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Reunions mean different things to different people. For most, they present a chance to meet and talk with shipmates not seen in decades. For some, they become vacation time to enjoy the tours and sights more than anything else. For others, it is a rare opportunity to celebrate at dinners and entertainment and to party a bit. But there are some common threads that tie them together. All freshmen reunion-goers possess no clue of what is about to take place. They are wide-eyed and breathless at the moment they are handed their name tags at the registration table. They are curious and inquisitive. It is the same feeling they had when they walked onboard their first ship. They walk into the hospitality room a little nervous and are quickly greeted by veterans who have grown a few years older and a whole lot grayer and are only barely recognizable. The ice is melted immediately and the quietness of the room is disturbed even sooner. The veterans know the plan. They have been here before. They know that each reunion will bring a new face, a new shipmate; that this reunion will be bigger and bolder than the one before it. They display their name tags to assure recognition and pump almost any extended arm. The years have passed but the faces remain familiar. But the new face of the new shipmate now blends with the old face of the old veteran reunion-goer and the reunion takes on a new purpose. It is now a gathering of shipmates and friends of the USS Manley (DD-940) Association. No longer does the specific term of service years separate us - they unite us! We are all shipmates of the USS Manley (DD-940) who were placed on board in a time from 1957 until 1983. Since 1990 when a handful of former crew members arrived in the Philadelphia Navy Yard with the single goal to amble on board Manley for the last time, the Association has gathered ten more times over the years and progressively taken the concept of "reunion" to heights not found in the "Reunion Handbook". The Homecoming Reunion in Norfolk, Virginia proved to be all things to all people and did not disappoint the new kid or the old salt. The air in the hospitality room on the first afternoon was electric, sparks of kinship were snapping across the spacious room as one after another joined together for the first time in decades, some for as many as forty years, to hail each other and to toast the United States Navy and the USS Manley (DD-940). Despite challenges placed along his way, the reunion planner succeeded in presenting four days filled with exciting tours, a stunning military review, extraordinary entertainment, lavish group meals and a welcoming assembly room. It was undoubtedly the grandest congregation of shipmates and friends ever produced in the brief history of this little - but great - organization. Expectantly, many will rush to applaud the leading PO's who planned and executed the event; but, the credit for success belongs to the men and women and children who attended. Applaud Matthew who delivered a very moving Pledge of Allegiance at the Opening Ceremonies and Tom Young who delivered his rendition of the Star Spangled Banner at the Association Grand Banquet. Applaud the men and women who unselfishly give up their reunion time to make yours more pleasurable. The Sunday night grand banquet was packed with faces exuding approval. Our members are proud and dedicated. It shows! It shows on their faces; it shows in their character; it shows in their energy. It is these who create successful reunions. Applaud the men and women whether they once wore the four stripes of the captain or three stripes of the seaman who traveled from afar to sit next to each other to share a mean and a reunion. I see pride! The Homecoming Reunion epitomized everything that was and is USS Manley. It was four days filled with laughter, amazement and party. The opening ceremonies began with a nostalgic video flashback of the ship during operations and the crew performing the essentials like passing the ammunition from one hand to another or the non-essentials like kissing the navel of King Neptune during their initiation into the Solemn Mysteries of the Ancient Order of Shellbacks. The voices of former commanding officers - Admiral Ken Wallace, Captains Warren Graham, John Wettroth, and John Carlson - added a profoundness to the images dancing across the screen doing "their thing." It was a sharp reminder of times past. After a breakfast buffet at the hotel Friday morning, four luxury motor coaches carried the group to downtown Norfolk and to the entrance of Nauticus where under a cloudless sky and a shining sun, the men and women of the USS Manley (DD-940) Association assembled on the fantail of the USS Wisconsin (BB-64) for the traditional memorial service with Association President, Joe Dennison, presiding. From Chesapeake, the Deep Creek High School Junior Air Force Color Guard very smartly presented the colors. Mr. Carlos Clanton of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce sang the National Anthem and Bob Marquart, a local resident and retired Navy musician, sounded Taps. Joe Dennison followed with his delivery of his very poignant eulogy followed by the recitation of the names of the deceased by Harold Kane and Tom Young. Rob Lockwood from the Tidewater Pipes and Drums Band played Amazing Grace and ended the ceremony with American. From the deck of the Wisconsin, the group were transported a short distance to the deck of the Spirit of Norfolk for a luncheon cruise in the Elizabeth River. Back at the hotel, the reunion troops congregated in the hospitality room for more sea stories and to catch up on the lives of their shipmates. Saturday was another day of tours and the motor coaches sat in front of the hotel ready. Our first trip was to the guided missile frigate USS CARR (FFG-52) - http://www.carr.navy.mil/default.aspx - for an escorted tour of the vessel. What a way to start a day! Many of the attendees were prepared to sign on the dotted line! Following lunch at Breezy Point, the group visited the General Douglas MacArthur Memorial and Museum. We then raced back to the hotel for a brief rest and quick change of clothing before we headed off to the Virginia International Tattoo. The evening was filled with pomp and pageantry not seen before by many of the crew. Words could be written here that would absorb the entire memory allocatedo describe the show, all inadequate I am sure. Just like the many sea stories that are tossed around during a Navy reunion, the Tattoo has to be seen to be believed! In one simple word, it was COOL! AWESOME! STUNNING! EXCITING! OUT-OF-THIS WORLD! ONE-OF-A-KIND! WOW! Oops, that's more than one word! Most of Sunday was spent sleeping in or attending local church services and lounging around the hospitality room until the Association's Grand Banquet got started in the early evening. Our own Tom Young performed the National Anthem. Dr. Jerry Vintinner, Captain, U.S. Navy (Ret) delivered an eloquent keynote speech on the Iraq subject and the contrasts of the existing religious differences. The stage was then taken over by Dave Jacobson and his the Royal Atlantic Orchestra featuring the sultry voice of Becky Livas. Midway through the evening, the Sawyer Sisters arrived with their performance of memorable songs from days gone to an audience very much in today. It was a fun night thoroughly enjoyed by all. Monday morning brought a close to the reunion with a farewell breakfast that lasted much longer than initially planned....because so many resisted the goodbyes. It was a fantastic time!
This page last updated 26 September 2009 |
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