2010 REUNION IN BOSTON RECAP
Boston, Massachusetts was the location for the 2010 USS Yancey (AKA-93) reunion. Sixteen former shipmates from the Yancey and eight of their guests enjoyed the four day/three night event on October 7-10, 2010 at the Holiday Inn Hotel in Foxboro, Massachusetts. Everyone began arriving on Thursday, October 7 and the first thing most of them did after registering was to go into the hospitality room to see who else had arrived. At 5:00 pm the Welcome Reception brought everyone together for the first time and the reunion was officially underway. Hors d’oeuvres and drinks were served during the reception as everyone made the rounds to see and greet old friends. Five new attendees were welcomed this year and they quickly were made to feel part of the group. The remainder of the evening was free to catch up on what had been going on and to trade stories over dinner and in the hospitality room.
Friday morning provided perfect weather for the first tour of the reunion weekend. At 9:00 am the group left the hotel to tour various sites in the city of Boston. First stop was Fenway Park one of the oldest ballparks in the country. After re-boarding the bus the tour continued through several Boston neighborhoods including Beacon Hill, home of the Boston elite; passing Cheers along the way we continued to the Boston Commons once used for grazing cattle, hangings and duels. The Massachusetts State House across from the Boston Commons marks the start of the historic Freedom Trail. After a brief tour of downtown Boston we departed the bus for a walking tour that led us passed the childhood home of Rose Kennedy and the home of Paul Revere. Just up the street from Paul Revere’s home is the Old North Church made famous for its tower that was used on April 18, 1775 to signal the British would be attacking Lexington and Concord by sea. That battle was the start of the Revolutionary War. Next stop was Quincy Market where the group enjoyed lunch and shopping before returning to the hotel.
After returning to the hotel in the afternoon, the annual business meeting was held to determine the location of the 2011 reunion and the leadership for the next year. George Clifton was again chosen as reunion coordinator and New Orleans, LA was selected as the 2011 reunion site. The dates of the reunion will be either the first or second weekend of October.
At 6:00 pm the social hour began and everyone returned to the Cottonwood Room for the “New England Dinner Buffet” which of course included clams and Boston Scrod. After dinner George Clifton welcomed everyone and each shipmate introduced themselves and their guests. Next was a game to test our memory of old radio commercials. While pens were being obtained Duane Malme was kind enough to entertain the group with his rendition of “I want to be a Dog”; acapella no less. Ed McLaughlin was the winner of the contest getting 11 of 20 correct. Ed was once in Radio, so probably should have gotten more than 11 correct, but still received a Boston t-shirt and a round of applause from his shipmates. Many of the attendees returned to the hospitality room for some more stories and reminiscing after the evening’s activities.
Saturday morning, after a hearty breakfast, the historic tour of Boston continued with a trip to the Charlestown Navy Yard home of the USS Constitution, the Worlds oldest floating commissioned naval vessel. The Charlestown Navy Yard is now maintained by the National Park Service and includes the USS Constitution Museum, the USS Cassin Young (Fletcher Class Destroyer), and of course “Old Ironsides” herself. Unfortunately the USS Cassin Young was in dry dock and could not be boarded, however there was still enough to see. While some did a self guided tour of the main deck of the USS Constitution many took advantage of the guided tour which included the gun deck and the crew sleeping quarters below decks. Rather than again fight the crowds at Quincy Market it was decided we would have lunch at 99 restaurant, located in Charlestown not far from the Navy Yard. After lunch an attempt was made to drive through MIT and Harvard without much success. Due to the detours and heavy traffic we called it a day and headed back to the hotel to relax and prepare for the USS Yancey Banquet.
The evening began at 5:30 with the pre-dinner cocktail hour and photo session followed by a prime rib dinner. The last item on the agenda was the Memorial Service to remember those USS Yancey shipmates who had passed away, especially those since the last reunion. Edmund McLaughlin, George Clifton and Paul Dunn led the service. As the names from the Honor Roll were read, a bell was tolled in their memory followed by Taps and a hand salute. It was now time to bring the banquet to a close, and there were mixed feelings—happiness for such a wonderful reunion experience and sadness that it was now close to an end. Many had to say their good byes tonight because of early travel plans on Sunday morning, so there were many hugs and handshakes and farewells before leaving the banquet. Others lingered on to make the most of the remaining time here. Sunday morning’s breakfast was the final chance for good byes for those who didn’t have early travel plans, and a few more minutes to tell another story or to listen to an old friend tell about his family. Reunions bring up old memories and old feelings and sometimes it’s hard to let them go, but there will be next year! See you in New Orleans.
