Dear Friends and Schoolmates,

   Have I mentioned that this is my favorite time of year?  I've never once kept pace with it in all its areas, but maybe that's part
of the fun and excitement.

THE BIG SURPRISE!

   I was going to save it to the end, but I just can't do it.  And I was going to give it a huge fanfare, but having just
finished the pages, I'm too choked with emotion to do it.  Just go look at them, go see everything that's been found,
go see what hard work and persistence earned, and hard work and persistence reclaimed for you, and then tell me
if you agree with me that we should commission life-sized statues of Albert Dorner ('66) and Dave Spriggs('64)
for their heroic actions.  Thank you, Gentlemen!

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/NNHS-Trophies-Plaques.html

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/BASEBALL-Trophies.html

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/BASKETBALL-Trophies.html

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/CROSS-COUNTRY-Trophies.html

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/DEBATE-Trophies.html

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/FOOTBALL-Trophies.html

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/GOLF-Trophies.html

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/ODK-Trophies.html

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/MUSIC-Trophies.html

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/TRACK-Trophies.html

THE CHRISTENING OF FORRESTAL (CVA-59) ON 12/11/54 - OLD BACKGROUND CORRESPONDENCE:

   (I TOLD YOU!  I never throw anything away except by accident!!!)

From Jimmy Parker ('62) - 03/15/01:

Hi,  
I too observed the christening of the Forrestal ... from the top of the 
Shipyard Apartments. Do you remember that during the christening one 
of the Navy's Blue Angels crashed and killed the pilot?
Jimmy

   Yes, I do!

From Me ('65) - 03/15/01:

  My clearest memory was walking on the deck of the carrier, and feeling both awed and privileged to be there as a seven year old.
   I well remember the Blue Angels air show.  I remember having one of the pilots autograph my Ginnette doll's pink plastic baby carrier, 
having no paper with me.
   That must have been (the day) before the tragedy.

From Jimmy Parker ('62) - 03/16/01:

Dear Carol,
      Although I don't remember the date, the Blue Angels performed the same
day as the christening. The pilot that was killed crashed just off the
fantail of the ship.
Jimmy

From Me ('65) - 03/17/01:

   At the official Blue Angels site, I found no mention of fatalities.  There have, I believe, been 23 since their creation in 1946.  
But there was a picture of the 1955 team, complete with autographs:

   http://www.blueangels.navy.mil/hgal55-3.htm  (NOTE: This image is no longer available!)

   This may sound absolutely unbelievable, but I distinctly recognized the signature of the pilot who autographed my doll carrier.  
Remember, that was my favorite toy, and the ink stayed firmly attached for months, so I saw it every day, all day long.  The pilot 
my daddy and I met was the second from the left on in the picture, Lt. (jg) Ken Wallace, who piloted #4.

From Joe Madagan ('57) of FL - 12/12/04:

   (Joe had this answer for me 14 minutes after the question in the Newsletter was posted.)  You never fail to amaze me with your
meticulous detail!  Thanks, Adonis!

From Dave Spriggs ('64) of VA - 12/12/04:

My dad was a Quartermaster Second Class (E-5) assigned to USS ROBERTS (DE-749), undergoing overhaul in Newport News
Shipbuilding on that fateful day. We lived in Ferguson Park at the time, and I recall his coming home and giving me a twisted
piece of metal with a greenish tint. He explained that it was part of the exploded aircraft and that it had ended up on the deck
of ROBERTS.  It didn't occur to me at the time (I was eight) that such a memento was a bit morbid, considering that a pilot had
died.  I have no idea what happened to that piece of metal.

   Thanks,  David! 

From Chuck Ragland ('66) of VA - 12/12/04:

Carol,
If my memory serves me, one of the Blue Angels crashed at the Forrestal launching. I've checked their website
but they don't mention mishaps.  
Chuck

   AHA!  Thanks, Chuck!

