Annapolis

Here are a couple more photos of our day with Dick & Saundra. Walked around Fairfax Lake on a glorious Autumn Day in Virginia.



Then it was on to Annapolis for my USNA 40th reunion. We opted to stay for a week this time rather than trying to jam everything in to the few days of scheduled events. We had done that before several years ago and, although it was still fun, it was pretty hectic. This time we arrived several days before the formal class events began and so could meander around the town and the yard (as the Academy campus is called) at our leisure.



This was one of the old "Drag Houses" where the girls who were dating midshipmen would stay for the weekend during visits. Back in the day it cost the girls $10 to stay here for the weekend...and they would have to share a bed with another "Drag". Rita recalls staying at this one...42 years ago.


The view up Maryland Avenue towards the State Capitol - this is the main street from the Academy gate into the town. As you can see the town of Annapolis was laid out WAY before the era of automobiles. Parking is always a problem. The town generally spruced itself up for the bicentennial celebrations of 1976 - the city dock area outside the main gate, and near the old crab market, used to be pretty seedy. Now it's all trendy restaurants and Irish Pubs - definitely a change for the better.


The little house we booked for the week. Turned out to be a great call. Not only was it a lot cheaper than the event hotel a few blocks away, but we were able to host our old 16th Company classmates one night for a social icebreaker in a very private setting.


In front of the Naval Academy chapel. The crypt of John Paul Jones is in an apse beneath the dome.


With my old room mate Don Tanaka in front of Bancroft Hall - the midshipman dorm. We sweated thru many days, and nights, here over the course of 4 long years. Don is one of the finest men I've ever known.



Here's the assembled group on the evening of our social gathering at the house. I hadn't seen many of these guys for the full 40 years since we graduated back in 1969, so it was a real treat for us all to be together again. We talked ourselves hoarse getting reacquainted. These are some of the best men I've ever had the pleasure to be associated with - and the wives were still looking good too!