2011 New Orleans Reunion Recap
New Orleans, Louisiana was the location for the 2011 USS Yancey reunion. Fourteen former shipmates from the Yancey and 8 of their guests enjoyed the four day/three night event on October 6-9 at the Crown Plaza Airport Hotel. Everyone began arriving on Thursday, October 6 and the first thing most of them did after registration 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. Henry Diebel, who served aboard from 1957 - 1958, was the only new attendee this year and was quickly welcomed into the group. The remainder of the evening was spent reminiscing and catching up on what happened since the last reunion.
Friday morning provided perfect weather for our first tour of the weekend. At 9:30 the group departed the hotel for the World War II Museum. The first thing on the agenda when we arrived was watch the Tom Hanks film "Beyond All Boundaries" in the Victory Theater. This film is beyond description and I would recommend it to anyone that visits the museum. After the film there was a brief introduction by a museum volunteer who thanked us all for our service and provided us with information on how the museum started and what we could expect to see. We were then free to explore the museum at our own pace until returning to the hotel at 3:30. The second floor contained exhibits from the War in Europe and the third floor was dedicated to the war in the Pacific. The visit to the museum was a day well spent and many in the group said it was better than they expected.
At 6:00 PM the social hour began and we all enjoyed a New Orleans style dinner buffet. After dinner George Clifton officially greeted everyone and started the round of introductions. Although most of the group knows one another we usually learn something new during introductions. After the introductions four of our reunion couples were brave enough to engage in the newlywed game. There were a lot of laughs and I don't think anyone ended up sleeping on the floor. The winning couple was Duane and Bette Malme with the Suchys, Boyds and Gillespies close behind.
Saturday morning started with the Annual Business Meeting. George Clifton brought up the possibility of joint reunions in the future due to our small numbers. He was contacted by the USS Muliphen and USS Rankin regarding interest in joint reunions with other AKAs. These reunions intend to have separate hospitality rooms and banquets. Additionally MLRS is organizing a reunion for small groups that will be in Chattanooga, Tennessee next September. So far a destroyer and light cruise have signed up. Since the Yancey is a better fit with the AKA group George will contact them to get more information. The vote was taken to determine the location for the 2012 reunion and San Diego beat Salt Lake City by a vote of 9 to 3. Next we decided that Norfolk, Virginia or Washington DC will be the location of our 2014 reunion.
Next we were off for our luncheon cruise aboard the steamboat Natchez. By 11:30 we were underway for a cruise of the Mississippi that included lunch and a Dixieland band. Although the day was exceptionally windy most stayed on deck after lunch to enjoy the fresh air and the sights of the Mississippi. The cruise ended at 1:30 and after disembarking the Natchez we were on our own to shop and explore the French Quarter. I hear some even ventured down Bourbon Street.
At 6:00 it was time to have individuals and couples pictures taken for the memory book and enjoy some cocktails followed by a Prime Rib dinner. Since we were in "their neck of the woods" so to speak, Norm and Connie Boyd invited their son and daughter along with their spouses to join us for dinner. After dinner there was time for some group pictures and more conversation.
Sunday morning brought the end of the reunion. After a buffet breakfast it was time for the Memorial Service to remember those USS Yancey shipmates who had passed away, especially those since the last reunion. Paul Smith, John Karlis and Bill Walfare 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 reunion to a close and there were many hugs and handshakes before leaving. Reunions bring up old memories and old feelings that are sometimes hard to let them go, but there will be next year. See you in San Diego.
New Orleans, Louisiana was the location for the 2011 USS Yancey reunion. Fourteen former shipmates from the Yancey and 8 of their guests enjoyed the four day/three night event on October 6-9 at the Crown Plaza Airport Hotel. Everyone began arriving on Thursday, October 6 and the first thing most of them did after registration 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. Henry Diebel, who served aboard from 1957 - 1958, was the only new attendee this year and was quickly welcomed into the group. The remainder of the evening was spent reminiscing and catching up on what happened since the last reunion.
Friday morning provided perfect weather for our first tour of the weekend. At 9:30 the group departed the hotel for the World War II Museum. The first thing on the agenda when we arrived was watch the Tom Hanks film "Beyond All Boundaries" in the Victory Theater. This film is beyond description and I would recommend it to anyone that visits the museum. After the film there was a brief introduction by a museum volunteer who thanked us all for our service and provided us with information on how the museum started and what we could expect to see. We were then free to explore the museum at our own pace until returning to the hotel at 3:30. The second floor contained exhibits from the War in Europe and the third floor was dedicated to the war in the Pacific. The visit to the museum was a day well spent and many in the group said it was better than they expected.
At 6:00 PM the social hour began and we all enjoyed a New Orleans style dinner buffet. After dinner George Clifton officially greeted everyone and started the round of introductions. Although most of the group knows one another we usually learn something new during introductions. After the introductions four of our reunion couples were brave enough to engage in the newlywed game. There were a lot of laughs and I don't think anyone ended up sleeping on the floor. The winning couple was Duane and Bette Malme with the Suchys, Boyds and Gillespies close behind.
Saturday morning started with the Annual Business Meeting. George Clifton brought up the possibility of joint reunions in the future due to our small numbers. He was contacted by the USS Muliphen and USS Rankin regarding interest in joint reunions with other AKAs. These reunions intend to have separate hospitality rooms and banquets. Additionally MLRS is organizing a reunion for small groups that will be in Chattanooga, Tennessee next September. So far a destroyer and light cruise have signed up. Since the Yancey is a better fit with the AKA group George will contact them to get more information. The vote was taken to determine the location for the 2012 reunion and San Diego beat Salt Lake City by a vote of 9 to 3. Next we decided that Norfolk, Virginia or Washington DC will be the location of our 2014 reunion.
Next we were off for our luncheon cruise aboard the steamboat Natchez. By 11:30 we were underway for a cruise of the Mississippi that included lunch and a Dixieland band. Although the day was exceptionally windy most stayed on deck after lunch to enjoy the fresh air and the sights of the Mississippi. The cruise ended at 1:30 and after disembarking the Natchez we were on our own to shop and explore the French Quarter. I hear some even ventured down Bourbon Street.
At 6:00 it was time to have individuals and couples pictures taken for the memory book and enjoy some cocktails followed by a Prime Rib dinner. Since we were in "their neck of the woods" so to speak, Norm and Connie Boyd invited their son and daughter along with their spouses to join us for dinner. After dinner there was time for some group pictures and more conversation.
Sunday morning brought the end of the reunion. After a buffet breakfast it was time for the Memorial Service to remember those USS Yancey shipmates who had passed away, especially those since the last reunion. Paul Smith, John Karlis and Bill Walfare 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 reunion to a close and there were many hugs and handshakes before leaving. Reunions bring up old memories and old feelings that are sometimes hard to let them go, but there will be next year. See you in San Diego.
