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1. President’s Message
Before I get rambling on with my main message, I want to once again thank Jerry Church for putting together our awesome newsletter in June. He puts out a great document that takes a lot of his time. I want to put a “Shout out” to Jerry for taking this on and putting out a great newsletter twice a year!
I also want to get a “Shout out” to Dennis Steinhour for focusing on our website and working to clean it up and making it easier to use. Nice work Dennis and we appreciate your dedicated efforts on our website.
Our 2024 Reunion is just around the corner! We have a lot of different tours and other fun and interesting things planned during the reunion. Everyone is sure to find something to tickle your fancy during our four days of fun. One of the most important events happening during the reunion is our General Business Meeting taking place Saturday morning. Here is where you can make a difference in the operation of our association. We will discuss a lot of Association happenings, give out some awards and most importantly we will elect a new President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. As in all organizations like ours, we need volunteers to step up and present new ideas and take on new responsibilities. You can’t make a difference if you don’t attend and participate. Please think about volunteering and come see any of the Board Members during the reunion if you have any thoughts or questions. We would like to hear from you.
Growing the Association membership is always a subject of interest to us. We have had a good number of folks from the 80’s and 90’s join as new members this year, which is great news. We welcome all new members to the organization anytime and we look forward to seeing each of you at future reunions. Growing our membership is vital to the future health of the organization. As always, I encourage each of you who may be in touch with old shipmates to invite them to join us. If every member would bring just a few new members to our Association, we would grow significantly and we would enjoy lots of new stories at our reunions.
I’m looking forward to seeing everyone in Jacksonville in just six weeks or less. Don’t forget we will be taking inputs for and selecting our 2026 Reunion site location also!
Mark Kikta
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2. Vice President's Message
Greetings Shipmates …
With this edition of the Fall Midrats most articles will indeed be saying something about the upcoming reunion in Jacksonville. That being said, I wish to say to you, the members, that it is now your turn to “Call the ball” (which is Airedale talk for “Stop Procrastinating”). You really don't know what you're missing. The Association puts these reunions on once a year for YOU!!! Time to get registered!!!
Now just in case you don't know, this year is an election year for Association Officers positions. Elections are held every other year and take place at the Annual Reunion Membership Meeting. If you are a Shipmate and have a Regular or Life membership in the Association we needs you. As they say “We are the BORG and you're welcomed to lower your shields and we will add your biological and technical distinctiveness to the Board“. Pretty sure I've heard that somewhere...
As for me, well I'm up for election as your Vice President. A position that I have been serving in a temporary spot for a few months now. You can read about me in the Bio section of Officers and Committee members on the Association website. And except for not having a lot to do as VP (which I'm hoping to change) I wish you to know that my interest is strictly all about YOU the membership. The sole purpose of this Association, as described in the bylaws of the Association, is to honor the memory of two great fighting ships AND to hold an annual reunion for YOU the shipmates !!!
It is my goal that you have the best of time at a reunion and create something at each one that will bring you back year after year. I am solely in this position for you. I can present any thoughts and ideas any member may have to the board but I need your support to make these reunions the best they can be. It is YOU the membership that I can rely on. Don't let “we never done that “ be the only answer. As an example: we only started the reunion welcome dinners a few years back and they have been well received. This year, in Jacksonville, for the first time it will be held outdoors/pool side (weather permitting) and BBQ style. Should be exciting...
It is my hope that I don't have to run for this position unopposed. It is good to see “new blood” as they say get involved. Your thoughts and ideas are what is needed to continue the Saratoga legacy.
So shipmates, until we get to meet again (in October), as we say here in Kansas...
HAPPY TRAILS TO YOU.
Dennis Steinour
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3.Treasurer's Report
Each quarter the Treasurer sends a report to the Saratoga Executive Board advising them of funds in the bank and the status of expenses. As your Treasurer I will continue to update the Executive Board and share as much information as possible to the general membership via Newsletters and Mid-Rats.
Your Association is doing very well. We still have three bank accounts – the General Fund, the Ship’s Store, and the Scholarship Fund. Our new Ship’s Store management organization will sell Saratoga related merchandise and channel proceeds to our Ship’s Store Account. So, the Association will make money and have no store-operation expenses, and any income generated will be distributed between the General Fund and the Scholarship Fund.
