The 37th Annual USS Fletcher Reunion
Oklahoma City, OK
September 23 - 26, 2007
a report
A welcome letter from Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry
The 37th annual USS Fletcher Reunion, hosted by first time hosts Earl and Charlotte Faubion, is now only a fond memory. Approximately 75 former crew and their families attended all or a portion of the reunion. Among those were seven World War Two veterans including two plankowners. The hosts would like to thank the staff at the Best Western Saddleback Inn who went out of their way to assist us and make this a successful reunion. The hosts would also like to thank Eli Bourgeois, Norb Bender, John Rust, Ivy-Lynn Patapas and others for their advice and assistance in planning this reunion. And a special thanks to Debbie Rust for her work in creating and getting the printed rosters ready and delivered on time.
A few guests showed up on Saturday, a day early, and helped the hosts get the hospitality and history rooms ready on Sunday, September 23rd which was registration day. A great time was had in the hospitality room that evening as Fletcher veterans renewed friendships and a few new members learned of the wonderful kinship that exists in our reunion group.
On Monday many in our group went an all day tour of Oklahoma City with transportation and tour guide furnished by Territorial Tours. Thankfully the weather cooperated and a good time was had by all as we toured the Stockyards City and Bricktown. Of special interest to many was a 90 minute stop at the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum which some vowed to return to later for a longer visit. Then a trip to the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum for a nice buffet lunch and ample time to tour this large facility. On the way back to the hotel we drove by the Oklahoma State Capitol building and then to Heritage Hills where our tour guide, June, told us of the history of some of the homes. After returning to the hotel many of us retired to the hospitality room for more socializing.
Tuesday dawned damp and rainy but this did not hamper our day with more socializing in the history and hospitality rooms after most of us availed ourselves of the hot buffet breakfast at the hotel. Tuesday evening a bus from Territorial Tours transported many of us to what some are calling the high point of the entire reunion, an evening at the Yellow Rose Theater in Moore, OK for a special Oklahoma Centennial Play. The meal was extraordinarily delicious and the dessert was to die for. But the best of all was the performance of this amateur church affiliated group that easily rivals its larger cousins in New York. The music and atmosphere was great and we believe this small theater has a very bright future. Those of us who were there know that “Liza Jane” and our Commodore, Eli “woof woof” Bourgeois, will certainly remember the evening!
Wednesday morning the annual members’ meeting was held and the usual Reunion Group business was taken care of. In addition, possible locations for the 2009 Reunion were discussed as well as the possibility of making the quarterly newsletters available to members in electronic format. Tuesday evening our banquet and dance was held in the hotel’s conference center and some walked away with interesting door prizes including unassembled Fletcher models and gift certificates or memberships to Tin Can Sailors. The evening ended with many vowing to meet again in 2008.
Thursday morning most guests said their final goodbye’s and gave their final hugs as they headed out in an unusually foggy Oklahoma morning to begin their journeys home. Please plan on returning next year to the Cincinnati area for our 2008 Reunion.
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If you attended the reunion and have photos to share, please email them to us. This email address will accept photo attachments. Visit this link to see more photos at Walmart Photos.
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