March 2024
M T W T F S S
« Aug    
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031

Archives

Categories

(Updates) SAIGON KIDS™ REUNION 2020

Submitted by Frank Stoddard (ACS)

Reunion Time SignI am very serious.

In July of 2020, if I am still alive, I would be willing to host a Saigon Kids reunion in Cody Wyoming.

It is like such a perfect place. I love this place. It in my mind, is the heart of America!

Yea, do you have to think about this before you go there?

Yes, your folks had to do the same thing before they went to Saigon?

Cody is worth a Google from ya all!

If you think that is crazy, what about meeting fellow Saigon Kids™?

Please let me know what you think in the Comments section below.

Frank


Saigon Kids Reunion 2020 (Update September 27, 2019)

We now have 20 folks that plan/hope to be at Cody.

Of that group, my wife is still up in the air. Her Mom, who is 98 moved in with us after a fall two months ago. She is very dedicated to her Mom, which makes me proud, but she may not be able to make Cody.

Folks, so looking forward to the July 2020 full moon.

Please pass this update on to other via email and social media, etc.

Frank

Scroll down to view previous updates about this reunion.


Saigon Kids Reunion 2020 (Update September 11, 2019)

Well folks, we have seventeen people saying they plan on going.

I would like your input on one matter. I have been working on my old pickup for years and plan to take her to Cody. I bought her in Fort Sill in 1988 and my youngest named her Clunky.

I plan on writing the Cody 4th of July parade officials to see if we can get in the parade, rather then just watching.  Some folks could ride inside and in the back and some (not on walkers, LOL) could walk along and pass out candy. It is against the rules to throw candy. We could all dress  as Cowgirls and Cowboys. I think that would be fun.

Let me know what you think!

Hopefully my thought is just not a “pipe dream”.

Frank

P.S. Please pass on this update to others via email and social media etc.

Scroll down to view previous updates about the reunion.


Saigon Kids Reunion 2020 (Update August 29, 2019)

Small talk:
In planning for a reunion, certain things always come to mind.  How many people will come?  Where do we stay?  Should it be a fancy place or can we just make do? How expensive should we make it?  Do we need a banquet room?  Oh, and so many things go through the mind.

Now to be honest, my health is not as it used to be.. I get a little tired now and then, which at this point, goes with the territory.  I have pondered about having a reunion in Cody, Wyoming for next year. I did not want to use a lot of time on arranging events and collecting money and guessing on who would come.  I figured that I may lack the energy.  After you finish reading this, you will understand that these will not be an issue for this reunion.

Where:

Cody is about 45 miles due east of Yellowstone Park.  If you have not been through Yellowstone, now is your chance.  Cody is a cowboy town…well maybe now a tourist/cowboy (and cowgirl) town.  It is a lovely little spot and is very Western American.

I decided the reunion would take place on 4 July 2020  (actual dates 2 July to 5 July).  It will be crowded on that Saturday. Well “crowded” for Wyoming standards, but a fantastic parade will take place downtown and that night is a “full moon”  (All Saigon Kids Reunions have taken place on a full moon) with fireworks in the evening.
Getting to Cody:

Yellowstone Regional Airport is about 5 miles out from downtown.  Rental cars are available at the airport and there are various shuttle buses. This airport is served by Salt Lake City and Denver.

There are airports in Idaho Falls, Bozeman and Billings, but then you will certainly need a car.  Billings Airport is about 110 Miles from Cody, which is about a two-hour drive.

Driving through Wyoming is spectacular.  You will see antelope roaming a lot of open land. If you drive up through southwestern Wyoming, drive by the Grand Teton near Jenny’s Lake at Sunset.  Unbelievable! From the West, drive through Yellowstone (I believe you will be charged about $35 for an entrance fee) and the experience is well worth it.  Most of Wyoming has very little traffic, so you will make good time driving down their highways.  Yellowstone Park is the exception.  It is very slow and tons of traffic.

Things to do:

Go to Yellowstone and there are various tours available.  I recommend this before the reunion or after.

Buffalo Bill Center of the West with the cost being about $20 (I recommend seeing the whole museum).

Shops, cafes and bars in Old Cody.

Heart Mountain Interpretive Center. It is about 12 miles north of Cody and was one of 10 Japanese Relocation Centers back in WW II. (About $7.00).  We could car pool together for those interested.  It is worth seeing!

The one thing I would put on our agenda is the “Cody Cattle Company”.  It would consist of a buffet dinner followed by country singing group. If you had the desire, walk over to the rodeo (well worth seeing this world class event) after dinner and the music, it would cost $49 a person.  For just the dinner and music it would be $32.  I will call the Company and get it set up where we sit together.  You would then call and make your own reservation..  Don’t do it yet.  Also, the rodeo over that weekend may be a little different then normal.  It is then called the Cody Stampede Rodeo so I need to see if the cost is different. I will get back with you on this.

