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U S S JOHN A. BOLE TO GAIN PERMANENT MEMORIAL STATUS

 

The U S S. John A. Bole will become memorialized for eternity in the U. S. Navy Memorial in Washington, D. C. on July 2, 2008, with a plaques dedication ceremony, a reception for all shipmates and guests, and a wreath-laying ceremony at the Lone Sailor statue. 

 

The Navy memorial allows Navy individuals and groups to purchase plaques and other commemorative devices and insignia to be installed permanently on the Memorial Wall inside the Memorial.  Many ships, individuals, air wings, and other entities are enshrined there, making an impressive display for future generations of citizens and sailors.

 

Many of our shipmates are individually enshrined in the Navy log, and all Navy veterans may be enrolled in the Log at no charge.  Enrollment can be made on-line or by requesting an application.  Go to www.lonesailor.org    Look up a shipmate there, like me, Joseph Ray Hancock, and you’ll see a permanent record of my service. 

 

On the outside of the Navy Memorial is the Granite Sea, the world’s oceans embedded in the granite deck of the Memorial.  There is the statue of the Lone Sailor and the Homecoming, and there are numerous bronze relief sculptures attached to the wall around the Granite Sea, along with many other Navy memorabilia.

 

The U S S John A. Bole Association has paid all costs for this plaque dedication ceremony, and all members of the Association AND THEIR GUESTS ARE INVITED TO ATTEND.  Shipmates are encouraged to invite any former Bole sailors, whether or not they are members of the Association.  Please, HELP US SPREAD THE WORD AND INVITE YOUR SHIPMATES AND FAMILY. 

 

While this is not an official reunion of the Bole Association, the officers are encouraging all shipmates to make a special effort to attend.  Plank owners will be recognized, and all shipmates attending will be recognized and awarded a COMPLIMENTARY commemorative coin struck especially for this momentous occasion. 

 

Any coins remaining following the dedication ceremony will be sold to shipmates for $5.00 at the Seattle reunion of the U S S John A. Bole Association. 

 

The officers of the Association are Steve Ramirez, President; Ray Hancock, Vice-President; Ron Shipley, secretary and ship’s store coordinator; and Ron Berry, Treasurer.  Hancock has been in charge of the planning for the enshrinement and the ceremony at the Navy Memorial,  as part of the Fourth of July weekend in our Nation’s Capitol.   

 

All Bole shipmates are invited to a special promotion ceremony on the following day, Thursday, July 3, at 10 a.m., also at the Navy Memorial, when Commander Daryl R. Hancock, son of Association Vice-President Ray Hancock, will be advanced to Captain, U.S.N., in a formal promotion ceremony.  All shipmates are invited to Captain Hancock’s home on Thursday evening at 215 South Branch Court, Huntingtown, Maryland (about 40 miles south of DC) for a reception.  Details will be available at the Plaque Dedication Ceremony. 

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE FOR THE U S S JOHN A BOLE PLAQUE DEDICATION CEREMONY; 

 

 

WHEN:            Wednesday, July 2, 2008

 

WHERE:            U. S. Navy Memorial

                        701 Pennsylvania Avenue

                        Washington, D. C.  20004

 

TIME:              10:00 a.m.             Dedication Ceremony

                                                Recognition of Plank Owners

                                                Presentation of Commemorative Coins by

                                                (Captain Daryl R. Hancock and Admiral Tony Cothron)

 

 

                        11:00 a.m.            Reception in Presidents Room (Shipmates, guests,

                                                Memorial staff, and the public invited.

                        12:00 Noon            Wreath-Laying Ceremony

 

SPECIAL INFORMATION

 

SHIPMATES DINNER:     

TUESDAY, JULY 1, 2008:  This will be a special time for shipmates and family to

                                               meet, have dinner, and preview the next day’s historic

                                               events.  Please make plans to attend if possible. 

 

                                                Dinner at Phillips Flagship Restaurant

                                                900 Water Street, SW

                                                Washington, D. C. 20024

                                                 (This is an excellent seafood buffet on the Potomac River            

                                                  and it ranks among the best in the world in my opinion)

                                                  Dinner is at your own expense. Notify me in advance if  

                                                  you can attend so we can make advance reservations.  

 

LODGING / HOTELS:    Lodging, transportation, food, and all other expenses will be

                                            the responsibility of each individual shipmate.   There are

                                            numerous hotels and motels in the D. C. that are available

                                            at very diverse prices.

 

                                            I will probably be at the Willard Hotel,

                                            a very old and famous hotel downtown close to the Memorial.

                                            I’m paying about $160 per night. 1401 Pennsylvania Avenue

                                            N. W. (202 628 9100)

 

                                            Some shipmates have already made reservations at the

                                            Harrington Hotel, also downtown close to the Memorial at

                                            $110.  436 llth Street, N. W. (202 628 8140)

 

                                            I have also stayed at the Crystal Gateway Marriott by

                                            Reagan Airport at about $220 per night, 1700 Jefferson Davis

                                            Highway, Arlington, Virginia 22202 (703 920 3230).

                                         

                                            The Channel Inn is recommended by the Navy Memorial

                                            staff.  This is a full-service hotel with a great view and a

                                            fine restaurant.  Call toll free (800) 368-5668 or 202-554-

                                            2400 and ask for Lynn Neff.  Tell her June Jaeger at the Navy

                                            Memorial recommended her, and you’ll get a discount.

 

                                            I have heard there are some hotels/motels for less than $100

                                            per night in the areas a few miles from downtown.  The

                                            The Washington Metro/subway is a clean, easy-to-use

                                            Method of transportation throughout the area.  I

                                            recommend a downtown hotel for this event so that you can

                                            walk, take the metro (subway), or get a quick taxi. 

 

IF YOU WILL BE ABLE TO ATTEND ANY OF THESE EVENTS, PLEASE LET ME KNOW SO WE WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE APPROPRIATE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THE CEREMONY(S) AND THE DINNER.  THANK YOU!  

 

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CONTACT:

                                                                                            Ray Hancock

                                                                                             1202 Bevabeck Drive

                                                                                             Marion, Il  62959

                                                                                             rayhancock@verizon.net

                                                                                             (618 993 5579 (H)

                                                                                             (618 889 6140 (Cell)

 

 

 
 

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