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Thursday, April
19 2007 |
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| Early Morning |
Working party meets to setup
hospitality room |
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| 1100 |
The hospitality room opened stocked
with your favorite brands of cold beer, a variety of wines,
assorted soft drinks, snacks and sub sandwiches with Harold
and Roslyn Kane in charge. |
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| |
Reunion registrations got
started with Carolyn and Diane Miller at the desk and lasted
until early evening as the guests poured in. |
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| 1730 |
Our
National Anthem kicked off the opening ceremonies in the
Grand Ballroom followed by a unique Pledge of Allegiance by Bob
Shuffield and his son, Matthew. |
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| |
The sound of the booming guns of
the forward mount alerted the audience that The Ship & The Crew, an
audio-video presentation of the USS Manley (DD-940)
operating in Southeast Asia, was started.
Interlaced with the voices of Admiral K. Wallace, Captains G. Warren, J. Wettroth, and J. Carlson welcoming the reunion
crew, the show featured the men loading ammunition at sea,
during initiation festivities while crossing the Equator,
and enjoying liberty in various liberty ports. |
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During intermission the folks
enjoyed a buffet dinner before the Association President and
Reunion Planner Joe Dennison delivered his welcoming remarks
and introduces everyone.. |
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Charlie Weymouth, LTJG 60-62,
amazed the audience when he presented his artistic rendering
to commemorate the 1961 rescue of Navy pilot, Bill Brandel,
in company with the USS Independence. |
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| |
The Wayne
King Duo took over the stage and performed for the remainder
of the evening, even allowing Elvis on the premises for a
rousing floor show. |
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| 2230 |
But by this time with Elvis departed
the exhausted men and women were ready for their beds! |
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Friday, April 20 |
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| 0730 |
The day gets underway with a
hearty breakfast buffet for all hands and a very special
video performance of two veterans paying their respects to
our country's flag. |
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| 0830 |
We are off downtown
Norfolk and we quickly discover that he has changed
dramatically in the last thirty years -- it is beautiful.
As we arrive on the doorstep of Nauticus, we are taken aback
by the giant profile of the USS Wisconsin (BB-64). |
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The group gathers on the fantail
of the warship for the Association's traditional memorial
service but there is nothing traditional this morning. |
|
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| 1200 |
A relaxing cruise on board the
Spirit of Norfolk fills the afternoon |
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The evening offers the reunion
goers "free" time for personal options |
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Saturday, April
21 |
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| 0830 |
The group is anxious to get
underway for another fun-filled day that begins this morning
with an escorted tour of the USS CARR (FFG-52) at the old
D&S piers. From this guided missile frigate, the folks
will tour the naval base, have lunch at Breezy Point, and
then scoot downtown for an interesting tour of the General
Douglas MacArthur memorial and museum. |
|
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| 1800 |
The evening brought a stunning
performance of the Virginia International Military Tattoo
that wowed the Manley audience |
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Sunday, April 22 |
|
|
| 1000 |
It is mostly a morning of church
services and for others a morning of delayed reveille.
With the business meeting canceled, the hospitality room is
made available into the later afternoon. |
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| 1730 |
An evening of great food and
great entertainment with great shipmates |
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Monday, April 23 |
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| 0830 |
Why does the end come so
quickly? Most of the morning is set aside for goodbyes
until the next time. |
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