November Meeting Notes and Veterans Day Photos

The November meeting was held one week earlier than normal due to the Thanksgiving holiday. We started off the meeting with the Tolling of the Boats for November and December, birthday wishes for our members, introductions and officer reports.

We then saw some photos of the Royal Navy's newest submarine, HMS Ambush, and got a short description of the Astute class submarines. Thanks to Dick Gonzales for sharing links to this information.

HMS Ambush underway

Old and New Business 
New Base Raffle - The base is raffling off the 14" x 14" canvas reproduction of the USSVI Memorial plaque that we received at last month's meeting. You can purchase tickets for the drawing for $1 each or 6 for $5. The drawing will be held at the Holiday Luncheon. If you are interested in getting tickets, contact Base Commander Doug Abramson.

This year's raffle prize

Auburn Veterans Day Parade – We had a good turnout for the parade with members from Seattle, Bremerton and South Sound Bases showing up for the parade. It was a sunny, but cold day for the parade and the crowd was bundled up for the parade. You can see photos from the parade at the end of this post.

Membership Dues - If you are on the annual membership plan, it is time to look at paying your dues. Please contact Jim Harper to pay your dues or if you have questions.

Seattle Base Elections - Base elections are coming up in January. Our base needs men like you to stand for the necessary positions to keep the base running, and we want to invite you to throw your name in the ring for one of the Base Officer positions. Even if you aren’t ready to be a Base Officer, you can still help out as one of the committee chairs or appointed officers for the base. Committee chairs and appointed officers are really needed to handle the necessary base functions that make our base valuable to us all. Please consider stepping up for an officer or committee position.

2013 Calendars - The USSVI 2013 calendars are available. The calendar, titled "The Victors", honors the World War II U.S. submariners and their boats. You get your copy from the Seattle Base ship's store or you can order your copy directly from the USSVI National Storekeeper.

December Meeting Reminder - We will not be having a meeting in December, but we hope to see all of you at the Holiday Luncheon.

Upcoming Events 
Holiday Luncheon - We will have our annual Holiday Luncheon at the Seattle Yacht Club on Saturday, December 15. Be sure to mark the date on your calendar. It is always a fun time and this will probably be the last year we will be at the Seattle Yacht Club. You can find the registration form in the currnet issue of the newsletter (see the link on the right side of the page) or you can download a copy by clicking this link. 

Veterans Day Photos 
Here is a video Ric Hedman took before the parade.

2012 Auburn Veterans Day Parade Seattle Base USSVI - Funny bloopers are a click away

Here are some photos from the Auburn Veterans Day Parade on November 10, 2012.

Seattle Base Float getting ready for the parade

Sam Ronnie's limo and the Silent Service Motorcycle Club

Bonefish float

Bremerton Base members and some active duty sailors before the parade

Seattle Base members Curt Maier, Steve Shelton, Pat Householder, Karl 'Dutch' Krompholz and Ralph Sterley

WWII SubVet Paul Christofferson shows off a pen he got at the convention with wood from submarine decking

Swapping a few stories before the parade

Bob Opple and John Mansfield

A flyover by an Air Force C-17 started the parade

A VFW Honor Guard moves into position before our floats

SubVets move into parade position

The SSMC followed the floats

Seattle Base members marching behind the Bonefish float

Submariners (past and present) group photo after the parade

Veterans Day ceremony at Tahoma National Cemetery on November 11, 2012

Eternal Patrol: Michael Hein

Seattle Base member Michael Hein departed on Eternal Patrol on November 13, 2012.

Mike was an early member of Seattle Base. He and his wife Terry moved back to Ft Madison, Iowa about 10 years ago, but he maintained his Base membership.

Mike qualified on USS Angler (SS-240) in 1957 and was a RMCS(SS) when he left the Navy in 1973. He served on seven different submarines and was COB on USS Queenfish (SSN-651) when she operated under ice and surfaced at the North Pole. Mike was one of the original members of USSVI, with a membership card signed by Joe Negri in 1964.

Sailor, Rest Your Oar.

November Meeting Reminder

We want to remind you that the next Seattle Base meeting is this coming Wednesday, November 14, this is one week earlier than normal due to the Thanksgiving holiday.

As usual though, we will meet at VFW Post #2995 (4330 148th Ave N.E., Redmond WA 98052). Social hour starts at 6 PM with business meeting at 7PM. Don't forget to review the previous meeting minutes, you can find them here on the blog or on the Seattle Base website, just click the Minutes button on the left.

Submarine Veterans at the Auburn Veterans Day Parade

Also as a reminder, we won't have a business meeting in December, instead we will have our Holiday Luncheon. Don't forget you can bring your registration form and payment to the meeting. You can get a copy of the registration form in the current newsletter or at this link.

Finally, Maureen Baskin, the Veteran's Chairperson-Coordinator for the Kirkland 4th of July Parade sent a link to the slide show video from the 2012 parade. I've embedded it below, but if it doesn't work you can go to the link http://youtu.be/IJ8qO34hHyA


We hope to see you at the meeting.

Dave Schueler
Seattle Base Newsletter Editor

Reminder Veterans Day Events

We wanted to remind you about the Auburn Parade and the ceremony at Tahoma National Cemetery.

Auburn Veterans Day Parade
Seattle Base will be participating in the Auburn Veterans Day parade on Saturday, November 10. In addition to the Seattle Base and Bonefish floats, there will be a couple cars for people to ride in. There is plenty of parking available at the parking garage on 2nd St. in Auburn (near the Transit Center on the map below).

Check-in starts at 9:30, we will meet near the parking garage around 10:00 AM to drive to the staging area or you can meet at the staging area near L St. SE and Main St by 10:30 AM.

The parade starts with a flyover at 11:00.

There are other events going on throughout the day. You can find out more at the Auburn city community calendar web page.


Tahoma National Cemetery Veterans Day Program

On Sunday, November 11, the SubVets will join other veteran groups to show the flags at the Tahoma National Cemetery. The program starts at 11AM.

The cemetery is located at 18600 SE 240 Street Kent 98042. You should show up around 10 AM to get good parking and you should be able to drive up on the main street just south of the main flag area.

Eternal Patrol: Richard D. 'Shorty' Shelton

Our friend and shipmate Richard D ‘Shorty’ Shelton, World War II Veteran and member of Submarine Veterans of WWII and USSVI departed on eternal patrol on Oct 30, 2012. Shorty enlisted in the Navy in 1940 and eventually transferred to the Fleet Reserve in 1966, finishing his career as a chief petty officer.

His memorial service will be held Saturday, Nov 17, 2012 at Washelli-Evergreen, 11111 Aurora Ave N. Seattle. The service will start at 12:00 (noon).

Sandra Conry, Shorty’s daughter, has asked that the subvets attending the service please wear their subvet vests or other items identifying themselves as submariners.

Sailor, Rest Your Oar.