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Speaker: Background on our KeyNote Speaker, the legendary Joe Kittinger

Agenda: Daily Events & Special Offers, Thursday through Sunday   [be sure to check "Last Updated"]

Special Offers: Special Events and Offers for Reunion Attendees

Need to Know: Hospitality Suite, Dress Code, and Supplemental Information.

Security: Rules for entrance into all events.

What to Bring: Items needed by the Association or that we hope you will share.

Maps to the Team Area
Click Here to Display the Map from the Holiday Inn Bordeaux
Click Here to Display a General Map of Fort Bragg and Pope AFB

Registration: If you have not already done so, please complete and return your registration form as soon as possible. To receive the group discount, be sure to mention that you are with the Golden Knights when you make your reservations with Holiday Inn Bordeaux.

 

Meet Joe Kittinger - aka "The Balloonmeister"

Those attending this year's reunion will enjoy a singular opportunity to hear an extraordinary pioneer in High Altitude aviation and Parachuting. We are very pleased to announce that Colonel (Ret) Joe Kittinger is the keynote speaker at the Golden Knight Reunion, December - 2011.

Among legendary figures, Joe Kittinger is a stand-out. He first gained notoriety in 1959-60 during the Project Excelsior flights. In less that a year, he set several records for his high altitude balloon flights and jumps. He is the first man to exceed the Speed of Sound without an aircraft. During that free-fall jump he also set a record for the highest-ever parachute jump, a record that still stands today more than 50 years later. In 1962, Kittinger's talents led him to Project Stargazer. In this scientific flight, Kittinger piloted his balloon, a high-powered telescope, an astronomer and a stable observation platform high above the earth's distorting atmosphere. Over the next 13 hours, his passenger made the first high-altitude observations of our universe.

What follows are decades of amazing feats in all types of aircraft, not the least of which is a solo crossing of the Atlantic Ocean in 1984, the first and only crossing in a balloon.

After his retirement from the US Air Force, Kittinger a Vietnam veteran and former POW, never stopped pushing against the edge of aeronautical exploration and performance. His many records and decorations bear witness to his contributions in aeronautics, as a pioneer in space, as a test pilot, as a combat aviator, and as a balloon pilot.

They don't make like this anymore, folks. Don't miss this opportunity.

To learn more of this illustrious man’s life and career join us at the Golden Knight Reunion 2011 where you will have an opportunity to meet this legend and hear his keynote speech.

Click Here to View a PDF Version of the Events and Activities
The Agenda includes activities both directly and indirectly related to the reunion. Directly-related events include the Informal Social, the Meeting of the Membership, the Formal Banquet & more. Indirectly-related activities include special offers, Tandem Jumps, Golfing, the Wind Tunnel & more.
Updates to the Agenda are made as new information arrives. Please check the "Last Updated" date in the upper right heading of the PDF as a reference.

Location of Events
All events are located in various rooms on the 2nd Floor except the Membership meeting. See the Agenda for specific locations.

Dress Code
Casual for all events except the Banquet, which is semi-formal.
For the Banquet:
Gentlemen, please wear business attire (suit and tie) or dress uniforms.
Ladies, please wear dress suits or short/long evening dresses.

Banquet Seating
The Versailles Room (banquet hall) opens at 5:30p.  The banquet begins at 6p. Except for the Reserved Sections, seating is open or first-come first-served.  Please enter through the main entrance.  Remember that your Reunion ID is required to attend all events.

For security purposes, your reunion ID must be worn and visible at all times.

All attendees, including guests, must be registered for the Reunion.
Look for the Registration table on the 2nd Floor.
Bring your guests with you when you register.

Unregistered persons will not be allowed into events.

Persons who do not appear on the list of attendees will not be allowed into events.

Persons without a reunion ID will not be allowed into events.

Photos, Videos, Memorabilia & More
We're looking for photos and other artifacts about life as a Golden Knight.

Digital or printed media is welcome.
Printed media will be scanned/copied after the Reunion and returned.
Electronic media like videos and recordings will be copied and returned.
Please supply return postage
Please include as much information as you can about each item:
date, location, event, personnel, description, anecdotes ...

Hero Shot
Add a Hero Shot for your Roster profile [or improve the shot we have]
Hero's Choice
Submit another shot of anyone or anything that reflects something about you.

Team Album - Please share your photos of life as a Golden Knight.
Scrapbook - We're also looking for memorabilia about the Golden Knights.
Media - Share your print/visual media [video] of Team & skydiving events.

Captions and Descriptions
For any item, tell us the where, when, why and/or who, if you can

Trophies
Donate your old trophies for the new trophy cases at the Golden Knight Museum.
Attach a note with the name of the recipient, event, location, year and other important
details for the history books.