Armed Forces Reunions, Inc. Launches “America the Beautiful’ Tour and Blog
Company’s Founder and President Go West
The power of Mount Rushmore, the foreboding allure of South Dakota’s Badlands, the awe and wonder of Yellowstone, and the majesty of the Grand Tetons: just a few destinations along the trail for Armed Forces Reunion’s Inc.’s Ted and Molly Dey’s “America the Beautiful” tour. Starting in September, normally AFR’s busiest time of year with reunions ongoing, AFR’s founder and president will visit seven western states and experience stunning landscapes, wildlife, history and traditions deeply rooted in the country’s pioneer spirit. The couple will post a weekly blog of personal accounts, video and photos of the sights and sounds of their sojourn starting the week of Sept. 14, 2020.
“While reunions are on hold during COVID-19, we decided to explore a few of our nation’s national parks, home to some of the most iconic and gorgeous natural sites the country has to offer,” said Molly Dey, President of AFR, the oldest and most prominent military reunion planning company in the nation. “Our travel itinerary embodies much of the American experience, rich with landmarks, milestones and legacies of the men and women who forged west. We also look forward to meeting residents and hopefully some veterans along the way to hear anecdotes and learn from their perspectives.”
Driving, hiking, biking and four-wheeling, the Deys will visit numerous national and state parks, monuments, and historic and cultural sites, including Custer State Park and Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota; Utah’s Arches and Canyonlands National Parks; Colorado’s Pueblo Cliff Dwellings and the Four Corners where Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona meet. They will also trek through the Alpine glory of the Rocky Mountains’ Million Dollar Highway, along with stopovers at museums, historic forts and military landmarks. Our natural wonders – all part of what makes America so great and so beautiful.
“Like American author Horace Greely’s “Go West Young Man” mantra and the concept of America’s Manifest Destiny, we decided to head west to experience the magnificent landscapes out west. We’ve planned reunions in over 150 cities but reunions don’t go to national parks, and we’re always with reunions in August, September, and October – so Covid-19 ironically provided the first opportunity in over thirty years to relax and enjoy our nation’s natural gifts,” said Ted Dey, Founder of AFR. “With most of our 2020 reunions and government conferences moved to next year we are going to have an extremely busy 2021, so we’re going to make full use of the time off we’ve been given. Meanwhile, visit our blog and share in a tribute to the beauty and might of our nation.”
The first America the Beautiful tour blog post will appear from Mount Rushmore in mid-September followed a series of weekly updates through October. Visit the blog site at https://www.armedforcesreunions.com/category/news/. You can also read about the journey on FaceBook – follow us – www.facebook/ArmedForcesReunions
Ted and Molly Dey
Scott McCaskey is a contributing writer for Armed Forces Reunion, Inc.