August 2011
By Judy Hitchings, F93640
To celebrate our 25th anniversary as an FMCA chapter, the Heartland Execs. gathered for a rolling rally through Oklahoma and Missouri beginning on May 12, 2011. Under the guidance of veteran rally master John Knott, we began the festivities at Twin Fountains RV Resort in Oklahoma City, with attendees coming from as far away as New York. As usual, our first activity was happy hour followed by a Cajun dinner prepared by our resident Cajun, Marlene Harner, and rally chef John Knott. Everyone enjoyed the meal and the opportunity to catch up since our last get-together.
The next day we enjoyed morning coffee and pastries before departing for the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. For some of us it was a second visit, but just as humbling as the first. The Oklahoma City bombing on the morning of April 19, 1995, has made us all more aware of how quickly life can change. Most of us ate lunch near the memorial and spent the afternoon browsing the area. That night we enjoyed a wonderful dinner at The Petroleum Club.
On Saturday some folks tested their luck at the casino, while others toured Bricktown or the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. After a pitch-in dinner, many visited the Oklahoma City Memorial after dark. What a breathtaking experience to walk between the 9:01 and 9:03 gates, a symbolic reminder framing the moment of destruction, and view those empty chairs.
Sunday we left for our next destination: Grove, Oklahoma. Our home for the next three days was Cedar Oaks RV Resort. We managed to get in lots of visiting and relaxing at this stop. Also on the agenda was a visit to the Newell factory in Miami, Oklahoma, with Brian Pitts as our guide. One evening we enjoyed a Mexican dinner prepared by “Chef John.”
On Wednesday, another travel day, we wound our way through Missouri to our final destination, Outdoor Resorts Ozarks RV Resort. For those of us accustomed to flatland travel, the curvy, hilly terrain couldn’t end soon enough. But what a beautiful place it is, and everyone had a view of Table Rock Lake. The next morning we were pleased to welcome Fred Kennedy, FMCA national vice president, South Central Area, and his wife, Lou, to our rally. On the agenda that day was a visit to the Pierce Arrow Theater in Branson. The show had us grabbing our sides in laughter and enjoying great music. Shopping and sight-seeing in Old Branson were enjoyed by most.
After morning coffee on Friday, the day was ours to explore and enjoy. Mother Nature blessed us with heavy rain and storms, but, as usual, we enjoyed our day together. The highlight of the day was our dinner and show on the Branson Belle. Since this was our 25th anniversary celebration, photographers Jim Krueger and Jim Long captured the moments for us. Fred Kennedy presented our 25-year certificate to charter member Harold Welch. Harold has served the chapter in many capacities throughout his 25 years of membership. Thank you, Harold, from all of us.
As our rally ended the next morning and attendees headed off in many directions, we were once again reminded what a great country we live in. We also would like to take this opportunity to send our thoughts and prayers to our neighbors in Joplin, Missouri, who were affected by the devastating storms that hit the Sunday we left. God Bless America!