We had a few classmates on line with cable modems using the @home.com address.  While we wait for DON ESTES, TERRY NEWELL, BRUCE PLATZ, and AL SGANGA to report around with their new addresses (did you guys transition to @attbi.com like WYNN HARPER and me?) ... the court will come to order.

How ‘bout starting the New Year with GREAT news.  Love salads are back!  That’s right...HUGHIE’s reopened on Wednesday 14 November.  Hughie Devlin closed his bar and grill on Howard Street more than a year ago after the New London Development Corp. took the Howard Street building by eminent domain for a road-widening project.  A tearful Devlin shut down the 39-year-old family business and announced his retirement after negotiating a $1.1 million settlement with the NLDC for the property. Fans of the restaurant lined up at an auction to purchase Hughie's Restaurant memorabilia, including mixing bowls, chairs, microwaves and the dining tables that once lined the walls of the old Howard Street site. At that time, it appeared the well-known eatery had closed its doors forever.  But eight weeks ago, Devlin and his new partner announced a new Hughie's was going to open at 345 Bank St., the site of the former Ye Olde Tavern restaurant.  The boxing pictures and other sports memorabilia that hung in the original restaurant will be installed in the new one, but the decorating is not finished yet.  Hundreds of people, nostalgic for an order of Hughie's shrimp scampi and hungry for a place to have a drink and socialize, descended on the new Hughie's Wednesday night.  They crowded elbow to elbow at the bar, drinking beer from frosted mugs and waiting patiently for tables to open up in the two dining rooms.  Although the flat-screen television set was turned off — something that never would have happened in the old Hughie's, where two TVs were always tuned into sporting events — patrons didn't seem to mind.  Devlin said he was tired of retirement...and I’m sure wanted to be back in business for our 35th!

JAY TAYLOR’s been traveling again.  He missed our 30th because he was in Kazakhstan...now he’s reportin’ around from Down Under.  “I arrived in Sydney after jump seating on United from LAX.  They treated me very well with a seat in business class.  I then used an ID90 on Quantas to fly SYD-BNE-HVE.  The climate here is tropical with colorful birds, palm trees, and swimming possible all year long.  Yesterday, we visited Fraser Island which is reportedly the largest sand island in the world.  There are no paved roads and the 4 wheel drive tour bus took us through rain forests and along the beach.  There are many clear, fresh water lakes on the island surrounded by pure white sand.  Many C-172's and other light aircraft land on the sand beaches to fly tourists around various parts of the island.  The cost is a very reasonable, $22 USA for a 15-18 minute flight.   Today, I'm just bumming around walking along the esplanade here in Hervey Bay (about 3 hours north of Brisbane).  Tomorrow, I'll attend my ex-PNS neighbor's wedding here and then leave for Cairns where I plan to do some Scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef.  This pilot life is tough but someone has to do it.”  JAY...that last line was ours!

How ‘bout that cover photo on the 2001 Alumni Directory?  The Bulletin staff liked it so much, they even had two editions printed as a special tribute to our great march on performance at Homecoming.  OK, I know they offered another plausible explanation, but we know the true reason.  But a “197_” banner?   AL GRACEWSKI has the answer to the missing “1”:  “I just checked the banner (I brought it home...RICH HARDING is supposed to keep it, but he knows I have it)...it is missing the "1" on one side.  The other side of the banner is fine.  Knowing it is missing, one could hold it good side out and it is fine for future march-ons.”  Somewhere in here there’s a free shot at our Flag standard bearers, but I’m not going there.  Instead,  BARNEY offers an explanation:  “A long time ago, I had asked that one side of the banner be made up for me.   At the time, I figured if -- IF --  I graduated, I was modestly certain that it would be in the early 1970's.   Okay, in the 1970's, if not early 70's.   As it turned out, the "1" can now be applied to "my" side of the banner.  I think.   'They' can't make me revert again.... can they?”

BARNEY added a Maine Report: “Lots of fun in Maine.  My radio station, WMHB, had a "Live Music Week" -- different live acts in the studio each night for 6 straight evenings... from jazz, rock and metal to blues and hip hop.  Several nights were video-taped and will be shown on local cable-access TV in 2002.  Fortunately (for the TV viewers), Cap'n Barney remained in the background - a face made for radio!   WMHB also held our annual holiday food drive for the Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter.... lots of CDs given away for cans/boxes of food.  Lots of pre-planning for both events.  I'm longing for those ACDU days ... this retirement stuff is WORK!  I continue to hold down the part-time job in the Benton Town Office.  I'm still 'issuing' license plates - among other "duties" - although many of my thousands of odd-/even-year classmates figured I'd me makin' plates by now.  LINDA is busy taking care of her 91-year old Mom, and preparing for two more "events" in our lives... the upcoming birth of our THIRD grand-child (Jacob PATRICK) to our #1 offspring/daughter Dee, and the summer 2002 marriage of our #2 offspring/son, Eric, in Ohio.  How close is Lexington, OH to "The CG Club" in Cleveland?   Don't worry... I'll find it.  We're looking forward to some skiing here in Maine this winter and we'll hopefully have all limbs intact to visit grand kids, attend to upcoming wedding details, etc.  Can FAT JACK cater the wedding event with his endless supply of sausages?   I'll bring the beer.  A Polish wedding in the making!”  JACK, didn’t we eat all the sausage at the Reunion?

