April 1st, 2019
Midrats - Fall 2019
Bits and Pieces
Hello, it’s Mid-Rats time again.
As Editor of Mid-Rats, I want to include things here you’re interested in reading. If you’ve got any ideas/suggestions, please drop a note to Saratogamidrats@gmail.com and I’ll try to make it happen.
The biggest two items in this edition are the latest info on the upcoming reunion in Charleston and the on-going campaign to convince SecNav to name another ship, USS Saratoga. I also spent a few minutes with the newest member of the Saratoga Association board, and the new head of the ship’s store, Phil Rasnick. We also have a thought provoking message from Chaplain Lee Martin.
Looking forward to seeing everyone in Charleston.
Be safe and be well,
Bill Lack – USS Saratoga Association – VP
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Charleston Reunion Update
Ed McCready (Association Secretary/Reunion Host)
In October the Association will be conducting the 68th annual reunion in Charleston, South Carolina. The base hotel is the Crowne Plaza Airport and the secondary hotel is the Fairfield Inn which shares the same parking lot. As of right now, the Crowne Plaza has sold out, but there are still rooms available at the Fairfield Inn. But there are several hotels within a short distance so if you try to get a room and it’s too late, just check for nearby hotels, it should be easy to find one.
The reunion officially kicks off on Thursday evening with a first ever “Welcome Dinner” at 1900 (7PM in case you’re rusty on military time). This will be super casual, come as you are, relaxed no pomp, no circumstance, no DJ, no nothing except a low country meal among friends.
The biggest change with this particular reunion is that we’ve shifted everything by one day.
So, the tours will be on Friday and Saturday and the Business meeting and Banquet will be on Sunday. Hopefully this does not cause anyone’s head to explode or come as a surprise, since we’ve been discussing it for almost 2 years. From the registration thus far, it looks like we may have a record attendance.
Also – we have an active Navy Chief spearheading an effort to have the Navy let us “borrow” the Saratoga stern plate to display at the reunion. We all know how the Navy can change their minds at a drop of a hat, but right now it looks very favorable that the nameplate will be there. Obviously, we will not know for sure until it arrives. Keep a good thought and your finger’s crossed that this works out.
On Sunday morning our Chaplain, Lee Martin, will be conducting a worship service at 0800 (8AM) in the same meeting room where we will hold the business meeting. We hope you are able to attend and experience a moment of reflection and peace.
For full reunion info, check the June Newsletter or the Association web-site: www.uss-saratoga.com.
If you didn’t get a June newsletter please let Ed McCready know via email: emc0853@yahoo.com.
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Late Request from Military Reunion Planners about the Charleston Reunion
Military Reunion Planners has asked that anyone who needs to cancel their hotel room for the Charleston reunion, please do so via MRP, rather than with the hotel itself.
From more information and details, contact:
Ray Casey
Military Reunion Planners, LLC
817.251.3551
raycasey@MilitaryReunionPlanners.com
www.MilitaryReunionPlanners.com
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The Membership Committee
John Lipscomb (Committee chair)
The Membership Committee is working towards the Charleston Reunion, by submitting notifications to various publications to get the word out about the event. We ask that all members talk it up at their veteran’s organizations and put notices on their bulletin boards, etc. We ask that you not only talk up the reunions, but the organization and the benefits of membership. Reach out to your old shipmates who aren’t members and encourage them to come aboard.
The Membership Committee is also working on updating the video that is on the front of the website, the plan is to get more shipmates involved and to get their videos included.
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The Scholarship Committee
Steve Katz (Committee Chair)
We have completed our second year of the Scholarship Program. We are most grateful to all those who have donated to the program. As a result of all the generous donations, this year we were able to award (4) $1,000.00 scholarships.
The Scholarship Committee would like to make sure the membership is aware that, in addition to an availability for a scholarship for a 4-year or 2-year academic institution, there is also an availability for an applicant that is/or wishes to attend an accredited TRADE SCHOOL. All the details for eligibility will be found under the Scholarship link on our website www.uss-Saratoga.com.
Remember, our children are our future.
To make a donation to the Scholarship Program, please make your check payable to:
USS Saratoga Reunion Association Scholarship Fund
Mail it to our Association Secretary.
Mr. Ed McCready
447 Land ‘Or Drive
Ruther Glen, Virginia 22546
If you are sending in a donation to the Scholarship program at the same time you are paying your Association dues, please send two separate checks, as they go into two different accounts.
Looking forward to see everyone at the Reunion in Charleston, South Carolina in October.
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A Few Minutes with.... Phil Rasnick
Bill Lack, Mid-Rats editor/VP
I spent a few minutes recently talking with shipmate, Phil Rasnick. Phil has recently taken over the operation of the Saratoga ship’s store from TC Chastain and is the newest member of the Saratoga Association Board.
