Tom Green County Reunion Banquet
Don and Wanda Booth set up their photo equipment in the hallway leading to the Banquet room in order to take photos of everyone attending the Banquet. To review these photos click here
After the photo session and after everyone found their seats which were arranged by cruise, the banquet oficially began with one of the most important events of the banquet which is a Memorial Service for our departed shipmates. The following is a discription of the service.
SHIPMATE MEMORIAL SERVICE
You have all noticed the small table set up in a place of honor.
It is covered by a white table cloth and there is a single unoccupied chair set next to it.
On the table is a sailors white hat, a single rose in a vase, and an inverted wine glass. There is a bread plate and on the bread plate is a slice of lemon and a small mound of salt.
This table is our way of symbolizing the fact that shipmates are missing from our reunion. However they are with us in spirit and so, we remember them.
The table set for one is small, symbolizing the frailty of one,
The table cloth is white symbolizing their purity,
The white hat and Officers shoulder boards reminds us of the unity we shared,
The rose displayed in a vase reminds us of their family and loved ones,
The slice of lemon on the plate is to remind us of their fate,
Salt, also on the plate is symbolic of the families and friends tears as we remember them,
The glass is inverted; they cannot toast with us tonight,
The chair is empty; they are not here.
At this time I ask you all to rise from your chairs. You will find a filled wine glass at your place that has been placed there for a toast to our departed shipmates. Please pick up the glass and raise it high, and when I drink from my glass, please join me.
The toast I am about to propose is a silent toast. Silent because those we toast are not here to respond. Though unable to be with you and me tonight they are not forgotten.
(A SILENT TOAST)
THE CHAPLAINS WORDS
As long as our shipmates survive so long will the crew members of LST 1159, Tom Green County, render tribute to our dead.
On this day, forever consecrated to our dead, we are assembled here to express our sincere reverence. Wherever the body of our shipmates lie, there the ground is hallowed. Our presence here is in solemn commemoration of these men. and an expression of our tribute to their devotion to duty, to their courage and patriotism. By their service at sea and in foreign waters they have made us their debtors for the flag to which they served still flies over a land of free people.
As shipmate after shipmate departs we march on with our ranks grown thinner. Help us be faithful to one another. Look in mercy on the widows and children of our departed shipmates. Console and comfort those who are bereaved.
Mates, we will now pay our respects to our departed shipmates with a moment of silence. In so doing we will offer a solemn tribute to all our shipmates wherever they may rest.
On behalf of our glorious republic for whose integrity our departed shipmates served I offer this emblem of our nation. This flag has flown over the Battleship Arizona Memorial and will now be placed on the Table Of Honor.
The flag of our country was theirs to defend. Its' glorious colors shall wave over them in death as in life for everyone to behold.
Within our group of departed shipmates are men that served in the Forgotten War of Korea and in the Viet Nam War to preserve our countries freedoms. And now in the name of the LST 1159, Tom Green County, Officers and crew, we dedicate this Roll of Honor, naming our departed shipmates from communities across this great nation who have served with honor and pride. They are in our hearts, our thoughts, and in our memories. Old friends, gone but not forgotten.
Early in the ceremonies Captain Riedemann of the sixth cruise addressed the ships company.
Among his remarks was some advice to not twist the arms of shipmates that
preferred not to attend a reunion. He stated that some of the crew had such
terrible memories that they did not want to be reminded of them.
He went on to relate some of the story of one crewman, Barry Curtis, as a case in point.
One of the impressive items Bill Haack contributed to our first reunion was this letter from the President of the United States.
Cruise 6 shipmates in their Class A's for the banquet.
Bogart,Carey,Maggard,Riedemann,Guren,Phillips,Edwardson,Downing, Pierson
As the crew got
into the festivities of the banquet it was announced that one of the crew had
written a poem that day and many would like to hear it. With that the announcer
requested that John McClanahan come to the front of the room and read his poem.
He did this as the following photo shows.
John reworked the poem into lyrics that he wrote a melody for and put the two together into the "Ballad of The Tom Green County".
Click here to see our
own ballad
The memories rekindled through sea stories, the new knowledge gained of the
activities and adventures of the other cruises, the meeting of men from every
cruise has convinced me that the Officers and Enlisted men served their country with distinction and honor. If even for a short time, we have left our mark on the sands of time.
THE LAST DETAIL
The coordinators of this, our first reunion have decided to make two contributions with monies that were collected in excess of our expenses.
No other photos are available at this time. If you have some your shipmates would appreciate your contribution.
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