Tour Charleston, SC one of the most beautiful and historic cities in the south. Your tour will begin at your hotel where you will board your motor coach for a privately guided drive through the city’s historic district. Throughout the tour, your licensed guide will recount over 300 years of Charleston’s long and colorful history from 1670 to present day with a blend of knowledge, wit, and humor. Topics discussed will include Charleston’s role in Colonial America, the American Revolution, the southern Antebellum Era, the Civil War, and its current day status as one of top travel destinations in World. 

Some of the landmarks you will see include the Battery, Rainbow Row, St. Michaels Church, the College of Charleston, and South Carolina’s famed military academy the Citadel. Your guide will also point out early period houses in Mazyck-Wraggborough and Harleston Village as well as magnificent public buildings like The Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon and the famous “Four Corners of Law” at the intersection of Meeting and Broad Street. At the Battery, we will also stop for a brief walk through the park and some photo opportunities of Charleston’s scenic harbor. Your tour will end at the Old City Market where you will have time for shopping, browsing, and lunch on your own at one of Charleston's many fine restaurants. 

Chock talk #1: Join John Mollison as he moderates a panel of DFC Society members whose experiences span decades. Through this panel format, we will learn about the differences and similarities among our panelists who flew in Vietnam and as recently as the current conflicts in the middle east. From the flying to navigating family and military culture, John promises a conversation that draws out compelling insights consistent with our reunion theme of honoring our history and celebrating our future. 

Cruise Charleston's beautiful harbor by moon light aboard the 100' luxury yacht, Spirit of Carolina. Enjoy the unique and beautiful sights of our harbor at sunset as well as a delicious dinner including entertainment from live and local musicians. Your four-course dinner is made to order using fresh local ingredients and entrée choices may be made at the table. Alcoholic beverages and optional dessert menus are on your own. 

Chock talk #2: A breakfast talk featuring Joy Ng, wife of multi-DFC recipient and DFC Society member Jimmy Ng. Joy Ng wrote an amazing book chronicling her life as a Coast Guard wife living in Kodiak, Alaska called 'Even There: Love, Faith, and Danger in Wild Alaska'. Joy has graciously offered to speak during our reunion about her life and book. Join us for this unique perspective from one of the many unsung heroes in our lives - the dedicated and loving spouse. 

Over 100 years ago, tea planters brought their finest tea bushes from China, India, and Ceylon to the South Carolina Lowcountry. Now the descendants of those very plants are growing strong at the nation's only tea plantation, nestled on a serene sea island near the historic city of Charleston. Upon arrival at the plantation, you will see thousands of tea plants growing on acres and acres of rich and fertile Lowcountry soil. A stroll under the avenue of oaks will take you to the porch of the new factory which affords remarkable views of the plantation. Highlights of this excursion will be an informative narrated Trolley Tour of the fields, a tour of the factory where the tea is produced, and a delicious Boxed Lunch. As a final highlight, we’ll go past St. John’s Episcopal Church for a brief stop at the Angel Oak, a 1400-year-old Live Oak Tree!

This tour includes a boxed lunch at the Charleston Tea Plantation. After registering for this tour, CCGS will contact you to review menu options and confirm your menu choice   

Tour Patriots Point, one of the largest naval and maritime museums in the world. Visit the Aircraft Carrier Yorktown, the famous fighting lady of World War II; the Destroyer Laffey, a participant in the World War II D-Day landings at Normandy; the Medal of Honor Museum, and the Vietnam Era Naval Support Base with its Sea Cobra and Huey helicopters. 

While at Patriots Point, enjoy a delicious Boxed Lunch before boarding the General Beauregard for your Fort Sumter Tour. Upon arrival at Fort Sumter, where the Civil War began, rangers from the National Park Service will give you an informative introduction before you tour this famous bastion and its marvelous museum. Includes Round Trip Transportation to Patriots Point.

