| Wm. “Bud” Kautz,
  CCBW - 34782 Hiawatha Trail, McHenry, IL 60050 (815)344-6326 e mail REDLABELBUDDHA@aol.com FEBRUARY 2002 NEWSLETTER ********************************************************************************** There were 39 attendees representing 13 states at our
  reunion in Nashville this year. As usual Stan Dunn furnished
  the beautiful flowers for our reunion. At the business meeting in Nashville
  on Saturday, October 13'
  2001 Walter and Jackie Umbarger made the offer to host the 2002 reunion in Indianapolis, IN and
  were whole heartedly met with approval by the
  members in attendance. October was the month agreed
  upon. The 14th Annual U.S.S. Lowndes reunion will be held in
  Indianapolis, IN on October 17, 18 &
  19, 2002 Details will be forwarded in a future newsletter as soon as all
  necessary arrangements have
  been made. Marty and Rowana Umbarger, son and daughter-in-law of Walter and Jackie are making the arrangements. Home base for this operation
  will be ihe Indianapolis Athletic Club - 350 North Meridian
  Street - (317)634-4331. The room rate will be $80.00 with parking included.
  This rate will be in
  effect for 3 days prior and after the reunion. Enclosed with
  this newsletter is a stamped and
  addressed postcard asking for information regarding
  the 14th Annual Lowndes reunion. PLEASE indicate your intentions and return it
  PROMPTLY. Do not lose it. It is important that Marty and Rowana Umbarger have this
  information to make the necessary preparations for a
  successful reunion. Let’s not give them an ulcer as we did John and Lebby
  Dyer. As noted, the cards are
  to be mailed to me (Bud). I will be in constant touch with the Umbargers. There has been a delay in
  putting this newsletter in the mail. Marty was called up for duty in the
  National Guard and had to report on
  December 30th. The task has been dropped into Rowana’s capable
  hands, everything is progressing very well. ********************************************************************************** Indianapolis is the Capital of Indiana and is considered
  the “crossroad of America.” The origin of the name Indiana meaning
  "Land of the Indians.” Nickname - Hoosier State. George Rogers Clark led
  American forces against the British
  during the Revolutionary War. It was the 19lh state admitted to
  the Union. Present constitution adopted in 1851. Oh
  yeah! Official language is English. The average temperature in October is
  54.8 degrees. At one time the 41 mile
  Lake Michigan was one of the world’s great industrial centers. The state is a
  leader in agriculture with corn
  the principle crop. (Will have to check this out
  with Jim Frieden).There are many attractions in and around the city,
  war memorials, Naval armory, a cathedral and of course the famous
  Indianapolis Speedway 500 mile track. (Your
  editor of the newsletter, in Sept, 1941 had the privilege of driving around
  that 2-1/2 mile oval in his ’36 Olds for
  the princely sum of 25 cents, of course the guide climbed into the car so we had to hold it down to a very moderate
  speed.) There have been many noted celebrities born in this state, to name a
  few, Frank Borman, astronaut;
  Hoagy Carmichael, songwriter; James Dean, actor; David Letterman, TV host
  & comedian; Cole Porter,
  songwriter; Ernie Pyle, journalist; Knute Rockne, football coach and Red
  Skelton, comedian. ********************************************************************************** There are a total of 15 eating
  establishments 0.1 to 0.3 miles from the club. (Walking distance?). There is
  also a restaurant on the Club’s premises. The Veterans Memorial Plaza also is close by for
  the distaff side of our reunion group. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is located at 4790 W. 16th
  St. between 16th St, Georgetown and 30th St. *********************A*****^******^******^*****«*********4r******************tAr***** The Indianapolis
  Athletic. Club (See enclosed brochure) will be the home base for our
  operation in Indianapolis. The
  Club is located at the intersection of Meridian and Vermont Streets located
  just across the street from the
  War Memorial and University Park. Check in time is 3:00 PM - Check Out time
  is 11:00 AM. | 
| (Note: Information for Ed. King:
  check in time 3:00 PM.) | 
| Dean and I are both
  pretty good except for the usual aches
  and pains. We sold our house, had an auction
  moved into an apartment last fall.
