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Newport Dealeys 2017 Reunion Albany, NY
Chairman Mike Upchurch MM2
USS Van Voorhis
 Newport Dealeys 2017 Reunion Review
Our
19th annual Newport Dealeys reunion was held at the Radisson Hotel, Albany NY, on September 4th, through the 7th, with thirty
shipmates and
guests in attendance. This year was somewhat different due to the sudden termination of our reunion coordinator's
services. In light of this, we
decided to accept an offer from the Destroyer Escort Sailors Association (DESA) and take
advantage of their negotiated annual convention hotel rates,
schedules and tour arrangements under our own banner.
While some of our members are also DESA members, many have never attended a convention before so it was also a new
experience for them.
Arriving on Monday, we were invited to attend an evening cheese and wine party hosted
by the Radisson Hotel, this provided a venue for our
shipmates to gather once again in a round table setting and
catch up on life experiences of the past year.
Tim Rizzuto , Executive Director of the USS Slater Ship Museum was the
guest speaker for the evening. He gave us an insight on how dedicated
former sailors negotiated an arrangement to obtain
the ship, which was about to be scrapped, from the Greek Navy, and then making additional
arrangements to have a sea
going tug tow it from Greece across the Atlantic to New York City and the events that later led to another move to Albany.
Tuesday included guided tours of the USS Slater and later a boys and girls night out. The ladies had an evening of
bingo, while the guys were invited
to attend a more detailed slide presentation of the reconditioning and preservation
of the USS Slater by Tim Rizzuto.
Wednesday included a Hudson River cruise on the tour boat the Dutch Apple and a USO
50's theme evening with coffee, donuts, music and dancing.
A traditional memorial service was officiated by DESA Officers
aboard the USS Slater Thursday morning with shipmates from the Newport Dealeys
participating. The service started with
the Presentation of the Colors, Pledge of Allegiance, National Anthem and Invocation which was followed by a
Memorial
Tribute to the sixteen US Navy Destroyer Escorts that were lost during World War Two. Three of our shipmates were invited
to participate,
Jerry Skorch of the USS Joseph K. Taussig, Ron Trummell of the USS Cromwell and Bob Matuszewski
of the USS Courtney paid tribute, as the ships
names were called out, a shipmate would stand, drop a rose over the side
and present a hand salute.
Thursday afternoon was set aside for our annual Newport Dealeys related
activities and the business meeting with Chairman Mike Upchurch presiding.
During the meeting, shipmates and guests
were encouraged to voice their thoughts on the 2017 reunion experience and future of the Newport Dealeys
reunions
along with ideas to considerer as we go forward. Herb Mann (USS Joseph K Taussig) was the grand prize winner of
the Newport Dealeys port hole clock.
The Thursday evening
banquet was beyond expectations. Our Newport Dealeys group was seated together and the meal was excellently prepared,
while the TS Ensemble, an outstanding seven piece band with singers, provided an evening atmosphere of pleasurable
dinner music and dancing.
I would like to thank DESA for providing us with a venue which allowed our Newport
Dealeys shipmates to overcome our reunion coordinator
dilemma this year and to gather once again and also a special
Thank You to Dori Glaser (DESA Convention Coordinator) for her warm assistance
and dedicated effort which concluded
in a very successful and memorable event.
Marc
Arsenault
Newport Dealeys
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Mens night out
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Tim Rizzuto with
updates on the
USS Slater |
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USO 50' Night
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A surprize dancer with great moves |
USO 50's Night
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Charlie and Norma Holzschuh
Larry and Nina
Percival
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Memorial Service
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USS Slater
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USS Slater and the Dutch Apple
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Memorial Service
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Jerry Skorch
USS Joseph K Taussig
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Memorial Service
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Beverly Upchurch
Roaming the DecksTaking
Pictures
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Radiomen
Steve Kittle and Jerry Skorch
checking out the Radio Shack |
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Norma Holzschuh and Steve Kittle
enjoying
the weather topside
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Kathy Arsenault and Ruth Whitney
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Joe Csizmadia and Don Shields
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Karl and Diane Petersen
USS Van Voorhis
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Business Meeting
Mike Upchurch Chairman
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USS Lester Shipmates
Steve Kittle, Don
Shields and Charles Lawing |
Kathy Arsenault with Norma Holzschuh
Charlie
(Shoe) Holzschuh, Mike Upchurch and Steve Kittle |
Larry and Nina Percival, Evelyn and Joe Csizmadia
Phil and Gail Passler |
Ron and Shirley Trummel with Larry and Nina Percival
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Jerry Skorch and Herb Mann
USS Joseph K Taussig
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Karen and Harry Davis with Ralphene and Bob Matuszewski
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Bruce and Ruth Whitney with Sandy Skorch
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2017 Reunion Chairman Mike Upchurch with Jerry
Skorch
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Dancing with the TS Ensemble |
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Our Sailors
CPO Bob Matszewski, Herb Mann,
Mike Upchurch
Larry Percival and Jerry Skorch
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