SS
UNITED STATES
REUNION
Windmill Point Restaurant
Nags Head, NC
October 2, 2004
Click any image to see an enlarged view.
| Upon entering the Windmill Point Restaurant you're greeted by the Ship's Bell from the SS UNITED STATES - and the first of many images of the Big U - hundreds - to be discovered throughout the restaurant and lounge. | |
SS
UNITED STATES Click any image to see an enlarged view. |
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In advance of the evenings celebration there was time for some great show-and-tell - with crew members bringing treasures and momentos that documented their career. At right: Nick Landiak holds his maiden voayge medal - presented to him by William Francis Gibbs. |  |
| The reunion was a great success, with guest enjoying seeing friends from long ago - as well as sharing in viewing the video presentations by the SS UNITED STATES Conservancy. |  |
One of the amazing video's presented was created by crew member Dan Keating - and included incredible movies of the crew enjoying off duty time! |
 SS UNITED STATES Engineer Tom Young and his wife Ann Welan with one of the USL eagles looking over their shoulder. On the Big U - the eagle was everywhere. |
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The evening included audio and video presentations, reading of goodwill messages from Captain Tucker, Governor Pataki and much more. |
 Big U enthusiast Carl Weber and Crew Member Paul Bence shared a table with many other honored guests. |
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Susan Gibbs read the first words spoken by her Grandfather to the crew aboard the new SS UNITED STATES super liner in 1952. |
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Left to Right: Engineers
Bill Murphy and Joe Belanger, Navigation Officer
Gerard
Petroni,
Engineer Aurthur Taddei and Crew Member Joe Rota. |
 Joe Rota meets Dr. Sarah Forbes at the Windmill Point Restaurant early Saturday. |
 Commodore Leroy Alexanderson |
NCL's Peter Randall shared positive news regarding the future of the SS UNITED STATES. |
Before the reunion, crew members came by the Windmill Point where they were interviewed on camera for an upcoming documentary. Between shoots old friends had a chance to catch up. Below: Joe Belanger joins Marie and Nick Landiak, and their son Mark.
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On the right: Arthur Taddei was on the maiden voyage and the back of his medal from WF Gibbs recognizes the exceptional service given. Crew members present spoke highly of Gibbs and the respect he gave others. To the left is the face side of the medal - in this case, Nick Landiak's. |  |
 Some crew members brought boxes and files - documents, articles and more - all a treat for Big U fans. |
Early plans like these were given to engineers in the spring of 1952.  |
 Cornelia Mueller and Susan Gibbs at Saturday brunch. Cornelia brought a treasure trove of Big U memorabilia. |
 Arthur Taddei and Nick Landiak. |
 Larry Discoll's great book on the SS AMERICA was one of many items in the silent auction. |
 A documentary featuring crew members recollections is being produced. Here SS UNITED STATES Navigation Officer Gerard Petroni goes before TV cameras. Mr. Petroni served on the U 1965-66-67. |
Nick Landiak, Executive Engineer. Nick signed on as 2nd Ass't Engineer and quickly was promoted to 1st Ass't Engineer. He served as first engineer and relieving Executive Chief Engineer. |
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 Alex Rodell and Maryanne listen and watch with many others as awards are presented. |
 Greg Norris of the SSUSC |
 Joe Belanger and his wife Dorothy. Joe was 2nd Assistant Engineer - 1952 through 1969 and commanded the Lead Engine Room. |
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At left, Jeff stands at a doorway in the WIndmill Point - click to enlarge and see where the door came from - as did most everything else in the restaurant. |
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 Bill Murphy, 2nd Asst Enginer worked the 4-8 watch in the Forward Engine Room - 1955 - 1969. With him is crew mate Joe Belanger. They're standing in the lounge next to the bar from the 1st Class Ballroom - and behind them art, prints and photographs of the SS UNITED STATES. |
To learn more about the |
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| Big U Passenger Catherine Brady and Dr. Sarah Forbes, owner of the Windmill Point Restaurant. In the background, stairs to the SS UNITED STATES Lounge - and yes, those handrails are from the ship - just one of hundreds of Big U touches included by Dr. Forbes at the Windmill Point Restaurant. | |||
The Outer Banks Sentinel reported on the Reunion
in their 10/5/2004 issue. To learn more about the new SS UNITED STATES Conservancy visit the SSUSC web site. Have you seen Joe Rota's fantastic Big U Photos? Take a look! Have dinner at the Windmill Point Restaurant in Nags Head, NC If you did not get advanced word on this SSUS
event, then you're not on the Update list.
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