Places to stay:

Google Cody, Wyoming and look up Hotels/Motels.  They have many good ones.
All hotels have their unique qualities and vary in the star ratings.  Downtown hotels have the advantage of where you just walk out the door to shops and cafes that line the street.  The “Buffalo Bill’s Irma Hotel” is famous and old (1902) and right downtown.  The town of Cody does have Taxis and Ubers.

Activity Room:

Getting a place with an “Activity (Party) Room” where we can all meet up and visit whenever we want is so nice.  Finding a place with that room is always the hard part.  Do they have such a room, the cost, where is it, etc. is a challenge for the organizer.  Well for Cody, I’ve already rented an AirBnB. It is about 1 ½ miles north east of downtown.  The AirBnB will be open 24/7 if you want to meet folks, or have a drink or have Munchies.

Tentative Schedule:

2 July …Get-together in the evening at the AirBnB for drinks, munchies and conversation

3 July …Visit Heart Mountain (The Interpretive Center cost $7) in the Morning and those with energy, visit the Buffalo Bill Center ($20) in the afternoon.  That evening at 5:30 sharp we would all meet at the Cody Cattle Company for dinner, music and maybe the rodeo as an option.  The Cody Cattle Company is on the west end of town.

4 July  … meet on Sheridan Ave and watch the parade.  In the afternoon come to the AirBnB and we will all join in and cook our own Barbecue…cook hot dogs, burgers, etc.???  More about this later!  I still have to find out where the fireworks are that evening.

5 July would be nice to have a breakfast somewhere.  I have to work on that.  Again, the little town will be packed that week. Perhaps we can get some food and have it at the Airbnb.

I do not plan to collect activity fees for this reunion.  That makes it easy.  Get your own rooms in the place you wish to stay.

Cody is a hot spot in the summer and especially on July 4th.  I rented the AirBnB today.  Hotels/motels will start getting booked relatively early.

Bob Layson will post updates periodically on Saigon Kids American Community School web site.

I will also send out emails if I have your address.

The only thing requested from you is to send Bob and I an email if you plan to attend.  We can then update this list to let everyone else know who is coming.

Please give thoughts about the reunion plan.

Also, if you have a question, please ask me at
stoddardfrank@hotmail.com

P.S. If Bob shows up, I will ride a bull.

The Cody Cattle Company

Buffalo Bill Museum

Heart Mountain

Cody Stampede Rodeo

19 comments to (Updates) SAIGON KIDS™ REUNION 2020

  • Barbara L. Parker AKA Bootsie

    Sounds good to me. Being alive and well at that point sounds good to me. I wonder if my brothers would be interested? I wonder, I wonder. Count me in!

  • Jim Richards

    I could go to Cody in 2020. Sounds like a great place for a reunion – could be really fun!
    Jim Richards
    ACS 63-65, Class of ’65

  • Franklin Stoddard

    Thank you so much for your interest. Cody is next to Yellowstone Park. The scenery is beautiful and the folks are friendly. They have a terrific museum that you would not want to miss. One of the 10 Japanese-American Internment Camps is twelve miles north of Cody. I bet we could even find a place that played old “western” (not country and western) music. At this point, I have no idea what is the best way to get there. I would be driving the 1200 miles myself. Just a thought! You would not be sorry!

  • Frank – I’m in. The last time I was in Cody I was 19 years old. Went there to ride in the rodeo – bareback and saddle bronc, and bulls. Actually that was the 2nd time I rode the bulls and the last time. One of my classmates rode the bulls every chance he could. He went on to win the gold buckle in 1964. He was as crazy as the bulls. He’d break his arm then next week cut the cast off, wrap it with ACE bandages and ride the bulls again (usually breaking his arm again). He got me to ride them 2 times. That was enough for me. The bulls are crazy! My rodeo career was short lived. Started in fall of 1961 and ended in May of 1962. It was fun fun fun. Best part was the parties and the *cow girls* – LOL 🙂

    Meet me in Cody!

    Bob

  • Ruth Matteson Blackmore

    Frank,

    Hope we are all still alive by then!! Never been to Cody, but have been to Wyoming many times as my late husband’s family arrived in Wyoming in the early 1900’s to participate in the homesteader act in Lusk, Wyoming. Been to many a rodeo in Wyoming! Yes Bob, one has to be crazy to ride the bulls, etc, but the experience of the rodeo and the crazy cowboys was very exciting!

    Cody sounds like a good time. Keep us posted Frank.

