Events and Information

2023 Memorial Day reunion in honor of Marine Lance Cpl. Nickalous N. Aldrich

DETAILED SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

When: Memorial Day weekend Thursday May 25th through Monday May 29th, 2023.
 

Synopsis:

A group of disabled combat veterans from 2nd Battalion 4th Marines are gathering for their annual Memorial Day weekend. Primary objective is a graveside memorial service in honor of Marine Lance Cpl. Nickalous N. Aldrich.  It is being held in honor of the Gold Star family of Marine Lance Cpl. Nickalous N. Aldrich who died August 27, 2004, Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom in Ramadi Iraq. Secondary objective is to provide a comfortable place for camaraderie with fellow warriors, families & friends old & new.

• Host facilities:

Serenity Ranch located in Valley Mills Texas.

Event Donations:

• Event made possible by the philanthropic donations made by Parson’s Marina & Parsons Roofing Company in Lake Whitney. 

Serenity Facilities:

Serenity Ranch located in Valley Mills, Texas. At Serenity’s back 40, an RV & tent area will be available with seven 30-amp electrical connections or generators, and a place for setting up tents. Outdoor shower & indoor bathroom on site. There is no facilities available on site to dump any RV waste tanks.  Hotel rooms in Clifton Texas @ the Velkommen Inn (approximately 5 miles from Serenity) also are available.

Main Serenity facilities include no lodging.  The main facilities do have a large gathering area (the trophy room), a swimming pool and cabana. Serenity’s pool & cabana have access to 3 full indoor changing/bathrooms. The trophy room shall serve as the muster & gathering area. Soft drinks, bottled water, beer & wine, snacks, hot dog & chili pie bar, & pulled pork sandwich station is available 24/7 until Monday noon in the trophy room. Liquor is welcome but not provided.

·         Serenity Main Facilities is located at 2576 County Road 3310 in Valley Mills, TX 76689 (Look for the Giant American Flag)  All Gate Codes will be 2424. 

·         Serenity Back 40 is located about a mile from the main facilities at the End of Private Road 3317, Valley Mills, TX 76689. (Follow the street signs.)

·         ANY PERSON ENTERING ANY SERENITY PROPERTIES MUST SIGN A LIABILITY WAIVER.  BLANK WAIVERS WILL BE LOCATED AT THE MAIN FACILITY TROPHY ROOM AND MUST BE EXECUTED PRIOR TO SETTING UP AT SERENITY’S BACK 40 OR USE OF ANY MAIN SERENITY FACILITIES.  MEMORIAL DAY IS THE SUMMER KICKOFF IN THIS AREA AND ALSO THE TIME OF YEAR WHERE SNAKES ARE MOST PREVENLENT.  ANYONE WANTING TO REIVEW THE LIABILITY WAIVER CAN DO SO BY CONTACTING MARK BROWN WITH SERENITY RANCH AT THE CONTACT NUMBER REFERANCED ABOVE. 

·         ALL PARTIES IN ATTENDANCE SHOULD BRING ANY AND ALL FORMS OF CLOTHING, HATS, LOTIONS, SPRAYS, ETC… TO PREVENT SUNBURN. 

·         BRING ANY SWIMMING TOWELS YOU WILL NEED.  THERE WILL BE A LIMITED AMOUNT OF TOWELS AT THE SERENITY MAIN FACILITY TO USE ONLY FOR ITS POOL & CABANA AREA.  PLEASE DO NOT USE SERENITY TOWELS AT THE LAKE.  BRING YOUR OWN FROM HOME. 

Schedule:

Thursday May 25th:
9:00 am = Serenity back 40 open for RVs & tent set ups.
Noon = Serenity main on-site facilities including food stations open.
6:45pm = Opening Ceremonies, Safety briefing & welcome from Serenity Ranch & Bosque County Sherriff Trace Hendricks
7:00pm = Pizza served for dinner at the Trophy Room.
 

Friday May 26:
(All day into evening arrivals check into hotel or set up at Serenity’s back 40.)
9am = Donuts & Breakfast Tacos in the trophy room.
9am - 2pm = Escorted shopping tour of local Bosque County rural area craft shops, lunch, & antiquing leaves from trophy room.
Noon - 9pm = Hot dogs, hamburgers, & chili pie buffet open in trophy room with chips. (French fries & onion rings served at the top of each hour) Also open will be the pulled pork BBQ sandwich station. 

