2008 OPD940 Opening Statement

            We are pleased to put together the cadre of individuals who made the OPD940 2005 such a successful event.  Although 450 persons attended the OPD940 2005 reunion, there were many who did not but indicated a desire to attend the next one.  Others noted that they simply didn’t know of it and didn’t want to be left out again.  We will have considerable announcements on this website, on Openline, at OPD, with a mailer that includes all active and retired members, most non-sworn OPD personnel, and also contact efforts by a phone bank of volunteers.  Still, we count on word of mouth for those we can’t reach.  We have enough lead-time to make the OPD940 2008 a complete event that may likely never be repeated. 

            The Home Page mentioned that we are accepting early sign-ups now, and that the official kick-off will be on September 15.  Much of the early planning will take place during the summer months.  Negotiations have already taken place with John Ascuaga’s Nugget and we’ve signed a contract that assures us even better reunion than what we had last time.  Many details will start flowing after September 15.

            The 2008 OPD940 Committee is dedicated to making this reunion
… the once in a lifetime event. 

[Some comments from the 2005 OPD940]

“There is no word, or words, that really express how I feel about the reunion.  Great, fantastic, unbelievable just don't cut it.  Tears come to my eyes when I think about the people I saw, after all these years, and actually got to talk with.  Tears come to my eyes when I think about people I saw but never got a chance to talk with.  Tears come to my eyes and a prayer comes to my heart for all the people we knew but have passed on before us.” 

“You & the others caused more tears and memories than u'll ever know, even from the wives..”

“I can't put into words my appreciation of what this has meant to me. You are the people who taught me the meaning of life, its value, the future...the lasting bond of brotherhood...”

“That had to be a landmark event in the life of all who attended. Friends among friends...great stories reminding us of great times. Once OPD always OPD...darn right.”

“The OPD940 reminded me of how much I love the Department and the men and women who have (and who still do) make it a very special place.”

“…an event that is the highlight of my life.”

“There is only one word to describe the OPD 940 reunion-"AWESOME'. Our thanks to all who helped co-ordinate this once in a life-time event. A forever-memorable occasion.”

“So many names, so many faces, so many memories...so many unforgettable comrades.”

“  ‘Think where mans glory most begins and ends, and say my glory was I had such friends.’ ”

“I will treasure this experience for ever. I am safely back home in Arkansas , but my memories will be with me always.”

“If we all died and went to heaven, it would probably be something like this…”

“I didn't know the participants other than that both were retired and both were wearing their OPD 940 ID's. What I saw was one approach the other and shake his hand and say, "I want to apologize for ...". Whatever it was, I was under the impression that this was a disagreement of some tenure.”

“I could not bring myself to call him George. The memories came flooding back every time I turned a corner.”

“Last night I stood amongst GIANTS and was truly humbled (again) by another OPD class act.  Thanks to each and every one of you that made this happen, attended, shared your life with me at OPD. It made one old guy really proud to have been a small part of the finest organization anywhere that ever existed on this planet and to see so many of you last night.”

“The reunion is a lot more than we expected. The reception room was filled with pictures/posters and memorabilia from the earliest days of OPD to the present.”

The anticipation for this 2008 OPD940 was already murmuring the first night of the 2005 OPD940.

“I can't imagine how this event could be topped but I am willing to bet that the next one is really gonna be something.”

            Yes, the last OPD940 was something special, but it was lacking…  It was promoted on-the-run, virtually impromptu, as an idea spawned by Harlan Goodson and Joe Thomas who planted the seed with Ron Oz.  They lived about 3,000 miles apart, Harlan in Sacramento and Joe in Florida.  Ron Oz, living at Lake Tahoe, happened to be traveling in Florida, and was met at a hotel poolside by Hawaiian shirted Joe Thomas.  It is a rule that any two OPD, meeting anywhere at any time, knowing each other or not, love to relive good/bad times and wrap themselves in an affection only available to a select few.  It was thought that maybe we could get a few OPD types together for a group-hugging, story-swapping, laugh-crying, weekend get together in Las Vegas or Lake Tahoe.

