2015 - BRANSON
20 - 25 SEPTEMBER 2015
FARRELL AND MARY MORROW

SUNDAY THE 20TH WAS REGISTRATION DAY, VISITING AND A LIGHT SUPPER IN THE HOSPITALITY ROOM AT THE  SAVANA HOUSE HOTEL.  AS USUAL THE HOTEL STAFF WELCOMED US WITH OPEN ARMS AND MET OUR EVERY NEED.

MONDAY THE 22ST STARTED WITH A HOT BREAKFAST POVIDED BY THE HOTEL.  WE THEN MOVED NEXT DOOR TO THE SHRINE MEMORIAL CHAPEL FOR OUR SERVICE TO HONOR OUR DEPARTED SHIPMATES.  THE VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA HONOR GUARD RENDERED MILITARY HONORS AS THE NAMES OF OUR DEPARTED SHIPMATES WERE READ.  THE FOLLOWING LIST INCLUDES YEAR THEY DEPARTED, YEAR(S) ON BOARD THE MERRICK, AND RATE/RANK IF KNOWN.
JOSEPH MADERIA 2013,  1945-PLANKHOLDER, S1C
CLARENCE SHIELDS, 2014, 1945-PLANKHOLDER, GM1
ROBERT E. DEAN, 2014, 1956-61, GMC
GEORGE REAT, 2014,  1944-46-PLANKHOLDER,
ARLO BROWN, 2015, 1951-55, EN2
ALBERT EUGENE EDWARDS, 2015, 1957, SH1

AFTER THE READING OF THE NAMES AND FIRING OF THE SALUTE BY THE HONOR GUARD, WE RELEASED BALLONS TO COMPLETE THE SERVICE

FOLLOWING THE SERVICE WE BOARDED THE DUCKS FOR RIDE AROUND BRANSON AND TABLE ROCK LAKE
FOLLOWING THE DUCK RIDE WE RETURNED TO THE HOTEL FOR A BOX LUNCH BEFORE BOARDING A BUS TO OUR TOUR OF DOGWOOD CANYON WILDLIFE PRESERVE FOR A TOUR AND BBQ DINNER. 
WE THEN WERE TREATED TO A BBQ DINNER BEFORE BOARDING THE BUS TO TAKE US TO THE PRESLY SHOW. IT WAS A GREAT SHOW.
TUESDAY THE 22ND WAS OPEN UNTIL WE BOARDED A BUS FOR LUNCH AT THE COLLEGE OF HE OZARKS FOLLOWED BY A TOUR OF THE CAMPUS INCLUDING THEIR NEWLY COMPLETED  VIETNAM MEMORIAL