The Hill 4-11 Association will hold its 23rd Reunion at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Pittsburgh - Green Tree - in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from Thursday, July 16 to Sunday, July 19, 2015.
Green Tree is approximately 3 miles from downtown Pittsburgh. The hotel recently underwent a 17 million dollar renovation. It features 7 stores, 465 guest rooms, 2 restaurants, fitness room, indoor/outdoor pool, and high speed internet. There is ample free parking in the 700 space lot. If you are travelling to the reunion by recreational vehicle, you may park it at the rear of the upper lot. Note: RV parking only allowed while you are a guest in the hotel. You are not allowed to stay in your RV.
The cost of the hotel is $109.00 + tax per night. The total cost, barring any tax increases is $124.26. This rate is valid for 3 days prior to the reunion to 3 days after the reunion. To make reservations call 1-800-222-TREE (8733). Be sure to say you are with the Hill 4-11 Association (convention code HLL) to receive the discounted rate. Note: There are several DoubleTree Hotels in the Pittsburgh area. We are at the DoubleTree Hotel-Green Tree.
If arriving by auto, with GPS, the hotel address is 500 Mansfield Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA.
When you arrive at the Pittsburgh International Airport, retrieve your luggage. Call the hotel front desk at 1-800-922-8400. When you check into the hotel make arrangements for your airport return. No charge for airport shuttle.
There are no scheduled activities on Thursday. The hospitality room will open about noon. After checking into the hotel, come to the hospitality room and pick up your registration packet. We will gather in the hospitality room to meet fellow Hill 4-11 veterans.
On Friday morning we will board motor coaches and travel to the Flight 93 Memorial in Shanksville, PA for our memorial service. Departure from the hotel at 8:30 am. The National Park Service has allocated a specific time for our service. We must be punctual.
After the service there will be time to visit this moving memorial to the victims of September 11. Note: you have probably learned from the news media of a recent devastating fire at the Flight 93 Memorial. The fire was actually at the park headquarters buildings, two miles from the memorial site. Some irreplaceable artifacts were lost, however there was no damage to the memorial or the visitors center.
On our return trip to the hotel we will stop at the Oakhurst Tea Room for a buffet lunch. We will arrive back at the hotel at approximately 5:00 pm.
During the day on Saturday, you may choose from several downtown destinations or explore on your own. Bus transportation from the hotel to 3 downtown destinations is offered. The exact schedule has not been finalized, tentative schedule is to spent 6 hours downtown, returning to the hotel by 3:00 pm. Cost for bus transportation is $12 per person.
The buses will transport passengers to:
The buses will move between the locations (details not final). You may choose to spend some time at the Rivers Casino, then visit another location.
The casino features over 2,900 slot machines, more than 100 table games, including a 30 table poker room. It has nine bars and restaurants. Adjacent to the casino is the Carnegie Science Center. If you are travelling with children, this museum is the place to visit. It features hundreds of hands on exhibits. It has a large model train display and an actual cold war era submarine open for tours.
Station Square is a 52 acre river front complex in a restored train station. It features shopping and dining. It is also the location of Just Ducky Tours. Just Ducky Tours is a one hour narrated tour through the streets and rivers of downtown Pittsburgh. Passengers ride in a WWII amphibious vehicle that goes from street to river and back to street. We will need to provide Ducky Tours with approximately how many people will be going. If you want to go on the tour indicate so on the reunion registration form, but do not send any money for the tour. The cost is dependent on the number of passengers. Anticipated cost is approximately $20.
Also, available at Station Square is the Monongahela Incline. This incline railcar transports passengers to the top of Mt. Washington for a birds eye view of Pittsburgh and the three rivers. It is a popular tourist attraction and also transports thousands of commuters each day.
The Strip District is a dining and shopping venue. It is so named because it is located on a strip of land sandwiched between the Allegheny River and a mountain. The buses from downtown will return to the hotel at approximately 3:00 pm.
The business meeting will at 5:00 pm. Immediately following the business meeting, there will be a social hour (cash bar). The buffet dinner will be served at 6:30 pm. Music will be played until 11:00 pm.
The buffet dinner menu is as follows: Green garden salad bar, roast beef with Bordelaise sauce, baked herb chicken, baked fish, roasted red-skin potatoes, broccoli-carrot-cauliflower medley, rolls and butter. Desserts are chocolate cake, apple pie, and berry pie served with coffee or iced tea.
Children's Menu (under age 12): Chicken fingers, French fries, and apple sauce.
Time to say farewell until Cody in 2017. Stop by the hospitality room for goodbyes and pick up your photo albums, etc.
The cost for Friday and Saturday activities is $83.00 for adults and $44.00 for children under the age of 12, (children's meal).
For those unable to attend both day's events, contact Dick Hill for individual event pricing.
2015 reunion registration forms will be in the February newsletter. However, you may make your hotel reservations at any time. See you in July!
Please fill out the on-line Reunion Registration Form. Return the completed form with payment to Dick Hill. Make checks payable to Hill 4-11 Association. All money paid, reunion, dues, raffle tickets, contributions to Scholarship and Walker funds may be included on one check.
NOTE: This Reunion Registration Form is for association use only. You must make your room reservations directly with the hotel.
For more information, contact Dick Hill at Ffdh749@aol.com.
The following is a list of those who completed Reunion Attendance Form on-line or mailed a Reunion Registration Form to Dick Hill, indicating that they plan to attend the reunion:
