2002 -BRANSON
14 - 16 OCTOBER
HOSTED BY BILL AND CATHY MILLER
The 2002 reunion was held at the Honeysuckle Inn in Branson, Missouri starting in the afternoon of 14 October and
ending at noon on the 16th. We found this was not enough time to really talk to each other and get "up to date"
on each other's lives since leaving the Merrick. 2003 will be longer.
14 - 16 OCTOBER
HOSTED BY BILL AND CATHY MILLER
The 2002 reunion was held at the Honeysuckle Inn in Branson, Missouri starting in the afternoon of 14 October and
ending at noon on the 16th. We found this was not enough time to really talk to each other and get "up to date"
on each other's lives since leaving the Merrick. 2003 will be longer.
Bill Middlesworth, a plank holder, was among the 24 shipmates (and their families) that attended the reunion. He is in he center of the front row of the picture (If your counting, not all the attendees are in the picture).
We started the reunion with a memorial service to pay respects to all who have served on the Merrick; those still with us and those that have gone on to the last safe harbor. The service was held at the Williams Memorial Chapel, College of the Ozarks, Point Lookout, Missouri just outside Branson We wrapped up the first day at the Country Tonight show.
The next morning while the men held an organizational meeting, the ladies went on a shopping tour of Branson. After lunch we all got together to ride the "Ducks" around Branson and on Table Rock Lake. The day was wrapped up with a banquet in the Honeysuckle Inn dining room. After the banquet, Dick Bonn and Steve Paul showed some of their slides and movies of their days on the Merrick. The presentations led to a lot of "Do you remember when so and so did this or that?" making a great wrap up to the reunion.
Decisions that were made during the reunion included: 1. Return to Branson for 2003 (Dick Bonn to host), but for at least 3 full days. 2. To establish USS Merrick membership dues of $20 per year to cover postage, printing and other cost incurred in putting the reunions on.
The next morning while the men held an organizational meeting, the ladies went on a shopping tour of Branson. After lunch we all got together to ride the "Ducks" around Branson and on Table Rock Lake. The day was wrapped up with a banquet in the Honeysuckle Inn dining room. After the banquet, Dick Bonn and Steve Paul showed some of their slides and movies of their days on the Merrick. The presentations led to a lot of "Do you remember when so and so did this or that?" making a great wrap up to the reunion.
Decisions that were made during the reunion included: 1. Return to Branson for 2003 (Dick Bonn to host), but for at least 3 full days. 2. To establish USS Merrick membership dues of $20 per year to cover postage, printing and other cost incurred in putting the reunions on.