You read the December edition with the notice of CHUCK BECK’s new employment?  He sends an update: “Things are going well in CT.  The first rush project that I was tasked with has been basically completed.  I and a couple of others had to complete the State's Statewide Domestic Preparedness Equipment Program application along with a Statewide Domestic Preparedness Strategy.  We briefed the products to a Senior Steering Council (the heads of the State's major departments) and got their approval this morning.  Now all we have to do is transmit it to the Department of Justice so that they will release $2.56M that they have been holding for CT for the last 3 years.   (The DOJ equipment program was pre-9/11.)  Spending of the money is limited to defensive equipment for "first responders" to a WMD incident.  The "strategy" will be the cornerstone for a coordinated plan to use the federal money that is expected to pour out the federal pipeline as a result of the 9/11 tragedy.”  CHUCK, don’t take too much...latest is that in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the U.S. Coast Guard has modified the requirements for its planned Deepwater modernization effort from $10 billion to $15 billion.

CHRIS and BARB VANN joined us for our 30th Reunion and with only a minimum of prodding provided this VANN update...32 years in the making: “We thank CHUCK BECK, JIM SYLVESTER and PETE BARRETT for encouraging us to reconnect with the class at the 30th.  While there’s no excuse for our hiatus, being with so many good (old) friends brought closure to a phase of our lives which began abruptly in second class summer.  We were married on August 6, 1969.  What would have been my second class year consisted of attending night classes at night at the U. of Hartford and working days as a Pratt & Whitney Engineering Aide.  BARB was a LPN working in Cardiac Intensive Care at Hartford Hospital.  First son, John (Jay) was born on March 24, 1970.  Engineering school at night was painful, but BARB supported me while I finished the last two semesters, full time.  I graduated in ‘72 with a BS in Mechanical Engineering.  Second son, Mike was born September 13, 1972.  We moved to Bristol, Ct. in ‘74 and returned to Farmington in ‘78.  BARB went back to school, worked part time and obtained her RN in ’84.   Although we have been Connecticut based all of our lives, we’ve ‘lived’ in other parts of the world.  I had extended assignments (~ 6 months) to manage aircraft certification flight tests in Seattle, San Diego, Toulouse-France and West Palm Beach Fla.  BARB and the Kids got to live in Seattle and France for the summers of ’80 and ’83, respectively.  Around 1985, I made a career change to step back from the potential for 15-hour days as an Engineering Program Manager to a controllable 8-10 hour day Human Resource Manager (still with P&W).  I began graduate school and got my M.S. in Organizational Behavior in ’89.  I spent 5 years in HR culminating in being Executive Programs Manager for P&W.  Without a doubt, this was the most rewarding and happiest period in my work life.   After a transition job in advanced programs, I found my way to sales and have been the General Manager Sales & Marketing for Eastern U.S. and Canada for the last 5 years.  Son Jay found his way to the Academy (’92),  got his degree in Civil Engineering, started his career on ACTIVE, came East to the GALLATIN, did a stint in Professional Studies at the Academy, CO’d ASSATEAGUE in Honolulu, completed his MS in Instructional Systems at Florida State and is a few months into an assignment at HQ.  Jay is married, lives in Waldorf, Maryland and has two daughters.  Son Mike took a slightly different path.  Mike worked throughout his education to overcome an early, undetected hearing problem and resultant learning challenges.  Mike found his way to Univ. of Rhode Island (Environmental Affairs) ’94, began his career working for Sailing World Magazine, moved to NYC to work for the New York Times, changed jobs to the NFL Magazine and is now in the .COM sales world.  Mike is married, lives in Fair Lawn, N.J.  and has a 9-month old son.  It’s interesting how Mike and his Coastie brother compare notes on salary, responsibility and future opportunity!  BARB has been the key to the last 32 years and the reason the boys are good parents and great spouses.   She’s has been a Nurse in Cardiology since 1968, working as a CCU Nurse, a Research Nurse and in the Cardiac Lab.  She moved to New London’s L&M Hospital 3 years ago to eliminate the long commute to Hartford.  She began to sail competitively in the '80's and was part of the winning Lightning Women’s National Championship Team in ’87.  We have been enjoying the last ten years with dual incomes and no kids.  We’ve been chartering sailboats and cruising the Caribbean as a favorite vacation getaway.  BARB and I moved from our Farmington home to Waterford in 1994.  We have a nice spot overlooking the Niantic River with a deep-water dock.  We enjoy days filled with activities (nothing better than being with our grand kids), followed by a relaxing drink in the back yard on the river.   Stop by!”  CHRIS...sounds great, maybe dinner at Hughie’s first, then the liquid libations?

