USS MERRICK (AKA97/LKA97)
  • INTRODUCTION
  • HISTORY
  • MERRICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
  • AGENT ORANGE
  • REUNIONS
    • 2001 - 2005 >
      • 2001 - NEW ORLEANS
      • 2002 - BRANSON
      • 2003 - BRANSON
      • 2004 - BRANSON
      • 2005 - HOUSTON
    • 2006 - 2010 >
      • 2006 - WASHINGTON, D.C.
      • 2007 - NASHVILLE
      • 2008 - PORTLAND
      • 2009 - SANTA MARIA, CA
      • 2010 - WASHINGTON, D.C.
    • 2011 - 2015 >
      • 2011 - BRANSON
      • 2012 - BRANSON (AGAIN)
      • 2013 - NASHVILLE
      • 2014 - MOBILE
      • 2015-BRANSON
    • 2016 - 2020 >
      • 2016 nashville
      • 2017 CHARLESTON S. C.
      • 2018 BRANSON
2012 - BRANSON
9 - 12 September 2012
HOSTED BY FARRELL AND MARY MORROW


Picture
Here we are - back at Branson - same Hotel/Same Service.
9  Sep was registration, renewing friendships, and Sea Stories.

10 Sep started with our memorial service at the Shrine of the Holy Sprit, followed by a ride on the DUCKS, lunch at the Uptown Café, a tour of College of the Ozarks and dinner at the college hotel dinning room.  The day wrapped up with a show at the Andy Williams Theater where we were entertained by Debbie Reynolds.
Inside the Chapel
Beautiful windows
Getting organized
Schedule looks good.
We start gathering for the service
Color Guard post the Colors
Farrell reads the names of our departed shipmates while Sam rings the bell for each name.
Color Guard fires the Salute
Release of Doves.
Color Guard retires the Colors
Next stop was the boarding point for the Duck ride and laying of the wreath in the Lake.
Before entering the lake, we toured the area where the rock was removed to build Table Rock dam
The view of Table Rock lake from on top was great.
They have quite a collection of WWII and Korean War military vehicles.
The rock was hot when we went by.
we then looked over some of the available real estate.
Understand the rent was "reasonable"
Farrell prepares to place the wreath in the water.
After the wreath had been placed, some of us had a chance to drive the Duck.
We then went to the Uptown Café
For lunch and
live entertainment
After lunch we went to tour the College of the Ozarks (called Hard Work U by the students) - they work their way through and end up with little or no debt when the finish.
We started he tour at the college chapel - built by the students.
It is a beautiful building.
Our student guides gave us a little history of the school and a preview of the tour.
One of the stops was the student kitchen.
Ovens for baking.
They also make Jams, Jellies and Apple Butter from fruit grown on the campus.
Some of us picked up some sweets to go.
We then had a lengthy tour of the horticulture area where all the plants used for landscaping and decorations  on campus get their start.  It took us quite a while to go through the area as there was always a more beautiful flower around the corner.
The tour ended at the campus hotel for dinner prepared (under direction of professional chef) and served by the students.  They did an outstanding job.
We finished the day at the Andy Williams Theater.  We had been scheduled to see Andy Williams; however he had been taken seriously ill and could not appear.  He was replaced by Debbie Reynolds who entertained us with songs and jokes for a delightful evening.
11 Sep was pretty much a free day to explore Branson on our own until time to gather at the Shepard of the Hills theater for a BBQ dinner where we were entertained by the Sons of the Pioneers.
We then moved to the outdoor theater for the Shepard of the Hills play set in the Ozark Mountains. The story calls for  party and square dance and the audience is invited down to participate in the square dance.  The show was good and a great ending to a very long day.
12 Sep was also a fairly free day used to further explore Branson.  Some of us returned to the School of the Ozarks campus to visit their museum.  Found some interesting items.
This is the actual Bevely Hillbillies car.
Original Cast
Scale model of the original BIG TOP
In the evening we gathered outside our hospitality room for group pictures before going inside for our banquet and THE AUCTION.
getting organized for the pictures.
Relaxing while waiting for dinner.
Looks like a pretty good spread.
Before the auction we presented Mary and Farrell with some gifts to thank them for arranging this great reunion.
Then we moved on to the auction and we had a lot of items to auction off,
Our auction team did a great job.
The auction wrapped up the reunion and after sharing a few more memories and saying farewell till next year in NASHVILLE (Jim and Dot will host)