On July 1, 2023, the Executive Board decided to invest money in a 13-month Certificate of Deposit yielding 4.75 per cent. In late July of 2024 we realized a gain of $1,302.73 and rolled the entire amount over, plus the gain, for another 13 months. This financial gain allowed the Executive Board to enhance our appreciation of shipmates, which will be shared at the reunion in Jacksonville in October.
The Scholarship Fund account is very solvent thanks to your generous donations. Many shipmates have made medium and long-term donations that will keep our scholarships supporting students for many years to come. Thanks to everyone who has made donations, and will make them in the future, to this very worthwhile cause. Your Saratoga Association has funds available to present generous scholarships to student applicants that will help them with their education expenses. Look for a full report during the Business Meeting at the reunion.
After expenses, we have broken even on the past two reunions. Our operating expenses are less than one percent of our revenue, which is fantastic. We will always have costs associated with printing and mailing of our publications, and we still have costs associated with maintaining our website. Our generated revenue keeps the Association well below the designated financial threshold set by the IRS, allowing us to continue 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax-exemption status. Again, the Executive Board is always available to answer any questions you may have.
Mark Beecher
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4. Secretary's Message
We will be publishing the new MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY next spring. The cutoff for changes is December 15, 2024. If you have a change of address or email, make sure I have it or it will not show up in the new book. All the changes you have already submitted have been recorded. The new book will reflect those changes.
Speaking of the new directory, I am actively seeking input for fresh ideas for the next addition. As an example, if you were involved in a poignant, humorous or note-worthy occurrence, or if there is an interesting story that may not be common knowledge, I would like to feature it in the directory. Perhaps you feel a sense of pride and would like to share a personal reflection on your service and how you remember Saratoga's influence on your life. You can reach out to me via phone, text email or letter.
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Reunion Memory Book Update: For the past many years, I have put together the reunion memory book. I realize there is a “sameness” to my design strategy. I recently put the word out for any person – shipmate or family member – to help bring a fresh design to the memory book. To my delight, none other than Denny Steinour, our VP, has taken up this challenge for this year’s reunion and will be taking the reigns on the Reunion Memory Book. “OUTSTANDING"
While I'm on the topic of the Reunion Memory Book… if you attend the reunions, this is the singular memento that you will cherish as the years race by. You may not like or want to purchase your individual pics, but having a copy of each year’s reunion memory book, it is a great way to remember not only the event itself, but a great way to remember faces and names.
On a sad note, unfortunately, this year’s TAPS list is another record breaker. As of August 19th, as I’m writing this, we already have almost 125 names on the list. By the time we meet, I’m sure that will grow larger yet.
See you in JAX!
Ed McCready
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5. Reunion update
This year we will be back home in Jacksonville, Florida for our 2024 Reunion. The last time we had a reunion in Jacksonville was 11 years ago in 2013. We are expecting a great reunion with over 250 attendees. As of August 5th, we had only 3 hotel rooms left in our block of special price rooms at the Doubletree Hotel.
I suspect we will have a number of attendees who live in Jacksonville and will not be staying at the hotel. I encourage you to register in advance online if possible because this enables us to plan for your attendance when we buy hospitality room supplies etc. Don’t forget, you must register to attend any part of the reunion. Not only do we require name badges for security reasons, they are also a great help remembering names and what division folks served in. I would like to just talk briefly about the highlights of our reunion:
DAY 1 (Wed 2 Oct)
Registration will open at 1000 in the lobby. Early in the day you can take the water taxi across the river to tour the former USS Orleck Museum. For those who attended the last Jacksonville Reunion, the “Jacksonville Landing” across the river which was full of shops/Bars/Restaurants, is no longer there. A park is now in its place.
For evening entertainment, we will have our popular welcome dinner at the hotel. For the last couple of years, this has been a huge success, and this year should be a great one also. Since we are in Florida, we are hoping to have a Poolside barbeque as the sun sets overlooking the St John’s River and the City of Jacksonville. This won’t be your average backyard Hot Dog and Hamburger event. You will also have Smoked Chicken Wings, Honey Mustard Coleslaw, Loaded Baked Potato Salad, Bourbon Baked Beans, Homemade Kettle Chips and Homemade Southern Banana Pudding for dessert. It should be a unique, fun and scenic kickoff event to a fun week.
