Well despite the Terrorist  attack  on the World Trade Center on Sept 11 2001 and the borders being closed some people came early and made it,
here is Lily's account of the reunion:

Dear Gallinger Group, 

The Great Gallinger Reunion was an enormous success, beyond all our hopes
and dreams and silent expectations. It was a wonderful experience for all
who attended and the stuff of which memories are made.

Theatre people will tell you that every comedy needs some tragedy to make
it a success. Our Gallinger Reunion had much sadness as we watched events
unfold to the South of us. But all of this seemed to drive our Reunion to
greater heights as Gallingers became determined to attend. Gallingers and
Gallinger descendants got into their cars and DROVE great distances,
steeled their resolve to cross the border and arrived with great grins (and
much relief) at the Ramada Inn in Cornwall.

To those who could not attend, please know that we missed you terribly.
Mark Allen, retired minister, husband of Priscilla (Gallinger) Allen - led
us in prayer at noon on Friday - a time set aside in Canada and the USA for
remembering all those who died or were hurt by the attack.

I mentioned Mel and Diana and others who phoned and wrote with such sorrow
in their words. They wanted to be at the reunion and circumstances kept
them at home. We all felt it was UNFAIR and SAD that you could not be with
us.

On Friday morning as the speakers stepped up to the microphone one by one,
it was such a joy for ME to look out across the Reunion Room and see
earnest faces listening intently while others had their heads bent -
quietly turning the pages of their newly purchased "The Gallinger Family"
book. The next morning I had people telling me they were up until 2 am
reading the book and shouting "Eureka" (or something like that) - waking
their family who slept while they read. Arlene and I have huge grins -
still - knowing the book is a success.

Great discoveries were made. Families who knew nothing of cousins, uncles,
aunts, even step-sisters and step-brothers were meeting for the first time.
Throughout the Reunion Room there were people huddled over descendancy
charts, and land grant posters, discussing how their families were related.
No one was shy, everyone spoke to strangers and were soon friends.

THE (Double Dare) CHALLENGE was met - Sam and Cathy Gallinger wore caps
with FUSCHIA lettering, Walt & Ruth Pharoah had awesome T-Shirts with
charts on the back and photos on the front, our needleworker, Dot From
embroidered an apron with the family line upon it - she has told us it is a
work in progress - with much more to be done. WOW! There were fancy straw
hats, and CHILDREN with their hair died red and green blinking their eyes
to show awesome long green or red eyelashes - what a delight!

Suddenly a fistfull of bows appeared on my book-table - tiny quarter-inch
ribbons, taken from spools of red, white and blue, with a gold safety pin
to hold them. Everyone knew their purpose, (to remember) and hands reached
out to pin them on.

Over 300 attended the Reunion, 240 sat down to supper Saturday night. Ken
was our M-C throughout the weekend and he kept us thoroughly entertained
and organized. His magic phrase for Saturday was "No Doddlers". He
threatened that those seen doddling as they approached the buffet tables
would be photographed and labelled and shown to the internet world as
"Doddlers". Never have I seen a Buffet Supper for 240 people move so
quickly or efficiently.

At the front of the podium we had set up "crossed flags" The Canadian Maple
Leaf and the American Stars and Stripes. For two days we argued and
adjusted the American flag which kept falling sideways despite the best of
tapes and glues, finally as I stood to speak I announced that the American
Flag was at half-mast, that it had decided that, all by itself, and that it
was OK with us and we would leave it there. The applause was thunderous!

Gallingers met Gallingers at Upper Canada Village, at the Lost Villages
site and in cemeteries throughout the area. Gallingertown was a destination
point for many and the weather was bright and warm and glorious throughout.

In the next week, I will be packaging and weighing books for shipment. I
will work as quickly as I can to advise you of the final amount due. We
fully expected there would be additions and corrections to the book. What
we did not realize was that the index would not be as complete as we
expected and we are eager to correct this. THERE WILL BE AN UPDATE to the
book, published by December 2002 (NEXT YEAR). If you find errors, missing
index entries, or if new children are born, family members lost, in the
next year, please let me know and I will add the information to the update.

You had to be there when I, last speaker, and very shy - did I ever tell
you that I'm shy???? stood and asked the entire room of Diners to "Give me
an 'G', and all shouted back "G!!!!" Give me an A, L-L-ING-ER what does it
spell ? and the room shouted "GALLINGER" ---- AMAZING! What a cheer for a
great bunch of cousins! How proud we felt!