Phil was originally supposed to meet the Saratoga during the Westpac/Vietnam cruise, in the Philippines in January of 1973; but since the ship was going to be transiting back to Mayport, he was ordered aboard the Independence (CV-62) until the Sara returned to the states. He was then transferred to the Saratoga in April 1973. He worked in the ship’s Personnel Office, where he worked on cleaning up the leave desk, then later worked on the many discharges that were in the works, following the VN cruise. He was discharged in September 1974, shortly before the ship was to depart on a Med Cruise.
Phil’s been married to his wife, Barbara, for 44 years. They live in Knoxville, Tennessee. They have three sons; one lives in Knoxville and two live in Atlanta. They also have one grandchild. Phil has his own small business, doing Leadership Development work for large industry throughout the United States.
Please join me in thanking Phil for taking on the task of running the ship’s store. He has big shoes to fill and it’s a big undertaking, but I’m sure he’ll do a great job.
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UPDATE - Ongoing Campaign to convince the Navy to christen another USS Saratoga
Captain Steve Medina & Bill Lack
Captain Medina continues to make contact with the SECNAV point of contact in order to ensure that the Association's request, along with other submissions, remains in the forefront of the SECNAV's awareness. To date, no final decision has been made by SECNAV; however, there are a number of programmed hull platforms that have not been named, for which SARATOGA could be assigned.
Association VP, Bill Lack, has met with three US Congressmen from his area to ask for their support of our plan to convince the Navy to christen another ship, Saratoga. Four Congressman (Steve Chabot (OH – 1st), Warren Davidson (OH – 8th), Bill Johnson (OH -6th), and Mike Turner (OH – 10th) recently combined to write a delegation letter of support which has been sent to the Secretary of the Navy.
Congressman Brad Wenstrup (OH -2nd) has also expressed support and is in the process of putting together a letter of his own or possibly in combination with Senator Rob Portman (OH). Bill has spoken with one of Senator Portman’s staff and they expressed a high degree of interest in supporting the effort, even offering to contact Senator Sherrod Brown’s office (OH) to see if they could work together in support of our effort.
Bill has recently begun to speak to State legislators, to see if they’d be willing to write in support of our effort. He is also planning to organize a letter writing campaign among his friends to support the campaign. If anyone has any interest in organizing a letter writing campaign or contacting their local political leaders, Bill would be happy to give advice or supply examples that he has used in his efforts with political leaders.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------CV-3 Asset/Artifact Update
Captain Steve Medina
Captain Medina has also been working with the Patriot Point (PP) Docent, Ms. Buchanan, on items and disposition of CV-3 assets that are currently located at PP. He recently received a partial inventory list. However, Ms. Buchanan indicated that she has since located additional CV-3 assets. During the reunion, Captain Medina plans to visit PP and see if he can visually inspect those items. He intends to present the final inventory list to the Board during the Reunion. In that way, the Board can make a final decision on what to do with those assets.
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Chaplain’s Message - FINAL WISHES
Reverend Dr. J. Lee Martin, Ph.D., Chaplain
Dear Association Members,
For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
2 Timothy 4: 6-8
In recent months several of our shipmates in the Saratoga Association have passed away. As I reflect upon these events, it gives me pause to pose to all of us a sensitive question: Have we given sensitive attention to our “final wishes”?
To be sure, making decisions regarding end of life matters are difficult to address and we know that whether or not sufficient attention is given to the details of our final wishes, a departure day will arrive at some point in time.
I recall some time ago while serving full-time as a church pastor when an elderly couple made an appointment with me to discuss their “final wishes” which included the religious rites and the funeral home details. I met with them at the funeral home to help set up their wishes which also included the religious portion of their funeral arrangements. They were very relieved to have gotten things in order knowing that the surviving spouse did not have to carry the additional burden of making some decisions during the stressful time of the loved one’s passing.
In the Epistle to Timothy, Paul prepares his disciple for Paul’s departure by writing Timothy some encouraging words and giving him some pointers about the Gospel mission.
Jesus, likewise, used some occasions to prepare His disciples for His departure and promised that because they believed in Him, they will always be with him.
Preparing for our own departure is an aspect of the Christian life that is often avoided rather than faced with religious eyes, spiritual conviction and celebration of death as a part of the journey toward the heavenly realm.
Although it may be difficult to make one’s final wishes known to particular family members, thoughtfully doing so will lessen some burdens loved ones would otherwise have to face.
May you fight the good fight of faith; finish your life journey with dignity, holding fast along the way with a secure faith in Jesus who said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live; and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die...” (John 11: 25, 26).
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Contributions and Consultation
Thanks to Steven Katz, John Lipscomb, Chaplain Lee Martin, Ed McCready, Captain Steven Medina, and Phil Rasnick for their suggestions, insights and contributions to this edition of Mid-Rats.
