Northwest Chapter
Puget Sound, WA

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Pensacola Chapter
Florida
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Source: Aerograph, February, 2010

Bob and Elspeth Lloyd graciously hosted the December gathering of the Pensacola Chapter at their lovely home in east Pensacola . We traditionally have a white-elephant Christmas party, and this year was no exception. Bob, Elspeth, and their daughter, who was home for the holidays, were busy in the kitchen when their guests arrived. The guests' covered dishes and drinks were added to the food already prepared by Elspeth and her daughter, and the white-elephant gifts were placed beneath the tree in the front room. The ladies helped in the kitchen while the men enjoyed a pre-dinner drink and camaraderie that goes along with seeing old shipmates. When everything was ready, we gathered in the kitchen, and Walt Kindergan led us in a prayer of thanksgiving. Then it was time to get in line to eat. I don't know about you, but standing in line to eat always brings back memories of a chow line somewhere.  After the plates were loaded, everyone moved into the dining room. We had a wonderful meal with wonderful people. It was truly a festive occasion. When dinner ended, the ladies moved into the front room, and the men stayed behind and conducted their business meeting. Walt Kindergan was welcomed aboard as a new member, and new officers were elected for 2010.

Dick Tokryman will take over as president
Pat O'Brien will assume the duties as the secretary/treasurer.

Following the business meeting, everyone moved to the front room for the white-elephant-gift exchange. We had a great time watching packages get opened and gifts change hands. Those in attendance included Bob and Elspeth Lloyd, Al and Helen Atwell, Dick Tokryman,  Walt and Helen Kindergan, Pat and Libby O'Brien , Bernie Bauer, Gene and Marian Hawkes, Howard and Shirley Graham, Bill and Barbara Pruitt, and Dave and Jerrie Dunlap.

The O'Briens continue to stay busy traveling and playing golf. They traveled to Evansville , IN , in October to help their granddaughter, Jacilynn, celebrate her 13th birthday. While there, Pat and grandson Cole managed to catch a few bluegill and crappie on their fly rods. The stay was capped with a Halloween Golf Tournament. On their way home, they were joined by a friend in Huntsville , AL , and played golf the rest of way home.

... See MORE in the February 2010 Aerograph ...

Submitted by AGCM Pat OBrien USN RET

Source: Aerograph, November, 2009

The summer meeting of the Pensacola Chapter was held on 13 Septemberat the home of Howard & Shirley Graham.  

A pot luck feast was enjoyed by all.  Attending were Dick & Elizabeth Tokryman and guests Elizabeth's brother and sister-in-law Albert & Joanna Avezaat from The Netherlands; Pat & Libby O'Brien and guest Jo Young; Terry Brightwell and son Nathan; Robert & Elsbeth Lloyd, Dave & Jerrie Dunlap, Al & Helen Atwell, and Bernie Bauer.  

The next day Dick & Elizabeth Tokryman headed north on vacation.  They stopped in North Carolina to have lunch with Roger & Cheryl Warren and then drove to upstate New York to visit with family and attend a reunion.  Dick's brother lives close to the Saratoga Racetrack and the ponies were running but picking winners was not to be.  They then drove to Niagara Falls where the Maid of the Mist Boat made sure all aboard was thoroughly soaked by a very up close boat ride to both the American and Canadian Falls .  Upon shedding their rain gear, they headed for the dry, comforting, atmosphere of the Tunica, Mississippi Casinos; where they relaxed for several days before returning home to Pensacola .

Source: Aerograph, August, 2009

The summer meeting of the Pensacola Chapter was held on 7 June at McGuire's Irish Pub and Brewery in downtown Pensacola .  Present were Dick & Elizabeth Tokryman, Pat & Libby O'Brien, Jim & Joan Futtner, Dave & Jerrie Dunlap, Ken & Barbara Overholt, Howard & Shirley Graham and Shirley's mother Inez Byrd.

Jim and Joan Futtner spent a week with Pat and Libby O’Brien in early June, and were guests at the quarterly meeting of the Pensacola Chapter of the NWSA.  The meeting was held at McGuire’s Irish Pub.  Pat and Joan had complimentary frozen Irish coffee served with brunch, and they were both ready to cancel the brunch order and just continue to drink coffee.  The rest of the week was spent traveling in and around Pensacola taking in the sights.  On Friday, June 12^th, the O’Briens and Futtners left for Fort Lauderdale to take a five-day cruise aboard the Splendor of the Seas.  The 5-day cruise was part of the annual meeting of the U.S.S. Nimitz Association.   Jim and Pat did a lot of reminiscing about their time on the Nimitz.  Cruise ships are nothing like those haze grey ships on which we sailed.   When the ship arrived back in Fort Lauderdale , the O’Briens and Futtners drove northward to Jacksonville where they parted company.  Jim and Joan went on to King’s Bay , Georgia , and Pat and Libby drove north to Savannah .  The next day, the O’Briens arrived in Virginia Beach/Norfolk.  Captain Paul Reese and his wife Mollie provided lodging and libations for the O’Briens during their stay.  Pat and Libby spent most of their time there visiting with Pat’s youngest son, Sean and his family.   They did get to spend a few hours with Chuck and Eileen Fifield at the Fifield’s new home in Chesapeake .  They were treated to drinks, a tour of the house, and lunch.  Pat hopes he and Libby can return the hospitality at some point in the not too distant future.   On Thursday the 25^th, the O’Briens headed north to Connecticut to attend Pat’s oldest grandson’s (Craig) high school graduation.  He’s an academic All-American lacrosse player, and granddad is very proud of him.  They also, attended the final round of the Traveler’s PGA tournament in Cromwell , CT.   On Tuesday, Pat and Libby were escorted into New York City by Pat’s son-in-law and granddaughter.  There they visited the site of the Twin Towers , which is now being converted into a 9/11 memorial garden, Battery Park, Times Square, and the Empire State Building .  On Wednesday, July 1, the O’Briens left Connecticut and headed for western Massachusetts and Vermont while trying to avoid the rain associated with a slow-moving upper low.  It didn’t happen.  The golf clubs we took north never left the van.  After playing tourist for a few days, they headed back to Hartford , CT and spent a couple of days with Jim and Joan Futtner.  The highlight of the stay was when they were taken to the Mohegan Sun Casino.  Pat believes all the casinos in Biloxi could be put inside it.  It’s that big!  When the O’Briens arrived back home on July 7^th, they had put another 4,500 hundred miles on their van.  As Pat says, “The traveling is fun, but it’s always nice to get back home.”