2005 - HOUSTON
3 - 6 OCTOBER
HOSTED BY SAM AND LOURDES NICHOLSON
3 - 6 OCTOBER
HOSTED BY SAM AND LOURDES NICHOLSON
22 shipmates and 24 guest/family members gathered at the Marriott Houston Hobby Airport Hotel for 3 days of renewing friendships, swapping sea stories, and honoring our departed shipmates. The gathering would have been larger but 4 shipmates decided not to come due to problems with hurricanes in the gulf and high fuel prices (and the possibility of fuel not being available). The gathering included 3 first time attendees and two plank holders (Bill Middlesworth and James Purdy).
Monday morning was spent renewing friendships and telling sea stories. After lunch we car pooled to he NASA Space Center Houston to tour the Johnson Space Center. It was an interesting and informative tour that included a visit to the Astronaut training facility. It is a very LARGE building that contains full size mock-ups of all the space vehicles for the astronauts to train on before using the real thing.
Tuesday morning was spent sharing memories of events on the Merrick (at least as we remembered them). Then after lunch we car pooled to the USS Texas (BB35) for our memorial service and tour of the ship. The service was held on the bow of the Texas. As the names of the ten honored shipmates were read the ships bell was rung for each name. The service was conducted by Gig Rohmfield, the senior chaplain for the Pasadena Texas police Dept. (also an Admiral in the Texas Navy and a PN2 in the US Naval Reserve).
A member of he Texas volunteer crew brings the ships bell forward for the ceremony
Gig Rohmfield conducted the service
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We honor the flag to start the service
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Following the service we (those that could fight off the mosquitoes) had a guided tour of the Texas.i
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We started Wednesday with a meeting to discuss possibilities for the 2006 reunion. After much discussion, which included a presentation on the possibility of a day long cruise on a WWII victory ship (SS Brown) out of Baltimore. No decision was made pending a "volunteer" to host a reunion in the DC/Baltimore area. We then car pooled to the Kamah Boardwalk for lunch and a ride on the "Beast" to wrap up the afternoon.
Wednesday evening we traveled to Brady's Landing, a restaurant on an island in the Houston ship channel for our closing banquet. And of course there was a cake.
After dinner we were able to get group pictures.
After dinner we were able to get group pictures.
THE MEN OF THE MERRICK
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THE LADIES OF THE MERRICK
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After the meal, there was further discussion on 2006 and Jim Beason agreed to take the lead on hosting the reunion in DC with the Brown cruise a possibility.
