VC-12 / VAW-12 Newsletter December 2009
Website: www.vc12vaw12.org All the old newsletters are there;
Members list: www.vc12vaw12.org/members/members.html
Contact me for rosters of the detachments you were on. We are continually adding to this database. (rgs@coho.net)
We are now at over 2600 members and know of 1100 deceased men in addition.
Chairman: Richard Bray 765 Hosmer Rd Churchville, NY 14428 585-538-4252 Cell: 585-576-0595 leighbray@hotmail.com
Past Chairman: Edward Seykowski 607 N 70 E Valparaiso, IN 46383 219-462-3636 edseykow@juno.com FAX 219-462-2168
Treasurer, Scribe & Membership Chairman for dues:
Roger G. Smith, MD Office: 561 SE Oak St Hillsboro, OR 97123
Home: 34464 SW Firdale Rd Cornelius, OR 97113 503-628-2229 home; FAX 503-693-9109; Cell 503-407-8436 rgs@coho.net
Dues are $10 a year for those who get the newsletter by post. New Year starts at the reunion. Send in your dues now or e-mail me for a status report on your account.
Many who get the newsletter by e-mail offer dues and we are grateful. We send e-mail newsletter to all who wish to see it, regardless.
We have listed groups by detachments. Send me your request and I'll share your detachment list with you so you can contact the guys you want to meet at reunion. Tell us who you remember and let us help you find him/them. We have too many new contacts since the 2008 reunion to list them all. We have many incomplete detachment rosters. Send for yours and help me complete the lists. I call a lot of guys who have no interest, but if their old buddies call them, that may be a different matter. Our membership continues to grow. People who send me old newsletters from the squadron and old orders, social notes, watch bills, cruise book lists and rapid recall bills have been very helpful.
2010 Reunion
Our chairman, Dick Bray, has laid a plan and organized the event.
The 2010 VC-12/VAW-12 reunion will be held at the Crowne Plaza in Norfolk, VA. The hotel is located at 700 Monticello Avenue. The reunion will run from Thursday afternoon Sept. 30th to Sunday morning Oct. 3rd.
Reservations at the hotel can be made by calling the hotel at 1-757-627-5555. Identify yourself as a member of the VC-12/VAW-12 reunion group. The room rate is $89 plus taxes. This rate is good from Monday night Sept. 27th through Wednesday night Oct. 6th.
You can view the hotel by visiting the WEB site:
The registration fee will be $110 per person ($220 per couple). The fee covers:
* Overhead costs* Snacks, sodas and coffee in the Ready room
* Welcome Reception Thursday evening with Buffet & cash bar
* Banquet Saturday evening– cash bar
* Breakfast buffet in the hotel Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings
Tours
Two organized bus tours are being offered that will be operated from the hotel.
Tour One on Friday Oct. 1st from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm
Norfolk tour The tour offers the following itinerary:
• Board the motor coach with your tour guide to learn about Norfolk’s colorful 325 year history as you ride through the lovely historic district and restored areas. View the stately homes along the Hague, old St. Paul’s Church, the Moses Myers House, the Chrysler Museum of Art, MacArthur Memorial, the historic Freemason District, the restored waterfront area, as well as many other points of interest.
• Downtown Norfolk has undergone a complete transformation in the last decade and features the beautifully renovated Town Point Park with the Armed Forces memorial, brand new $34milliion cruise terminal, waterfront condos and state of the art shopping area.
NAUTICUS, THE NATIONAL MARITIME CENTER
• Enjoy a visit to Norfolk’s premier waterfront attraction, Nauticus, the National Maritime Center.
Nauticus is a unique and thriving campus of visitor attractions that explores the economic, naval, and natural powers of the sea. Features here include a series of ingenious interactive exhibits, shows, and theaters with various films.
• Also housed here is the Hampton Roads Naval Museum, one of ten museums officially operated by the U.S. Navy. Highlights of the naval battles and exhibits of detailed ship models, artwork, and memorabilia are showcased in the museum.
BATTLESHIP WISCONSIN
• A true highlight of your visit to Nauticus will be a tour of the battleship Wisconsin, one of the famous Iowa-class ships. This great ship saw action in WWII, the Korean War and most recently in the Persian Gulf War. Wisconsin is permanently berthed beside Nauticus where it is accessed by a connecting walkway. The main deck and sections of two upper decks are open for you to explore.
NAVAL STATION NORFOLK TOUR
• Tour the Norfolk Naval Base, which is part of Naval Station Norfolk - the largest naval installation in the world. Home port to 78 ships, ranging in size from aircraft carriers to submarines, 26 aircraft squadrons comprised of 133 aircraft and headquarters of the Atlantic Fleet, this naval complex occupies over 8,000 acres of land and is home to more than 100,000 military personnel. Your tour will take you past the 14 piers and through the Naval Air Station. You will also drive by the historic homes built for the 1907 Jamestown Exposition on “Admiral’s Row” which now house the flag officers.
• Lunch will be included for the group at one of the clubs on base.
Package Price: $51.00 per person.
