2019 REUNION WAS HELD IN CHATTANOOGA, TN 13-16 OCTOBER
​HOSTED BY JIM AND DOT BEASON

     JIM AND DOT DID THEIR NORMAL OUTSTANDING JOB HOSTING OUR STAY IN CHATTANOOGA.  WE HAD 14 SHIPMATES PRESENT ALONG WITH 23 FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS AND HAD A GREAT TIME.

---

SUNDAY THE 13TH WAS A TIME TO TALK AND GET UP TO DATE ON OUR LIVES SINCE THE LAST REUNION

MONDAY STARTED OFF WITH A BUS RIDE TO CHICKAMAUGA NATIONAL MEMORIAL PARK IN GEORGIA WHERE WE POSED FOR GROUP PICTURES BEFORE TOURING THE BATTLFIELD.

FOLLOWING LUNCH AT A RESTAURANT IN FT. OGLETHORPE, GA WE TOOK THE BUS TO POINT PARK FOR A RIDE ON THE INCLINE RAIL TO THE TOP OF LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN.  IT WAS QUITE A VIEW VIEW RIDING UP THE SIDE OF THE  MOUNTAIN.

IT WAS ALSO QUITE A VIEW DOWN ON CHATTANOOGA FROM THE SITE OF THE"'BATTLE ABOVE THE CLOUDS"
WE THEN RETURNED TO THE HOTEL TO GET READY FOR OUR DINNER CRUISE ON THE TENNESSEE RIVER

TUESDAY STARTED OFF WITH OUR MEMORIAL SERVICE HELD IN THE HOSPITALITY ROOM AT THE HOTEL RATHER THAN THE VFW HALL DUE TO THE POST 95 HONOR GUARD BEING NEEDED FOR A MILITARY FUNERAL.  FOLLOWING THE SERVICE WE BOARDED THE BUS FOR A RETURN TO THE RIVER FRONT TO TOUR REPLICAS OF TWO OF THE SHIPS COLUMBUS USED TO DISCOVER THERE WAS SOMETHING BETWEEN EUROPE AND CHINA.  

ONE OF THE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE CREW PROVIDED BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE SHIPS AND GAVE US A TOUR.   FOLLOWING OUR TOUR WE  BOARDED THE BUS FOR LUNCH AT  JENKINS RESTAURANT. 
​

AFTER LUNCH WE TRAVELED TO DOWNTOWN CHATTANOOGA TO VISIT THE CHATTANOOGA CHOO-CHOO STATION.
THIS IS THE RAILROAD TERMINAL THAT HAS BEEN TRANSFORMED INTO A HOTEL, INCLUDING USING VINTAGE PRIVATE RAIL CARS OWNED BY THE RICH AND FAMOUS (THEY NOW USE PRIVATE JETS).  IT WAS A TIME TO SHOP, TOUR THE STATION, VISIT, AND RELAX.

ABOUT 6 PM WE ALL GATHERED AT "STIR" RESTAURANT FOR A DELIGHTFUL MEAL AND MORE FELLOWSHIP TO RAP UP THE DAY.

WEDNESDAY STARTED WITH A BUSINESS MEETING TO DECIDE ON THE LOCATION FOR THE 2020 REUNION.  IT WAS A SHORT MEETING AS JEFF ARCHERS OFFER TO HOST THE REUNION IN CANTON, OHIO.  THE OFFER WAS WELCOMED AND ACCEPTED IN SHORT ORDER.

FOLLOWING THE METING WE ADJOURNED TO SHONEY'S FOR LUNCH.  WE THEN BOARDED OUR BUS TO TRAVEL TO ETOWAH, TN FOR A TRAIN RIDE THROUGH HIWASSEE RIVER GORGE. THE TERMINAL WAS QUITE MODERN CONSIDERING IT WAS OUT IN THE WOODS.  IT WAS A INTERESTING AND RELAXING RIDE.

IT WAS QUITE AN AFTERNOON.  WE RETURNED TO THE HOTEL FOR OUR ANNUAL BANQUET AND AUCTION.  (SORRY I DO NOT HAVE ANY PHOTOS OF THE BANQUET OR AUCTION.