  We sure love it, it was just too much work at the
  house. Have had nice weather until
  December and now we got snow and temperatures getting cold. 20 degrees in the morning. It was good to see everybody in Nashville for another
  good Lowndes reunion. We enjoyed the
  activities planned by the Dyers as well as our stay
  at the hotel. Everything was great. We had a good
  trip to Nashville and a good return trip. The
  color changes of the foliage was
  beautiful. I found it hard to believe the big change in
  just those few days. Buell and I are about the same as a year ago. I probably
  wrote a year ago that Buell had a stroke in
  January of 2000 and settled at the
  Missouri Veterans Home in Cameron, MO. He has
  held his own with “ups” and “downs” and still
  enjoys eating and having visitors. He is in
  the ‘D’ wing of the home. As for me, I spend the
  winter near home, with son, Jim and his wife,
  Deb. They take good care of me. In April the
  family surprised me with a big neighborhood 80th
  birthday party. As summer set in, I decided to
  try living back home on Highway Z. Have
  managed pretty well, with help from all the
  kids. I have gotten back into flowers and sew for
  the necessities, learning how to cook again has
  been fun. And of course, my six cats
  eat gourmet two times a day. My sister
  Kathryn lives close by and helps me a lot. We run
  around and shop together. The apple crop was
  good this year with over thirty pies in the
  freezer. The winter weather will probably slow me
  down a bit but hope I can be busy inside. Best
  wishes to all for a good 2002. Great news: Received
  a Christmas card from Mrs.
  Florence Richards, “Am still here, 101 plus years. | 
| It’s always fun to see the Lowndes gang, but every year
  a few more check out. After leaving
  Nashville we drove to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, then
  through the Smokies to Asheville, NC. I’m doing as well as expected, it gets better every day. I
  hope to make some of the reunions, maybe next
  year. My oldest grandson is staying
  with me, he’s going to graduate school for
  his masters degree, it’s nice to have someone
  in the house to cook for, it’s not as lonely. Went to Hawaii for the 60th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor. A
  long tiring trip, still recovering. As Governor of New York I want
  to thank the U.S.S.
  Lowndes shipmates for their recent generous
  contribution to the Relief Fund. Your donation
  will be invaluable in our efforts to help the
  families of the victims of the September 11, 2001
  terrorist attacks. I appreciate your
  generous support of our recovery efforts
  making a difference in the lives of these families.
  Although they may never have a chance to
  thank you personally, you can be certain that
  each of them will be forever grateful for the way
  in which you and your fellow citizens came
  to their aid in the hour of greatest need. This contribution was made for the ribbons passed out
  at our Nashville reunion. Our daughter Pam
  Hennessey was part of a group in Madison, Wl that made these ribbons. Thanks Pam. Frank’s Alzheimer’s disease is progressing very
  slowly. We sure missed going on the last trips,
  but we hear from Walt and Jackie Umbarger that they had a good time. We wish Frank well
  and hope to see him and Joyce
  soon. | 
| When I saw this puzzle, my first
  thought was that some of the Lowndes
  crew might enjoy it as I have. I would have had
  trouble remembering the names of WWII Battleships, but the
  listing at the bottom helped. Amelia and I are doing well. The holidays were enjoyable, nothing real exciting, time spent with the
  family enjoying our grandchildren, plus
  hearing from old friends. What could be better? Lebby and
  John Dyer did a great job arranging everything,
  particularly considering that they had to do everything long distance. I thought the
  hotel accommodations were
  very good. We are looking forward to the reunion in
  Indianapolis. | 
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| OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM The Star Spangled Banner is a relative newcomer as our
  national anthem. It’s only been that way for
  the last 70 years, since March 3, 1932, When
  President Hoover signed it into law. While
  Francis Scott Key wrote the words, the origin of
  the music goes back to 1780. John Stafford
  Smith, an Englishman, wrote the song,
  titled it Anacraon in Heaven, and presented it to
  the Anacreon Society, which was a drinking
  club! It took another two years to repeal the
  Volstead Act. There was a time when everyone
  would stop whatever they were doing, stand, and place the right
  hand over his/her heart,
  whenever the Star Spangled Banner was played. It was played so often on the radio, during
  the months following Pearl Harbor, that
  President Roosevelt issued a proclamation that it
  was no longer necessary to do so. He did this
  because people driving cars would literally stop
  the car, get out, and show their respect until
  the anthem was over. People working in war
  plants, would also stop and show their respects,
  thus interfering with war materials production. Salute to the American FSag I was born a long, long ago...I was small at first, and had only
  a circle of 13 stars...I have grown a lot since
  then, and now have 50 stars shining in my bright
  blue background...! am seen in every land where
  your sons and daughters guard the freedom of our
  country...I am a mirror—a reflection to each person on his own ideals and dreams...I am an
  inspiration to small children everywhere of what
  they want their lives to be...I am also a memory to
  the elderly of all that life has been...! stand for
  your history; I stand for your principles and your
  government; I stand for hope and peace. I stand
  for dreams and brotherhood; I stand for new
  achievements...my colors are bright and strong. I will
  ripple proudly in the breeze as long as you entrust
  me with courage, faith and strength. I am loyal
  and I am true. I cry when | 
| people wish me harm.
