16 August 2025: We currently have 17 members/former shipmates signed up for the 2025 TCHVA Reunion. All told there are 31 attendees to include spouses, family members, significant others or just plain old friends. Just to give you an idea, here are the members planning to attend: Ron Church; Ovidio Duran; John Ebata; Randy Fisher; Steve Holliday; Ron Koshko; Mark Lamboni; Jo MacMichael (Skip’s wife); Jimmy Maddox; Joseph Marchetta; Nelson Mertz; Dave Neimeyer; Orin Reams; David Rollins; Scott Ruerup; Dan Schubert; Bill Tylock.
We sure hope that many more of you are still planning to attend and just haven’t signed up yet. Easy enough to do, just click on the link or button highlighted below. It’s a wonderful venue, should be a very picturesque setting, and as always, a time to kick back and enjoy catching up with shipmates and friends from “back in the day”. I thank you in advance for your interest and more importantly, your participation. Cheers!
7 May 2025: Great News: here is the link to the Registration Form for the TCHVA Reunion in Portland Maine from 14 – 19 October 2025. It contains all the information you’ll need to either register online, or download the form to mail in. Hope to see many of you there!
Click on this link: https://www.events.afr-reg.com/e/USSHart25
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Right now we are planning for two days of group tours, one on Thursday 16 October 2025 and the second tour on Friday 17 October 2025. The two tours are as follows:
Tour #1: GREATER PORTLAND OVERVIEW: Lighthouses & Military Museum: This is an overview tour of Portland highlights from the old historic Old Port waterfront to Fort Allen Park overlooking Casco Bay. Guided tour of Maine Military Museum featuring the largest display of Vietnam POW uniforms and artifacts smuggled from prison. See three nearby lighthouses with admissions included to the Museum of Portland Head Light at Fort Williams. Also view the Memorial to the WWII Liberty Ships next to the sparkplug shaped lighthouse. Tour will end in Portland’s historic Old Port waterfront for free time. Walking maps and coupons for shops and restaurants provided. There is also an option to return to the hotel after the tour or keep the coach for the day to return to the hotel at your leisure as the coach will make shuttle runs back to the hotel from 12:30 – 4:30 PM. Cost for the tour will run between $95.00 – $115.00 per person depending on numbers of persons taking the tour (35 – 45 tourists).
Tour #2: KENNEBUNKPORT TOUR with a Downeast Lobster Bake: We will meet our local Maine Guide at the hotel in the morning. We will tour Kennebunkport and hear the history and folklore as we drive through two shipbuilding villages on Maine’s south coast. Drive past the beaches, the Bush family compound at Walker’s Point, hear the legend of the Wedding Cake House and maritime history of sea captains and shipbuilders. Stop at Franciscan Monastery with its seaside shrines and gardens. Next, we will don our souvenir lobster hat for a classic Downeast Lobsterbake Lunch. We will feast on your choice of Maine boiled lobster or barbequed chicken, plus chowder, steamed mussels o clams depending on availability, corn on the cob, Maine potatoes and blueberry cake. After lunch we will stop in Maine’s southernmost lighthouse in Cape Neddick. Stretch your legs and take in the picturesque view and salt air at the Nubble Light. Another photo op with Lenny the Chocolate Moose and a Sweet Treat awaits at Len Libby Chocolate before returning to the hotel. You’ve heard of chocolate mousse, but have you ever seen a giant chocolate moose? See what local chocolatiers created! Cost for the tour will run between $140.00 – $155.00 per person depending on numbers taking the tour (35 – 45 tourists).
There are a number of other “things to do” in the greater Portland area. Click on Things to do in Portland Maine or Google and check out Trip Advisor, or the Portland Visitor Center pages for other ideas. We are leaving plenty of time for folks to explore on their own or in small groups to get the most enjoyment from this reunion. And as always, the Hospitality Suite will be available for those who enjoy shooting the breeze, revising sea stories, or simply reconnecting with shipmates and families.
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue our planning efforts with the hotel and reunion planners to get final pricing and a Registration Site up and running.