Thanks for the info, Topher.  I got a package with 4 flares, so hopefully I get at least a 25% functional response if I ever need them!

I blew it on the old ones - I asked the guys at Englund's to dispose of them for me as I pictured myself slamming too many brews and shooting one off w/o calling the CG first!   

Swinging a cylume on a string...  That gave me a "flashback" to a Grateful Dead Chinese New Year show in Oakland back in '89 or so...