NEWSLETTER
July 2004
Dear Shipmates,
Hope everyone is staying healthy and thinking reunion in
September.
Everyone should have received your Charleston reunion memory
book by now, if you didn't receive yours please let me know.
There was a picture of the Orleck on the front page of the
Tin Can Sailors Jan./Feb./Mar. issue. As most of you know
the Orleck is back in Orange, Texas and is in the process
of being restored, we may have a reunion in that area in
the near future.
Received a letter from a person who is looking for any info
about his grandfather Walter John Murawski, who served on
the Parks in 52-54, he passed away in Feb. 96 if anyone
remembers Walter or has any info about him please let me
know.
Six of our shipmates have passed away since our last reunion,
Lyle Anderson 52-53, Fritz Large 48-50, John Lively 49-50,
John Thorson 50-52, Richard Ater 50-52 and Arthur Nokes
55-56.
Received a call from Jay & Helen Duffourc who missed
our last reunion due to family illness, it was the only
reunion they have missed since 1993, they are looking forward
to Portland but are not sure if they can make it, Helen
broke her foot and is having a difficult time with it, she
has had 3 casts on it already and may have to have more.
Please send her a get well card and encourage her to get
well or come on crutches. Her address is 801 81h at. Westwego,
LA 70094 504-341-1808.
If you have friends or relatives who would like to attend
the reunion with you please bring them, they are completely
welcome, just let me know their names so we can have names
tags made for them.
Remember! The deadline for making your hotel reservation
at the $69.00 rate is Aug. 15th, they have a 24-hour cancellation
policy so there shouldn't be any problems if there are last
minute changes. Phone number for reservations is 1-800-222-8733.
Some people use their airline miles etc. when they make
their hotel reservations, we don't blame you for this but
please remember we have an attrition clause in the hotel
contract and if we don't fill the rooms we contracted for
we have to pay for them, so if you can use your airline
miles etc. At another time or for another purpose we would
really appreciate it.
If your e-mail address
changes please notify Sue Birdsong at: bnsbirdsong@rnindspring.com,
if your want an e-mail list she will e-mail one to you.
If your home address or area code changes please notify
me.
Our shipmate and committee
member (sergeant at arms) Arthur Nokes passed away on Jan
19, 2004. I didn't know about this until 8 July. Art and
I served aboard at different times but over the last 12
years Art and I became very close friends. Art attended
most of the reunions and due to his health it was very difficult
for him to attend some of them, but being a committee member
he felt a responsibility to attend, he was very dedicated
to the Parks Association and will be sorely missed by all
his shipmates.
Don't forget our raffle, we already have some excellent
items plus cash prizes, suggest you bring the return address
labels you received in the mail to put on back of the tickets
this makes it much easier for everyone and expedites the
raffle at our banquet dinner.
If you have misplaced
your reunion sign up form let me know and I'll send you
another one. Just Received anew order of Parks caps, golf
shirts & F.B. Parks license plates. Caps $10.00, golf
shirts, & license plates, $20.00, plus $3.00 postage
on each.
Membership list are
available upon request, we have located quite a few new
members since we established the website.
The last newsletter indicated your dues status, most people
sent dues they owed, however some didn't if you are one
that didn't, we would like them before the reunion.
Robby/530-283-2165
Some
info you might find interesting....
Greetings Shipmates,
Hope everyone is enjoying the summer months. Loree and 1
have been busy gardening, as well as spending a week at
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina with the children and
the two grandsons. Debbie and her family have relocated
to Auburn,
Alabama. We are very excited because Zack, our oldest grandson
is only 3-4 hours away. August is fast approaching. I'm
excited because our annual Parks reunion is just around
the corner. This year the reunion will be held September
13-20 in Portland, Oregon. Hope that everyone will make
plans to attend!
As I begin to write this newsletter, I found an article
I shared some time back. After reading it, I thought it
would be appropriate to share again. Minister Joe Wright
was asked to open the session of the Kansas Senate. All
were expecting the usual politically correct generalities,
But what they heard instead was a stirring prayer, passionately
calling our country to repentance and righteousness. The
response was immediate and a number of legislators walked
out during the prayer. In six short weeks, the Central Christian
Church had logged more than 5,000 phone calls, with only
47 of those calls responding negatively. Paul Harvey aired
the prayer on the radio and received the largest response
ever.
Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask Your forgiveness
and seek you direction and guidance. We know Your Word says,
`Woe on those who call evil good, but that's exactly what
we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and
reverted our values. We confess that
We have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and called
it pluralism. We have worshipped other gods and called it
multiculturalism.
We have endorsed perversion and called it an alternative
lifestyle. We have exploited the poor and called it the
lottery.
We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.
We have killed our unborn children and called it choice.
We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.
We have neglected to discipline our children and called
it building self-esteem We have abused power and called
it political savvy.
We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography
and called it freedom of expression.
We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers
and called it enlightenment. Search us, O God, and know
our hearts today. Cleanse us from every sin and set us free.
Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent by
this great state. Grant them the wisdom to rule, and may
their decisions direct us to the center of Your will.
I ask it in the name of Your Son, the Living Savior, Jesus
Christ- With this in mind, let me share Psalm 33:12 Blessed
is the nation whose God is the Lord, The people He has chosen
as His own inheritance.
Sincerely,
Herman W. Carter
Chaplain
"The
Fightin' Floyd B"