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2010 NNCA Reunion: Anchors Aweigh on San Diego Bay Nothing would prevent them from such a unique and thrilling opportunity to make special memories. Neither earthquakes, tsunami advisories, volcanic ash, nor a depressed economy would keep over 300 former, retired, reserve, and active duty Navy nurses from attending the NNCA Reunion 2010 in San Diego April 28-May 1, 2010. Early arrivals on Monday, April 26th, experienced a “brown out” as the hotel participated in a planned power outage with the power company, and at 3:58 a.m. on Tuesday morning, a 3.2 aftershock of the Easter Mexicali, Mexico earthquake rattled armoires in the hotel rooms. Fortunately, by noon on Tuesday, everything was shipshape and in working order and all hands donned their special reunion aprons and proceeded “on deck” to staff their respective reunion stations. Pat Bull and several volunteers “welcomed aboard” attendees at the reunion Registration desk. Check-in was executed smoothly and efficiently thanks to Pat’s attention to detail and her “management by a primary color dot” system, a very effective means of identifying events for which attendees had registered. Blue earth-friendly reunion bags, suitable for shopping, were provided courtesy of the Military Officer’s Association of America and included information packets and a variety of sundries.
Eleanor Masters, Pat Bull, Liz Hodges, Tom Nunns
Ellen Citrano and Pat Bull Throughout the week, the attendees who gathered near the registration desk area and in the hospitality room would receive an early afternoon treat from the Marriott Hotel staff which they referred to as “memorable moments.” The staff delivered a variety of mouth watering refreshments including pita bread with hummus dip, strawberry smoothies, and chocolate lava cake complete with whipped cream. Smores, created from the hotel’s general manager’s special recipe, were also available every afternoon in the lobby and were served with ice cold refreshing milk. It was a treat in high demand and you had to get there fast before these scrumptious delicacies were all consumed. Midweek, a pink elephant appeared in the hospitality room. The decorative pressed board elephant cutout had allegedly been rescued from the door of the Nurses’ Quarters in Da Nang by Jo Bahry, an ICU nurse who was stationed there. The names of several Navy nurses were inscribed on the elephant. Two framed Navy nurse recruiting posters were also donated, one of which has already found a home in the Veterans Museum & Memorial (former Balboa Navy Hospital Chapel).
Jack & Gloria Caffrey Though landlocked on our own “private atoll” in the South Pacific (San Diego Marriott Hotel Mission Valley), the nautical “Anchors Aweigh on San Diego Bay” theme resonated throughout the reunion in the decorations used for the events and the tour destinations throughout San Diego and along the bay. While the NNCA board met on Wednesday and Thursday, other attendees were taking advantage of the tours that were offered.
On Thursday evening, nearly 40 reunion goers attended a San Diego Padres Major League Baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers. Despite a chill in the air, most traveled by trolley directly to PETCO Park from the hotel. Watching baseball, enjoying hot dogs, popcorn and a beverage at a major league park and having the Padres beat the Brewers 9-0 was thrilling and it just doesn’t get much better than that!!! The scoreboard marquee even acknowledged the attendance of Navy nurses between innings: “Welcome Nacy Nurses”. Despite the incorrect spelling, those in attendance knew who was being recognized and a special thanks is extended to CAPT (ret) Jack Ensch, Director of Military Marketing, for arranging our field level seating and donating some Padres items for our opportunity drawing. A new attraction since the 1998 San Diego reunion was the aircraft carrier USS MIDWAY Museum. Commissioned in 1945, the USS MIDWAY steamed through a 47 year career of service and served as the flagship for Desert Storm in 1991. Since “home porting” in San Diego as a museum in 2004, the museum has had over 5 million visitors. The ship’s tour included an audio tour featuring MIDWAY veterans sharing their stories of living and working aboard the carrier. Some of those same veterans also currently serve as docents aboard the USS MIDWAY museum. Adjacent to the USS MIDWAY, in Tuna Harbor Park, stands a 25 foot tall statue entitled “Unconditional Surrender” by artist J. Seward Johnson. This statue brings to life a famous black and white image of a sailor kissing a young nurse in Times Square, New York City, on August 14, 1945. Nearby, there is a “National Salute to Bob Hope and the Military”. The sculpture of Bob Hope depicts him as he was in the 1940’s, wearing Army fatigues and holding a vintage microphone. Symbolically, he is addressing troops from all five branches of the United States military services, from all the wars for which he entertained. Thanks for the memories…
While some were touring, other attendees at the hotel were delighting in their visits to the Memorabilia Room, NNCA Merchandise Room, and Local Merchandise Room. The Memorabilia Room focused on the “South Pacific”, Hospital Ships, Balboa Park, recap of the 100th Anniversary and a DVD memorial tribute to Juel Loughney. The South Pacific 50th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray Disc was playing in one corner of the Memorabila Room and featured some familiar faces: Mary Lindner and Betty Nimits were seen on the documentary segment called "Passion, Prejudice and South Pacific: Creating an American Masterpiece" narrated by Mitzi Gaynor who played Navy Nurse Nellie Forbush in the 1958 movie.
