Ex Officio
By Zeke Zemaitis

Upon reflection, it was a wonderful experience to be president of an organization that carries on through the efforts of its members. The two years went by very rapidly and working with the administrators of the organization made my humble tasks easy by comparison.

The "Neptune Association" of VP-11 is a lot of fun and after our last reunion I know that it will endure. It is however, a very finite group and with that in mind, I will ask our new president to consider a way to perpetuate it after our membership ceases to exist.

When Dick Eisley started this group, the very first get-together showed a consolidation and friendship not seen by many other groups. It was a lot of fun working with the "EIS" and traveling to Maine to arrange our Brunswick reunion back in 1995. In the beginning, there were people willing to take on the tasks necessary to get this P2V, at gross weight, off the ground. These people are still the engines of the organization and thanks to all of them, we are enjoying the comraderie of old and true friends. As we move on we become painfully aware that some will outlive others. The names keep coming on year after year and they remind us that we have an obligation to never forget our friends who willing served their country. I'm sure that they too have enjoyed and would want us to continue our gatherings for as long as possible. Communication through the internet makes getting the word to all concerned a simple procedure. Our reunions allow us to affirm the direction we want to take.

I congratulate ail our new officers and wish them well. To our enlisted brethren, I want to say, thank you for rekindling our old friendships and for reminding those flying the machines that we were not perfect, as was demonstrated by some of our stories.

It boils down to what professor Jaques Alexandre Cesare Charles said after the first free flight in a manned hydrogen balloon. "Nothing will ever equal that moment of exhilaration I which filed my whole being when ! I felt myself flying away from the I earth. It was not mere pleasure; it was perfect bliss." That was said in 1783 and as far as I'm concerned it still applies today.

Thanks Zeke for serving as our first president. You and your team have done a magnificent job of formalizing, organizationally and financially, VP-11 Neptune Association - a first class outfit. I am honored to relieve you.

Lot's of e-mail traffic - positive vibes about the Virginia Beach Reunion. They all include kudos for the local VP-1 lers (led by Phil Connell) who put together and executed this well-organized event. By all accounts, it may have been the best yet. - lots of activities - no loose ends. WELL DONE to Phil and his team Truth is it's hard to grade a squadron reunion. When you enter a "VP-11 READY ROOM" filled with special friends who met 10,20,30,40 (and more) years ago and who greet one another with a hug, the reunion is already a success.

Considering that we had six first time reunioners from California, Minnesota, New England and repeat participants from as far away as Spain, venue is certainly not the only key to success of these reunions. VA Beach, Brunswick, Pensacola, or Malta - it really doesn't matter where we assemble.

It's the commitment we make to attend and the people who pull it all together. Thanks to all who worked so hard to make our reunion an unqualified success, and thanks to all of you who could attend. Having said that, there were several missing faces in Virginia because of scheduling problems or sickness. You were missed, but we know you'll be there next time around. You receive this newsletter because you asked to be "included". If you missed the VA Beach extravaganza, try to get to the next one - you won't regret it. Reunions are always deep feeling, whether high school, family, or service-related because they bring us "home" to a very impressionable time of our lives. In 2002 you'll be invited to come home to VP-11 where you can share with some great guys and gals those memories too important to forget.

Newsletter Table of Contents

Shipmates Speak
Rollcall
Sea Stories
Association Notes
And More!!!

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"VP-11 Neptune Association"

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