USS WASHTENAW COUNTY VETERANS ASSOCIATION OCTOBER 2013 NEWSLETTER 2013 REUNION WRAPUP: On behalf of all attendees, we would like to thank Ron and Sharon Tucker for a great job in hosting the 2013 reunion. The Tuckers setup the hotel accommodations, planned outings, organized carpools and kept the hospitality room well-stocked with drinks, ice and snacks for the duration of the reunion! Who would have guessed that being directed to the "bathtub" was the place to go for a cold drink (beer, wine, water or sodas)! Great job Ron and Sharon, with a little help and support from your friend, Faith Williams! After Wednesdays arrival, a group ventured out to a Brazilian steakhouse to sample a local eatery. The reunion festivities kicked off with the meet-n-greet on Thursday evening. There were plenty of appetizers to feast on and a chocolate cake for dessert ( in honor of David Vicknairs birthday). Attendees gathered at tables to get reacquainted and meet the new faces of the yearly gathering. New attendees were Greg Hamby (GMG3) and Robert Anthony (a retired 26 year veteran of the Army, Air Force, and Air National Guard and a friend of Gus Alegado). All during the reunion, members gathered at various times in the hospitality room to watch DVD's of times aboard the LST1166. A big "Thank You" goes out to Mike Shaw for donating his time and providing the computer to share these memories. Thanks to all who brought their DVD's this year. And, of course, there were multiple trips to the local mall where the wives shopped till they dropped! Each day groups explored the sites of the Salt Lake City Area. Some drove up to Park City, Utah where they toured the museum, shopped along Main Street and dined at the "No Name Saloon". Many made the trip to the Mormon Temple Square where they had lunch at the Garden Room, toured the churches, and discovered their families roots at the Family History Library. On Friday, a large group ventured out to see, "The Hungry Games" play followed by a dinner at The Bayou, which had a Cajun- flared menu. The membership held their annual meeting at 4:00pm, please see attached minutes. The Saturday night banquet dinner was kicked off by the silent auction. We want to thank all the attendees for their generous donations and bids making this year's reunion one of the best! There were many gift items that honored the memory of our ship (an embossed pocket-knife, a leather belt buckle, a glass paper weight, coffee mugs and scented candles). The always popular food and drink items this year included Oregon and California wines, garlic pistachios, deer jerky, and honey from Maryland. Personal items such as shirts, jackets and jewelry items that kept the bidding competitive and fun. There were unique items from handmade wooden trucks, spoon and fork wind chimes, spoon cradles, trinket boxes, and a tiny doll in a crocheted outfit. There were books to tempt the book worms, a model ship for the crafty, and military memorabilia for the history buffs. If we missed mentioning your donations, we apologize as there were so many to try and remember. The official start of our dinner began with the Presentation of Colors by Arnie Helfrich and John Strittmatter, two of our plank owners. It continued with a reading of the meaning of the Missing Man Table by Gary Williamson. Our sincerest "Thank You" to Gary for his heartfelt reading. The buffet line was opened up with dinner for the crew. Bidding continued on the auction items till just past the dinner hour when David Vicknair announced the winners. The dance floor then opened up for the rest of the evening, which included a line dance to the "cupid shuffle" and of course, the always fun "YMCA"! During the course of the gathering, Nick Motto took pictures of all the attendees at this year's reunion, as well as group pictures. We would like to thank Nick for his time and for bringing his camera equipment to capture these special moments on film. Pictures will be posted on a website in the near future for all to enjoy. The evening concluded with the raffle for some donated items from the local businesses and a free nights stay at the Red Lion, which was won by Margie Hopkins. As the DJ wound down, the crew lingered at the hall, some to say their "good byes" as they were departing early the next day. Others regrouped in the hospitality room for a few good laughs and a final toast of "saki" donated by Sandy Weissman, QM3. Sunday morning was departure day for many. Some were staying on for a few extra days to extend their vacations, while others headed out for sites unknown. We wished them "Fair winds and calm seas" in their travels with the hope that we can all do this again next year in New Orleans, Louisiana. Submitted on behalf of the LST1166 Board, Joe Rosenberg, LST1166 Secretary 2014 Reunion Location: New Orleans, Louisiana Sept. 2014 Newly Found Shipmates: Royce Beardsley EN 69-71 now lives in Colville, WA. T. J. Barnhart GMG3 69 - 71 now lives in Norfolk, VA. TAPS LIST: Edsel J. Van Leuven passed away April 25, 2011 per his son Mark. Jack Lynwood Miller YN3 1968 Respectfully Submitted, Joe "Rosey" Rosenberg, GMG3 69-71