Announcing
                       The Great Gallinger Reunion
                         September 14 & 15, 2001
                              Cornwall, Ontario

 Click here for Gallinger Book info

Plans are coming along well for the Great Gallinger Reunion to be held in Cornwall, Ontario,
Canada in September this fall (2001).  We have worked with various hotels in Cornwall and have
selected The Ramada Inn to host our function.  The name and address of the inn is as follows:

        Ramada Inn & Conference Centre
        805 Brookdale Ave.
        Cornwall, Ontario
        K6J 4P3
        613-933-8000
        888-900-5762 (Toll Free)
        Fax 613-932-3392
        www.cornwallramada.com

30 Rooms have been blocked off for our group the nights of the 14th and 15th at a rate of
$85/night (Can) for a room with two full-sized beds.  There is no restriction on the number of
people in a room at that rate and a cot can be obtained for $10/night (Can).  This number was
based on the returns we received last fall.  I believe the need will be quite a bit greater than that
based on subsequently held conversations and e-mail exchanges.

Therefore, I have made arrangements so that you can come earlier and stay later than the
15th AT THE SAME RATE.  I have also indicated to the Inn that we may well have many more
call for reservations than we know about at this time.

Reservations can be made at either of the above numbers.  TO RECEIVE THE SPECIAL RATE
YOU MUST INDICATE THAT YOU ARE PART OF THE "GALLINGER REUNION" AND IF
YOU WANT TO COME EARLIER OR STAY LATER YOU MUST LET THE RESERVATION
PEOPLE KNOW THAT.  The special rate will apply to the whole time.  I would suggest that you
make your reservations as soon as you can and that you seriously consider arriving on the 13th as
we will start the sign-in at 8 AM on Friday the 14th.  While it is not firmly established yet, we will
probably start the formal gathering in the St Lawrence West Ballroom at 9:30 AM.  That room
will be set up with many pieces of Gallinger history for you to view between registration and
the start of the program.

The night of Saturday 15th there will be a dinner buffet in the St. Lawrence Ballroom which
will cost $20/adult (Can) including tax and tip and $10/child under 12 (Can) all inclusive.  Each
person will be responsible for paying for their own meal at the buffet.

The buffet will include:
    Assorted Salads ,  Roast Beef au Jus , Rosemary Chicken, Fettuccine Alfredo
    Roasted Potatoes , Seasonal Vegetables ,  Freshly Baked Breads
    Assorted Pies and Squares , Fresh Fruit Cocktail , Coffee & Tea

A cash bar will be available for those who desire.

I sent information on accommodations for campers and RV's in earlier e-mails.  Should anyone
need that information, and have failed to retain it, I can resend it by specific request.

Further information regarding the reunion will be coming your way over the spring and summer.

Ken Gallinger web pages are at  http://www.nep.net/~kengall/   for the most current news on the reunion.
================================================
Subject: Gallinger Reunion
Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2001 14:15:26 -0500
From: "Ken Gallinger" <kengall@ismi.net>

Dear Gallinger Group:

Last week Lily sent you some interesting facts about the Harmonious/Allinder
(Eamer) Gallinger family and it just happens to tie in with some things I
have been getting ready to send to you in preparation for the upcoming GREAT
GALLINGER REUNION.

I thought that you might like to see the church that their family attended.
This church was also attended by MANY other Gallinger families. There have
been many Gallinger baptisms, marriages and funerals from the Christ Church
which now resides at Canada Village located not very far from Cornwall.
Those of you who are going to be with us in September will certainly want to
plan to spend a fair amount of time at the "Village." There will be plenty
of time to do that on Friday or Saturday. The following is how the church
looks today:

There are some of you who have asked, "Is there really a Gallingertown?"
The picture following was taken in 1999 and should answer the question for
any non believers:

 
 

The people in the picture happen to all be descendants of Harmonious and
Allinder Gallinger. Let to right they are Priscilla Gallinger Allen and
Kenneth Darby Gallinger (both are great, great grandchildren of Harmonious),
Dorothy May Gallinger Rivier (great grand daughter), and Lyall Manson
(great, great, great grandson).

Some of you may say that a sign does not prove that it exists so I have a
map which I will include for you to find Gallingertown and also see other
sites of interest in the area:

 

You might also enjoy going to the web site put up by the Cornwall & Seaway
Valley Tourism. It is www.visit.cornwall.on.ca  This has many interesting
things and points of interest in the Cornwall area that you will be able to see
first hand If/and when you join us in September.

Ken Gallinger