20th Anniversary Reunion
Marriott Norfolk Waterside
Norfolk, Virginia
2008
August 26th - August 31st
Our 11th reunion has come and gone, but like the rest not forgotten. All the hard work, time, and effort paid off in another successful reunion. First, we have to thank LaDonna Bradshaw for volunteering to take over the job of reunion registration coordinator and all the headaches that go with it. I’m sure she must have said to herself, what did I get myself into? Well you can relax now that it is over, you had a great team working with you and I believe everything went smoothly. You and your team did a great job, congratulations to one and all.
Patch designed by Michael Fridley, son of Bernard Fridley, L/4th Div. 1944-1946
In spite of the bad economy, gas prices, expensive airfares, and so forth, the attendance was still fairly good. Our members, although disappointed, did not complain too much about not being able to go below the decks of our beloved ship. I believe having the chance to see the ship and walk her decks once again and tell stories to whoever would listen about their time aboard took the edge off of not being able to go inside.
As for the sea stories room, boy do those stories get better with each reunion. A message to our former crewmembers who have not attended any of our reunions, please come to our next one, we desperately need some new sea stories.
On behalf of the Association, thank you Nauticus for the reception you gave us at the Nauticus Center. It was a nice get-together of your staff and our members. Also thank you for your Memorial to Lil, it was much appreciated by the daughters of the Menta family and their families.