Binnacle List: Andrea Giesler

Those of you that saw Andrea Giesler, our base chaplain, at the August meeting and Tolling ceremony may remember that she was have some eye problems. Her condition has worsened and she spent last Friday afternoon at the Harborview/UW Medical School Eye clinic.

The doctors think she may have Acanthamoeba keratitis. This is not the bacterial or viral infection they previously thought she had and it appears to be a rare, and very serious, condition. The doctors say they have seen it in contact lens wearers and the condition has been linked to contact lens solution, but it is hard to pinpoint how Andrea got it, if that is indeed it is the problem.

She will know more soon, but please keep Andrea in your thoughts and prayers.

Black Diamond Labor Day Parade

Shipmates,

Join us on Monday, September 6 for the Labor Day Parade at Black Diamond. We will be there with our float and we expect members of the Silent Service Motorcycle Club and other parade walkers.

The Seattle base float at last year's Labor Day Parade

Meet at the Black Diamond Museum, 32627 Railroad Ave. Black Diamond 98010, between 8:00 and 9:00 for coffee and goodies. Please RSVP at 425-214-3684 (I need to know how many goodies to purchase).

There is lots to do throughout the day. The schedule for the day is:

• 7:00 - 11:00 Pancake breakfast at the Diamond Lodge Masonic Temple (32523 3rd Ave.)
• 8:00 Parade line-up at fire station
• 9:00 - 3:00 Car Show at the Eagles (32618 Railroad Ave.)
• 10:00 - 3:00 Booths & Inflatables at School Play field
• 10:00 Parade Start
• 11:30 Announcements & Awards at School Play Field
• 12:00 - 4:00 Tours at Museum, Caboose, Jail, see the restoration work on the Locomotive.
• 12:00 - 1:00 BBQ at Black Diamond Eagles Clubhouse
• 12:00 - ?? Entertainment at Play Field
• 1:00 - 4:00 Sports Activities at School Play Field (running races, three-legged-race, wheelbarrow races, shoe kicking, egg toss, etc.)
• 2:30 Labor Day Button Raffle Drawing at School Play Field (Labor Day Buttons cost $1)

The Famous Black Diamond Bakery Open for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner (see stone oven fired by wood still in use)
Gifts Stores in Bakery Building Open all Day
Black Diamond Pizza & Deli open all Day (32700 Railroad Ave.)
Los Cabos Mexican food (32616 3rd Ave.)
Cenex Deli (32632 3rd Ave.)

COME EARLY TO GET GOOD PARKING!

It's an old fashion town celebration and lots of fun.

Hope to see you there!

Fraternally,
Keith Watson
Commander, Seattle Base USSVI

Tolling of the Boats Ceremony, Recap Part 2

This blog entry has the pictures from during the pre-ceremony picnic. We tried to get pictures of everyone, but we did miss a few people, or the pictures just didn't turn out. We're sorry if we missed you this year, but we will be sure to get your picture next year!

We'll start off with some of the people that helped make the whole event run smoothly and then move on to the other attendees.  Remember to just click on a picture to see a larger version of it.

Grillmaster Doug Abramson and Assistant Steve Shelton getting the burgers out.

Lynda Shelton, Lois Mezek, Judy Watson, Diane Giese, Dorothy Botts, and Tina Godfrey all helped out with the food and making sure the WWII submarine veterans were escorted to their seats.

Thanks to the VFW Post 2995 Honor Guard.

Master of Ceremonies and Tolling Organizer Bob Opple with wife Chris and granddaughter Leah.

Seattle Base Commander Keith Watson and wife Judy

 Rear Admiral Horton and Lei-Lah Smith

 Jay and Miri Davis

Don Ulmer and Pat Householder (outgoing USSVI National Commander)

 Robbie and Terri Robertson

Steve and Lynda Shelton

 Ted Taylor and Ralph Sterley

 Jim Harper, Karl 'Dutch' Krompholz, Bill Giese, Dave Schueler, and Cliff Nutter

 Av and Schell Harmon

 Bill and Tina Godfrey

 Jo Nutter and Fred Ensslin

 Linda and Karl Peterson

John Bush and guest Marilyn

Tom Rice (center) with Steve and Darlene Aaby

Bill and Diane Giese (right) with guests Eldon and Mary Bond

Bobby Rains (Yakima Base), Dave Schueler, and Doug Gilman

Don Ross and Robbie Robertson

Sam Ronnie and Cliff Nutter

Terri Robertson, Sue Greenfeld (Robbie and Terri's daughter), and Base Chaplin Andrea Geisler

Ervin Schmidt

Miri Davis, Lynn Schueler and Dave Schueler

Ted, Cliff, and Dutch enjoying a little lunch

Maybe Dutch was enjoying the lunch a little too much

Thanks again to all those that organized and helped put on the Tolling Ceremony and to those that showed up to share lunch and remember our fallen shipmates.

