DESRON 30 News Reunion Association Newsletter
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DESRON 30 News Reunion Association Newsletter Winter 2014 Vol. 2 No. 2 We sailed on the Celebrity Millennium for Director's Winter Letter #1 30 days. Departed Vancouver, BC, to By Dick Myers Petropavlovsk, Russia; Otaru, Hakodate, Tokyo, I write this in the absence of Dennis Holt, Yokohama, Mt. Fuji, and Osaka, Japan; Jeju and who was unable to attend the Washington D.C. Incheon, South Korea; Tianjin/Beijing and reunion. He has been busy planning the Baton Shanghai, China. By now I believe you will Rouge 2015 reunion, and an outline of that event appreciate the significance of the cruise to me is presented below. and Faith. These were the same waters our This was our largest reunion ever. We respective ships and shipmates sailed during had 83 people at our tours and dinner. The whole WWII and the Korean wars. It was an reunion was better than I had hoped, and even enlightening experience. our problems in visiting the White House ended We were disappointed in missing the up being better with a substitute tour to the reunion in Washington. From what I’ve heard and Capitol. Events and detail are covered below read, it was a huge success with 73 participants. Membership for the year held up well, but I’d like to exceed this with 80 in Baton Rouge we need more dues. We voted to continue the next year So, it will be very important to make $10.00 per year dues for the organization, and your hotel reservation now. There are a limited we hope that as many who can afford it will send number of rooms and you may always cancel it in. A copy of the 2015 dues notice is attached without penalty up to the end of August 2015. to this newsletter. See you in Baton Rouge We have had heavy losses as reflected in the memorial list shown later in this newsletter. But we have hopes that the Caperton will eventually merge with us in our efforts to help Treasurer’s Report increase our size. As reported before, the By Dick Myers remaining three ships (Clarence K. Bronson, Here is the Treasurer’s Report as of Smalley and Dashiell) are still holding active 9/22/14. reunions on their own. EXPENSES So next year we will be in Baton Rouge, LA, and the New York/Hudson River Valley area Postage $176 in 2016. Plan your calendars with these in mind. Newsletter $ 2,093 Licenses and Fees $205 Office Supplies $195 Director's Winter Letter #2 Web Site $200 By Dennis Holt TOTAL $2,869 There’s a very worn out expression we’ve all heard: “Don’t volunteer for anything.” This also INCOME applies when you don’t attend the annual Dues & Contributions $ 3,460 reunion. “Nominated and elected” by default for 2014 Results – Up to Reunion + $ 591 office. All kidding aside I’m honored to serve. Thank you. Checkbook Balance $1,381 Now, the reason my wife, Faith, and I Savings Account $1,376 weren’t in attendance was due to the trip of a TOTAL CASH ON HAND $2,757 lifetime. You’re familiar with the term, “We’ll do it in the future.” Don’t. Now is the time. 1 President Taft’s grave, and the Women in Military Destination: Washington, DC Service for America Memorial. By Nancy Bielot The 2014 DESRON 30 Reunion was held at the Crowne Plaza Dulles Airport in Herndon, VA, September 17-20. On Wednesday we had two buses take 52 people to the U.S. Capitol for a tour. We had a guided tour of the Rotunda, the Crypt, and then went to the Senate Gallery. Unfortunately the Dome Restoration Project was ongoing during our visit, so there was scaffolding on the outside of the dome and the interior was undergoing restoration as well. After a quick stop at the Pentagon City After the Senate Gallery, some folks chose to go Shopping Center’s food court, we passed the back to the hotel on the “early” bus, while the Pentagon. The Pentagon was built in 13 months others remained for the “late” bus. Some of the and contains 14 miles of hallways! folks who stayed went to the House Gallery. While Our guide also informed us that memorials sitting outside the House Gallery, a Senator saw are funded and designed by members of each Dan Budd sitting and went over to him, shook his conflict/war. For instance, funding for the Korean hand, and thanked him for his service to our memorial was designed by members of that war, country. who did their own fundraising. Again on Thursday we had two buses. The Our next stop was the Lincoln Memorial and first bus held the Cotten and Daly attendees, with the Korean War Veterans Memorial. What