This past year has been a very good year for our Mars organization as we continue to grow and stay financially sound without requiring annual dues. Our reunions seem to be enjoyed by everyone who attends and this past reunion in San Diego was the largest to date. We are having more former crew members being involved with the organization and this is greatly appreciated by me. I am looking forward to another good year and meeting new friends at the Pittsburgh Reunion. Mars, PA should be a special visit for our group.
Our San Diego Reunion was a great success, as 90 former crew members attended with 49 spouses. Some were able to make this a family event, with the youngest being just 6 months old. We had 160 people at the Friday Luau dinner. The attendees came from 22 states; we had 31 plank-owners with six of them attending their first reunion and a total of 28 making this their first reunion. For the first time, we had a crew member who decommissioned the Mars and we took some great pictures of a young Gilbert Chavez (1991-93) greeting our oldest plank owner, Master Chief George Johnson (1963-66), standing in front of a large framed Mars picture. Our guest speaker at the Saturday dinner was CDR Polly Wolf who talked about the newest supply ship to join the fleet, the USNS Alan Shepard T-AKE 3. Our hospitality room was kept in order with the help of Kenneth Dively and David Reed who were at the registration and ship store tables. After all the bills were paid, we had over $1,000.00 to add to the reunion fund, which will help with the start-up of the next reunion. I thank everyone who made donations and helped to make this reunion a success. You made the extra work worthwhile and very rewarding for me.
Special plaques from the plank-owners were award to Gary Travis (1963-66) and David Reed (1969-70).
The award to Gary was for his continued effort in locating former crew members. David’s award was for his graphic work for the ship store items and the newsletter. Both continue to be very involved in our organization.
Ron Henning (1967-70) and Ed Biddle (1969-71) received thank you plaques from the organization for hosting Mars Reunions, Ron for Seattle and Ed for San Antonio. A special plaque from me was presented to David Reed for all the hours he has put into improving the newsletter and helping me these past seven years.
A special thank you to Betty Gillman, who donated the extra Mars plaques and molds for making the plaques that her late husband Ray made for us. Ken Dively has received the molds and will take over the task of making the plaques. We hope to continue to have these special plaques in the reunion raffles and for sale in the ship store. Ken will also be in charge of the ship store. Look for some new items in the near future.
Gary Molitor (1966-69) donated $100 for a Mars commemorative brick at Liberty Station, USNTC, San Diego. When the brick is in place, we will have a picture of it in the newsletter. Thank You Gary.
The 2007 San Diego reunion fund donated $200 to the US Navy Vietnam Memorial at Coronado NAB. The large framed Mars picture that Captain Hipper (1985-86) donated will go on the bus with our reunion group when we visits Mars, PA and will be donated to the town of Mars.
I have a Mars ball cap that was left behind at the S.D. reunion. If the owner can ID it, I will be happy to mail it to you.
Welcome to the new 50 plus former crew member contacts. We are in need of help in locating more of the crew. The crew names are on the website, so with these names many more can be found. If interested, visit www.zabasearch.com type in your name and see the results. Dates of births are often listed, which is a great help. Contact me for more information if you can help. We need the 1980’s crews to get more involved.
E.R.J.
