Newsletter
2018 USS Halibut SSGN/SSN 587 Reunion
Nashville, TN
October 7th check- in – October 11th check-out
To: All USS Halibut SSGN/SSN Shipmates
From: 2018 Halibut Reunion Committee
Subject: Updates and Exciting Adventures to Consider
We are only two and a half months away from our 2018 Halibut Reunion.
Your 2018 Reunion committee team has been working hard to ensure your visit to Nashville will be a fun and memorable experience.
Current scheduled events and opportunities to explore:
- Meeting and exchanging sea stories with shipmates
- Hospitality Rooms (two each) open daily
- Tour of Nashville
- Auctions – as only John Long can make happen
o Please see John’s attached note
- Scheduled Grand Ole Opry night – recognition of Halibut Crew
- Professional photographer
- Banquet Dinner to Remember – beautiful dining room (top floor)
- Nashville’s many fun and historical attractions
WELCOME TO NASHVILLE !
By Bill Berry
Sandy and I, having spent more than half of our lives in the Nashville area, and in addition to what you have received, would like to add some additional comments for your consideration.
Of course, if you are a boots and jeans person, bring them as they are welcome anywhere for any occasion. But then just about anything goes anywhere, weather dependent – and your back side covered. As we get closer to the event, we may try to provide some insights for temperature ranges, but it is in fact one of the most popular times of the year to visit Tennessee due in part, to the “normal” climate.
Nashville is not just county/western music. You will find that the music ranges from true county, jazz, blues to being able to boast it has one of the most acoustically perfect concert halls in the world. (really). If you want to learn more about the process that built the hall, and any events while you are in town, google “Schermerhorn Symphony Hall” to see if there is an event of interest while you are here.
Depending on when you are coming in and leaving and have extra time; the Smokey Mountains are less than 3 hours to the east on I 40. The colors should be awesome this time of the year. This is one of the most visited areas in the US.
To the south east is Chattanooga on I-24. A 2 ½ hour drive over beautiful Mt. Eagle mountain. They are reputed to have one of the best aquariums in the US (but I think they all say that). There is also an old train station with steam engines as well as newer diesels. They have various excursions, one of which runs beside a beautiful whitewater river I have paddled several times. You would need to make reservations for one of the many available rides.
Just a few hours from where you will be staying, north on I -65 is the Corvette museum and plant. If you have any interest in America’s only sports car, this is a great museum. Depending on how much you want to absorb, you could spend 3 to 4 hours going through the whole museum. Pictures are allowed. They have essential information about the tragic “sink hole” that destroyed some, one of a kind Corvettes, the cars they restored and those on display that are not much more than a few feet high. ☹ They have a very nice budget friendly café’ and no charge for parking. I know they have more, but remember the hamburger and fries were good. Of course, there is a great gift shop.
MUST DO: To make sure you get the most out of your time while staying visiting Nashville, your hosts are suggesting you take the “HIGHLIGHTS OF NASHVILLE TOUR”. It is only $35/person for a 3-hour tour. The bus will leave the hotel at 9am taking you by everything there is to see in Nashville. The tour guide points out all the points and places of potential interest so with the time you have in Nashville, you will know what and where you want to visit. There are two (bathroom) stops at the Bicentennial and Centennial Parks each. These are must see locations show casing the Parthenon and, Korean, Vietnam War and MMII Memorials. With the tour ending up around noon, those of us that want, can get off the bus in downtown and chose a restaurant or two to have lunch, and later dinner if you like, and begin visiting the places we saw on the tour and marked on our maps. The hotel makes shuttle trips to and from town every 30 minutes, so you can return to the hotel when you like. No charge.
PLEASE MAKE YOUR RESERVATION BY AUGUST 14TH BY EMAILING billberry928@gmail.com with the number of people that will be taking the tour. We will collect the fee when you check in on Oct. 7th
Many thanks to Bill and Sandy for sharing their knowledge of Nashville and surrounding area. Many exciting adventures to experience for all to enjoy while in this beautiful area of our country.
______________________________________________________________
John Long – “Halibut Auctioneer”.
Auction Request !
Looking for a few good Items
Wanted for Halibut Reunion Auction and Raffle
In recent Halibut Reunions a major fund raiser has been the Auction and Raffle of Items donated by crew and friends. We again are going to have an Auction and Raffle as part of our big banquet night. At last reunion in Bremerton we raised enough money that we can take all current attendees to the Grand Old Opry for an evening of fun. The auction raffle money is not something that we can count on, but we will always pass it back to the Crew. Our desire is never to make or hold money but have enough seed money for the next reunion. We have and will always pass on the excess funds in ways deemed appropriate by the reunion committee.
If you have things that you would like to donate to the Auction or Rattle, please Contact
John Long @503-390-2086 or email at johnanddebbielong@comcast.net.
If you have Items but cannot make it to the reunion, then we can make arrangements to assist you.
With your help we can make this a great and fun reunion.
Please help John make this another successful Halibut Auction. His skilled auctions help us keep the Halibut treasury funded.
Please pass this on to all Halibut Shipmates on your Email List.
Special Guest Speaker – James “Jim” Work
Jim is working on an exciting and very informative presentation. He and other divers will share their training and diving experiences. This will be a special treat for us all.
Important Note To All!
If you have email addresses of members in your personal email folder, please forward our newsletters and other reunion information to your list and request they do the same. This will help ensure we communicate with all Halibut crew members regarding our reunions. We know there are crew members that do not have access to our WEB page.
If you have not done so, make your reservations ASAP!
You do not want to miss the Our 2018 Halibut Reunion!
SAFE TRAVELS TO ALL!