USS McMorris Reunion Details Oct 7-10, 2004 Philadelphia, PA.

USS McMorris DE-1036

Reunion Registration information and Itinerary information

Location: Philadelphia, PA
Dates: October 7, 8, 9, 10, 2004
Official Times: 7 Oct, 2004 3:00PM (check-in) until 10 Oct, 2004 Noon (check-out)
Hotel: Hilton Philadelphia Airport
4509 Island Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19153
Tel: +1 215-365-4150
Reservations: www.hilton.com or 1-800-HILTONS

We are all excited to have you join our 4th national reunion of the USS McMorris DE-1036 family of friends in Philadelphia, PA.

The Hilton Philadelphia Airport has been chosen as the host site for this great event. We have had our reunions at a Hilton Hotel before, and we would tell you that the quality of this hotel and the service staff will help to make an exceptional reunion experience for you.

The Hilton Philadelphia Airport is located right next to the Philadelphia International Airport. Should you arrive in Philadelphia by air, there is a courtesy shuttle to and from the airport on a 24 hour basis. Car rental is also abundant within the airport area with shuttle service available from your chosen rental agency, if you desire to rent a car. Parking at the Hilton Philadelphia Airport is complimentary to you.

You must make your own travel and hotel reservations. The reunion group is not responsible for this. You must however, register with the reunion group using the on-line form, or by contacting us directly. Once you arrive at the hotel and have checked in, (check-in time for the Hotel is 3:00PM), please let us know you have arrived by checking in with the USS McMorris Registration table in the lobby area. You will be given a name tag and reunion packet. A central meeting area will be designated for your convenience and enjoyment before the reunion group meets for the Thursday night 7 October 2004 gathering.

The room rate for our reunion group is $85.00 single/double occupancy (up to 4 people) plus the Philadelphia city tax of 14%. You must contact the hotel reservation department at 215-365-4150 (local) no later than September 7, 2004. Any reservations received after this date will be accepted in a room and rate availability only. You are responsible for room, tax and incidental charges. Reunion activity and meal events will be handled separately.

A special note about our hotel accommodations.

We have always made every effort to find the best hotels capable of handling, and who have had a history with reunion groups. We look for quality service, convenience and the hotels willingness to accommodate most if not all of our needs. This is a contractual agreement that requires we make minimum commitments to how many guests will be staying at the hotel during the reunion. If there was any one thing that I have found hard about planning the reunions, it was always making a wild guess as to how many people will be attending, and who will be staying in the hotel. I have already made that contractual commitment to secure the amenities available to our group on a no fee basis. Falling below that guarantee creates financial obligations to the reunion group above and beyond our normal expenses. It is for this reason that I ask you the following:

If you are coming from out of town, please make your reservations with the Hilton Philadelphia Airport. Some of you have relatives in the Philadelphia suburban area. They are welcome to join us should they choose. While I am certain they would love to have you stay in their homes, please consider staying at the hotel anyway.

If you live in and around the Philadelphia suburban / South Jersey area, consider staying over with us regardless. At least one night (Saturday) anyway, after the dinner/dance of 9 October, 2004.

This is a great hotel. The Hilton Philadelphia Airport has an elegant lobby area that connects to:

• The Landing Restaurant, open daily with buffet specials and ala carte specialties for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
• Players Sports Bar, with daily specials and a light fare menu
• Health club with indoor pool and exercise room
• 24 hour room service

All rooms include a hairdryer, coffee maker, iron and board, and on-command video featuring with express check-out.

Based on our room commitment, we will have a complimentary Hospitality room, event room for all meal, meeting, and services activities. The main event room includes a "cash" bar. Hospitality room beverages will be supplied by the reunion group.

While we have had some issues with this before, my recommendation is to make your hotel reservations locally with the Hilton, and resist the national on-line service to insure you receive the "reunion" room rate. Should you decide to arrive a day or so early, or stay and extra day or so, the Hilton Philadelphia Airport has agreed to hold the reunion room rate for our group. Always identify yourself with the McMorris Reunion Group.

USS McMorris DE-1036

Itinerary
October 7,8,9,10, 2004

7 October, 2004 3:00 PM: Check-in at Hilton Philadelphia Airport (Do not forget to find the reunion registration table in the lobby to get your name tag and reunion packet.) The hospitality suite will open at 4:00 PM

7 October, 2004 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM: "Front Street Feast" in the first floor main event room. This will be your opportunity to catch up with old and new friends in an informal atmosphere. Lot's a handshaking and laughs while catching up on old times. A feast of local Philadelphia food is on-hand to munch on while meeting up with the group. The table will include Salads, rolls and breads, a "South Street Sandwich Board of 6" Hoagies, Assorted oven baked Stromboli, South Philadelphia's Famous Grilled Cheesesteaks, Seasoned Curley Fries, Original Philadelphia soft Pretzels, and Taskykakes and Pies.

8 October, 2004 9:00 AM: Historic Philadelphia Tour in the most historic square mile in the country. The tour includes seeing the "Liberty" bell, the hallowed symbol of our nation's freedom. See where the Declaration of Independence was adopted: Congress Hall where Congress sat while Philadelphia was the capital of the United States from 1790-1800; Franklin Court, the site of the house and print shop of one of Philadelphia's most prominent citizens - Benjamin Franklin, and more. The next stop of the day is the Battleship New Jersey for a tour of the most decorated ship in the Navy, and lunch. The lunch will include Deli Sandwich's, Salad, assorted cookies and beverages.

8 October, 2004 Evening Hours: "Free Time" to explore the night life of Philadelphia. Dinner is on your own. Lot's of choices here. Can only suggest some possibilities. Some suggestions might be:

• South Street (The hippest street in town.) Dance, theater, food, music, shopping. Visit www.south-street.com. It boasts Antique Row, Headhouse Square, and a short walk to Society Hill. (I Like the Dark Horse Saloon on South 2nd St.)
  
