The SixGun

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vol XVI  Issue 24          Official Newsletter of the USS Charles S. Sperry (DD-697) Association         October  2008

 

 

Greetings from the President:

 

I hope this finds everyone doing well.  Summer certainly went fast.  Your officers and I are working closely together to update the website, the honor roll, roster and having another outstanding reunion.

 

Colorado Springs will present us with wonderful weather, beautiful sites and a tremendous time to reconnect with each other.  Please make plans now to attend.

 

Please keep us informed on how you are doing.

 

Best wishes for a fabulous fall.  See you in Colorado Springs.

 

Warmly,

 

Cal  Dyk

 

 

I N S I D E

 

President’s Greeting      1

Hotel & Bus Tour           2                      

Member Updates           3                                   

Treasurer’s Report        3

Website Update            4

Cookbooks                    4

Anchor Aweigh              4

Officers                          4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Colorado Springs in 2009

 

 

REUNION HOTEL

 

 

We’ll be staying at the Best Western Academy Hotel located at 8110 North Academy Drive in Colorado Springs, Colorado, (719-598-5770).   Room rates are $82.05 including tax and the deadline for making reservations is March 23, 2009.    After March 23rd, rates are subject to change depending on availability.   Airport transportation is $5.00 per person.   When calling for reservations be sure to advise that you are with the USS Charles S. Sperry (DD-697) Association.   Members who bring pets (50 lbs. or less) are required to pay a $10.00 non-refundable deposit.

 

For members arriving via RV, a KOA Campground is located nearby.  RV’s and campers may be parked at the hotel by members who have room reservations. 

 

Members who arrive early or stay after the reunion will enjoy the many beautiful scenic and historic attractions the area has to offer, such as Pikes Peak, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Seven Falls, U.S. Olympic Complex and the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame.  Also, the area has many fine shopping malls and restaurants to choose from. 

 

                                     

BUS TOUR     

              

         

The bus will leave about 9:00 a.m. Friday morning for a tour of the Air Force Academy.   After lunch at the Academy we will travel to the scenic and picturesque Garden Of The Gods, then return to the hotel about 3:00 pm.  Cost for the bus tour is $52.50 per person, including lunch.   Wheel chairs can go on the bus.    For members with motorized wheel chairs, a van with a lift is available, but the tour company must be notified ahead of time if it will be needed.

 

 

Hotel reservation forms, reunion registration forms, daily schedules and other information related to the reunion will be included in the January 2009 newsletter.

 

 

 

 

 

MEMBER UPDATES

 

 

 

 

Blair Rougeux advised that Alma will be having a hip replacement November 6.  Blair also advised he tripped and fell and skinned his shoulder and knee, but is okay. He said he was giving up Ballet lessons.

 

Ernest and Billie Psencik want to thank everyone for the cards and calls they received after Hurricane Ike. They are doing fine.  They miss not being able to attend the reunions.

 

Received word from Audrey Wilhite that Roy was diagnosed with a cancer of the bone marrow and the blood called myelodysplasia.  He starts chemo the 2nd week of October.  Please take time to send him a card.

 

Bob and I wish to thank the many shipmates who offered a safe haven during a scary time with Hurricane Ike.  We lost a few tree limbs and part of a fence.  Thank you for caring.  Many were not so lucky.

 

Treasurer’s Report

 

3rd Quarter Audit

 

Beginning Balance as of July 1, 2008               $6583.27

               Deposit (Cookbook sales)                            63.00

                                                                                         $6646.37

Disbursements:

               Office Depot (Envelopes)                            21.95

               Postage (Newsletter, etc.)                        126.15

               Shipping (Cookbooks)                                  16.52

               Trophies, etc.                                                     68.74

               Bank fee                                                              36.00                                            Sub Total                                            269.36

 

Ending Balance: September 28, 2008             $ 6376.91

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your help is needed!

 

All members are encouraged to submit articles, stories or cartoons for publication in the newsletters.  Send them to:   Barbara Jennings at dd697wm@bellsouth.net .

 

 

 

 

Website Update                       At the Harrisburg Reunion, President Cal Dyk appointed Gary Chesser as the new Web Master for the association.   Gary is working diligently to bring the website up to date.  Be sure to visit the website at http://usscharlesssperrydd697com.

 

 

Cookbooks FOR SALE

We still have cookbooks for sale.  Contact Edie Loewen to purchase one.  They make great birthday and Christmas gifts.

 

ANCHORS AWEIGH

Meaning:  Preparation for getting underway, especially of a ship.

Origin:  There is some doubt in the public mind as to how this phrase should be spelled. Internet searches for 'anchors away' bring up many thousands of hits. The correct spelling is 'anchors aweigh'. As with other frequently seen misspellings, like 'baited breath' and 'just desserts', the 'away' version does make some intuitive sense. The supposed shout of 'anchors away' fits well with the image of ropes being cast off and the anchor being hoisted as a ship prepares to Anchors aweighsail away across the sea. The word 'aweigh' or, as it was originally spelled 'a-weigh', is now only used in this little phrase. An anchor that is aweigh is one that has just begun to put weight onto the rope or chain by which it is being hauled up. 'A-weigh' is synonymous with the old and now defunct terms 'a-peak' and 'a-trip'. 'A-peak' was the Anglicized version of the French 'a pic', i.e. vertical. It is easy to see why the French chose the word vertical to describe an anchor which was being hauled onboard ship. 'A-trip' just meant 'about to be underway', i.e. 'on a trip'. This wasn't only reserved for anchors; 'a-trip' was a general sailing term that was used for anything that was about to begin.

 

President                                                                         Vice President                                                                    

Cal   Dyk                                                                           B. W. Jennings

Hudsonville, MI 49426-9308                                             Deer Park, TX 77536

 

Secretary                                                                         Treasurer                                                         

Barbara Jennings                                                           Blair Rougeux                                  

Deer Park, TX 77536                                                        North Richland Hills, TX 76180-7050