United States Submarine Veterans
Mid-Atlantic Base
May Regular Meeting
May 16, 2009
Sheraton Hotel, Dover, DE
USSVI Mid-Atlantic Base
May 2009 Meeting Agenda
May 16, 2009
Dover Sheraton Hotel
Dover, Delaware
COMMANDER: Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to welcome you to May Mid-Atlantic Base Regular Meeting. Please rise for the Invocation.
CHAPLAIN: Roy gave us a beautiful invocation that was read by George Washington to his men. Roy says it is verbatim, because he was present at the original reading, and faithfully recorded it.
COMMANDER: Those who have served and those currently serving in the uniformed services of the United States are ever mindful that the sweetness of enduring peace has always been tainted by the bitterness of personal sacrifice. Please direct your attention to the chair to my right, a physical symbol of the thousands of American service men and women still unaccounted for from all foreign conflicts. The chair is empty, as they cannot be with us today. Let us always keep them in our memory and our prayers.
COMMANDER: Chief of the Boat, please lead the assembled members in the
Pledge of Allegiance to Our Flag.
COB SIMPSON LEADS THE MEMBERS IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
COMMANDER: We will now hear the USSVI Creed
CHARLIE DAUPHIN READS THE CREED
MEMBER OF AUDIENCE:
"To perpetuate the memory of our shipmates who gave their lives in the pursuit of duties while serving their country.
That their dedication, deeds and supreme sacrifice be a constant source of motivation toward greater accomplishments.
Pledge loyalty and patriotism to the United States of America and its Constitution."
COMMANDER: The Vice Commander and the Chief of the Boat will now conduct the Tolling of the Boats Ceremony.
VICE COMMANDER LUDWIG & COB Walker: The following Boats and men were lost in March:
USS Squalus (SS-192) - 23 May 1939 - 26 Men Lost
USS Silversides (SS-236) - 10 May 1942 - One Man Lost
USS Runner (SS-275) - 28 May 1943 - 78 Men Lost
USS Lagarto (SS-371) - 3 May 1945 - 85 Men Lost
USS Stickleback (SS-415) - 28 May 1958 - No Men Lost
USS Scorpion (SSN-589) - 22 May 1968 - 99 Men Lost
USS Barbel (SS-580) - 1 May 1989 - Two Men Lost
291 Men Lost in May
Sailors, Rest Your Oars
COMMANDER: Everyone please be seated. Chief of the Boat, please sound “Dive”.
CHIEF OF THE BOAT Walker, sounds dive!
COMMANDER: Everyone please be seated. We will now recognize the war veterans and Holland Club members among us.
World War II veterans, please stand.
Korean War veterans, please stand.
Vietnam War veterans, please stand.
Members of the Gulf Wars and the War on Terror, please stand
Holland Club Members, please stand.
COMMANDER: Are there any new members or guests in attendance? Is there anyone who has not been to a meeting in a while that would like to stand and reacquaint yourself with the members and guest present?
Jim Provo introduced himself as a new member. He qualified in 1981.
Steve Williams also stood and introduced himself. He qualified in 1972.
Charlie Dauphin re-introduced himself after being away for sometime for hip surgery & rehab.
COMMANDER: Everyone has received a copy of the minutes of our recent meetings in the newsletter. Are there any corrections or additions? Is there a motion to bypass the reading of the minutes?
Motion made.
COMMANDER: We will now receive reports from the Officers.
< COMMANDER’S REPORT >
Old Dover Days: Mid-Atlantic Base participated in Old Dover Days on Saturday May 2, 2009. The weather seemed a bit dicey for a while, but eventually it cleared up and stayed clear through most of the rest of the day. It was cool again this year, but that did not dampen the spirits of those who attended, nor did it seem to affect the crowds. I would like to thank those folks who took the time to come out: Roy Anstead, Roger Reeves, Charlie Cooper, Chuck Walker, Phil Puschel, and Ed Simpson. I would like to especially thank Sheila Cooper for the fine luncheon she provided at the event and Charlie and Sheila for inviting everyone to their home after the event.
Newark Parade: Mid-Atlantic Base will be participating in the Newark Memorial Day parade again this year. The parade is tomorrow, Sunday May 17, 2009. The event starts at 1100 hours with a luncheon for parade participants at the University of Delaware's Trabant Center. The luncheon is free to all parade participants. Everyone will meet at 12:30 on the Green at the University of Delaware near Memorial Hall for the Memorial Ceremony. After the Memorial Ceremony, everyone assembles on South College Avenue for the parade. The parade starts at 1400 hours. The route, which is just over one mile in length, passes in Review near the War Memorial located in front of the Academy Building.
At the completion of the parade, full Military Honors are rendered to Delaware's Fallen, including Taps and Rifle Salutes on Main Street at the Review Stand in Memorial Park. Wreaths are laid and flags are placed at the Memorial. A final salute concludes the Ceremonies. Parking is available in the lot Academy St. & Lovett Ave where the parade ends. Parking is also available in the lot at Haines Street & Lovett Ave. A reception for parade participants is held at 1530 hours at VFW Post 375, 100 Veterans Drive, Newark, DE, approximately one half mile south of Trabant Center on Elkton Road.