            The word was started on Gail and Bob Souza’s sponsored and administered Openline website.  As a spark turned wildfire, in a wind of camaraderie spirit, the idea for a full-blown reunion quickly took off.  The signup list grew daily, much faster than the preparations.  Meetings were held conveniently at the OPOA, and we had to fly fast and low to put together something big and good to satisfy the mounting interest.  An ad hoc committee was formed and we scurried for a location, an agenda, and an event.  Bob Crawford, Tim Sanchez, Michele Gribi, and Joseph Sweeney took the lead and coordinated other volunteers. Burny Matthews was drafted as Master of ceremonies.  With a bravado that can only be learned, in uniform on the streets of Oakland, we buzzed our way into a number of casino operations and discovered John Ascuaga’s at Reno/Sparks.  Everyone told us their large rooms were booked many years in advance.  But, as luck would have it, we persisted and found ways to slip ourselves in anyway.  The Nugget had about 200 rooms left (out of 1,200) and we reserved them all.  Everything either fell or was pushed into place, and the OPD940 2005 was somehow patched together with a measurable degree of apparent success. 

            About a hundred people showed up for an informal dinner and get-together on Thursday night, where plans were still being made for the weekend.  Friday night was a gigantic Reception Party where about 450 past and present OPD, sworn and un-sworn, and their guests, all mingled in a roar of greetings and reminiscences.  There were tables and seats, but the energy left most of them empty as this hive seemed to require constant buzzing with antennas extended and eagerness to interact.  A large screen slide show flashed images of OPD personalities engaged formally and informally.  Several bars hosted any drink imaginable.  A thousand photos festooned the large reception hall adjacent to the pool.  The floor to ceiling glass wall on one side revealed those congregating on the deck below the bright moon and against the silhouette of Mount Rose.  There were no strangers.  Those who had never met before were old friends. After all, we were all OPD, and that meant something very special.

            Saturday night was a complete blowout of emotion, elation, and satisfaction.  This was not a sit-down of served dried chicken or yesterday’s steak.  After congregating in the large outside reception area for up to a quick two hours, being served from a number of attending bars, handing out last minute attendee packages to late comers, and hearing the crescendo of laughter, banter, and undeniable loud fellowship, the doors opened and the wave of humanity hit the sea of ten-seat round tables, looking as if they had just been lifted from the advertising pages of a fancy cruise ship.  Chief Burny Matthews announced the opening bagpipe ceremony and dedication to fallen comrades from the dais podium.  There wasn’t a dry eye in the place as the Iraq veteran meandered through the standing crowd playing Amazing Grace while a dress uniform Motor Officer chimed those for whom we tolled the bell.  Jim Fisher sang America The Beautiful with such poise and grace as to humble all in attendance.  It was indescribably awesome indeed to realize that on such short notice so many OPD personalities had flocked from 28 states and three countries to sit together.  Knowing that any meal can make or break any OPD gathering of one or more people, special demands on our part for the best meal imaginable were unrelenting.  Seven chefs were assigned only to our feast, and it was agreed that none of the food could be over seven minutes out of the kitchen.  We wanted four buffet lines inside our banquet hall, with every item having a gourmet appearance.  The food was heralded by all as unmatched by any prior buffet experience and even by best restaurant sit-down standards.  An unintended benefit was the additional mingling made possible while traversing the culinary delights.  Parakeet or elephant appetites, all were satiated.  It was a real test for all to attend the magnificent dessert bars to do anymore than just gaze at the beauty of them.

            Undeniable reverence underscored the silence that abrupted the large room when Chief George T. Hart stood to address his flock.  Deputy Chiefs, Captains, Lieutenants, and in fact all ranks were represented in follow-up comments, reminiscences, joking, admonishments, and utterances that flowed in series from the microphone.  The eldest OPD was in his nineties, and the youngest had only served a few months.  The night that everyone seemed to want to last forever culminated in a series of group photo opportunities - the gathering of squads, academies, assignments, past and present, old and young.  Traffic Division Motor Officers required the widest lenses of the photographers to capture the broadness of the smiles emanating.  Homicide, Juvenile, SWAT, Special Duty, specific District and Relief Squads, Academies, Upper ranks, lower ranks, all ranks, each group had an opportunity to gather and have photos taken.

            It was often mentioned, that to get from one end of the hotel to the other would take hours, for all the stops of greetings with others.  Members wore OPD940 lanyards around their necks, with serial numbers printed proudly large on badges visible to even the most nearsighted.  Names were equally large, but almost unnecessary as conversations commenced still paces apart.  Sunday morning saw a final get-together with the requisite donuts, but also other less healthy fare, juices and hot drinks.  Everyone seemed to linger, as if leaving was a last choice.  Yes, it is a casino, and one OPD member did win $25,000, but the surroundings were incidental to the gathering.