  • Mary Lou Berven

    Cody sounds great to me. I have been there several times and have always enjoyed my visits. Frank is correct that Cody does feel like the heart of America. And for those of you who have not had the pleasure of visiting Yellowstone, this would be an ideal opportunity. It is my favorite national park, closely followed by Big Bend. I will keep open July 2020, Frank. Thank you for your enthusiasm!

  • Debby Twombly Samuelson

    Cody WY is a great place for a reunion. I look forward to reconnecting.

  • Sounds great. I haven’t been to Yellowstone since the Bicentennial. I would love to meet up in 2020.

  • Bobbie Sheehan Mauch

    Cody sounds great. We have a cabin in Island Park right out of Yellowstone Park. It would be in my part of the woods, Idaho is close. You could count on me and my husband. I am so excited. 2020 is coming soon. Love to all of you and a special thank you to Bob. Bobbie

  • MARILYN SNOW

    cody WY sounds off the beaten path, never been to WY and i’ve been just about everywhere so why not….no promises but I will start my ball rolling. i have spoken this week with TIM MALLOY and STEVE LUCAS, and passed the info along to them. ‘MARE” ACS 1963-1965

  • Mr. Carol aka Carl Cini

    Would love to go. Keep me posted cini39 [@} gmail.com

  • Kathy Fowler

    Arrived August 1964…left February 1965. Must of been 9th grade. Ann Winters showed me around. Loved Saigon, pizza , teen club, markets, parks

  • frank

    Saigon Kids Reunion 2020:

    Small talk:
    In planning for a reunion, certain things always come to mind. How many people will come? Where do we stay? Should it be a fancy place or can we just make do? How expensive should we make it? Do we need a banquet room? Oh, and so many things go through the mind.
    Now to be honest, my health is not as it used to be.. I get a little tired now and then, which at this point, goes with the territory. I have pondered about having a reunion in Cody, Wyoming for next year. I did not want to use a lot of time on arranging events and collecting money and guessing on who would come. I figured that I may lack the energy. After you finish reading this, you will understand that these will not be an issue for this reunion.

    Where:
    Cody is about 45 miles due east of Yellowstone Park. If you have not been through Yellowstone, now is your chance. Cody is a cowboy town…well maybe now a tourist/cowboy (and cowgirl) town. It is a lovely little spot and is very Western American.

    I decided the reunion would take place on 4 July 2020 (actual dates 2 July to 5 July). It will be crowded on that Saturday. Well “crowded” for Wyoming standards, but a fantastic parade will take place downtown and that night is a “full moon” (All Saigon Kids Reunions have taken place on a full moon) with fireworks in the evening.

    Getting to Cody:
    Yellowstone Regional Airport is about 5 miles out from downtown. Rental cars are available at the airport and there are various shuttle buses. This airport is served by Salt Lake City and Denver.
    There are airports in Idaho Falls, Bozeman and Billings, but then you will certainly need a car. Billings Airport is about 110 Miles from Cody, which is about a two-hour drive.
    Driving through Wyoming is spectacular. You will see antelope roaming a lot of open land. If you drive up through southwestern Wyoming, drive by the Grand Teton near Jenny’s Lake at Sunset. Unbelievable! From the West, drive through Yellowstone (I believe you will be charged about $35 for an entrance fee) and the experience is well worth it. Most of Wyoming has very little traffic, so you will make good time driving down their highways. Yellowstone Park is the exception. It is very slow and tons of traffic.

    Things to do:
    Go to Yellowstone and there are various tours available. I recommend this before the reunion or after.
    Buffalo Bill Center of the West with the cost being about $20 (I recommend seeing the whole museum).

    Shops, cafes and bars in Old Cody.

    Heart Mountain Interpretive Center. It is about 12 miles north of Cody and was one of 10 Japanese Relocation Centers back in WW II. (About $7.00). We could car pool together for those interested. It is worth seeing!

    The one thing I would put on our agenda is the “Cody Cattle Company”. It would consist of a buffet dinner followed by country singing group. If you had the desire, walk over to the rodeo (well worth seeing this world class event) after dinner and the music, it would cost $49 a person. For just the dinner and music it would be $32. I will call the Company and get it set up where we sit together. You would then call and make your own reservation.. Don’t do it yet. Also, the rodeo over that weekend may be a little different then normal. It is then called the Cody Stampede Rodeo so I need to see if the cost is different. I will get back with you on this.

    Places to stay:
    Google Cody, Wyoming and look up Hotels/Motels. They have many good ones.
    All hotels have their unique qualities and vary in the star ratings. Downtown hotels have the advantage of where you just walk out the door to shops and cafes that line the street. The “Buffalo Bill’s Irma Hotel” is famous and old (1902) and right downtown. The town of Cody does have Taxis and Ubers.

