21st Annual Reunion

Recap: 21st PSHS Annual Reunion/Business Meeting, 2005

Members polled agree that our twenty-first annual reunion held May 27 and 28 in San Mateo, organized by our Golden Gate-Bay Area Chapter, was the most successful ever held. Nearly 200, including sixteen former Philippine Scouts, turned out for the final banquet, making it the best attended event in our Society's history. Recently arrived Philippine Consul General, the Hon. Rowena Sanchez ably delivered the keynote address. The entertainment at the banquet was outstanding, featuring vocalist Christine Adiaz, vocalist/composer Lionel Tanner and the Kariktan Dance Company, performing a medley of Filipino dances.

Another highlight of the weekend was a two hour panel discussion of the Philippine Scouts in WWII. The five panelists—Major Fred Foz, Col. Mel Rosen, Col. John Olson, Capt. Menandro Parazo and Lt. Col. Ed Ramsey—all decorated veterans of combat in the Philippines—discussed the fighting, the Death March, the POW experience (including the Hell Ships) and the guerrilla resistance. The panelists also fielded questions from the audience. Following the panel, PSHS author Chris Schaefer held a discussion/book signing on his newly-published "Bataan Diary: An American Family in WWII, 1941-45".

The business meeting approved amendments to the bylaws, elected Major Fred Foz as our new president, reelected several other officers for new terms, and approved memorial funds for our late presidents Larry Pangan and Brig. Gen. Royal Reynolds, through endowments supporting our library project and newsletter. (Details on contributing to these funds will be provided separately.)