REUNION

Welcome to our USS WILARD KEITH Reunion Association 2021reunion to be held in Newport News, Virginia from Sunday, October 10th to Wednesday, October l3th, 2021. As you will note by the schedule of events below, this year the reunion agenda has been refined to provide more individual free time for visiting, sightseeing, touring, shopping, or relaxing on both Monday and

Tuesday. Highlights include visits to the Mariner's Museum and historic Fort Monroe on Monday and a leisurely boat tour of Hampton Roads on Tuesday which will sail past the old Destroyer & Submarine (D&S) Piers of the Norfolk Naval Operating Base.

We will kick the reunion off by meeting each of you in the Reunion Hospitality Suite which will open at 4:00pm on Sunday, October 10th, 2021, in our hotel, the Holiday Inn Newport News-Hampton at City Center. In the Hospitality Suite you will receive your name tags, welcome packets, meet "first-timers", and be able to get reacquainted. Our Welcoming Reception, with buffet and cash bar, will begin at 7 p.m. in the Hospitality Suite. Back by popular demand this year is the now world famous "Chinese Auction" with yet again a lengthy list of items to bid on that you cannot live without!! Please support this auction with quality items as the revenues subsidize our Hospitality Suite.

Monday morning, we will visit the Mariner's Museum (Google) with its world acclaimed USS Monitor exhibit featuring a film presentation of the Civil War Battle of the Ironclads and the turret and relics recovered from this Civil War vessel recovered off the Virginia Capes. The exhibit provides a graphic representation of life in the United States Navy, and Confederate Navy, during the Civil War. After lunch in the museum (catered) we will tour historic Fort Monroe and the Casemate Museum (Google) where Jefferson Davis, the President of the Confederacy, was imprisoned after the Civil War. A guided bus tour of the Fort will conclude a leisurely day of tours. Monday evening you will have the opportunity to sample Virginia seafood (cost not included) at a "locals" seafood restaurant.

Tuesday morning, we will depart the hotel at 10:00am and board the Miss Hampton II for a floating tour of Hampton Roads passing the Chamberlin Hotel, Fortresses Monroe & Wool, the Naval Operating Base (NOB), the old D&S Piers which are now part of the enlarged naval base, and the

Norfolk waterfront with the USS Wisconsin (88-64); a box lunch is included (select your lunch option on the enclosed Reunion Attendance Form). After arriving back at the hotel at 3:00pm you will have free time (the Hospitality Suite will be open) until our Annual General Membership meeting beginning at 4:00pm. Our memorial service followed by our reunion banquet will begin

with the bar opening at 6:30pm followed at 7:00pm with our memorial service then dinner. Our guest speaker will be renowned Civil War historian and author John Quarstein who will discuss the life, environment, backgrounds, and thoughts of Civil War sailors.

Checkout is scheduled for Wednesday morning or as individually arranged.

The following information is provided to assist you with your planning:

Hotel: A nightly rate at our hotel of $114.00/double, or $109.00/single, will include a hot breakfast, free airport shuttle, free parkingandWi-Fi, and other amenities as identified on the hotel website (google: Holiday Inn Newport News-Hampton City Center). When making reservations, please ensure that you book 31 days prior to your arrival date by calling the hotel and using the

three-letter booking code "USS" for the USS WLLARD KEITH REUNION. Reservations can also be made on-line using the Holiday Inn website, or at Holiday Inn central reservations (1-800465-4329), and using the group code "USS". Cancellations need to be made 48 hours prior to arrival to avoid charges. This rate is valid three days before and three days after the reunion. The address and contact information for our hotel are:

Holiday Inn, 980 Omni Boulevard,

Newport News, Virginia, 23606,

tel: (757) 223-2110.

Airport Transportation: To request the hotel airport shuttle pick-up, from Newport News / Williamsburg International Airport to our hotel, contact the hotel desk clerk (757) 223-2110. The airport shuttle does not service Norfolk International Airport.

Individual Cost: The per person cost of the 2021 reunion is $199.00 exclusive of the room rate and taxes. This cost includes the Sunday evening reception and buffet; tours of the Mariner's Museum, Fortress Monroe, the Hampton Harbor boat Tour, transportation both days, the reunion banquet and guest speaker, and administrative costs to include the hospitality suite. A cash bar will be available for the buffet and banquet. Dinner on Monday has not been included in this cost in order to provide you more meal selection flexibility at the restaurant.

Reunion Point of Contact: The reunion Point of Contact is Mike McHenry, 2308 Chesapeake Avenue, Hainpton, Virginia, 23661; Telephone home (757) 244-6648 or cell (757) 813-5320, email:[email protected] Mike will be more than willing to answer your questions or recommnend additionai sightseeing options in the Hampton Roads area.

We look forward to seeing each of you.

Sincerely,

Joe Mitchell

Jerry Hansen

Mike McHenry