2009 - SANTA MARIA, CA
25 - 29 OCTOBER 2009
HOSTED BY: BILL AND CLARA REYNOLDS

Our 2009 reunion was held at the beautiful Santa Maria Inn in Santa Maria, California.  The Inn was originally opened in 1917 and has gone through many phases to reach its present size and décor.  We had use of a hospitality room 24 hours a day.  We gathered there to swap sea stories and look at memoabilia provided be shipmates covering their time on the Merrick.  An exact count is not available on attendees, but a count of people in the group picture taken at the Hearst Castle indicated there were 38 of us.  Sunday and Monday were pretty much free time with nothing formal scheduled until after dinner Monday night.  Shipmates scattered out over the California country side on their own mini tours. 
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Some found the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal rookery located north of San Simeon along Costal Highway 1  Seals can be found there year round (but not the same ones).  They spend most of their time soaking up the sun.
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Monday night we got together in the hospitality room for a short meeting and fund raising auction.  First thing on the agenda was an update on next years reunion in Washington D. C. by Bob Dolehide who will be hosting it.  We then moved on the auction.
Tuesday main event was a tour of the Hearst Castle.
On the way back to Santa Maria we stopped for lunch at the Ciao Bella in Morro Bay

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After returning to Santa Maria (and dinner on own) most of us gathered in the hospitality room to swap more stories as we wrapped up the day.
Wednesday morning started with our memorial service in the rose garden of the hotel next to the swimming pool.


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We honored 24 departed shipmates at this reunion, including 8 plank holders.

The rest of the day was spent in more individual touring in the area, visiting in the hospitality room  and signing up for the 2010 reunion in Washington D. C.  The day concluded with our banquet.