San Diego, CA, Reunion - 2014

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== Day 1 - Arrivals ==
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	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030263.JPG|The early birds gather for a morning breakfast as they get ready to for the arrival of the other members.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030283.JPG|Later in the evening, the group begins to gather for the evening's entertainment.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030289.JPG|Our evening's entertainment serenades us while we chat the night away.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030300.JPG|}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030309.JPG|Getting ready to set up the PX for business.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030324.JPG|Is it me, or is Amelia a little shy?}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030319.JPG|Our entertain plays on while the group chats into the evening.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030334.JPG|Paul and Scott are hard at work. At what, I still don't know...}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030344.JPG|Jeannie, Laura and Rick busy discussing Association business. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030349.JPG|The crowd swarms the PX once it's opened for business. Lots of nice 401st things to buy.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030355.JPG|Don, Kiera and Milena busy helping the crowd select a nice 401st item.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030365.JPG|Andy present again for our reunion. His both was swamped the whole evening by interested parties.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030353.JPG|The Crawford's discuss Andy's adoptions of our fallen veterans while his mother, 'Lilly', proudly listens on.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030367.JPG|I don't know what Sue is saying to Andy, but I'm guessing it was funny.}
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== Day 2 - San Diego Air and Space Museum ==
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    {s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030386.JPG|The Group gathers at the bus on their way to the San Diego Air and Space Museum at Balboa Park.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030395.JPG|One quick group-shot before entering the Air and Space Museum.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030396.JPG|No camera's were harmed in the making of this picture.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030409.JPG|The Group enters the Air and Space museum.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030413.JPG|Andy takes a moment to smile before the camera.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030424.JPG|A museum full of aircraft of all kinds.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030433.JPG|Marlon Swinnen, Andy's son, takes a moment to muse over the museums many artifacts.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030440.JPG|Andy loads Marlon and Kelvin into the flight simulator and hopes both his sons will come back alive.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030441.JPG|Andy looks on while his two boys look like they're going to crash the simulator.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030444.JPG|Madeline and Amelia, 'the Ledray Twins', take their own turn at the flight simulator.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030442.JPG|Uh... girls? When performing an Immelman, you're supposed to come out of the roll with the right-side up.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030453.JPG|After our tour of the museum was finished, our evening's entertainment was provided by the world famous (among the 401st) Ledray Sisters.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030455.JPG|The Sisters give us a rousing performance of many WWII era songs, including the Bugle Boy.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030488.JPG|A solid and enjoyable performance by the Sisters.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030493.JPG|They sang well into the evening.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030503.JPG|That evening, the family of Edward G Dana (Waist Gunner, 614th) got to meet Norris Bruce, son of William Bruce (Navigator, 614th)}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030501.JPG|Paul Bellamy takes a moment to verify some of the items that Norris brought with him to the reunion.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030504.JPG|Norris shared many of the artifacts kept by his father after the war. William Bruce and Ed Dana flew together on the Hard Seventeen.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030506.JPG|Among other things, an instruction book on what to do if you're captured by the enemy.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030507.JPG|Among the items Norris shared with the Dana family was a drawing made by their father shortly after his plane crashed back in 1945.}
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== Day 3 - the Midway ==
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	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030509.JPG|The group boards the bus to go spend the morning aboard the U.S.S. Midway.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030603.JPG|U.S.S. Midway Museum floating in San Diego Harbor.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030514.JPG|Wandering on board the Midway.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030519.JPG|Inside the Midway|The lower decks of the Midway with many aircraft on display.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030530.JPG|On the top level of the Miday, aircraft everywhere.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030540.JPG|Don Byers, our historian, his wife Nida and her son wander among the varied aircraft of the Midway.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030550.JPG|Looking back towards the city of San Diego.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030563.JPG|There was a ceremony being conducted on the Midway while we visited.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030573.JPG|Is it me, or is Kelvin a little too tall for that chair?}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030583.JPG|A quick snapshot of Allen and Amalia Crawford.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030585.JPG|That little ceremony? This guy was among the participants. To his left are his daughter, Afton, and his wife, Cynthia. }
