It's that pesky on and off switch
Welcome shipmates, guests, and VA
officials.
This is the first time I've ever
held one of these,  we're gonna start the
ceremony with the Pledge of Allegiance.
and it's going to be led
by Ray BATIATO. Now please stand
and salute,  I pledge allegiance to the
flag
thank you Ray. This is the first time
I've actually recited that a long time.
We will we will now have some remarks by
Frank CUCCARO our association president.
 
Welcome!  Welcome.
This whole thing started in 2017 at our
reunion.  We took the tour of the Fort
Snelling Cemetery and John was taking us
around and showing us everything.
Then Andy Anderson came up with the
question how could we get something for
the USS Fort Snelling LSD-30 like this?
Well John said it's not hard a lot of
paperwork
take a little time.  But it could be done.
He was very happy to hear that there
was a ship called the USS Fort Snelling
LSD-30. John was a Marine for those of you have who haven't met him.
You know that's part of the Navy. 
Robert and Kathy started to look into
what it would take to get here it wasn't
easy.
They spent endless nights without sleep
trying to do everything.  Robert actually
designed the Ship Logo and he went out and
got prices and Kathy did endless paperwork Oh!
Oh my God and then they were phone calls
to get approvals to you know can we
start asking for donations and so on and
so forth.  You know in the olden days they
would wait til the next reunion to have
a meeting.  It would go year to year
to year it would get done probably
eventually. But we did what we had to do.
The board was very good very helpful,
took phone calls, because we couldn't
meet. We got approvals very quickly.
And of course there would be a phone
call to Minnesota or to Connecticut
from Robert to me.  Kathy would be on
the phone and we would just discuss
everything.  I want to thank Kathy and
Robert for all the work that they've
done to put this together.
I would also like to thank the board
which was Dominic, Robert, Bob Hottenstein, Fred
Conti,  my favorite sailor over here Dyson.
Dyson for all the help that they gave us
and Andy Anderson.  I'm sorry!  For all the
help that they gave us to get things
approved. To get this going. I and
I also would like to thank you the,
people who donated and made this happen. I want to thank you all.
This is something that we will remember forever. This is something that we can tell
our grandchildren about.  Someday
they may come up here to Minnesota and
see our Monument.  This is great.  
John,  thank you for getting us this spot
where they can see it from the road. 
This is great!  and with that I end thank you.
Thank you Frank. It's been an honor
to work on this.  To do this for the
Association as you welcomed Kathy and I.  And also Frank thank
you for saying everything, now I don't
have to make a speech, now you've said everything.
Andy our and Fort Shelling webmaster.
Andy our webmaster and one of our oldest members would like to say a few things now.
Thanks you Bob.
As many of you know I was the Fort Snelling from December 1955 until May of 1959.
She was 11 months old when I came on board.
She was the biggest thing I have ever seen.
I left Fort Snelling and stayed out of
the Navy about 85 days and went back in
and my next ship assignment was USS
Northampton CC-1. The President's Command Ship and then I went aboard the USS LaSalle LPD-3. which was designed after the Fort
Snelling design.  She was a landing ship
dock with the full helicopter pad landing area and
a smaller well deck and more vehicle
storage area than the LSD.
The LPD is one of the most versatile designed ships of Navy has and the newest the
very newest LPD is going to be LPD 30.
I don't think they'll name it Fort
Snelling, but it's possible.  We might
put on FaceBook we want it named
Fort Snelling. I want to thank Bob and Kathy and all of you
that had a part in creating this
wonderful monument in memory of our
sailors.  I want to thank all of you for
that. Being a history buff of the
Navy. I'm looking forward to the newest
innovations that the LPD 30 will have.
The Fort Snelling being one of the
forerunners.
The design is one of the most versatile
ships ever created. Thank you all
very much.  I appreciate the opportunity
to talk today. Thank you Andy
This monument is made out of granite
which should last maybe a thousand years.
