Slow Cruise News
U.S.S. Simon Lake (AS-33) June 2003
Jacksonville, Florida 15 to 19 October

Our next reunion is planned. We will use Military Locator & Reunion Service, Inc. again. Our last reunion turned out well, and we are working on ways to improve our reunions. Our web site http://www.simon lake.org has been a lot of work and Tommy Thompson has done one heck of a job keeping you up to date. The last reunion pictures are on there now, take time and have a look.

This job is a lot of work, and takes a lot of time each and every day. Phone calls, E-mail, correspondence, continuing updating of the rosters .But I also need your support, with reunions, change of address, change of e-mail. Look at the roster, E- mail roster and the web site page and correct your part if necessary, Send me a change when you move. I have lost several members who did not send me a change.

If you have any other information available, Shipmates, change of address, change of phone number, E-mail address anything you may feel that is news worthy and a shipmate may enjoy send it a long by snail mail or E-mail. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Also any comments you may have. Many thanks to all those who keep me up to date on our shipmates around the country. If you report a death be sure you verify the information.

Dues!!! As of this date many members have not paid due for 2000, 2001 and 2002 . Many shipmates are carrying the load sending in above and beyond their dues.

So lets all do our share to continue the Association running. If we don’t receive your dues by the 1st of June, we will consider dropping you from the rolls. Please mark your check for years paid. As of this date we are dropping approximately 81 members from our rolls that we can no longer support. They have been sent a post card to that effect. They owe more than three years dues. On a happier note I hope all have filled out the survey and sent it back, that’s the only way we can do the things you may want to do and make the reunion successful and fun. If you have any suggestions please send on to me, we may not use them, no idea is a bad idea.

We are in the planning stages of up coming reunions:
Charleston, SC 2004 Fall River, MA 2005 Norfolk, VA 2006 2007 2008

If you have any suggestions we would like to hear from you. Our reunions in the Mid-West and West Coast were fun and I had a great time, we picked up a few new members. But the reunions were small. From all reports all who attended had a great time.

Start planning for 2008 I will be 80 years old and Tommy not far behind, if the good Lord is willing and the creek don’t rise. Someone is going to have to pick up the ball and start running with it, or we may want to shut down. Something to think about, time flies when your having fun. If you send me and E-Mail and don’t fil the subject box with Simon Lake I won’t open it if I don’t recognize the name or address.

We are looking for news items, or thoughts you may have. Something you may want to share. Send it to me and I will put it in the letter. I would like to make it more interesting. Anything that you may think of that would be of interest to your shipmates.

Three old gentleman walking one said it’s windy, the other said no it’s Thursday the other said, I am too lets get a beer.

Two gentleman walking, one said, You know my friend we have been going to lunch like this for sixty years, and today I am embarrassed, I have forgotten your name, would you please tell me. The other said how soon would you like to know.

I want you to close your eyes and picture a soldier at Valley Forge as he holds his musket in his bloody hands. He stands bare foot in the snow, starved from lack of food, wounded from months of battle and emotionally scarred from the eternity away from his family surrounded by nothing but death and carnage of war. He stands tough, with fire in his eyes, and victory on his breath, he looks down now in anger and disgust and tells us this:
I gave you the birthright of freedom born in the Constitution and now your children graduate too illiterate to read it.

I fought in the snow barefoot to give you the freedom to vote and you stay home because it rains. I left my family destitute to give you freedom of speech and you remain silent on issues, because it’s bad for business.

I orphaned my children to give you a government to serve you and it has stolen democracy from the people.
It’s the soldier, not the reporter who gives you freedom of the press It’s the soldier, not the poet who gives you freedom of speech It’s the soldier, not the campus organizer who allows you to demonstrate. It’s the soldier, who salutes the flag, serves the flag, whose coffin is draped with the flag that allows the protester to burn the flag.

“Lord hold our troops in your loving hands, protect them as the protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they preform for us in our time of need.

Gordon L. Sanders & Tommy Thompson