The Gardiners Bay (AVP-39) held its annual reunion of former crewmembers in Alexandria, VA September 11-15.  It was a memorable celebration, and included visits to the war memorials and museums in Washington DC and a tour of Mount Vernon.  The following pictures document the celebration, the attendees, the festivities, and plans for next year's reunion in New Orleans May 22-26.  The ship herself was decommissioned in the late 1950s, was sold to a Scandinavian Country, and is reportedly still performing admirably over 50 years later.  Refurbishing her old sailors is a more daunting task. 

Marine Memorial flag raising on Iwo Jima: Mount Suribachi

Washington Monument as seen from WWII Memorial

Gardiners Bay WWII veterans: Mauch, Anderson, Bonda

WWII Memorial looking toward Lincoln Monument

East entryway to WWII Memorial

WWII Memorial looking north

Korean War Memorial soldiers and reflecting wall

Two of eighteen soldiers in open field: Korean War Memorial

Korean War Memorial reflecting wall

Korean War Memorial: Reflections and embossed images

Lincoln Monument

Viet Nam Memorial: West wall

Korean War Memorial: North wall

Abe Lincoln and admirers

DC Capitol and dome across the mall

Navy Memorial: Capsule recovery

Navy Memorial:  Sailor on vigil

Mount Vernon southeast elevation

Ray and Carol Bonda, Dale Cox

Pauline and Jerry Chatelain: Reunion coordinator

Anderson, Hamilton (?), Mauch

Edrie and Carl Anderson

Martha and Bob Mauch

Air Force Memorial