Top, left to right: Mugs Mast, Chuck Mast, Frank Creel, Tony Venegoni
Middle, left to right:  Margaret Hamill Patterson (T-4), John Gallivan, Terry Brandt, David Bloch, Rosie Suit, Linda Lee Dominik, Jim Lay, Betty Hanks Leonard, David Bringedahl, Kevin McCarthy, Pat Mitchell Lowther, Dave Weinman, John Wintrol, Bill Whitman
Seated in chairs:  Charlie White, Marie Zeller, Melissa Stewart, Jim Hogan, Kathy Markley Scruggs, Doris. Whitman - wife to Bill
Seated on deck:  Ann Loughran Hearn

Turkey 2 volunteers celebrated the 45th anniversary of our arrival in Turkey with a reunion in Washington, DC  over the Cumhuriyet bayram weekend (October 24-26, 2008). 32 volunteers made it to the festivities and many others participated with written bios and phone calls.  

Activities included a dinner Friday night at John and Jan Wintrol’s home, a presentation Saturday on current Turkish political and economic issues by former Ambassador James Holmes (now President of the American Turkish Council) hosted by David and Barbara Bloch, and a catered dinner Saturday night arranged by Kathy and Max Scruggs. The weekend concluded with the traditional Bayram dinner Sunday evening at a restaurant with Washington area volunteers from other groups.  

Volunteers came from all over the country, from California, the Pacific Northwest, Texas, Florida, Michigan, New York and many places in-between. One of our Turkish language instructors, Bulent Atalay, participated as did “amca” Dave Weinman.  Wonderful memories were recalled, stories told and retold (some of which undoubtedly embellished over the years), friendships renewed, and substantial quantities of Kavaklidere wines and Efes beer consumed. One thing was very clear: over the years we Turkey 2 volunteers had not forgotten how to party and have a good time.  

Kevin McCarthy (Professor Emeritus University of Florida) is taking the bios, written memories of our group’s experiences and pictures, both from the reunion and during our PC service, and turning the material into a book which each of us will receive. A special thanks goes to Kathy Scruggs who headed the reunion effort and was responsible for making it all come together. 

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11/05/09