The Story of the Century ... Continued (Association History)

they fit our constitution? These problems and others were mulled over.
Finally we were cleared by the Board to move ahead.
We began at the conventions in Louisville, 2000 and Tampa, 2001,
with meetings of prospective Progeny members. The first president
elected was Bruce Jones, 399-CN P, who displayed WWII memorabilia
and a renovated WWII Jeep at the Hyatt Hotel entrance at the Tampa
meeting. Since then, the Progeny has assisted us more and more in our
conventions and otherwise.
In 2009 Laurie Davis, daughter of the late Robert Alcorn, 397-2B,
assumed a major responsibility for the Memorial Service arrangements.
For the past few years, Joseph Montague, son of Bob Montague, 399-E,
has been the President of the Progeny of the Century, and also serves as
our Raffle chairman and assisted with the recent European battle site
tours. My granddaughter, Robyn LeVine, has recently produced “The
Sons of Bitche,” a documentary DVD that will help keep memories alive
also. Profits from the sales have gone to our Progeny activities.
The hugely popular battlefield dioramas we have had at our conventions
in recent years are the doing of Progeny Al Gaspar, son-in-law of
Jack Young, 397-F.
Progeny are active in many ways, among them: contributing articles
for the Newsletter and serving on various committees. Their involvement
at conventions includes: selling raffle tickets, helping organize unit photos,
assisting with tours, and overseeing the hospitality room.
The most important contribution they make is bringing their Centurymen
to the conventions, where they, the Progeny, get to meet the other veterans
and hear first-hand stories from the war.
The bottom line is that the Progeny program, from a perhaps slow start,
has become a huge success and an essential part of our Association.
Herb Newton, 397-
2B, and 11 members
of his family came to
the 2005 convention.
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