USS BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

(SSBN 640)

REUNION 2004

                                                                                                                           

 

Dear Franklin Shipmates and Families:

 

The Second USS BENJAMIN FRANKLIN REUNION is scheduled from Thursday, 9 September to Sunday, 12 September 2004, in Groton, Connecticut.  This reunion will be bigger and better than our first one. We have added some new events for you to enjoy.  Our Home Port for Reunion 2004 will be the Groton Inn & Suites, which is located on Route 184 just off Interstate 95, on the Groton side of the Gold Star Memorial Bridge.  Registration for the Reunion will be available throughout the afternoon and into the evening on Thursday, the 9th, and the morning of Friday, the 10th in the hospitality suite that will be made available to us by the Groton Inn & Suites, (the specific suite will be posted in the lobby).

 

During the day on Friday the 10th and Saturday the 11th, a number of fun and interesting diversions will be available to you. The Benjamin Franklin Golf Outing is scheduled for Friday the 10th, for those among you who want to venture onto the links.  A tour of the Submarine School Trainers is also scheduled for Friday the 10th.  The tour will include attending a Basic Submarine School Graduation ceremony and lunch at the Base.  On Saturday morning from 0930 to 1300 we will be offering a catered sailing excursion down the Mystic River on the sailing Schooner ARGIA. 

 

This year we have been fortunate enough to have made arrangements for a tour of an SSN.  We do not have the exact day or time yet.  This is all tentative and will depend on the number of ships in port, the operations tempo and the security conditions at the Submarine Base during our reunion timeframe.  We do know that the tour will be limited to 25 shipmates per SSN up to a maximum of two SSN’s.  Sorry ladies, but tours of the SSN’s will be limited to men only. Those going on the SSN tours must be physically able to descend and ascend two vertical ladders, must be US citizens and carry proof of such (passport, birth certificate or naturalization papers).

 

Please bear in mind that participation for all our events is limited, so it will be “first come, first served” with first mailings going out to Association members about a month ahead of the other shipmates on our mailing list.  We anticipate greater participation then the last reunion and because of space limitations the banquet can only accommodate 400 people, so please get your reservations in early!

 

We have picked a great weekend for local area attractions during the reunion.  The Nautilus (SSN 571) and Submarine Museum, (a special arrangement of USS BENJAMIN FRANKLIN memorabilia will be on display in our honor at the Museum), Mystic Seaport, the Mystic Aquarium, a Tall Ships weekend in New London, a Taste of Connecticut Food Festival in Mystic, shopping at the various boutiques in Mystic, the Casinos at Mohegan Sun or Foxwoods, and a number of other area attractions will be available to you at your leisure throughout your stay.

 

There will be a no host cocktail party with hot and cold hors d’oeuvres on Friday evening, beginning at 1800 and lasting until 2200.

 

On Saturday evening, beginning at 1800, we will have a cocktail hour followed by a sit-down Banquet Dinner at 1900 in the Groton Inn & Suites Ballroom.  This year we have a special keynote speaker, Ambassador Linton F. Brooks, Administrator, National Nuclear Security Administration and former FRANKLIN XO.  We will also have music for your listening and dancing pleasure.  Dress for the banquet will be Uniform or Coat, (tie optional), (we suggest you dress as you would prefer to be formally photographed).

 

On Sunday morning, 12 September, a Brunch is scheduled in the Ballroom from 0900 to 1030.  This will be our farewell event.

 

There will be an Association meeting on Saturday afternoon at 1600 at the Groton Motor Inn for the election of officers and planning for the 2007 reunion.  You do not need to be a member of the Association in order to attend, but you must be a member of the Association in order to cast a vote at this meeting (application included in this packet).

 

Lodging is an additional cost; we have blocked several rooms at a negotiated rate at the Groton Inn & Suites, (1-800-452-2191), for FRANKLIN Reunion attendees at what we believe is the best rate available for that time of the year.   Please remind the Desk Clerk that you are with the Benjamin Franklin Reunion group when you call to make reservations so you can be certain to get the reduced rate.  We include in this information package a list of lodging sites in the Groton/New London/Mystic area in case you are interested in an alternative, or once all the blocked rooms at the Groton Inn & Suites have been reserved.  We strongly recommend that you secure lodging reservations as soon as possible, as the demand is typically heavy during that time of the year.  A list of alternate lodging sites is also included in these registration materials.

 

Please remember to bring whatever memorabilia you have from your days aboard the Franklin for all to enjoy!  We have been assembling photographs of shipmates for display during the reunion and hope to compile a nice “Reunion Memories Book”.  We will welcome any photos you want to contribute but please bring or send duplicates so we don’t have to bear the risk losing priceless memories!  Additionally, we have arranged for professional photographers to be available to take photographs at the Banquet for those of you who may be interested.

 

USS Benjamin Franklin gear (hats, shirts, jackets, pins, etc.) is available through the Submarinestore.com with a discount for Association members.  Merchandise can be ordered on line through a link on our website or directly at submarinestore.com.  For those who place their order in advance of the Reunion, the merchandise will be available at the reunion.   A representative from submarinestore.com will be available on Thursday the 9th at the Groton Motor Inn. 

 

We have made each of the cocktail & dining events available to you separately, and have priced them at cost rounded up to the nearest dollar, so your cost for the Reunion will depend upon your preferred participation.  The Registration Form and Fees are due by August 1, 2004, so we can properly anticipate and prepare for your needs at the Reunion.

 

We’re looking forward to seeing you all at the Reunion and hope that you will, in the meantime, feel welcome to contact us with any questions, comments or suggestions you may have!  There would be no Reunion without YOU, so we do value YOUR input!  If you want to learn who among your shipmates has registered, please feel welcome to jot an e-mail (ssbn640blueyeo@aol.com) or place a call (856-816-5672) to Len Exelby for current registration information.

 

Your Reunion and present Association Executive Committee:

 

LCDR John E. (Jack) Hogan, USN (Ret)                                                  President

COMM/SONAR/ANAV (Gold Crew) (1969 – 1974)

 

Timothy A. (Bear) Quinn                                                                              Vice President

Formerly QM2(SS) (Blue Crew) (1973 – 1974)

 

James (Prince) Albert, M.A., CSM                                                             Secretary

Formerly QMSN(SS) (Blue Crew) (1974)

 

Allen J. (Lenny) Exelby                                                                                  Treasurer

Formerly YN2(SS) (Blue Crew) (1971 – 1974)

 

FTCS(SS) Warren Boner Brann, USN (Ret)                                            Member-At-Large

(Blue Crew) (1972 – 1975)