I kind of feel bad that I did not get the word out to everybody about the invitation to a ship’s tour that was extended to us through the Weapons Station. It was really good! I took my grandson and a neighbor to tour the guided missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59). Also, in attendance were David Malmad, Sel Ramsay, Bruce Guberman, Rod Losey, Tom Bell plus assorted friends and relatives who came as guests of our members. Unfortunately, I was so focused on my grandsons that I did not get a photo of the entire group to go with this column but I do have one of my grandsons and neighbor. Sel says that he was a bit sore the next day so you know that it was a good, lengthy, tour.
Do not forget that The Wall That Heals, a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, along with a mobile Education Center, is coming to Balearic Park, Costa Mesa, also known as Estancia Park, at 1975 Balearic Drive, Costa Mesa, 92626. The exhibit will be open 24-hours a day from April 11 – April 14, closing at 3:00 p.m. As the site host, The Freedom Committee of Orange County will provide docents at The Wall throughout the event. The Honor Ceremony will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 13 with Maj. Gen William J. Mall, USAF, Vietnam Veteran, as the keynote speaker. The Closing Ceremony will take place at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 14, with Sgt. Frank Orzio, USMC, Vietnam Veteran, Purple Heart, as the featured speaker. The event will include a fly-over and the customary playing of “Taps.” The Wall That Heals honors the more than three million Americans who served in the U.S. Armed forces in the Vietnam War and it bears the names of the more than 58,000 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam. If you have the time and energy, FCOC needs volunteers.
I thoroughly enjoyed last month’s presentation by our own, Bob Olds. I learned so much about at sea replenishment operations under good and bad conditions. And, I learned that the USS Hassayampa (AO-145) and the others in her class were big ships! This month we will learn about the History of Women is the US Military as seen by Rear Admiral Sandy Adams USN(Ret). Hope to see many of you at the luncheon. Perhaps you might think about bringing your significant other, friend or child who might benefit from the presentation.
