health-related issues for five
Cannon Kings and one for a family death. Don Clay
and Pat Jessup, Berry Watson, Jan and Shelby Askman, Jim
and JC Fillerup and Pedro Agosto were all planning to
attend but were forced to cancel. They were all
missed by those attending as well as those who were
long-time attendees who did not attend this year.
The
Reunion's unofficial start began in the Flamingo
Garden Bar on Tuesday, 9/18 where early arrivers met at
7:30 p.m. for drinks and conversation until well past
11:00.
 Registration began on Wednesday at
12:00 noon in the Flamingo Carson Room, instead of the
scheduled Red Rock Room, due to a broken water main that
flooded the Red Rock Rooms where we met in 2010.
Here in the Carson Room, a Reception with a cash bar was
held from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. This was a great
opportunity for those attending to greet old friends and
to meet and get to know those attending a reunion for
the first time. As with each previous reunion the
dynamics for this reunion were different. The
friendliness and good spirit among all those attending
was quite evident. One first-time attendee wrote
later they felt like they had been among family and old
friends!
View Reception photos here.
 Those
attending had their Thursday daytime to enjoy Las Vegas,
gamble or get together for more comradeship and
friendship renewal. Las Vegas' famous breakfast
buffets were enjoyed by many. Some veterans did
the Hoover Dam tour while others visited other
attractions. A number chose to spend some of their
afternoon in the Flamingo outside
patio bar area enjoying each other's company.
 The Banquet Dinner was held in the
Flamingo Mesquite Room on Thursday, September 120, 2010.
The Flamingo staff once again provided a great meal with
excellent service. By tradition the program was informal
with a welcome from John Wavra with a benediction by
former Canon King and Navy Chaplin, Tom Atkins.
This year those in attendance took a walk down memory
lane when a video of the first four reunions was shown.
Those who have attended previous reunions watched
themselves grow old over the last ten years. Like
to see the Past Reunions video?
Click Here (Playing time 14:55)
After dinner the room was called to
order and
Fallen Comrades and Friends not present were
remembered with a moment of silence after their names
were read aloud and a toast offered by Les Higa to their
memory. The traditional "Fallen
Comrade" place was set at each table to remind each
of us how fortunate we all were to have made it back
from Vietnam and to be attending this reunion. It was
again pointed out that all of us have been fortunate to
live forty plus years longer than our comrades who gave
their lives in Vietnam.
View Dinner photos here.
Special toasts were offered to the
memory of
Larry Jameson, a story contributor to the
website. John Wavra told the group about his
special connection to Larry and how they both had hoped
Larry would attend a reunion.
Once again, as with previous reunions,
the floor was then opened to anyone who wanted to
relate a memory, tell a funny story or whatever, and
several Cannon Kings used this time to good advantage.
It was fun to listen to new and old stories. When the
last story was told the dinner was over and group photos
were taken. The 2012 Reunion, it was agreed by most
attending had been one of the best of the five!
Many thanks to all who attended and to everyone who
helped to make it the success that it was.
Hope to see you all in 2014! John Wavra
Sorry if you were unable to attend
this year's Reunion. There is no replacing the
actual experience of being there and meeting
fellow comrades and friends, but hopefully we can offer
you the next best experience through a short video.
Please click here to view the 2012 Reunion Video.
(Play time is 10:44)
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