    Activity Room:
    Getting a place with an “Activity (Party) Room” where we can all meet up and visit whenever we want is so nice. Finding a place with that room is always the hard part. Do they have such a room, the cost, where is it, etc. is a challenge for the organizer. Well for Cody, I’ve already rented an AirBnB. It is about 1 ½ miles north east of downtown. The AirBnB will be open 24/7 if you want to meet folks, or have a drink or have Munchies. .

    Tentative Schedule:
    2 July…Get-together in the evening at the AirBnB for drinks, munchies and conversation
    3 July…Visit Heart Mountain (The Interpretive Center cost $7) in the Morning and those with energy, visit the Buffalo Bill Center ($20) in the afternoon. That evening at 5:30 sharp we would all meet at the Cody Cattle Company for dinner, music and maybe the rodeo as an option. The Cody Cattle Company is on the west end of town.
    4 July … meet on Sheridan Ave and watch the parade. In the afternoon come to the AirBnB and we will all join in and cook our own Barbecue…cook hot dogs, burgers, etc.??? More about this later! I still have to find out where the fireworks are that evening.
    5 July would be nice to have a breakfast somewhere. I have to work on that. Again, the little town will be packed that week. Perhaps we can get some food and have it at the Airbnb.

    I do not plan to collect activity fees for this reunion. That makes it easy. Get your own rooms in the place you wish to stay.
    Cody is a hot spot in the summer and especially on July 4th. I rented the AirBnB today. Hotels/motels will start getting booked relatively early.
    Bob Layson will post updates periodically on http://saigonkidsamericancommunityschool.mellowone.com/
    I will also send out emails if I have your address.

    The only thing requested from you is to send Bob and I an email if you plan to attend. We can then update this list to let everyone else know who is coming. Please give thoughts about the reunion plan. Also, if you have a question, please ask me at
    stoddardfrank@hotmail.com

    P.S. If Bob shows up, I will ride a bull.

    https://www.thecodycattlecompany.com/

    https://centerofthewest.org/explore/buffalo-bill/

    http://www.heartmountain.org/

    https://www.codystampederodeo.com/

  • Peter Brownell

    Really looking forward to it. Linda and I will be there. We are planning a few days in Yellowstone after the reunion. Looking forward to seeing everyone.

  • Susan Lindquist Glenn

    I am interested in the Cody Wyoming Twenty20 reunion. I live in San Diego California so it’s not very far! Keep the updates coming please.
    Thx, Susan

  • Franklin Stoddard

    In about two days I will give an Update. Yes, this reunion will take place. I am very excited about it.

  • frank

    Reunion: 2 July to 5 July 2020

    If you think you will come, PLEASE book a hotel room SOON! If you think you will, but not sure, book a room that has free cancelation. Rooms will get harder to find for Cody will be a very popular place during this week. Please let me know in an email if you sign up. Thanks

    2 July: Reception at the AirBnB (1531 Beck Ave, Cody, WY).

    3 July: Shop and tour area. Meet at 5:00 PM (sharp) at the Cody Cattle Company for dinner and live Cowboy Music. You can Call 1-307-272-5770 to make a reservation. Tell them you are with the Saigon Kid’s Reunion in order that they know to place you with our group. In late Spring 2020 I will also call them with all the names of folks that tell me that have signed up, so we can sit as a group. The dinner and music is $32.00 each.
    The plan is, for those that wish, to walk over to the radio. It is five-minute walk from where we eat. The rodeo tickets will not go on sale until 1 March 2020. I will keep you posted. Cody has a rodeo every night during the summer. The ones that are during the 4th of July week are called the Rodeo Stampede. This is when the “big” name riders show up. The cost should be about $20/$25 per person.

    4 July: Go to the Parade on Sheridan Ave (the main street in Cody) in the morning. We will have a Barbeque at the AirBnB that Afternoon and into the evening. There will be a full moon that night..

    5 July: a Farwell breakfast Sunday morning. Still to be decided whether to meet at a café or meet at the AirBnB.

    I plan to arrive in Cody on the 1st of July and leave on the 6th.
    stoddardfrank@hotmail.com

  • Frank

    I can not explain the sad, the emptiness I feel with Bob’s death. He reminds of our own time on earth. Our reunions are important for those of us see them as important. The 4th of July parade Applicants are still not available, nor has the Cody Stampede Rodin become available. I will give headship. If you want to come, you need to rent a hotel/motel room soon. Now, this evening, hearing about Bob, I lite our wood stove. I have sat for hours sipping on Johnny Walker Black. No music, just quite, a warm fire, smooth whiskey and many memories slowly going through my mind.

Leave a Reply to Mr. Carol aka Carl Cini Cancel reply

You can use these HTML tags

<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>

  

  

  

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.