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U S S JOHN A. BOLE TO GAIN PERMANENT MEMORIAL
STATUS
The U S S. John A. Bole will become memorialized
for eternity in the U. S. Navy Memorial in Washington, D. C. on July 2,
2008, with a plaques dedication ceremony, a reception for all shipmates
and guests, and a wreath-laying ceremony at the Lone Sailor statue.
The Navy memorial allows Navy individuals and
groups to purchase plaques and other commemorative devices and insignia
to be installed permanently on the Memorial Wall inside the Memorial.
Many ships, individuals, air wings, and other entities are enshrined
there, making an impressive display for future generations of citizens
and sailors.
Many of our shipmates are individually enshrined in
the Navy log, and all Navy veterans may be enrolled in the Log at no
charge. Enrollment can be made on-line or by requesting an
application. Go to
www.lonesailor.org Look up a shipmate there, like me, Joseph Ray
Hancock, and you’ll see a permanent record of my service.
On the outside of the Navy Memorial is the Granite
Sea, the world’s oceans embedded in the granite deck of the Memorial.
There is the statue of the Lone Sailor and the Homecoming, and there are
numerous bronze relief sculptures attached to the wall around the
Granite Sea, along with many other Navy memorabilia.
The U S S John A. Bole Association has paid all
costs for this plaque dedication ceremony, and all members of the
Association AND THEIR GUESTS ARE INVITED TO ATTEND. Shipmates are
encouraged to invite any former Bole sailors, whether or not they are
members of the Association. Please, HELP US SPREAD THE WORD AND INVITE
YOUR SHIPMATES AND FAMILY.
While this is not an official reunion of the Bole
Association, the officers are encouraging all shipmates to make a
special effort to attend. Plank owners will be recognized, and all
shipmates attending will be recognized and awarded a COMPLIMENTARY
commemorative coin struck especially for this momentous occasion.
Any coins remaining following the dedication
ceremony will be sold to shipmates for $5.00 at the Seattle reunion of
the U S S John A. Bole Association.
The officers of the Association are Steve Ramirez,
President; Ray Hancock, Vice-President; Ron Shipley, secretary and
ship’s store coordinator; and Ron Berry, Treasurer. Hancock has been in
charge of the planning for the enshrinement and the ceremony at the Navy
Memorial, as part of the Fourth of July weekend in our Nation’s
Capitol.
All Bole shipmates are invited to a special
promotion ceremony on the following day, Thursday, July 3, at 10 a.m.,
also at the Navy Memorial, when Commander Daryl R. Hancock, son of
Association Vice-President Ray Hancock, will be advanced to Captain,
U.S.N., in a formal promotion ceremony. All shipmates are invited to
Captain Hancock’s home on Thursday evening at 215 South Branch Court,
Huntingtown, Maryland (about 40 miles south of DC) for a reception.
Details will be available at the Plaque Dedication Ceremony.
SCHEDULE FOR THE U S S JOHN A BOLE PLAQUE
DEDICATION CEREMONY;
WHEN: Wednesday, July 2, 2008
WHERE: U. S. Navy Memorial
701 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, D. C. 20004
TIME: 10:00 a.m.
Dedication Ceremony
Recognition of Plank Owners
Presentation of Commemorative Coins by
(Captain Daryl R. Hancock and Admiral Tony Cothron)
11:00 a.m.
Reception in Presidents Room (Shipmates, guests,
Memorial staff, and the public invited.
12:00 Noon
Wreath-Laying Ceremony
SPECIAL INFORMATION
SHIPMATES DINNER:
TUESDAY, JULY 1, 2008: This will be a special
time for shipmates and family to
meet, have dinner, and preview the next day’s historic
events. Please make plans to attend if possible.
Dinner at Phillips Flagship Restaurant
900
Water Street, SW
Washington, D. C. 20024
(This is an excellent seafood buffet on the Potomac River
and it ranks among the best in the world in my opinion)
Dinner is at your own expense. Notify
me in advance if
you can attend so we can make advance reservations.
LODGING / HOTELS: Lodging,
transportation, food, and all other expenses will be
the
responsibility of each individual shipmate. There are
numerous hotels and motels in the D. C. that are available
at very
diverse prices.
I will
probably be at the Willard Hotel,
a very
old and famous hotel downtown close to the Memorial.
I’m
paying about $160 per night. 1401 Pennsylvania Avenue
N. W.
(202 628 9100)
Some
shipmates have already made reservations at the
Harrington
Hotel, also downtown close to the Memorial at
$110.
436 llth Street, N. W. (202 628 8140)
I have
also stayed at the Crystal Gateway Marriott by
Reagan
Airport at about $220 per night, 1700 Jefferson Davis
Highway, Arlington, Virginia 22202 (703 920 3230).
The
Channel Inn is recommended by the Navy Memorial
staff.
This is a full-service hotel with a great view and a
fine
restaurant. Call toll free (800) 368-5668 or 202-554-
2400
and ask for Lynn Neff. Tell her June Jaeger at the Navy
Memorial recommended her, and you’ll get a discount.
I have
heard there are some hotels/motels for less than $100
per
night in the areas a few miles from downtown. The
The
Washington Metro/subway is a clean, easy-to-use
Method
of transportation throughout the area. I
recommend a downtown hotel for this event so that you can
walk,
take the metro (subway), or get a quick taxi.
IF YOU WILL BE ABLE TO ATTEND ANY OF THESE
EVENTS, PLEASE LET ME KNOW SO WE WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE APPROPRIATE
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THE CEREMONY(S) AND THE DINNER. THANK YOU!
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Ray Hancock
1202 Bevabeck Drive
Marion, Il 62959
rayhancock@verizon.net
(618 993 5579 (H)
(618 889 6140 (Cell)
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