This tour includes a boxed lunch at Patriots Point. After registering for this tour, CCGS will contact you to review menu options and confirm your menu choice   

Grand Magnolia Ball Room A & B

6:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Social Hour w/Cash Bar

7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Buffet Dinner

At tonight's auction fundraiser for the DFCS Scholarship Program, enjoy a delicious three-entree southern buffet with all the fixins! Save some room for the Sweet Tea!!

Buffet Menu:  

Shrimp and grits w/ sauteed onions, peppers, buttery whipped grits, and Sherry Taso ham gravy

Buttermilk Fried Chicken 

Smoked beef brisket w/ assorted BBQ sauces 

Green bean almondine  

Roasted Red Bliss potatoes w/ garlic & rosemary 

Served with:

Baby Spinach Salad w/ fresh strawberries, candied pecans, and feta cheese 

Pecan Pie w/caramel

Iced tea, regular and decaffeinated coffee, and Tazo teas 

Enjoy a guided drive, focusing on Charleston’s rich Civil war History, to the Warren Lasch Conservation Center to see the Confederate Submarine, H.L. Hunley. On February 17, 1864 the Confederate Submarine, Hunley successfully sank the Union warship Housatonic by ramming it in Charleston Harbor. After this successful foray she also sank with her crew to the bottom of the Atlantic where she remained until August  8, 2000. On this auspicious day after months of planning, divers and marine engineers successfully raised the ship and brought it to a special tank at the Warren Lasch Laboratory in North Charleston. Today we will have the opportunity to view this 19th century marvel as archeologists continue their research and preserve this time capsule.

Grab your camera and journey across the Cooper River to visit “Americas most photographed plantation” Boone Hall. Built during the colonial period and still a working plantation to date, Boone Hall interprets the history of the families who owned the land as well as the many slaves who lived and worked there. Upon arrival at Boone Hall, you will be captivated by the aptly named “Avenue of Oaks”. These nearly 300-year-old trees, which inspired settings in the iconic film “Gone with the Wind”, are sure to be a highlight of the tour. In addition to enjoying the scenery, interpret day to day life on a plantation while visiting Boone Hall’s nine original slave cabins and the Colonial Revival plantation house built after the Civil War. During your tour, your private guide will not only acquaint you with Boone Hall’s history from a 17th century colonial cotton plantation to a modern-day working farm, but also show you the leading role that this spectacular landscape has played in Hollywood. Fans of films like North and South, Queen, and the Notebook will be in for a real treat!

Chock talk #3: Join the newest members of the DFC Society as we learn about the very recent experiences of doing battle with drones. Combat in the skies (and perhaps a "there I was" story or two about bombs on target) is dramatically different than in years past thanks to technology. These stories and lessons from today will certainly grab your attention.Grand Magnolia Room B

Grand Magnolia Ball Room A & B

6:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Social Hour w/Cash Bar

7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Gala Dinner

First Course

Caesar Salad (Romaine, Capers, Garlic Croutons, Freshly Grated Parmesan)  

Entree

Menu Option A: Surf & Turf with Beef Tenderloin & Jumbo Lump Crab, rosemary roasted fingerling potatoes, roasted asparagus & bearnaise  

Menu Option B:   Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin with goat cheese polenta, broccolini, and black mission fig jam

Dessert 

NY Style Cheese Cake with Berry Compote or Iced Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Whipped Cream & Chocolate Syrup

Dinner will include bread service, coffee, and tea selection

GALA BANQUET DRESS CODE:

All attendees are reminded that the dress code for the Gala Banquet is semi-formal. We ask that the gentlemen wear a dark colored suit with a tie and dress shoes. For the ladies, we request that you wear an evening dress or gown as an equivalent to what the men are wearing. For those on active duty - or those retired who want to wear their uniform - please wear the appropriate uniform to match suit and tie. If desired, any attendee may dress in more formal attire, but not less than semi-formal attire.