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030586.JPG|Capt. Craig Owen takes a moment to take a picture with Janice Dana Ehrlich.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030607.JPG|That famous photo celebrating the end of WWII was made into a statue and now stands next to the Midway in San Diego Harbor.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030610.JPG|Rick stands behind the array of statues meant to honor Bobe Hope for his service towards those who served.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030615.JPG|Josie begins our candle light ceremony meant to honor those who have left us. Marlon and Kelvin Swinnen stand ready to help.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030621.JPG|Micki, at her first 401st Reunion, takes a moment to remember Marvin Benz, KIA on March 20, 1944.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030628.JPG|This reunion was bittersweet for the Dana family. Janice takes a moment to remember her father, Edward G Dana. This was their first reunion without him and this day was his 91st birthday.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030632.JPG|Norris Bruce takes a moment to remember his father, William Bruce.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030647.JPG|Marlon and Kelvin Swinnen take a moment to give some gifts to our vets.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030652.JPG|Thanking our vets for the the sacrifices they made so very long ago.}
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== Day 4 - War Time Accounts and Awards == 
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	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030659.JPG|In the morning, our vets took some time to tell us stories from the war.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030669.JPG|Tales of the war circulated from vet to vet.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030671.JPG|The Association loved hearing what the vets had to say.}
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	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030689.JPG|}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030712.JPG|}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030729.JPG|Randy tells us a little more about the Champaign Lady.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030730.JPG|}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|ED01.jpg|Later that afternoon, Ed Dana II took us through a simulated combat mission to Merseburg.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|ED02.jpg|The simulated mission demonstrated what the veterans had to endure while flying their missions.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030737.JPG|As the evening approached, our veterans gathered for their group photo.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030808.JPG|The men of the 401st that attended the San Diego reunion.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030740.JPG|Sam and Norma Scimeca have their photo taken. }
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030748.JPG|Lynn stands for his individual photo.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030751.JPG|Frank tells a few tales.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030773.JPG|As our evening starts, a navy band places us a few period and patriotic tunes.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030774.JPG|}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030790.JPG|The Association loved their performance.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030793.JPG|The evening proceeded with an Honor Guard.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030796.JPG|Presenting the colors for our vets.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030804.JPG|Kiera Kaufman and Scott McElvain keep the evening moving along.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030805.JPG|Taking a moment to pose for the camera.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030811.JPG|Rick reads an announcement.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030818.JPG|Randy gives us a status report on the Champaign Lady.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030843.JPG|Allen takes some time to tell us how it was.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030857.JPG|Seconds before Andy learns of the surprise that was going to be given to him.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030861.JPG|Rick awards Andy with a President's Commendation for looking after our fallen airmen.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030860.JPG|Andy thanks Rick for the recognition he is receiving.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030863.JPG|Yes, Andy, you earned it. Thank you for appreciating their sacrifices.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030883.JPG|Andy proudly displays his award.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030884.JPG|I don't think Andy is the only person that was proud that he received this award. And I don't just mean his family, pictured here. The truth is, we're all proud to know you, Mr. Swinnen.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030868.JPG|After Andy, Allen Crawford received a Bowman Award.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030870.JPG|Amalia Kane-Crawford watches her husband with pride.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030872.JPG|Allen takes a moment to thank the group for the award. No, thank you, Allen.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030876.JPG|The evening ends with a raffle for various prizes. Among them, a toolbox with a 401st B-17 painted on it.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030878.JPG|One lucky winner.}
	{s:Foto|San-Diego-CA-Reunion-2014|P1030880.JPG|And another prize is awarded to top off the evening.}
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Modified on 2023/12/11 16:09 by Administrator Categorized as Album, Association, Reunion