Look alive with Seventy-Five!
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Look alive with Seventy-Five!
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Dear ’mates: Happy New Year! 2010 marks 35 years since the Flower Children of the Brigade became leaders of the Navy and Marine Corps. Here is a very important note from 35th Reunion Chairman Mike Lord.
Plans are well underway for the 35th Reunion, scheduled for Thursday, October 28th through Sunday, October 31st. Members of the planning committee have been hard at work meeting and exchanging e-mails for over two years and the weekend is shaping up to be a real first class event. Committee members include Alex Plechash, Bill Daley, Bill Ferris, Bill Konrad, Dennis Sullivan, Gary Ingold, Johnny Johnson, Larry Weckbaugh, Mark Harper, Mark Satorius, Mike Hughes, Mike Lake and Steve Hubbard.
At the 30th Reunion, we voted to hold the 2010 reunion on Homecoming weekend, and to utilize a hotel in Annapolis. We have contracted with the Westin Annapolis, newly opened since our last reunion, as our headquarters hotel. The Westin is a world-class facility, centrally situated in the city and all that Annapolis has to offer. The classes that have used the Westin since its opening have provided very positive feedback on their experiences.
While the schedule of events is not fully firmed up, I can give you an idea of what is tentatively planned. Thursday—Golf outing and crab feast at Mike’s Restaurant. Friday—Memorial service, class meeting, superintendent’s brief, formal parade and reception, and dinner at the Westin. Saturday is the tailgater and football game (beat Duke!!!).
In a change from previous years, the Committee has opted to use the N* Room at the Stadium as the site for the tailgater. You can check out this state of the art banquet room at http://www.navysports.com/facilities/rentals-n-room.html. Given the late October date for Homecoming and the unpredictability of Annapolis weather at that time, the Committee thought the N* Room was the perfect way to guarantee the comfort of the Class of 75 and guests under any conditions. Note that every person who attends the tailgater MUST purchase a game ticket since the N* Room is inside the Stadium. This requirement was carefully considered by the Committee prior to committing to the N* Room, but the advantages the facility offers significantly outweigh the additional expense of the game ticket.
The weekend promises to be a first class event worthy of the great Class of 1975. Of course, such an event comes at a cost. In voting at the 30th to hold the 35th Reunion in Annapolis, on Homecoming Weekend, the Class effectively ruled out less expensive options. There are only 3 hotels in Annapolis capable of handling a large reunion, and all are priced similarly, reflecting the strength of the Annapolis market. Despite the weakened economy, Annapolis has been largely spared the effects of the downturn, and as a result the costs of lodging and other reunion-related expenses (dinner, tailgater, etc.) have increased since the 30th. With a year or so to go prior to Homecoming 2010, there is time to start saving now, which is the reason the Committee wanted to provide this long-range notice. Don’t miss this opportunity to spend a weekend reconnecting with the folks with whom you shared the most extraordinary four years of your lives.
On-line booking is now available for the Class of 75 room block at the Westin at http://www.starwoodmeeting.com/StarGroupsWeb/booking/reservation?id=0908286303&key=748DE. In the spring we will have a website operating for reunion and event registration. More to follow. Thanks Mike and Committee. Sounds like an outstanding plan. Yes, it will be expensive, but you know it will be more than worth it! Start saving your spare change right now! Let me borrow a photo from the CINCPACFLT website. It shows Jon Greenert with three other 4-star alumni in Hawai’i in September.
<photo 75#1: “Keating, Walsh, Willard, and Greenert at the Pacific Fleet Change of Command”> JJ Cuff (’75’s MVC—Most Valuable Contributor) noted that George Flynn was prominent in the 2009 Marine Corps Birthday and Veteran’s Day celebrations. He was a guest on Fox and Friends and also rang the opening bell at the NY Stock Exchange. JJ also passed on a note from Gary Miller who ran in the 2009 National Senior Games in California. (Click here for BONUS pictures not in hardcopy.) I exceeded my expectations by placing 8th nationally in the 1500M run for my age group. I also ran the 800M but did not make the final (missed it by .5 sec – Darn). Over 14,000 senior athletes competed in the Games, which were held at Stanford University in Palo Alto. The facility was top notch and the officials managed the track events superbly. A number of national and world masters records were set during the meet. While there I had the opportunity to meet '76 Olympian Bruce Jenner who was on hand signing autographs and chatting with participants. Bruce was very congenial and took the time to talk with each athlete. After the Games concluded, Cindy and I spent a few days in Monterey and the Big Sur area. The scenery was awesome, from the windswept coastline to the majestic redwoods.
<photo 75#2: “Millers at Big Sur”> David Gothard is making his mark in East Tennessee real estate where he is a principal broker for Sperry Van Ness / R.M. Moore. In October, he represented the seller on a deal for acreage along the Parkway in Pigeon Ford where a new “Titanic” attraction will open in 2010. Please join me in welcoming Chuck Geyer to the ranks of Shipmate correspondents. [Take your time Chuck – once every 35 years shouldn’t strain you too much!] Chuck promises that this is just a taste. He’s saving the rest for Sea Story Hour at the 35th. YP Training Never Leaves the Soul! In late September, a representative group of 35th Company invaded France via the medium that we know best: the water. Rhonda and Chuck Geyer, Elizabeth and Mark Milliken, Debbie and Phil Troy, Jan and Dave Duffie and Paul Bowles and Beth Tardie manned three boats on the French canal between Chatillon sur Loire and Decize. Sampling the best food and wine that the French had to offer, they cruised for seven days in ideal fall weather through picture perfect countryside. Not that the trip was without incident, as there were several water balloon exchanges between the aviators and submariners … and Barge 2 unleashed a secret weapon, “Pirate Dave.” A truce was finally agreed upon over the spoils of battle: wine and cheese! Most impressive was the ship handling skills demonstrated by all hands, proving that those YP classes remain ingrained for eternity.
<Photo 75#3: “Underway in France”>
<Photo 75#4: “Pirate Dave Duffie”> I’m looking forward to hearing the rest of the stories in Annapolis this October! Hope to see all of you there. --- ’75 Sir! Larry |
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