Tour two on Saturday Oct. 2nd from 9:00 am to 2:30 pm
COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG OVERVIEW
• Depart via motor coach with your tour guide for the charming town of Williamsburg. Your guide will provide interesting and informative narration during your ride about the historic Virginia Peninsula and the Hampton Roads area.
• Upon arrival in Williamsburg, you will step back into the 18th century while strolling through the streets of Colonial Williamsburg. Your historical interpreter will guide you through the past and the events that helped shape America’s history as you enjoy a one and one half hour leisurely walking tour through the restored area of this lovely colonial capital city (Actual distance is approximately 4-5 blocks).
• Following your overview tour, enjoy approximately two hours free time to shop and browse in the many unique specialty shops in Merchants Square. High quality apparel, gifts, jewelry, unusual quilts, beautiful furniture and holiday decorations are but a few of the offerings found in this quaint, picturesque shopping area.
• Enjoy lunch on your own in one of the Colonial Taverns or in Merchants Square. Your guide will point out all of the dining options as you pass through town.
Package Price: $39.00 per person. LUNCH ON OWN.
Friday evening Oct. 1st will be dinner on your own at a restaurant of your choice or at the hotel.
To attend the reunion here are the necessary steps.
* Make hotel reservations at 1-757-627-5555 or
* Contact Dick Bray at leighbray@hotmail.com or rbray1@rochester.rr.com phone 585-576-0595
Provide me with:
Names(s) and number attending plus contact information - $110 per person.
Note: Reduced registration fees if you desire to attend only certain events; i.e. reception only, banquet only and etc.
Tour desires if any
Norfolk Tour Friday - $51 per person
Williamsburg Tour Saturday- $39 per person
Banquet dinner choice Saturday
Grilled Marinated Sliced London Broil or Sauteed Breast of chicken with ham & mozzarella cheese.
Badge choices
Engraved Members - $10, Guest- $8, City shingles - $4 Hand Written
Make check payable to VC-12/VAW-12 and send to
Dick Bray 765 Hosmer Road Churchville, NY, 14428
Engraved name badges will be available again this year. Will provide hand written stick-on tags if engraved ones are not desired.
Please provide the following information as you want it to appear on either the stick-on or the engraved badges:
For a members badge we will
need the following information: Name, Rank (highest held in the Navy), and the
year(s)
you were in the squadron (i.e. 1959-1961). The guest badge requires just the
first and last name of the guest.
Engraved name badges/city shingles must be ordered through Dick Bray prior to the reunion.
A 2" by 3" engraved members badge can be ordered for $10, a 1" by 3" guest badge can be ordered for $8 and a 1/2" by 3" city shingle can be ordered for $4 each. Contact Dick so that the correct information will be engraved. Dick can send a picture of the engraved badges if anyone wants to see them before ordering. Badges/city shingles can be prepaid with reunion registration or paid at sign in.
We can acquire city shingles for past reunions. If you attended any past reunions and desire a city shingle or shingles let us know which ones.
2010 VC-12/VAW-12 Reunion Schedule
Thursday Sept. 30
1300: Sign in starts in hotel lobby
1300 + Ready room open for entire reunion – snacks and soft drinks/coffee*.
1800-2100 Welcome Reception – Buffet* and cash bar
Friday Oct. 1
Morning: Breakfast buffet* Tour on your own or take
Norfolk Tour $51 - lunch included – boarding at 0845 sharp
Dinner on your own at the hotel or elsewhere.
Saturday Oct 2
Morning: Breakfast buffet* Tour on your own or take
Williamsburg Tour - $39 - boarding at 0845 sharp
1500: Business meeting in Ready room
1800: Banquet* and cash bar
Sunday Oct 3
Morning: Breakfast buffet*
E2D
I have a photo collage of the new E2D. 42 slides. Very professional job. I can’t put it in the newsletter because many recipients’ computers reject photos so I can only put text in the newsletter. Send a reply to me and I will send it to you if you want to see it. I have written to a retired navy friend with influence to see if he can get us up close to the new plane and/or visit an active duty VAW squadron while we are at Norfolk.
Roger rgs@coho.net
Military Charities
Have you ever seen a rating of the various military charities that write to you for your contributions? http://justplainbill.wordpress.com/2009/11/18/veterans-charities-rated-by-wash-post/
CWO Paul W. Meyn of Shawnee Mission, KS is another one of our members who has written a book about his navy experience. Have a look:
Meynpback&spine092409LoRes.pdf
David Hernandez is running for State Assembly in California district 42. Interested members may wish to contact him
Hernandez, David R. Box 9158 N Hollywood, CA 91609 818-448-3403 drhassoc@earthlink.net b.1951
I was a plane captain (E-3) 1967 through 1968. Then attached to VAW-122 and did my WestPac cruise in 1968 through 1969 aboard the USS America. I later did a Med Cruise on the USS Independence and then a NATO Cruise. Republican candidate for Congress District 28 in 2006; Now candidate of 42nd district California Assembly; my Web site www.davidhernandez4assembly.com