USSVI Thresher Base needs help for Thresher 50th Memorial Service

Editor's Note: Thresher Base sent out the following message about the new challenges they face for the memorial service, due the the sequestration. At last night's meeting, Seattle Base voted to send $100 to help out and a number of base members chipped in their own money too. If you have the extra funds, this would be a worthwhile donation.

USSVI Thresher Base needs your help with funding the 50th Annual USS Thresher Memorial Service that will be held on April 6th.

After the 49th memorial service, the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNS) informed us that they would host this once in a lifetime memorial ceremony, just as they have done so for each of the 10 year anniversaries of the loss of USS Thresher.

PNS regretfully informed us seven weeks ago that they will not be able to host the service due to recent DOD sequestration motivated discretionary spending budget cuts at NAVSEA, coupled with an unprecedented number of attendees that exceeds the capacity of the PNS Auditorium.

In response, we have reserved the only facility large enough to hold this memorial service, the Portsmouth High School at a cost of over $1,800.

One week ago we learned that due to additional spending cuts, CHINFO “may” not be able to pick up the cost of the $2,400 webcast, and PNS “may” not be able to cover the $2,600 program printing cost.

Our normal yearly service costs are $1,300. For the 50th, we had budgeted $3,000. As of today, our cost for the best case scenario with partial Navy support is approximately $7,000, and a worst case scenario of around $12,000.

Given the reasonable potential that these cuts will be made, we need your help to fund this once in a lifetime memorial service.

Please send your donations in the form of a check made out to USSVI Thresher Base, with the check note stating “USS Thresher Memorial Service Fund”, and mail to our Treasurer to the address:

USSVI Thresher Base Treasurer
Dennis O’Keeffe
1 Eureka Ave.
York, ME 03909

All donations received will be noted on the Donor’s section of the memorial service program.

For questions related to the donation check, please contact Dennis via email at ss426djo@msn.com or by phone at 207-351-1240.

For all other questions, please contact me directly at ThresherBase@comcast.net, 603-785-6464.

Thank you,
Kevin Galeaz
Thresher Base Commander
http://www.thresherbase.org