  I arn freedom and I am democracy. Please
  stand and place your hand over your heart and join together in a salute to the greatest flag
  and this country in which we live. FOR I AM YOUR AMERICANFLAG Author Unknown In 1998 Stan and Mona Dunn hosted our 10th
  annual reunion in Honolulu, Hawaii. It was at U.S.S. Bowfin
  (the Pearl Harbor Avenger) that Stan furnished
  the banquet meal of Rock Cornish Hen and a
  beef roast that he prepared. We visited the
  Arizona Memorial and were invited to enter the
  Bowfin submarine for an on site tour. In the
  movie “The Hunt for Red October,” a visit to
  the World War II submarine will be quite a
  shock, comparing it to a modern submarine is like
  comparing a beat up jeep to a sport utility
  vehicle. Modern attack submarines are about 33 feet in
  diameter, 360 feet long and displace 7,000 tons.
  The Bowfin and other Hellcat submarines
  from World War II were but 16 feet in diameter,
  312 feet long and displaced a mere 1,800 tons.
  Submarines of the Bowfin era were only for the stout of heart. As any submarine veteran
  will attest. No class of ship was more decisive
  during World War II than the sub, nor risky. A
  waterfront memorial at USS Bowfin Submarine
  Museum and Park pays tribute to the 52
  submarines and 3,500 submariners lost
  during WW II. Launched a year to the day after the
  attack on Pearl Harbor, Bowfin made nine
  combat patrols during WW II, averaging 44 days
  each. It was sent to the mothball fleet in
  1971 and opened to visitors in 1981 Thanks to Stan it was a very
  rewarding experience, both
  to visit the Bowfin and the Arizona Memorial. Ed
  McKeller hosted a lunch at Pokai
  Bay. The very beach that
  the Beach Party spent nights in foxholes while training
  for future landings on enemy beaches. Learned much
  later that it was two Jima and Okinawa. The USS Missouri
  had been towed to Pearl Harbor previously and
  although it wasn’t open to the public a few of our shipmates managed to get aboard. In 1945 Congress officially recognized the Pledge of Allegiance. | 
| INFORMATION SHEET | 
| Need input from
  members of the Reunion Group regarding any information to i newsletters. Use this
  sheet, front and back if necessary. Check roster for any changes or that are to be made,
  especially telephone area codes that seem to be forever changing, ease re ai the enclosed roster
  lists for your records. Any changes that are made will be noted in u ure newsletters. | 
|                                                                                                                                                                   ANNUAL DUES - 2002 U,S,S. LOWNDES - APA 154 REUNION GROUP NAME:                                                                                                                                                                         ADDRESS:.                                                                                                                                                                 CITY, STATE & ZIP:
                                                                                                                                                       TELEPHONE:( )                                                                                                                                                            ENCLOSED MY DUES: $DATE:
                                                                                                                                       | 
| MAIL  | 