Gae Fuller, Barb Pine, Kathy Cadwell, Rosie Lochte, Joan Sullivan Pat Sovich, along with Rosie Lochte, set up the exhibit which was manned by several volunteers throughout the week. Mary Porter, dressed in the 1917 dress blue uniform and Joanne Sauer attired in the 1908 white nurse’s uniform, were “stationed” in the Memorabilia Room but were also granted liberty to walk throughout the hotel. A rare photo opportunity occurred when 1908 and 1917 uniformed Navy nurses posed with LT Rebecca Schroeder, an active duty Navy nurse from Balboa.
Mary Porter, LT Schroeder, Joanne Sauer The NNCA Merchandise Room bustled with activity. Julia Pickering, NNCA Merchandise Chair, manned her adding machine as Navy nurses flocked to the check out line with items in hand. Several new items including a fleece blanket, navy blue windbreaker, and other merchandise, were scooped off the tables and purchased. Sales exceeded expectations and Julia was pleased with the overall monetary outcome. Anita Day’s bookmarks and other unique oakleaf and crystal jewelry were also sold.
LCDR Williamson, CDR Armstrong, LT Schroeder, LT Bennett Following the invocation, Camilla played Amazing Grace on the violin, and then Sonia read a poem entitled “Union of Friends”. As readers (Kathy Cadwell, Cynthia Coyle, Sandra Gharabaghli, Jack Anita Day Caffrey, Monica Simler, and Terri Stashak) solemnly read the names of 160 Navy nurses who passed away since the last reunion, Eternal Father was softly played on the violin. Those who had been given a flashlight bearing the name of a deceased Navy nurse stood and/or extended a lighted flashlight for a few brief seconds in honor of a fallen comrade. Names evoked individual and emotional group responses of friends, caregivers and supporters. As the last name was read, Darlene led the choir (Pat Bull, Nancy Owen, Barb Beeby, Jennifer Town) and attendees in singing Eternal Father followed by On Eagle’s Wings. NNCASC President and Deacon Dennis Sullivan beautifully concluded with a benediction reflecting on the light that each of the departed had brought to the Navy Nurse Corps.
Navy nurses do make a difference whether on active duty, in the reserves, former or retired. Individually we contribute and collectively we are awesome. Thanks to the creativity of Barb Beeby, Georgene Waecker, and Becky Nulty, this sentiment was reflected in the sand, starfish, seashells, netting and variety of decorations all contributing to one centerpiece on each table for the Awards Luncheon. The committee and numerous volunteers created a seashore theme complete with a beach and ocean backdrop displayed behind the stage. Barb Beeby, awards luncheon chair, welcomed attendees and reintroduced Chaplain Robert J. Ecker who gave the invocation. Nearly 200 persons attended the luncheon featuring an entrée of oregano roasted chicken. Dessert presentation was topnotch with an oakleaf drawn in chocolate syrup next to a delicious fresh fruit tart. The impromptu “fashion show”, which has become an integral part of recent NNCA reunions, featured Jack Caffrey, modeling the NNCA yellow slicker, and Anita Day wearing navy blue sweat pants, new sweatshirt jacket with snaps, white golf shirt and sporting a NNCA ball cap. This encouraged attendees to go directly to the merchandise room, following the luncheon, for last minute purchases before closing time. After a very busy day, there was barely enough time to catch a nap or a breath before boarding the Day Tripper Tour buses for downtown San Diego and the Broadway Pier where we would embark on a Sunset Dinner Cruise on the Spirit of San Diego. The winds had calmed and warm breezes were gently blowing. Welcomed aboard with a glass of bubbly champagne or cider, nearly 150 Navy nurses, including six ROTC nursing students from Point Loma Nazarene University, and active duty and reserve Navy nurses from Balboa took over the second deck of the ship. The ROTC students inquisitively asked about the reality of Navy Nurse Corps life. RADM Joan Engel, who was seated at their table, graciously answered their questions. Surprised looks appeared on the ROTC student’s faces when told Navy nurses were, at one time, not allowed to be married and then, when they could be married, were not able to have children until 1973. The one male in the group was equally amazed when told that men were not allowed in the Navy Nurse Corps until 1965. Many other Navy Nurse Corps stories were shared. “First Mate” Emmy Morichelli donned her nautical hat and taught Sea Shanty songs to the ROTC students.