The plaque on top and on the front are
made out of bronze. That should
last a few hundred years. Our great-great-grandchildren should be able
to come here and take a look at it.  The
plaque on top is one foot by two feet.
That is the veteran's administrations requirement that they
all stay that size.  Now and I think
that's great because you can walk up and
down this row and see all of them
looking very similar.  The symbol on the
front of the granite, which you all voted
you wanted to have that on there and I
was a little worried that it wouldn't
come out right but it came out great
and that's ten inches in diameter and
that really makes this monument stand
out as an individual looking monument.  I
will now invite John Knapp up
here to accept the monument.  You already
know he was instrumental in helping to
get this monument approved and installed.
Isn't that beautiful??
Hey! I don't want to insult the other
people, but I think it's probably the
most beautiful monument in the world
AMEN! And it's gorgeous!
Wow! Beautiful design. Roger thank you and
thank you for coming today.
distinguished guests, Miss. Kimberly
Wright the executive director of the
cemetery,fellow veterans,  ladies and
gentlemen.  it is my honor and it really
is my honor and privilege to welcome you
to this National Shrine.  let me change
that to your National Shrine.  The
dedication today that you are performing
on this monument is in honor and memory
of all the shipmates who served dutifully
on the USS Fort Snelling which now takes
the fitting and rightful place here at
this I love ground so appropriately
named in the same much like her.  In such
it is fitting that this monument takes
its perpetual place here in this honored
place. I noticed you were commenting
about you know that the size and the
dimensions and stuff and isn't that just
so military of us to keep everything in
order and in alignment and you know that
is the way it should be.
I mean I really appreciate the gentleman
that gave the Pledge of Allegiance
Pledge of Allegiance and called you to
attention and rendered the hand salute. I
wish we could continue to do that for a
long time for all of our citizens and
thank you for doing that.
Your dedication and generosity in
donating this monument it really speaks
powerfully of the unity and solidarity
of the American Veterans, all of you.
It also highlights the bond that exists
between America's Veterans and the
people in which they serve.
You know something we notice here at the
cemeteries in the weeks and the months
in the years following the dedication of
this ceremony we will see many people
stop by walk up and down and read these
monuments they will read the inscription
on your monument.   I want you to know
that something will be imparted upon
them,  They will stand there read it, they
will look around themselves and they
will understand that amongst this sacred
ground this is a place where the wounds
of war are healed. Where sacrifices
by so many are honored and understood.
But you should also know that this
monument will probably do much much more than that.  I'll touch so many people
that you will never know.  Often people
who have never worn the cloth of our
great nation.  It'll remind them that
freedom is not free. Just take a
moment to look around the landscape
around this monument.  You all know that
the price of freedom lies all around you
right now.  All here in this National
Shrine.  Your National Shrine.  So this
Monument
much like this Cemetery stands as a
place of peace for those who will all be
remembered who served on her decks. Today is an affirmation of this fact.
Today we continue to honor all those who have served and continue to serve and have
sacrificed for our liberties and our
freedoms.  So it is my honor on behalf of
the Department of Veterans Affairs in
the National Cemetery Administration to
accept this monument for it's perpetual
place. We as an organization promise
to care for it.  The trust the, honored trust you have given to us and
on behalf of the American people for
which it'll benefit.  May God Bless each
and every one of you. May God Bless
our great country.  That country which we
call America.  Thank you!