DAY 2 (Thurs 3 Oct)
This is our all-day tour to Mayport! We will tour Naval Station Mayport by bus, visit an active Navy Ship, have a Luau lunch at the Ocean Breeze Conference Center, Visit the Foc’sle Lounge (Former CPO Club) to see our mirror and Saratoga Nameplate and return. After the full day tour at Mayport, you will want join us with an evening boat cruise on the St. Johns River where you can grab a drink to relax and enjoy the Jacksonville Skyline and sunset.
DAY 3 (Fri 4 Oct)
The Amelia Island tour will be an interesting, fun and truly scenic place to walk around, shop and grab some food. The optional Cumberland Island tour is a must for those who want to see some untouched beaches and a basically uninhabited island along the coast. After you return to the hotel, grab a quick dinner at the hotel or places nearby (but don’t have any dessert!). At 1930 (7:30pm) we start the live Murder Mystery play with Ice Cream Social at the hotel. We had so much positive feedback after we did the Murder Mystery Theater in Mobile, we worked hard to fit one into the reunion once again for your enjoyment here in Jacksonville. I don’t think you should miss this one! It was a blast in Mobile and sure to be a blast here as well!
DAY 4 (Sat 5 Oct)
We start the day with our worship service conducted by our Chaplain, followed by our annual business meeting. At noon, the Saratoga Ladies will get together for lunch with their guest speaker. My wife Kathy has put together a great guest speaker and program that is sure to interest all the ladies. Don’t miss this unique and interesting event. We will end the day with our main event for the reunion. We will sponsor a cocktail hour with music by the Navy Band again, photos for all will be taken during the cocktail hour and the Banquet will follow with a DJ providing music during dinner and dancing after dinner.
Don’t forget, we will have the silent auction and Raffle going on all week in our Hospitality room operated by Fran Gower and Nancy Hill. They always do a great job organizing this week-long event. We will have our hospitality room open each evening, as we always do, and our Saratoga Ships Museum will be open each day. We intend to have some new ships’ items on display this year that are sure to be interesting to see. Don’t forget that our “Ships Store” will be back in operation during this reunion as well!
All in all, we have a very full week planned that is sure to keep you entertained. You still have time to sign up for anything that you may have missed and want to add to your itinerary.
Don’t let the deadline pass you by, August 21st is the last day to register online.
This will be a reunion to remember and a great time to relax, re-connect and remember our ship, our shipmates and our time in the Navy. I look forward to seeing each of you there!
We have a small surprise for all registered shipmates as well that you are sure to love.
Reunion Chairman
Mark Kikta
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6. Ladies Luncheon Info
ATTENTION LADIES
On Saturday October 5th you are invited to join us for the “Ladies Luncheon” with guest speaker Kim Armga of House of Color.
Kim is a highly educated professional stylist and colorist who will entertain and educate us with several topics on which she is an expert. Did you know that we only have several seconds to make a great first impression? Do you know how to dress to be the best version of yourself that you can be? What we wear and how we wear our clothing, as we age, may be different than when we were younger. Maybe we need a refresh on our appearance, our hair color or our style. Maybe we need to learn what colors make us shine or what “body architecture” is all about.
Bring your friends, bring your family and enjoy a delicious lunch, good conversation with old friends, meet new friends and enjoy this exciting presentation by one of Jacksonville’s most sought-after artists and speakers.
If you have already signed up for your tours and events but did not sign up for the Ladies Luncheon, you can still add this to your agenda by contacting: RayCasey@militaryreunionplanners.com or 817-251-3551.
Until then, safe travels and I look forward to seeing you there!
Kathy Kikta
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7. Chaplains Message
“…The thrill of victory… and the agony of defeat….”
The majority of us who played or enjoy watching a variety of sports can remember Jim McKay’s voice back in the 1960s and 70s announcing,
”Spanning the globe to bring you the constant variety of sports… The thrill of victory… and the agony of defeat... the human drama of athletic competition…This is “ABC’s Wide World of Sports.”
