Hear Ye! Hear Ye! USS W. S. Sims DE/FF 1059 crew members. There is going to be a Reunion celebration of our ship USS WS Sims DE/FF 1059 and her crew coming this May 3-4th with the 5th 2019 being checkout day, in Hampton Roads, VA. We want to see all hands, on deck with their Spouses, guest, close family members, whoever you want to bring there. Guaranteed Sea Stories abound, renewed shipmates, great food, beautiful accommodations, maritime tours, Sims ship store items, and a banquet Cruise. Here are some details for you:
- Reunion accommodations will be at the Crowne Plaza Hotel & Marina https://www.ihg.com/crowneplaza/hotels/us/en/hampton/orfhv/hoteldetail/accessibility#
We are working on getting a block of rooms for the price of $94.00 per night plus tax. Double occupancy with a discount breakfast included. You will be making your own reservations with the hotel just let them know you are with the USS Sims reunion group for special pricing and discounts. As you can see this hotel has a marina for those of you who want to visit by boat. In those cases, you folks will be on your own to make arrangements. Some crew members have expressed interest in using an RV park. Here is a link to help you get started https://www.yellowpages.com/hampton-roads-center-hampton-va/rv-parks
Another item is transportation between Norfolk, Va. Airport and the hotel. We will need to know how many of you will need a shuttle between the airport and the hotel. The sooner you let us know the easier it will be to make the arrangements.
- In order to ensure we have an accurate account of the number of attendees we will be asking for a deposit of $100 per person by the 15th of Dec 2018. This deposit will be used to cover additional cost outside your accommodations. Additional cost will be used to cover the dinner Banquet cruise on Saturday the 4th, to pay for the hospitality room, welcome aboard packages, and food and drink in the hospitality room as well as to offset the cost of tours in the area, deposits, licenses (liquor) and possible shuttle cost. What deposit funds are not used will be refunded. This deposit will be refundable in the event we don’t get enough attendees for the reunion.
- Here are a few things that we are planning for the reunion. Friday the 3nd of May will be check in day of the reunion. As you check into the hotel there will be a hospitality room for you to visit and socialize. It will be open all day and part of the evening to greet reunion arrivals. There will be a welcome aboard package for you as well as food & drink, ship store items, memorabilia to share and of course Sea Stories. There will be a reunion book for you to sign in and local information about the area. Saturday the 4rd the hospitality will be open to all most of the day and there will be a group tour available to the Martine Naval Museum https://www.marinersmuseum.org/
I’ll warn you now, be prepared to spend a good amount of time there. Between the park and the museum there is so much to see. You can bring a lunch or eat there. The 3D movie on the battle between the CSS Virginia and the USS Monitor is awesome. It’s all well worth you time. Also, if you prefer you can strike out on your own there are many things to see and do in the area and information on all will be available. Saturday evening the major event will be the dinner banquet Cruise where we plan to have a guest speaker have a great dinner and cruise Norfolk harbor seeing our todays Navy. More information on the cruise will be made available in future announcements. Sunday will be check out by 11AM at this time there may be those who would like to extend their vacation and see more of the area with Bush Gardens, Williamsburg, Jamestown, fishing trips, golf, or whatever tickles your fancy, this would be the time to do it. We may be able to work something out with the hotel for those who want an extended stay.…. No promises at this time but let us know what you want to do as far in advance as you can. In the ships store we plan to have t-shirts, ball caps, and lighters. There maybe USS Sims cruises on CD, we’re working on that.
So, shipmates let’s make this the best reunion the best yet. Let us know if you have suggestions to make this reunion better for you and others or if you have special needs. Hope to see you all there. With any questions you have please contact us (the reunion committee) Wayne Craig wkcraig@embarqmail.com
John Bagley (Doc) jtbagley54@gmail.com
Or me Boone Hichborn Oldswabbie@comcast.net
Lastly, the deposit of $100 per person needs to be sent to
Wayne Craig
2 Turkeysag Trail
Palmyra, Va.
22963
Please send the deposit Via a check or money order made out to USS Sims reunion.
We can’t except Credit Cards of any kind.
Fair Winds to all
Boone Hichborn (1970-1972) STG2