Library.Research@cnet.navy.mil

From Dave Spriggs ('64) of VA - 12/13/04:

You do know that there was more than one tragedy associated with that ship. Apart from the Blue Angel accident on Christening day,
in 1967 Forrestal was also the scene of a devastating fire caused by the accidental launching of an anti-aircraft missile from one of the jets
parked on the flight deck. What ensued was a series of other ordnance explosions and well as the burning of jet fuel which leaked to the
hangar deck.  It is a very famous fire and was the subject of fire-fighting training films which were shown to all sailors at least once.
Now-Senator John McCain's jet was enveloped in flames, and he can be seen leaping from the cockpit to the deck through the fire.

http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/ships/carriers/histories/cv59-forrestal/forrestal-fire.html
http://members.tripod.com/~MrHugs2/forrestal.htm
http://www.hazegray.org/navhist/carriers/fires/

   Thank you, David!  I do remember that awful tragedy quite clearly.  Of course as a Naval officer, I'm sure it was more firmly
cemented in your memory than it was in mine, but it has remained with me nonetheless.

From Joanne Kates Roos of VA - 12/12/04:

Dear Carol
If there is any material I can send you to add to yours please let me know.  The background voice and music
I remember so well.  I can't think of the commentator's name, but he was a great radio personality on WGH,
I believe.  If you have his name, could you refresh my memory with it?  Many thanks.   
Joanne Roos

   Thank you so much, Joanne!

   And we have an answer for you:

From Dave Spriggs ('64) of VA - 12/13/04:

It is Bob Calvert .... "The Old Boob" ..... of course.

   Of course!  Thanks, David!

And from Tom Norris (HHS- '73) of VA - 12/13/04:

   Super!  We have three votes for Bob Calvert!  Thanks, Babe!

 From Kathy Pilgrim Clark ('63) of VA - 12/13/04: 

From Dave Spriggs ('64) of VA - 12/13/04:

I neglected to mention that my mother's cousin worked (at Nachman's) in the 50s and maybe the 60s. If memory serves,
it may have been the fabric department, because I have a strong visual memory of being fascinated by those counter-edge
mounted fabric length measuring devices, even as a 6 and 7 year old ... (engineers are born, not made).

Her name was Mary Alice Ring Price, but she most likely went by the nickname "Berta". Perhaps one of that group will
remember her.

  Perhaps so.  Thanks, Dave!

Also from Dave Spriggs ('64) of VA - 12/13/04:

I just saw the new (Rich's Hamburgers) page. I know where Rich's was located on Mercury Boulevard and cruised there
as well as McD's and Shoney's. Soon, I will capture an image of the structure, which survives, is surrounded by a chain link
fence, and now sells camper tops.

The burger joint which still eludes my memory is the one once located at the intersection of Jefferson and Harpersville. It had
a drive circling the structure, which made it easy to cruise thru and return to Shoney's. It was razed long ago and is now a car
wash.

   OHHH, that would be wonderful, David  – thank you!  Rich’s is one of my half-forgotten memories that doesn’t seem to be
forthcoming, though I’m sure I went there often.  Maybe someone will provide an answer for your Mystery Drive-In soon.  Anyone?
Anyone?

From Linda Lane Lane ('64) of VA - 12/13/04:

   So, Linda, you must be psychic.  No, this was going to be our NEXT mystery game.  In truth, I do not know when it occurred, but I
believe it was in the fall of 1956 for some unknown reason.  We'll be getting back to this Esso explosion story soon.  Thanks, Linda!
Take care of your self, and get well!

From Wayne Stokes ('65) of VA - 12/13/04:

   And speaking of merriment, I do believe I injured myself laughing at this, Wayne Honey!  You are a HOOT!  Thanks for the fun!
I have to go count the ornaments on my tree now...

From Rip Collins ('65) of TN - 12/13/04:

http://www.inlibertyandfreedom.com/Flash/Think_It_Over.swf

   WOW!  Thanks, Rip Precious!  That was very thought provoking.

Y'all take care of each other!

                          Love to all, Carol

==============================================

NNHS CLASS OF '65 WEB SITE: http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com
PERSONAL WEB SITE: http://www.angelfire.com/weird2/cluckmeat

"I only have two kinds of days: happy and hysterically happy."

==============================================

“It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” midi courtesy of http://www.walkthroughlife.com/midis/christmas/mostwonderful.htm - 12/13/04

“It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” lyrics courtesy of http://www.rienzihills.com/ChristmasSing/themostwonderfultime.htm - 12/13/04

Holly image courtesy of http://www.bruderhof.com - 12/10/04

Holly clip art divider bar courtesy of http://www.bravenet.com - 08/12/04

USS Forrestal (CVA-59) image courtesy of http://www.lancehatfield.com/photos.htm - 12/13/04

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