These words still echo in my ears even after 60 + years! “The thrill of victory…and the agony of defeat…” could be seen on the faces of those who won a medal in the Olympics or who just missed receiving one. Some of the more memorable events which I saw were:
- The American men’s gymnastics team won the bronze after 16 years.
- The American women’s rugby team winning the bronze medal.
- The American 4 men’s rowing team winning the gold after 54 years!
- The St. Lucia 19-year-old teenager winning the gold in the 100-meter dash giving her country its first ever Olympic medal!
- Americans like Katie Lednicky in swimming, Simon Biles in gymnastics, Noah Lyles winning the gold in 5 thousandths of a second in the 100-meter dash! Wow!.
- Sweden’s Armand Duplantis making history with a world record pole vault of 20 feet, 6 inches.
- There were many other exciting victories and upsets throughout the Olympics. It was a great time watching and screaming at the TV encouraging America’s top athletes on to victory! One of the great things I enjoyed the most was the sportsmanship demonstrated among the athletes whether they won or not!
Even the scriptures speak of various sports like wrestling, track events, boxing, and endurance.
2 Tim 4:7-8 “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day.”
Hebrews 12:1 – “….Let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”
Ephesians 6: 12 – “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
We all are in a race for life in how we live and who we are living for. Just food for thought!
I enjoy being your Chaplain!
If I can be of any assistance to you, feel free to call, text or email me at 704-254-9271 or sbird516@gmail.com
Steve Bird
CAPT, CHC, USN (Ret)
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8. Naval History
Hello shipmates, this time of year is very important in Naval History.
1.) 29 July 1967-the USS Forrestal fire with 134 sailors killed and 161 injured.
2.) 30 July 1945-on a secret mission, to deliver two Atomic bombs, Fat Man and Little Boy, the USS Indianapolis was sunk. 833 sailors were killed in this disaster. A moment of silence for these brave men that were lost in defending our country.
On a happier note, I hope to see you all in early October for our reunion in Jacksonville. This is past stomping grounds for Sara sailors and many sea stories will be exchanged. At last I heard 198 past Sara sailors have signed up to attend.
Semper Fortis shipmates!
Mike Curry
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9. Scholarship Committee
The USS Saratoga Association Scholarship Committee has wrapped up its 7th year of scholarship applicant reviews. First, I would like to say, this this was another amazingly successful year for our scholarship program. I would like to thank the scholarship committee members for their dedicated time and commitment to ensuring the success of the program.To date, we have awarded a total of 29 scholarships, totaling $43,500.00.
We had 10 total exceptional applicants for the 2024 award year. We have awarded 7 Scholarships based on their scoring eligibility. I would like to add, that it is an extreme honor to be able to review all of these exceptional applicant submissions and recognize the hard work and determination of all of our applicants.
On behalf of the scholarship committee, it gives me great pleasure to announce the names of our 2024 scholarship recipients. The names are:
Ty D. Nawrocki
Robert S. Sager
Natalie E. Kuchler
Ethan R. Hamilton
Anthony J. Coneglio
RayAnne Howard
Sophia E. Hallisey.
Congratulations to each of our 2024 scholarship recipients!
In closing, I want to thank our USS Saratoga Association Membership who have made their generous donations to the Scholarship fund. Without your generous donations, none of this would be possible. This scholarship program exists to perpetuate the legacy of our amazing ship USS Saratoga into the future for as long as we possibly can and that is only made possible by each and everyone of our proud shipmates and their families who have donated and will hopefully continue to do so. It is with my utmost and heartfelt respect that I say Thank You. Your generous donations are what continue to make the USS Saratoga Association Scholarship program a success.
Respectfully,
Frank R. Salinas, Chairman
USS Saratoga Scholarship Committee
Semper Fortis
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10. MIDRATS Wrap Up:
Thanks for viewing the Fall 2024 edition of Midrats. This year's reunion looks to be a "record breaker"!
"Attending a reunion is a cathartic experience - it releases emotions and memories which have a profound therapeutic effect. If you're a regular attendee, you know - if this is your first reunion, go into it with an open mind and a willingness to experience something new.
Who knows, maybe you'll make it an annual event!"
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