  
• Manayunk (Shopping and Dining) Sits along the Schuylkill River, just west of center city, Main Street Manayunk is a 19th century mill town, that has been transformed into a contemporary shopping and dining destination. This district also includes late night pub music entertainment. Manayunk Brewery and Restaurant, Bella Trattoria, and Hikaru. I like the Grape Street Pup for late night music, or the Vodka bar upstairs in Sanoma's.
  
  
• Rittenhouse Square (Upscale shops and restaurants). Includes D'Angelo's Ristorante Italiano and Lounge, and Davio's Italian Steakhouse (Another favorite of mine.) Much more.
  
  
• Oldcity (Society Hill) Philadelphia Fish & Co., City Tavern, Coyote Ugly (hot dance music).
  
  
• Like Jazz and Blues - try Zanzibar Blue (selected best Jazz club in Philly.)
  
  
• Like Cigar Bars and Lounges? - Try Mahogany on Walnut (in the heart of restaurant row.)
  
  
• Like Pubs and Brewhouses? - Try Euology Belgian Tavern, Monk's Café. I recently went to a birthday party at the Dark Horse Pub in Society Hill. Very Cool.
  
  
• King of Prussia - One of the largest shopping malls in the country. Restaurants all over the place. One of my personal favorites is an Italian restaurant called Maggiano's (need reservations), The Cheesecake Factory, Ruth Chris Steakhouse, and Morton's Steakhouse. Also there is a micro brewery in the Mall called Bottoms Up. Behind the mall is Champps (a large, active sports bar), and a new one called Bahama Breeze, and the Fox & Hound. Much more.
  
  
• Delaware Avenue - Lot's of restaurants and clubs along the Delaware River waterfront (Penn's Landing). Pedestrian walkways connect this area from Old City walkways at South Street, Walnut, and Chestnut Streets.
  
  
• Chinatown, located just blocks off of City Hall, includes The Gallery in the Market East Train Station, is the nation's largest inner city mall. The Reading Terminal Market is also close by.

  Well, there is just so much more…….

9 October, 2004 8:00 AM: Business Meeting At the Hilton Philadelphia Airport

9 October, 2004 9:00 AM: Valley Forge Tour and Lunch - Of all places associated with America's War for Independence, none conveys the suffering, sacrifice and ultimate triumph more than Valley Forge. No battles were fought but thousands of American soldiers died during the winter of 1777-78. We will tour Washington's headquarters, soldiers huts, the Memorial Arch and Chapel. After completing this tour we will lunch at the Valley Forge Brewing Company close by in Wayne, PA. This includes a choice of sandwich, dessert and non-alcoholic beverage.

9 October, 2004 6:00-11:00 PM: Dinner Banquet At the Hilton Philadelphia Airport. Our final group gathering is an evening of food, music, and dancing for your enjoyment. Dinner entrée's will be your choice of Delray Chicken (sautéed boneless breast of chicken, topped with lump crab meat and gulf shrimp, in a sweet pepper lobster cream sauce), or Prime Rib of beef (cracked black pepper and garlic crusted prime rib of beef served in its natural juices with horseradish cream.) Entertainment will be provided by Tim McCoy of TNT Entertainment. Formal dress is not required, but a jacket and tie and a dinner dress are recommended.

10 October, 2004 9:00-10:00 AM: Morning Services This is a moment to set aside to remember our fallen shipmates. A few words and a moment of silence provides us with the opportunity to reflect on those who are no longer with us.

10 October, 2004 10:00 AM-12:00 PM: Goodbyes and Departure. The hospitality suite will be open to congregate to say goodbye. Official check-out of the hotel is 12 noon.

An on-line registration form is (click here). This will allow us to see who has registered with us for the reunion. (A list of those already registered is here.) It will also allow us to determine what prepayments you will need to make prior to your arrival in Philadelphia, based on the activities and events you choose.

Payment: We will only accept your personal check for reunion activities. The reunion group is not set up to receive credit card payments.

Important Dates to Remember

• Reunion dates: October 7, 8, 9, 10, 2004
• Hotel Reservation: To be made directly to the Hilton Philadelphia Airport, no later than September 7, 2004 (If you make your reservation after that date, we cannot guarantee your room availability.)
• Event and meal prepayment: To be paid to the reunion account. Make checks payable to: USS McMorris Reunion or to Harvey L. Reynolds Jr. 1020 Pross Road Lansdale, PA 19446 no later than September 10th, 2004.

Service Charges

All costs for hotel events and meals are subject to a 20% service charge and a 7% State/City Tax. Additionally, there is a 10% City Alcohol Tax applied to all drinks served at our events.

 

If you are planning on attending the reunion, please let us know as soon as possible. You can register on-line, and do not have to make prepayment unless registering close to the prepayment deadline. Some of you may learn of this event after our deadlines. That is ok. Let us know you are coming. If you register and have to cancel, that is ok as well. Please let us know well in advance if you possibly can. If you think you would like to come, but are never really certain, please just tell us you cannot make it. We must be careful to let the hotel well in advance of any changes in room or meal requirements, otherwise we are subject to financial penalty. If you decide to come and do not let us know, (which has happened), we cannot guarantee your room availability or your food requirements. Guests are welcome, such as relatives or friends. They are subject to the same requirements for registration and prepayment.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask myself or your liason contact. We want your reunion to be enjoyable and fun for all. We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible. Don't forget to bring your memorabilia with you. We will set up in the hospitality suite for everyone to view your stuff".

With Best Regards,

Skip Reynolds
Reunion Coordinator
Ph (267) 664-0536
Cell 610-972-1836

January 25th, 2004