From Jill Michel, Reunion Coordinator
In remembrance of the day that earned the USS Laffey DD724 the nickname “The Ship that Would Not Die”, 80 years ago on April 16, 1945 off Okinawa. Patriots Point Maritime Museum is having a Memorial Service & unveiling some new exhibitions.
We will be holding our 2025 Reunion, April 14th through 16th, 2025. Monday, April 14, Registration will be in the Patriots Room at Comfort Inn & Suites, Mount Pleasant, SC from 2pm to 7pm. Food will be provided. We are not planning tours around Charleston, most of our reunion will be held between the Comfort Inn, or Patriots Point.
Registration Fee is FREE. If you are planning on attending, you MUST make sure to contact us so we have an accurate count for the caterers, with a Cut-Off date of March 25th, 2025. Please only sign up if you will be there or make sure to notify us if you need to cancel. Please provide the name(s) of the people that will be attending along with the years that you/they served. Register for the reunion here… https://laffey.org/wordpress/index.php/2024/11/23/2025-reunion/
Please make your room reservation online through this booking link, https://www.choicehotels.com/reservations/groups/OS89Y3 . The cost of the rooms range from $129-$159, depending on the type of room you request. They are also giving us great rates before and after the specific dates of the reunion.
Registration info to follow Jill.michel@comcast.net or 1 (609) 870-0600
Itinerary for Reunion Attendees
This year’s reunion is almost here! April 14th through the evening of the 16th.
If you are bringing a donation for the auction, please bring them to the hospitality room Monday evening.
We will be selling 50/50 tickets every evening in the hospitality room & at registration.
Attached is a list of people that have registered. If you plan on attending and are not on the list, please let me know.
Monday, April 14
2pm-7pm. Registration will be at “The Point”, next to hotel by Omar Shriners hall, 176 Patriots Point Road, Mt. Pleasant, SC
Dinner will be ready 430-7pm. Cash Bar.
Hospitality room will be open after registration.
Chip Honsinger will have a presentation on U.S. Navy ships in Museums at 6pm at The Point.
Board Meeting will be held 730pm, Suite 321.
Tuesday, April 15
We will be following Patriots Points Itinerary. They would like us to stay on the ship from 10am-5pm
*Life of the Laffey with reenactment using some of the members that served on Laffey to be at their old stations & talk to visitors about what they did & what it was like living on the ship. They also have some Tin-Can vets that will be helping with the work stations.
Lunch will be served on the Laffey
They have also set up for speakers at different times during the day.
James Smith is planning on doing a late afternoon tour walking through the Kamikaze Attack. (James’ grandfather was a plank owner)
Wednesday, April 16
10am Memorial Service on fantail of Laffey
They have more speakers, throughout the day about the repairs that were needed after the attack, Okinawa, many original artifacts that have been taken out of storage for this event. They have even located the flag that was hanging during the attack.
Lunch will be served on the Laffey
They’re having a model made of the ship to represent it with all of the damage.
During the reunion, PP wants a photo of the families of the plank owners that are in attendance.
Wednesday Night 6-10
Farewell Dinner will be held on the Yorktown. Auction drawings, 50/50 drawing.
Followed by Casino Night