"We are a tight unit and we really keep in touch," said retired Command Sgt. Maj. Victor Mercado. "So we began to talk about hosting a reunion and then, since last November, we have been meeting once a month to get organized and arrange the event."
This will be the first Lancer Brigade Reunion Ball for the soldiers who served in the 1st Brigade, 25th ID between 2002-2006, but Mercado, who is the chair of the reunion committee, is hopeful that the support will enable them to hold the event annually.
"This will give Lancers an opportunity to appreciate our great team that faced endless trials while accomplishing unprecedented achievements," Mercado said. "We share in the Lancer creed of ‘Courage, Discipline, Empowerment, and Camaraderie' with all of our team."
However, the event is not limited to just one night.
The weekend will kick off the night of Sept. 20 with an icebreaker and social at Lt. Gen. Robert Brown's house on Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Brown, who is currently the JBLM commanding general, is the former 1/25 SBCT brigade commander and has been involved in the reunion planning process. RSVPs are requested for this event, though tickets are not necessary.
The following morning, Sept. 21, the group will hold a 5K Lancer Memorial Fund Run/Walk in conjunction with the Wear Blue: Run to Remember group in DuPont. The race route can be found at www.mapmyrun.com.
Later that afternoon, there will be a Lancer Fallen Memorial service between 1 and 2 p.m. at the Fort Lewis Military Museum. Again, RSVPs are requested for this event, though tickets are not necessary.
A static display at the Fort Lewis Military Museum will be open between 2-4:30 p.m. so families can see current Stryker vehicles, unit weapons and equipment.
Then, the culminating event, the Lancer Brigade Reunion Ball, will take place at the Greater Tacoma Convention & Trade Center Sept. 21.
Tickets can be purchased online for $60 each via PayPal. The dress code is in keeping with the theme of a Hawaiian Luau, so guests are encouraged to dress with their "best and brightest."
As of now, 314 attendees are on the books for the ball, but Mercado and his committee are confident more are still on the way. While they realize that not everyone will be able to attend, they are also eagerly inviting former Lancers to get involved with their Facebook page (www.facebook.com/lancer.reunion.7) as a way to stay connected, share memories and post photos. Additionally, there are other battalion events being planned for Sept. 22.
"The point of the reunion is for us to come together after we fought together in battle so we can see where everyone has gone, what they have accomplished and, most importantly, so we can all continue to heal," he said.
"Once a Lancer, always a Lancer," he added.
For more information on the Lancer Reunion, from event registration to lodging to car rentals, or to purchase tickets and RSVP, visit www.lancers1stbrigadereunion.com. Tickets are required and the deadline to RSVP for the reunion event is Sept. 13.