6:45pm = Lake Whitney briefing given & fishing license check by Texas Parks & Wildlife Warden Dayton Issacs. 
7pm = Welcome & safety briefing for Friday arrivals.
 

Saturday May 27th A Day & evening of fishing & boating on Lake Whitney:

(The link to obtain fishing licenses online is attached here - https://tpwd.texas.gov/. This website also contains much information regarding the lake.  Search the site for Lake Whitney.  This platform can be used to obtain fishing licenses, as well as any hardware store, or sporting goods store anywhere in the state of Texas. 

All anglers are required to have a valid Texas fishing license to board one of the 7 fishing boats. Game wardens will be checking each license. Bring your own sun exposure prevention clothing, lotions, sunblock, hats, towels & personal water toys. None are provided by the fishing or the cruising boats.

NO CHILDREN WILL BE ALLOWED ONBOARD ANY TYPE OF WATERCRAFT WITHOUT A LIFE PRESERVER OF SOME LEGAL TYPE!

6:00am = the anglers muster in trophy room.
6:30am = anglers leave (caravan) for striped bass fishing on lake Whitney (up to 35 anglers) The fishing guides will provide all tackle, water, soft drinks & beer. The guides will also clean the fishfor eating that evening. Any angler is also welcome to bring their own tackle, drinks etc.…
7:30am = anglers begin fishing rodeo for striped bass (4hrs).
9am = Donuts & breakfast tacos available in the trophy room. Everyone going to the lake for a yacht brunch cruise and/or day of swimming/boating on lake Whitney muster in trophy room.
9:20 = brunch cruise & lake swimmers group leave (caravan) to the lake.
10am = 60-person lake brunch on yacht cruise (82’ open upper deck with retired military country band & open bar, and an air-conditioned covered lower surface deck) for all non-fishing folks & kids.  Anyone wanting to swim can do so. Each the brunch, and separate lunch cruises will include a swimming stop.  (All food & drinks & open bar provided on cruise yacht).  (ALL CHILDREN SWIMMING OR TUBING ON THE LAKE MUST WEAR LIFE JACKETS)
11:15am = Second and final group going to the lake muster in trophy room for lunch cruise.
11:30am = Final group depart trophy room & caravan to the lake.
Noon = cruise yacht arrives back at dock & restock for lunch. Fishing rodeo completed. All fishing boats at the dock & unload. Anyone wanting to go back to Serenity or hotel from this point forward can.
12:30pm = cruise yacht leaves for last 2-hour lunch cruise for the anglers and/or anyone else interested. This lunch cruise will also make a stop for swimming. 
2:30pm = Lunch cruise over & everyone arrives back at the marina dock. Air-conditioned restaurant & bar @ the marina open to all until 10pm.
2:45pm = afternoon games, face painting for the kids, lake swimming, time for catching up with friends old & new.
Marina restaurant & bar open for everyone. Anyone, from this time forward, wishing to retire for a while or the day or wanting to come back to Serenity or hotel is welcome to.
5:45pm = everyone musters at the lakefront restaurant.
6:00pm = fishing rodeo results announced & prized handed out.

6:30pm = Messages from visiting dignitaries & blessing of the evening meal. 
7:00pm = fresh fish dinner (and full restaurant menu) caught by our own. (Serenity kitchen will be closed. Serenity pool, cabana & trophy room, snacks/hot dog/chili pie bar will remain open).
9pm = Volunteer fireman (designed drivers) arrive at marina.
9:30pm = closing ceremonies.
9:45pm = last call from the bar.
10:00pm = Everyone leave for Serenity & hotel.
 

Sunday:
9:00am = donuts & breakfast tacos in trophy room.
9:30am = everyone musters in trophy room.
10am = 56-person motor coach with bathrooms arrives @ Serenity. All board the motor coach and depart for grave side services. Those leaving from the gravesite services for home will drive themselves.
Noon = gravesite service.
2pm = motor coach leaves for Serenity.
4pm = all arrive back at Serenity.

6:30pm = The history of optics from Ramadi to today given by inventor Bobby McCraight. 
7pm = Traditional Cajun crawfish & shrimp boil. (Low country boil). Served with potatoes, corn on the cob, sausage, & onions & artichokes.
 

Monday:
9am - 10am = Donuts & breakfast tacos in trophy room.
Noon = Serenity main facilities & back 40 are now closed all parties depart.
3pm = All Serenity gates locked, and gate codes changed.