Tolling of the Boats Ceremony Recap

It was a nice mild day for the Seattle Base Tolling of the Boats Ceremony. We had a good turnout for the picnic and ceremony.

We took a bunch of pictures before and during the ceremony and I've split them up into a couple posts for the blog.

In this blog entry I'm posting some pictures from just before and during the actual Tolling Ceremony. You can click on a picture to get a larger view of it.

Seattle Base float and Ric Hedman's display photos before the ceremony.

Getting ready to start the ceremony.

VFW Post 2995 Color Guard getting ready.

Flags ready to go. 

Seattle Base Chaplin Andrea Geisler give the Invocation.

World War II Submarine Veteran Tom Rice after being escorted to his seat by Judy Watson.

World War II Submarine Veteran Robbie Robertson being escorted to his seat by Lynda Shelton.

World War II Submarine Veteran Ted Taylor being escorted to his seat by Tina Godfrey.

World War II Submarine Veteran Ervin Schmidt being escorted to his seat by Dorothy Botts.

World War II Submarine Veteran Fred Ensslin being escorted to seat by Linda Peterson.

World War II Submarine Veteran Ralph Sterley being escort to his seat by Diane Giese.

Rear Admiral Horton Smith joins Tom Rice, Ted Taylor and Fred Ensslin.

Ralph Sterley, Ervin Schmidt, and Robbie Robertson ready for the ceremony.

 Master of Ceremonies Bob Opple provides some opening remarks.

Seattle USSVI Base Commander Keith Watson explains the significance of the ceremony and prepares to read the list of lost boats.

Tolling Readers Pat Householder and Keith Watson.

Tolling Bell Ringer Jim Harper.

Memorial Wreath Presenter Terri Robertson.

Post-ceremony group photo with VFW Honor Guard and submarine veterans.

2010 USSVI National Convention

The Cincinnati Base is hosting the 2010 USSVI and WWII Submarine Veterans National Convention at the Drawbridge Hotel in Fort Mitchell, KY. The Convention will be August 30 through September 6. There will many exciting activities and events along with Boat Reunions.

You can read more about the convention at the convention website and get a look at the updated Plan of the Week. You can also view the list updated Boat Reunions.

August Meeting Announcement and More

Hi Shipmates,

Meeting Announcement
Our next base meeting is set for Wednesday, August 18th from 6 PM to 9 PM, with the business meeting starting at 7 PM. This month’s presentation is by our associate member, Kerry Ryan. Kerry will tell and show us what it was like to be in the President’s Honor Guard during President Kennedy's and President Johnson's terms. He will mention his role in Air Force One's ground security and some of the things he experienced at the time of Kennedy's assassination. Kerry has been a loyal associate member of our base since 2009, was a member of the US Air Force, and served the President’s Honor Guard from 1962 – 1966. He, along with Admiral Smith, showed us how to march with the flags in the 4th of July Parade. He might surprise you with some of his experiences that he will share. We will also hear from Jay Davis on a subject that we all will face.

VOTE 2010
Thank you for voting in the USSVI National Election on the National website. Those who weren't able to vote there can look at their new issue of the "American Submariner" and find, beginning on page 26, the way to vote electronically as well as a paper ballot complete with an envelope to send your vote to the Election Master. It really is important in a fraternity to make your voice heard. Please vote today. The deadline for voting is midnight August 24th.

Tolling of the Boats
The Tolling of the Boats ceremony will again be held in Kirkland by the waterfront at the Marina Park Pavilion on Saturday, August 21. The pre-ceremony picnic begins at 11:30 with the Tolling starting around 1:15. This is a time for us to get together, enjoy some food, and remember our submarine brothers on eternal patrol. Hope to see you all there.

Fraternally,
Keith Watson
Commander Seattle Base USSVI

Tolling of the Boats Ceremony

On Saturday, August 21, 2010 the Seattle USSVI Base will be holding our annual Tolling of the Boats ceremony that honors our lost submarine brothers who made the supreme sacrifice while performing their duties with valor, integrity, and courage.

The ceremony will be held at the Kirkland Marina Park Pavilion (25 Lakeshore Plaza Drive
Kirkland, WA). The ceremony will start around 1:15 PM.

We will again have a pre-ceremony picnic with hamburgers cooked by our very own base chef, Doug Abramson and his crew of volunteers. Remember, your family members and friends are all invited. Pre-event social time will start around 11:00 AM and the picnic starts at 11:30 AM.

For those who need to park close to the pavilion, we will have a few parking spots close to the pavilion, check with Bob Opple (425-968-2037) to get a permit.

We can use some volunteers to help set up and clean up after the event. If you would like to help out, please show up at the base meeting on August 18th or contact Bob Opple. He will assign work parties after the meeting.

Again the pre-event social time starts at 11:00 AM, the picnic starts at 11:30, and the Tolling of the Boats ceremony starts at 1:15 PM. See you on the 21st!