THADMIRAL sent in a poignant inset story he came across while reading about the Coast Guard Angel Fund in the Military News <http://militarynews.com/soundings/pages/coastguardstory.html>...he knew we’d all enjoy reading this tribute to our classmate.  “Helping beyond the holidays: Award honors fallen shipmate.  Nellie Leonardson isn’t only at the forefront of the Coast Guard’s Angel Fund.  She’s helped create an annual award that has been presented to a future Coast Guard Marine Inspector since 1994.  The Turek Award is a plaque adorned with a golden marine inspector’s hammer and holds special meaning to Leonardson and to each Coastie who receives it.  In 1993, Lt. Cmdr WILLIAM TUREK went to his Coast Guard job as a marine inspector like he had many days before.  He was a single parent, raising his 13-year-old daughter Laura.  The year before, Turek lost his wife to cancer.  However, together, the two were taking life day by day until tragedy again struck the family.  Turek was killed in an accident at a local shipyard while inspecting a ship.  It was Leonardson who had the unfortunate task of telling Laura she was an orphan.  As ombudsman for the Marine Safety Office Hampton Roads and a family friend, Leonardson helped the teen with the transition of moving to a new home in Pennsylvania with an aunt and uncle she had only met a few times.  Although Laura was barely a teenager when she lost both of her parents, she knew she had to do something to keep her father’s memory alive, Leonardson said.  Before leaving for Pennsylvania, Laura asked Leonardson to help develop an award in her father’s honor.  “Laura said the award had to go to a marine inspector that a port engineer would least like to deal with,” Leonardson said.  And there was one other important stipulation.  The award had to be given out at 11 a.m.; the time of day her father always sat aside to reflect.  Also, if she knew the award was given out at that time, Laura could be a part of remembering her father even though she was far away.  This year’s recipient of the award is Marine Science Technician 1st Class Andre St. Germaine.  According to the instructions Laura left for the recipient, he has a lot to live up to.  He will have to be a stickler for rules and know the regulations inside and out.  Leonardson makes sure Laura’s wish to honor her father’s memory comes true every year.  Laura is now a senior in college majoring in sports medicine.  Despite insurmountable tragedy for the Turek family, Leonardson said she feels comfort knowing the young girl she helped through an unimaginable time is now a successful young woman.”    

RALPH LEWIS sent in a quick note: “I increased my CGAAA dues, but don’t recall the guidance that was suggested at our meeting at Jacob’s Rock about what fund to designate the donation.  Can you refresh my memory on that?  It was great seeing you at our gathering.  It was an added treat for me to get some time with my wife as well.  She came down here (Texas) for a quick visit over the Vet’s Day weekend.  Just talked to her last night and found out she is being sent to EUCOM in Germany, leaving November 20th.  She will be a little closer to the mission she is supporting. Kosovo operations.  She could tell me more about what she is doing, but then she would have to kill me.  “Need to know” sounds good to me.   Not sure how long she will be over there, most likely 30-45 days.  Kind of fouls up our plans for me visiting her in at Scott AFB over Christmas. I am renewing my expired passport, just in case I get a chance to do a little sight seeing around Stuttgart in December!!!  It’s a good thing she is earning all that active duty pay.”   In early December, RALPH added this postscript: “I will be joining my wife, CDR Deb Dombeck, in Germany for Christmas.  I will be leaving 12/21, got a great fare with Delta Airlines to Stuttgart, which is where EUCOM (Headquarters, US Forces Europe is).  Deb is working in the US Transportation Command helping coordinate the humanitarian flights out of Ramstein AFB going to Afghanistan and Uzbekistan.  Says she has some copies of the flyers we are dropping along with the food and blankets.  It is very interesting and involved work. She thinks that she can get a couple of days off around Christmas Day, so we will be able to celebrate a memorable holiday together.  I will return to the US 12/30 and back to work teaching on 01/02/02.  I had to renew my expired passport, which took only a week and an extra $40 for the expedited processing.  Something was definitely wrong with the picture though.  The expired one that was issued 16 years ago had a pretty decent picture.  The new one shows some old fat ugly guy with my name under it!  I will send photos and more details as soon as I get back.”  RALPH...photos from Europe, not the passport one!

RALPH asked an excellent question regarding designation of your donations to the Academy.  Send an E-mail to John Maxham <jmaxham@ctol.net> designating your contributions to our Class of 1971 Fund.  And if you currently are not a member of the Alumni Association you can join by calling Cathie Farrington at (860) 701-6708 or by going on-line to https://www.pay.onlinecommunity.com/uscga/contribute_unregistered.htm.  The Alumni Association has made joining and donating about as painless as  possible...you can charge your membership dues and any amount over the $48 minimum (donation) to your credit card.  Remember,  our financial goal would be to have our Class fund reach $150,000 by the fall of 2006.  Have you made your call and contribution?  We’re adjourned!