United States Submarine Veterans

Mid-Atlantic Base

Mid-Atlantic Base Picnic

2004 saw the addition of a new event to the Mid-Atlantic Base Calendar - the Annual Base Picnic. Held in Dover on the third Saturday in July, the event is now in its third year.

Early in the planning stages for the first annual picnic, the decision was made to have it catered so Base members can come and enjoy the day without having to deal with cooking or cleanup. This decision turned out to be a wise one, and the event has turned out to be popular with the membership.

The 2009 (sixth annual) picnic was held July 25 at Blue Hen VFW Post 6483, 77 Veterans Circle, Milford, Delaware. The facilities at the Post are outstanding and everyone attending had a wonderful time. We have already reserved the Blue Hen VFW Post 6483 for our July 2010 picnic.

Tickets to the picnics are in the form of a souvenir buttons which change every year. Buttons are sold in advance and are transferrable. Guests, as always, are welcome. Members keep their buttons once the picnic is over.

Entertainment is provided. The 2004 picnic had horseshoes, bingo, patriotic country music and nostalgic music from the 40's featuring the Big Bands. Buttons usually go on sale at the January Regular Meeting. They can also be purchased directly from the Base Storekeeper. (That's him on the forklift below).

The menu usually includes hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, sodas, beer, and salads. All you need to bring is your button and your appetite.

Picnic Buttons make great souvenirs, a way to tell everyone "I was there." In 2005, the decision was made to keep the cost of the picnic the same as the meal cost for regular meetings, so the base treasury picked up the difference between the cost of the picnic and proceeds from the sale of buttons.