59th Reunion of the 62nd Battalion Navy Seabees

This year the Seabees gathered in Davenport, IA in September.  

It was the 59th reunion and planned as the last.  

These brave men served in WWII and survived Iwo Jima.  

My Dad is a Seabee and I have come to think of the other Seabees & their families as my extended family.

It was a bittersweet gathering this year, knowing it might be the last time we see one another, but with the aging of the veterans making it more and more difficult to travel, the attendance has become more family and friends than actual Seabees.

So, it was planned as the last and it was a celebration of 59 years of friendship.

Friday evening we were entertained by a magician that kept us guessing and gave us some good laughs.

Saturday was for visiting.

One Seabee, Anthony Canova, who couldn't travel was hooked up via Skype to talk to a couple of his mates.  His daughter Theresa managed the hook up and coached the guys on how to Skype.

Dad watches as Roy is talking via Skype to Anthony Canova (Theresa's Dad)

Dad on Skype with Anthony Canova.  An interesting experience for both.

Meanwhile, the Johansen kids had lots of fun in the pool on Saturday.

Jumping in over and over again, playing with Grandpa Glenn and getting pruny.

Jake, Glenn & Charli

Charli, Jake, Payton, Wynni, Jackson

Breanna, Wynni, Milli, Payton, Jake & Jackson

Saturday evening, everyone had fun playing the usual frenzied Crazy Bingo.

The littlest kids were a little confused about the stealing of prizes, but eventually they got into the swing, only a few tears were shed.

Johansen clan gearing up for the crazy bingo;
Andy, Alyxis, Kathy, Milli, Payton, Charli, Dana, Erin Jackson, Kaija, Breanna, Krista & Glenn

Once the stealing of gifts starts, it is mayhem. 

Dad, Howard, Gary, Crystal, Jennifer and Emma

 All the 'valuable prizes' are revealed to the lucky winners.

Afterglow...

Dad & Ev are well known in the family to enjoy a last cocktail or two after the main event and we all call this Afterglow.

Dana & Erin, Andy & Michelle, Dad & Ev joined me for the afterglow this year.

Andy had a special commemorative bottle of Jack Daniels that he got after his last tour in Iraq, and he wanted to share a drink of it with his Grandpa & brother.

This sequence of photos makes me laugh, as I see them being serious and then totally cracking up over something.

Yet another successful Afterglow.

Sunday is always the business meeting and a memorial service.

This year was even more emotional than most as we prepared to depart for the last time.

The 4 Seabees who attended this year.
John Hartford, Wally Johansen, Roy Raeber, and Ed Crowthers
Friends and fellow WWII veterans.

J Men:  Glenn, Dana, Dad & Andrew

Wally & Alyxis

 As people were packing up to leave, my great niece Alyxis was finishing off a donut,
or at least the frosting on the donut.

Alyxis & her Mom, Michelle 

Couple of silly J girls.

This year's reunion was a nice Seabee reunion and even more fun because all of Glenn's kids and grandkids and even a great grandson were able to attend.