DESA Banquet

The grand finale of the convention was the DESA Banquet. Everyone gathered for one last time to enjoy fellowship, food and dancing. And what a handsome group it was with everyone dressed for the occasion. Some really dressed!

Rev. Fred Collins, DESA Chaplain, led the group in prayer and asked for special comfort for the families and shipmates of DESA members who died while attending the convention.

Following the prayer, Dick Ager, incoming DESA president, lead the singing of the National Anthem.

After dinner, Ager introduced the newly elected and current DESA and Ladies Auxiliary officers and board members. Ager then announced the winners of the Ladies' and Men's raffles.

For the Ladies' Auxiliary, a "clam bake" was donated by Mary DeSantis and was won by Mary Wesolowski. A handmade afghan was won by Bob Quigley. Winners of the ultimate prize, the "Pot of Gold", were Jan Johnson 3rd prize, Loretta Demers 2nd prize and Alexander (Al) Zielen, USS Flaherty DE 135, 1st prize

The men raffled three beautiful clocks. One of the winners was Bob Rigger. I am sorry I do not have the names of the other winners.

President Ager concluded his presentation by entertaining the crowd by singing " Always". His beautiful solo set the perfect mood for the dance which followed dinner. The other board members looked as if they were glad they were not called upon to sing a solo!

Many warm farewells and hopes for meeting again next year in KY were heard as the crowd drifted from the ballroom.

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Ladies Auxiliary board of directors. Far left is president Angie Ager

Ladies Auxiliary board of directors

Drawing for the raffle winners

"Pot of Gold" raffle winners

Clock raffle winners

President Angie Ager presents to Sam Saylor a Auxiliary donation to benefit USS Slater (DEHM)

The beautiful dinner dessert

USS Formoe DE 509 shipmates and family.

USS Formoe DE 509 crewmember Bill Jenkins with his daughter Julia Loughran

A Formoe crewmember showing his car tag

L-R: John Cosgrove, Ann Johnson, Donna Zeo, Gary Zeo, Al St. Jean, Amy Snook and Todd Zeo

Scenes from the room

Alex Beattie, USS Coolbaugh DE 217, and wife Ana

L-R: Debbie Gruber, Dori Glaser, Loraine Gruber, Ed Glaser

USN and RN CCF crewmembers. L-R Front: Don Hitchcock HMS Narbrough K 578, Bill Reed USS Reibold DE 177. Back: Charlie Blincow HMS Gardniner K 478

Ralph Parkes-Pfeil HMS Gardiner K 478 dances with Donna St. Jean Zeo

Over the pond and enjoying the dance

Carlos Monarez and Ladies Auxiliary director Mary Wesolowski

Waltzing the floor

The smiles tell the story

Al St. Jean USS Otterstetter DE 244. Still limber after all these years!

A family affair. Carlos Monarez USS Dufilho DE 423 and son Vincent.

USS Naifeh DE 352 Crew. The uniforms still fit! L-R: Ted Williams, Charlie Brown, Merle Josefiak.

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