Information is available on the tables and on pages Green 13 – Green 15 of your membership guides.
Delaware Military Academy Scholarship Awards: On Wednesday, May 27th @ 1900 hours, The Delaware Military Academy will be holding its annual scholarship awards ceremony at the school. This is Commandant Baldwin’s last scholarship awards ceremony; let’s give him a good turnout. Directions to the Academy are located on your tables and on pages Green 7 – Green 9 of your Membership Guides.
Memorial Day Ceremonies: A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday May 30, 2009 in Veterans Memorial Park in New Castle. The ceremony will commence at 1030 hours. Veterans Memorial Park is located adjacent to the Delaware Memorial Bridge in New Castle, Delaware. Mid-Atlantic Base is scheduled to participate again this year. Information is on the tables and also on pages Green 4 through Green 6 of your Membership Guides.
Separation Day: Mid-Atlantic Base will be participating in Separation Day again this year on Saturday June 13th. Planned activities for the day include a morning parade at 11:00 A.M. along Delaware Street. The parade features marching bands, performers, state and local officials, and an invited Grand Marshall. Past parade performers have included everything from Mummer String Bands to Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleaders. Festivities continue in Battery. Mid-Atlantic Base has been attending the event since 2002, with an information booth and sales of patriotic and submarine-related merchandise. Members usually arrive for setup between 0800 and 0900 hours and generally stay throughout the day until breakdown around 1530 hours. All members are invited to come anytime and stay as long as they like.
< VICE COMMANDER’S REPORT >
John Ludwig reports that with the new infusion of monies from the Federal government the VA hospital is running a lot smoother. This was given a resounding second by Charlie Dauphin who has been under the care of the VA for his hip surgery, his meds, his regular doctor visits, etc.
< TREASURER’S REPORT >
Bill Kraus reports that we are still afloat and the checking account reports were distributed to each table for each member to view.
< SECRETARY’S REPORT >
Nothing to report
< STOREKEEPER’S REPORT >
Phil still has buttons for sale and asks that if you’re attending to please purchase the buttons earlier rather than later, so the proper amount of chow & drink can be pre-ordered.
He also has right shoulder Flag patches available.
< CHIEFS OF THE BOAT’S REPORT >
Chuck has purchased some poncho’s for the parade in case it rains.
< CHAPLAIN’S REPORT >
< MEMBERSHIP CHAIRMAN’S REPORT >
Roger reports that Steven Kaye is living and working for the TVA down Tennessee.
< BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ REPORT >
The Board of Directors held a meeting on May 9, 2009 at the Hilton on Rt. 1 in Dover to determine if the facility had the capacity to hold our meetings and to determine if the food was decent. While most of us thought the food was decent, one side of the room’s food was barely warm. The service was good, the facility was clean and well lit.
The place was way too small to accommodate us at Christmas and even our monthly meetings would be tight. Even though they would not charge us for the room, based on a contract we would have to sign we could be bumped for a paying customer, with no other room available to us.
Roger Reeve has volunteered to look into the costs at Dover Downs for our Christmas Party. He said the KWV had an affair their and the food was good, as was the service.
A motion was made and seconded to donate two $1000.00 scholarships to the Delaware Military Academy.
We voted to donate $600.00 to the USSVCF (Charitable Foundation). Roger will be attending the general meeting at the convention in San Diego and present the check on the bases behalf.
Ron is presenting a plaque as an honorary member of USSVI to Chuck Baldwin, who is retiring this year as Commandant of the DMA and moving to Italy. Commandant Baldwin has always held us in high regard and has recognized us at DMA functions.
< TRUSTEES’ REPORT >
COMMANDER: Is there any Old Business?
None
COMMANDER: Is there any New Business?
None
COMMANDER: Submarine Force News for May
Keel laid on USS California
Old Dover Days
Submariner wins Bronze Star
USS Florida returns from historic patrol
USS San Francisco returns to duty
COMMANDER: Chaplain, please give the benediction.
Roy gives the benediction
COMMANDER: The next meeting will be held on Saturday June 20, 2009 at 1130 hours here in the Sheraton.
COMMANDER: Do we have a motion to adjourn?
< MOTION TO ADJOURN >
COMMANDER: Chief of the Boat, please sound “Surface”.
< COB SOUNDS SURFACE >
COMMANDER: We have no guest speaker for this meeting. In lieu of a guest speaker, everyone will have the opportunity to compete for “fabulous prizes” in a game I call “It’s a Shameless rip-off of the Millionaire show, but that’s okay because it’s all about Submarines”. Scott Todd did an excellent job reading the disclaimers for the, “It’s a Shameless Rip-off of the Millionaire Show”.
All I can say about this “shameless rip-off” is that our Commander must have a lot of extra time on his hands to have thought up this depraved game…But Phil Puschel, who was our first victim, er, contestant, did a standup job and got up to the “Cheesy” award…. Don’t ask; if you weren’t there you’ll never understand it.
< SOCIAL TIME, MEAL, 50/50 >