Sandra Peppard, RoseAnne Sobkow, Cindy Coyle Several reunion goers asked if there would be an opportunity to attend church services prior to the banquet, as many had early flights home the next day and would not have an opportunity to attend. Thanks to the flexibility of our great hotel staff, one section of the ballroom was quickly transformed into a chapel. Employing the motto for the week: “Semper Gumby”, “Always Flexible”, the reunion co-chairs changed roles and secured their musical instruments. Jennifer Town played the keyboard, Nancy Owen strummed the guitar and both led the congregation in singing for the service. More than 70 were in our “congregation” as Chaplain Ecker graciously agreed to be our celebrant for Catholic Mass, along with con-celebrant Father Michael Mangoian and Deacon Dennis Sullivan.
Nancy Owen & Janet Cooper As the “congregation” departed Mass and walked directly into the ballroom foyer, the banquet reception was in full swing. Navy nurses, dressed in party attire, joined together for an evening of celebration, camaraderie, fine food and entertainment. And, what an evening it was! Chimes were sounded and 300 strong entered the ballroom where tables were decorated in patriotic décor. Cindy Perry and Becky Nulty coordinated the banquet arrangements, decorations, and menu. There were beautiful red and white roses arranged by Cindy and hand crafted one-of-a-kind programs designed and created by Becky. Alternating napkins of red and blue adorned the tables. Jennifer Town, mistress of ceremony for the evening, quieted the crowd, (not an easy task), and requested that all stand for the presentation of colors by the Naval Medical Center San Diego Color Guard. The talented Navy Southwest Region Brass Quintet, which had been playing prelude music, played the National Anthem. The invocation was given by NNCASC President Dennis Sullivan. Jennifer surprised her co-chair Nancy Owen with a beautiful bouquet of red and pink roses.
Nancy Owen & Jennifer Town Prior to the cake cutting, however, our MC, Jennifer had a surprise guest that she wanted to introduce. The guest had entered the banquet quite incognito and was sitting at one of the reserved tables with Rear Admirals Engel Niemeyer and Bruzek-Kohler. Jennifer introduced Edith Shain, “who was perhaps not a household name”, but, Jennifer added, “you may recognize her from this photograph.” The famous photo of the sailor kissing the nurse in Times Square, New York City on August 14, 1945 at the end of WW II was then unveiled. This diminutive 91-years-young Edith Shain, was the one and the same nurse featured in the famous photograph. She had just graduated from nursing school and was standing by, ready to be shipped overseas to join the war effort, when this photo was taken. Edith joined RADM Niemeyer, RADM Bruzek-Kohler, RADM Engel, RADM Hall, RADM Buckley, and RADM Conder in cutting the ceremonial birthday cake. As the cake was being cut, Lt Col Art Law, Marine Corps, retired, and husband of Navy nurse, Easty Law, raised a glass and proposed a toast to the Navy Nurse Corps.
RADM Niemeyer, RADM Bruzek-Kohler, RADM Engel, RADM Hall, RADM Buckley,
The evening festivities continued as the San Diego Chorus, who, having just won their Region 21 championship, took the stage and provided energetic entertainment. They were nearly 60 women strong, under the direction of Kim Hulbert, singing a capella four part harmony (barbershop style). This chorus, with its 53-year award winning history, brought everyone to their feet with their military service song medley rendition.
RADM Buckley, Tom Nunns, Jim Stokes NNCA Reunion 2010-Anchors Aweigh on San Diego Bay was a week to remember. The unique venues, particularly our own private “atoll” in the South Pacific, the Memorial Service pavilion, the, improvised chapel, trolley to PETCO Park, all contributed to the memories of the week. Then there were the gatherings by the geedunk in the hospitality room, the conversation areas around the hotel that brought groups together, the tours, the laughter, the smiles, and the tears. So many special and heartwarming memories were made, and all who attended departed with bountiful, grateful hearts and many, many “thanks for the memories.” “Thanks for the Memories” Photo © Arlington National Cemetery Website Lord, I invoke Your Name for those here present. I was in pain and you came to me. (Invocation delivered by retired Navy Chaplain CAPT Robert J. Ecker at NNCA Reunion Memorial Service April 30, 2010) |
In a very solemn moment, as “Taps” was sounded and participants faced the projected image of the nurse statue, the scene expanded to reveal the numerous gravestones of fallen comrades surrounding the statue. A Navy nurse, in dress blue uniform, appeared on the left side of the screen rendering a final salute. Tears of sadness turned into tears of joy as CPT Chuck Jamison, USA (Ret.) revved up his bagpipes and played Danny Boy as he led the departure from the pavilion to the ballroom for the awards luncheon.
This memorable moment in Navy Nurse Corps reunion history would not have been complete if the famous black and white photo was not re-enacted. Petty Officer Kurtis Henderson, a member of the Navy Band Southwest brass quintet, went above and beyond the call of duty to pose with Edith in that famous “dip”. Thanks for the memory….