Upon hearing excited shouts and screams, watching people embrace each other like they hadn't seen each other in 40 years, all in front of Gate 32 at the Halifax airport, one had to wonder. Why are these people so excited?
Their destination? Stephenville, Newfoundland for the Harmon High School reunion.
Air Canada flight 8822 was a noisy one, that is until the lights of the Port au Port Peninsula came into view.
"What's that? Is that Pine Tree? What are all those town's down there! Stephenville looks so much bigger," echoed through the plane.
I turned to the gentleman sitting next to me- who had perhaps been the noisiest chatter box throughout the entire flight- and asked him if he was excited since he hadn't said a word in at least 2 minutes.
His response was touching. "I think I'm going to cry," he said.
Most of these passengers, having left Stephenville in 1962 upon the closing of the Earnest Harmon Airforce Base, hadn't been back revisit their old high school town.
But every two years a reunion is held at old military bases across the United States where these air force 'brats' can keep in touch and remain close friends. The locations are chosen in relation to previous bases where these 'brats' lived with their families while growing up. Most who returned to Stephenville last weekend attended high school in the building now renamed LA Bown, a campus location for College of the North Atlantic.
And it was thanks to the kindness of the College, local businesses, the Town of Stephenville, and organizers that this reunion was able to go ahead as planned.
Coordinators Joe (class of 1964 and now permanent resident of Stephenville) and his wife Kathy Bonvie began planning the reunion four years ago. Harmon was voted the spot for the next reunion at a pervious gathering in Galveston, Texas. Mr. Bonvie's presentation had beat out Seattle and Atlanta.
Besides planning activities and tours, accommodations turned out to be somewhat of a challenge. Hotels were filling up and Mr. Bonvie says he was ready to cancel the whole thing until the College offered rooms which students occupy during the winter.
"If the College hadn't stepped in, we may have been forced to cancel the reunion altogether. They were exceptional throughout the reunion," says Mr. Bonvie.
The first initial get together of the weekend was held at the college where over 60 American visitors joined organizers and residents from the area at a social.
Friday's highlight was a reunion dinner, also held at the college, where Premier Roger Grimes, our local MHA Gerald Smith, and Mayor Cec Stein sincerely welcomed the visitors back to Stephenville.
"The Premier gave a wonderful speech on the unique heritage of this area and welcomed everyone to the province. Eric King took care of the dinner that evening and the food- well, everything was just fantastic," says Mr. Bonvie.
Following the dinner, guests were surprised and thrilled to be escorted to a Harmon High Dance at LA Bown in cars that had attended the antique car show on the previous weekend.
But Mr. Bonvie says the guests were touched the most by people from this community.
"As we drove down Main Street, people from the town were shouting out to the Americans, 'Welcome home!'. Residents were also dropping in to the dance to meet the Americans and welcome them to Stephenville. They were really touched by the people from the area."
Entertainment over the weekend was provided by local bands and musicians. Tours of the Bay St. George area and Gros Morne were offered to the Harmon High guests and Mr. Bonvie says he's pretty sure these people bought up every Stephenville souvenir they could find. A wine and cheese reception was also given by Debbie and Diane Hawko at what used to be the old wing commanders house at 3 Delaware Drive.
The Stephenville Theatre Festival, Harmon Field Day, Stephenville Day and the Rock n' Roll Reunion also provided additional activities throughout the reunion.
The overall reaction from those attending the reunion, said Mr. Bonvie was that they were all quite pleased to see the old Air Force Base in such great condition.
"They really took notice of all the trees, flowers and other beautification efforts of the Town. They were also happy to see that so many of the old buildings on base were still around."
Overall, Mr. Bonvie says the entire weekend was fantastic and it was decided at a business meeting at the Holiday Inn over the weekend that organizers are going to consider another Stephenville reunion in 6 years.
"The organizing committee for the reunion were saintly and everyone who attended was very thankful for all of the contributions and work that went into organizing it."
Over 65 business contributed in some way to the 4 days of festivities.
Premier Roger Grimes and his wife Mary Ann (centre) welcomed the Harmon High School reunion guests at the College of the North Atlantic during a welcome dinner. On the left are Cleo and Jim Masingill and on the right are Linda and Lou Barlow.
Terry Downey and Gerard Bennett provided some well received traditional entertainment for the Harmon High guests over the weekend.
Some of the old gang, together again...
Pictured here are only a few of the over 60 guests who were in town for the Harmon High Reunion, 2002.