Boston, Massachusetts was the location for the 2010 USS Yancey (AKA-93) reunion. Sixteen former shipmates from the Yancey and eight of their guests enjoyed the four day/three night event on October 7-10, 2010 at the Holiday Inn Hotel in Foxboro, Massachusetts. Everyone began arriving on Thursday, October 7 and the first thing most of them did after registering was to go into the hospitality room to see who else had arrived. At 5:00 pm the Welcome Reception brought everyone together for the first time and the reunion was officially underway. Hors d’oeuvres and drinks were served during the reception as everyone made the rounds to see and greet old friends. Five new attendees were welcomed this year and they quickly were made to feel part of the group. The remainder of the evening was free to catch up on what had been going on and to trade stories over dinner and in the hospitality room.
Friday morning provided perfect weather for the first tour of the reunion weekend. At 9:00 am the group left the hotel to tour various sites in the city of Boston. First stop was Fenway Park one of the oldest ballparks in the country. After re-boarding the bus the tour continued through several Boston neighborhoods including Beacon Hill, home of the Boston elite; passing Cheers along the way we continued to the Boston Commons once used for grazing cattle, hangings and duels. The Massachusetts State House across from the Boston Commons marks the start of the historic Freedom Trail. After a brief tour of downtown Boston we departed the bus for a walking tour that led us passed the childhood home of Rose Kennedy and the home of Paul Revere. Just up the street from Paul Revere’s home is the Old North Church made famous for its tower that was used on April 18, 1775 to signal the British would be attacking Lexington and Concord by sea. That battle was the start of the Revolutionary War. Next stop was Quincy Market where the group enjoyed lunch and shopping before returning to the hotel.
After returning to the hotel in the afternoon, the annual business meeting was held to determine the location of the 2011 reunion and the leadership for the next year. George Clifton was again chosen as reunion coordinator and New Orleans, LA was selected as the 2011 reunion site. The dates of the reunion will be either the first or second weekend of October.
At 6:00 pm the social hour began and everyone returned to the Cottonwood Room for the “New England Dinner Buffet” which of course included clams and Boston Scrod. After dinner George Clifton welcomed everyone and each shipmate introduced themselves and their guests. Next was a game to test our memory of old radio commercials. While pens were being obtained Duane Malme was kind enough to entertain the group with his rendition of “I want to be a Dog”; acapella no less. Ed McLaughlin was the winner of the contest getting 11 of 20 correct. Ed was once in Radio, so probably should have gotten more than 11 correct, but still received a Boston t-shirt and a round of applause from his shipmates. Many of the attendees returned to the hospitality room for some more stories and reminiscing after the evening’s activities.
Saturday morning, after a hearty breakfast, the historic tour of Boston continued with a trip to the Charlestown Navy Yard home of the USS Constitution, the Worlds oldest floating commissioned naval vessel. The Charlestown Navy Yard is now maintained by the National Park Service and includes the USS Constitution Museum, the USS Cassin Young (Fletcher Class Destroyer), and of course “Old Ironsides” herself. Unfortunately the USS Cassin Young was in dry dock and could not be boarded, however there was still enough to see. While some did a self guided tour of the main deck of the USS Constitution many took advantage of the guided tour which included the gun deck and the crew sleeping quarters below decks. Rather than again fight the crowds at Quincy Market it was decided we would have lunch at 99 restaurant, located in Charlestown not far from the Navy Yard. After lunch an attempt was made to drive through MIT and Harvard without much success. Due to the detours and heavy traffic we called it a day and headed back to the hotel to relax and prepare for the USS Yancey Banquet.
The evening began at 5:30 with the pre-dinner cocktail hour and photo session followed by a prime rib dinner. The last item on the agenda was the Memorial Service to remember those USS Yancey shipmates who had passed away, especially those since the last reunion. Edmund McLaughlin, George Clifton and Paul Dunn led the service. As the names from the Honor Roll were read, a bell was tolled in their memory followed by Taps and a hand salute. It was now time to bring the banquet to a close, and there were mixed feelings—happiness for such a wonderful reunion experience and sadness that it was now close to an end. Many had to say their good byes tonight because of early travel plans on Sunday morning, so there were many hugs and handshakes and farewells before leaving the banquet. Others lingered on to make the most of the remaining time here. Sunday morning’s breakfast was the final chance for good byes for those who didn’t have early travel plans, and a few more minutes to tell another story or to listen to an old friend tell about his family. Reunions bring up old memories and old feelings and sometimes it’s hard to let them go, but there will be next year! See you in New Orleans.
Shipmates we've lost since the 2009 reunion.