Click on images to increase size

Happy Hour

Hi-jinks at the VFW

Jim & Patsy Innis
 

The gangs all here

The eighth reunion of the USS Manley (DD-940) Association -- The Beach Party Reunion -- got off to a exciting start in the hospitality room on Wednesday afternoon  then proceeded to the pool deck of the Plaza Resort and Spa.  It was an awesome sight, overlooking the serene late-afternoon beach of Daytona and the rolling blue surf of the Atlantic while the attendees gathered around for bar-b-cue, entertainment, and lots of fun.

Intracoastal Connection, a local barbershop quartet, got things going table hopping and singing all the oldies that transported the audience to the good old days and the right frame of mind.  Snickerdoodle and her clown partner, Classee, put on amusing audience participation games that drew a loads of laughs from the crowd.  Rick Steffen provided great music, and it wasn't long before the groups were swinging their mates across the dance floor.

Reveille came early Thursday morning and the Manley crew assembled for the traditional Welcome Aboard Breakfast.  New this year, was the introduction of the Two-Bell Ceremony and The Cruise Book, a unique Power Point presentation of the Manley and her crew from the pages of yesterday.

Daytona Beach Mayor "Bud" Asher made an appearance at the Breakfast to extend a hearty and very warm welcome to the men and women.  Following his brief address, the Mayor presented the Manley Association with a Proclamation declaring Wednesday, September 24, 2003 as USS Manley (DD-940) Day.

Next, reunion goers took their seats in the motor coaches for a short drive to the Kennedy Space Center and a day of touring.

Friday was highlighted with a tour of the Daytona International Speedway, Daytona USA, and a wonderful deli lunch in the Winston Tower.  It proved to be a lot of fun with some great comedy staged by the one and only Ed Gowan who performed his very own production of the Men's Room Trick!

The view of the legendary Daytona racetrack from the Winston Tower was spectacular and the clicking of cameras was heard from every corner.  Two of the guys won the drawing for a race around the track in an authentic NASCAR car with a professional driver.  Most of us watched with enthusiasm as they screamed by our position in the stands.

That evening was open to individual options and the attendees split into three groups: the dinner crowd, the gambling wizards, and the VFW cronies.  Who had the best time remains debatable but there were a lot of winners and no losers.  That adds up to a good time had by all.

Saturday took a couple of foursomes out to the Ladies' Professional Golf Club for a morning of fun and games.  Again, half won and no one lost.  Another bus load of people headed to St. Augustine for a very wonderful day of touring and lunching in our oldest city.

After a brief rest upon their return, the Association gathered for the traditional banquet.  The air was full of excitement and anticipation.  This was a first time for many of the attendees, several arriving this evening for the banquet only.  Greeted at the entryway by Bill Gowan, the ladies were presented with a long stem red rose and the gentlemen were handed a reproduced picture of the ship.

The menu included a choice of grilled tender filet with grilled salmon or grilled chicken breast accompanied by all the delicious trimmings.  The meal was excellent.

Joe Dennison, president of the Association and reunion planner along with his wife, Shirley, and with the assistance of Ed Gowan, made his remarks to the Manley group recognizing the role of the navy wife during many of our cruises.

Joe Bolden presented Joe and Shirley with a giant "thank you" card signed by the attendees and a bouquet of white roses.  He then surprised Dennison with a gift of $517.00 collected in the hospitality room from the men and ladies of the Manley.  Joe Dennison was lost for words and was visibly shaken by the display of appreciation and generosity.  The money would be put to good use, Joe promised, on behalf of the Association.  In a later newsletter, the president announced that he had purchased a new color printer for use by the Association.

Bruce Bradway presented Dennison with a hand-crafted plaque eloquently displaying the ship's emblem.

Entertainment was provided by the Johnny-B-Goode deejays and they kept the audience on the dance floor for the night with their great music or laughing with their
side-splitting humor.  A great show!

This page last updated 10 December 2007