a view Dick Myers in charge, and the second bus held the from the top steps of the Lincoln Memorial past Dortch and Gatling attendees, with Mike Killian in the reflecting pond, the WWII Memorial, the Charge. (Both Dick and Mike are retired Navy, and Washington Monument, and the Capitol Building! it was required that a retired Navy person be on (From the Lincoln Memorial to the Capitol is 2.6 each bus in order to enter the Naval Shipyard for miles.) The Korean War Veterans Memorial the Navy Yard Museum; more on that in this contains a squad of 19 (stainless-steel statues) article.) simulating going through a rice paddy field while on Upon arrival at Arlington Cemetery, after the patrol; the reflection on the wall makes it appear as Welcome Center, the first stop was the tram. The though there are 38 in the squad. group of 60 (which included two tour guides), passed the Kennedy Memorial, the Space Shuttle Challenger Memorial, the USS Maine Memorial, the Amphitheater, and attended the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Did you know that more than 400,000 people are buried in Arlington Cemetery, including Presidents Taft and Kennedy? Not only that, but John Stedman, a former crew member of the Cotten (but not attending our reunion), along with another gentleman, laid a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Upon boarding the tram, we passed the Canadian Cross of Sacrifice Memorial, 2 After that it was onto the Washington Navy the North Carolina Memorial, which is also the site Yard to see the National Museum of the U.S. Navy, of Pickett’s Charge. The third stop was Little Round which held quite a few exhibits (i.e., naval artifacts, Top, which overlooked the field and Devil’s Den. models, documents, and fine art). Our guide Upon return to the Visitor Center, lunch was on informed us that torpedoes were built in the your own at the Refreshment Saloon, which offered Washington Navy Yard. The Museum is the sandwiches, salads, pizza, burgers, and hot dogs. flagship museum of the U.S. Navy and part of the Following lunch we saw a brief movie, and then Naval History and Heritage Command. went upstairs to witness the cyclorama (with a light A group of 11 people took the “small” bus to show). There was time after that to tour the the WWII Memorial (after a brief “detour” through museum. Unfortunately we didn’t go to the Dwight the city due to rush hour traffic and lots of one way D. Eisenhower home as the Visitor Center didn’t streets). This was quite impressive as well. This have enough trams to transport everyone. Memorial honors the 16 million who served, as well Saturday was the men’s Business Meeting as the millions of people who supported the war – we’re going to Baton Rouge, LA, in 2015! effort on the home front. Saturday afternoon was free to explore the DC area (area attractions included: the National Zoological Park, Ford’s Theatre National Historic Site, National Air & Space Museum, National Air & Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, the International Spy Museum, and the National Museum of Natural History, among others). Saturday evening was our dinner/banquet at the hotel. Music was provided by DJ David Battey of Bialek’s Music ( www.Bialeksmusic.com ). As in Friday was about a 1.5 hour ride on a bus past years, we had a table set for POW’s/MIA. Of for 42 people to Gettysburg Battlefield. Our very the 62 people in attendance, the men in attendance informative park guide, Gary Kross, gave us a LOT received a pin for their hats, and the women of information about the Battle of Gettysburg. The received a folding tote bag. The Naval Jr. ROTC building the visitor center is in is 6 years old and from the Jr. High School in Herndon, VA, provided contains a 377’ cyclorama (longer than a football a color guard to start off the evening. Our DJ then field!) which depicts Pickett’s Charge at the Battle played, “God Bless America,” by Kate Smith. of Gettysburg. (Gary mentioned there are only 2 Chaplain Jake Keep of the Gatling gave the cycloramas left in the U.S., and the other is in blessing, and then it was time to eat: rolls and Atlanta, GA.) The battlefield covered an area of 25 butter, chicken or salmon, real mashed potatoes, square miles, and the battle was July 1-3, 1863. vegetable, and chocolate layer cake on a plate There were 51,000 American casualties. Last year drizzled with chocolate sauce. was the 150 th anniversary of the Battle of After dinner, Dick Myers thanked everyone Gettysburg.