Cocoa Beach Reunion Photos 

Awards & Presentations from the 6th Reunion

Letter of Appreciation for Master Chief Hudson
 2001 - Leadership & Friendship Award to Rick & Marci Stubbs
Special Thanks for People Who Helped at the Reunion
 
Shipmates and their ladies of the USS Robert E. Lee (SSBN 601) Association had a great time at the 6th reunion of 26 & 27 October 2001 at the Hilton Hotel, Melbourne Beach, Florida. Wish you could have joined us for the gala event.
 
This reunion was special, we were honored by having MTCM, Jeff Hudson, COB of the Wyoming as our guest speaker at our Grand Ball Diner Saturday night and his gracious wife Lisa spoke to a group of our ladies while the men held a business meeting Saturday afternoon.
 
Chief Hudson's speech was "Moving." Many of us old sea dogs and wives had tears in our eyes and lumps in our throats because he spoke with such conviction, honesty, experience, and commitment. When he was finished I was so overcome with emotion and pride that it was very difficult for me to continue speaking and carry on with following reunion activities. Many of us old boat sailors, for whatever reason, had developed reservations or doubts about today's young men manning our submarines. Our reservations and doubts were put to rest by Chief Hudson. He is an exceptional young man that convinced us that there were many more like him. He is one of those special people, who, if you had to go to war, you would pick him to be at your side. I and many others shall never forget the speech by Chief Hudson, many want him back for our reunion in 2003 in New Orleans. We should be so lucky. He is a gentleman and a true Submariner. We were fortunate to be able to have Chief Hudson share time and speak to us. We had a good reunion without Jeff, but a great one with him. Our hat is off to Chief Hudson and the men of today's Submarine Force.
 
Sincerely,
Larry Sandberg  

USS Robert E. Lee (SSBN 601) Association 
2001 Leadership & Friendship Award

Fred & Donna Williams

For going beyond the call of duty in Leadership of the Association and Friendship to your shipmates

 The Association Newsletter you developed is a major communication tool for the Association. This is the Associations first organized, planned, and professional newsletter. Your hard work is deeply appreciated and we all look forward to many newsletters in the future. 

THANK YOU & WELL DONE

For all our Shipmates,
Larry Sandberg, President

USS Robert E. Lee (SSBN 601) Association 
2001 Leadership & Friendship Award

Rick Stubbs & Marcie Hale

For going beyond the call of duty in Leadership of the Association and Friendship to your shipmates

 As Secretary/Treasurer from 1995 until 2000 you were key ingredient to the day to day operation of the Association and you were the key element in the overwhelming success of 1997 and 1999 reunions. 

Your hard work is deeply appreciated by your shipmates. 

THANK YOU & WELL DONE

For all our Shipmates,
Larry Sandberg, President

Special Thanks for People Who Helped at the Reunion


On behalf of the entire Association, I would like to thank all of those who came and helped make this a very special occasion.  Special thanks and BRAVO ZULU to Larry Sandberg for organizing the entire affair and for working so hard behind the scenes to make it a success.  Thank you Jerry McWilliams for your tireless efforts both before and during the Reunion to collect the fees, register shipmates, run the ship's store and countless other tasks you performed.  Thanks to Frank Lister for helping Larry arrange for Master Chief Hudson to speak at our reunion.  Thanks to Mike Hartung for arranging the Bahamas cruise and for scouting out hotels for Larry last year.  A warm hug for my daughter, Cherie, her husband Tim Meehle and their friend Suzzie Neuman who "manned" the registration table, ran the Ship's Store and were our DJ's for the Disco party. 

Tim VeArd