Thank You John you were so instrumental
in helping us achieve this and was your
enthusiasm when we were here two years
ago that really got us going John made
us very special trip here he was going
to be in Washington DC but he came here
special just so he could accept this
Monument
we will now conduct we will now conduct
our Memorial observance with being led
by Ray, Fred, Phil, Jean and Bob
first name is William D Atkins
Walt Atkinson,  Guenter Baartz
George Bailey
Gerald Barger,  Paul Barrett, James Berry,
Daniel O. Braasch, Eugene Bracken,  Russ
Bradford, James G Butler,  Stephen F. Chadwick,
Raymond Casares sorry Jesse
cold
Michael A Disidoro, Gene Derryberry,
Walt Deaver, Joseph de Pepe,  Michael A Disidoro,
Stanley A Drauss,  Francis Dubois, Jeston Dubois
Richard Duerr,  Gerald Eash,
Eddie J Edwards, Gene Fano,
Edward L. Flayhart, Sr., and Paul Flewwellin
Thomas Griffin,
Salvatore J Guercio, Arthur J Heart
Robert Harwood, Clifford Hinkle, Charles Hinman, Michael Hoffman, Alonzo Husley,
Guy A. Ingham, Wayne Kiekenbush,  Pete Krinner, John Layhee,  James Liska,
Andy McCormack, John P McIntyre, James
Mc Keone , John M Abbott, McClellan,
Lyle Burgess, Vernon T. Clark, Jr,  Jack R Horvath,  Bill Haas,
Andy McCormack. John P McIntyre, James Mc Keonel, Joseph Merchberger,
Brian Millspaugh, David Monez,  James D. Mueller, Frank Nelson, Thomas Paladino,
David W. Paranto, Sr.,  John Parton, Cecil A Patrick, James Perham,
Wayne E Phillips,  Michael Pittman,
Stephen Andrew Poklemba, Francis R Rich,
Bill Ruane, Foster Lewis Ruble
recently deceased
Commanding Officer USS
Fort Snelling Captain D. Mason Wells
recently deceased PETE KRINNER
Thomas Jeffers, Edward Chwalek, Milton Gabler, Dale Foss, Dean Foss,
Robert Selja, George Starring, Rick Steagall, Arthur Stillman,
Robert Taft, Chester A Todd Jr., Bryan Tiede, John J. Tully, Jr., Richard E
Villanueva, George Jay Wagner Jr,. Ron Waguespack, Robert L Waldron,
Robert D Ward, Bobby Wells
James White, Trent Williams, George Wilson
Thank you Ray, Fred, Bill, Bob and Gene for
conducting that solemn tradition with
our crew. This it gets longer all
the time just in a few years at Kathy
and I have been attending we will now
have the benediction by Andy
before we pray, I want say something about
oh I'm sorry!
Y'all know Veterans Day is November 11
and November 11 several service
organizations they provide a Red Poppy
for you to wear on your lapel that
tradition comes from Flanders field in
Belgium World War one where many
veterans are buried so I will now read
you a poem called Flanders Fields by John
McCrae
in Flanders Fields the poppies blow
between the crosses row on row that mark
our place and in the sky the larks still
bravely singing fly scarce heard amid
the guns below we are the dead short
days ago we lived felt dawn saw sunset
glow loved and were loved and now we lie
in Flanders Fields take up our quarrel
with the phone to you from failing hands
we throw
the torch be yours hold it high
if you break faith with us who die we
shall not sleep though poppies grow in
Flanders field
Lord of all we praise You for all who
have entered into the rest and reached
the promised land where You are seen
face to face give us grace to follow in
their footsteps as they followed in the
way of your Son. Thank you for the
memory of those who You have called to
Yourself by each memory turn our hearts
things seen the things unseen and lead
us till we come to eternal rest You
have prepared for your people through
Jesus Christ our Lord may the Lord Bless
you and keep you may the Lord make His
face to shine upon you and be gracious
to you
may the Lord lift up his countenance
upon you and give you peace. Amen!
Thank you Andy
One thing I was most worried about was
the weather. We certainly were blessed
today with a just perfect weather for
the ceremony.
So glad for that, I would like to thank
everyone who's attended both
Shipmates, Guests and the Veterans
Administration and especially John and
everyone who contributed in multiple
ways to make this monument possible and
I'd like to also again thank Dyson and
Walt it you've made this kind of special
I think you guys have been standing up
there we used to have to do when we were
on the ship from time to time I don't
know if I could stand that long in one
spot but you guys have great well that
concludes our ceremony everyone come on
up and take a look at what you all made
possible.  Thank you!
 
