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Newport Dealeys
2011 Reunion Review
Buffalo NY was the designated city
for our 13th annual Newport Dealeys reunion. On September 8-11, 75 shipmates and guests gathered at the Adam Marks hotel to
reunite with old friends and meet new shipmates under clear blue skies in spite of the heavy rains from hurricane Irene that
were encompassing the East coast, central and southern New York state.Shipmate arrivals began on Thursday noon with tales of flooding roads and detours. At the welcome reception,
Chairman, Ron Bauer, USS Cromwell, began with the pledge of allegiance, welcoming remarks and general notes on the weekend
itinerary followed with a serving of light hors d’oeuvres. The Anchor Bar “Home of the original Buffalo Wings”
was the chosen destination down town for shipmates that were in need of additional chow.
Friday morning, we visited the museum ships USS The Sullivans, USS Little Rock and The USS Croaker
and had lunch aboard, followed with a trip to Niagara Falls and a ride on the Maid of the Mist. Our regular business meeting began on the tour’s return, where we voted to
hold our 2013 reunion in Burlington VT. The evening dinner “the Best of Buffalo” and
an informative visual presentation on the history and operation of the Erie Canal by Ron Bauer concluded the evening.
Saturday
morning the tour took us to Lockport for a historical
boat ride to experience the Erie Canal and navigate
the locks. Late arrivals Bob and Edith Kitchen, who had left Philadelphia on Wednesday morning with heavy rains and road flooding
ahead, filled us in on their experience of being isolated in a motel in Owego NY, with flooded parking
lots and no electricity for three days. As shipmates greeted them, their first comments were “we need a shower”.
Attendee photos and a social hour preceded our Saturday evening Banquet.
Marc
Arsenault, USS Lester, read a tribute to our deceased shipmate Dean Hoover, USS Hartley, who left us in January. A visual
presentation with comments on several of our past reunions brought back memories and laughter.
Marjory Allen, (wife of Russell Allen IC3 USS John Willis) won the raffle grand prize, the porthole clock. With the
retirement of the colors, our after hours social gathering began with Richard Soltis, USS John Wills, entertained us with
his accordion by playing popular request.
Sunday morning, September eleventh, which was the tenth anniversary of the 9-11, Our Chaplain Jerry
Skorch, USS Joseph K Taussig, read a tribute to the events of that date, followed by our traditional bell ringing ceremony
for deceased Newport Dealeys shipmates.
Tearful good byes and best wishes were predominant as we look forward to Portland ME in 2012.
Marc Arsenault
Newport Dealeys
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The Anchor Bar Home of the Buffalo Wings
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