USS Floyd B. Parks DD-884
"The Fightin' Floyd B"


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NEWSLETTER
July 2004


Dear Shipmates,

Hope everyone is staying healthy and thinking reunion in September.
Everyone should have received your Charleston reunion memory book by now, if you didn't receive yours please let me know.

There was a picture of the Orleck on the front page of the Tin Can Sailors Jan./Feb./Mar. issue. As most of you know the Orleck is back in Orange, Texas and is in the process of being restored, we may have a reunion in that area in the near future.

Received a letter from a person who is looking for any info about his grandfather Walter John Murawski, who served on the Parks in 52-54, he passed away in Feb. 96 if anyone remembers Walter or has any info about him please let me know.

Six of our shipmates have passed away since our last reunion, Lyle Anderson 52-53, Fritz Large 48-50, John Lively 49-50, John Thorson 50-52, Richard Ater 50-52 and Arthur Nokes 55-56.

Received a call from Jay & Helen Duffourc who missed our last reunion due to family illness, it was the only reunion they have missed since 1993, they are looking forward to Portland but are not sure if they can make it, Helen broke her foot and is having a difficult time with it, she has had 3 casts on it already and may have to have more. Please send her a get well card and encourage her to get well or come on crutches. Her address is 801 81h at. Westwego, LA 70094 504-341-1808.

If you have friends or relatives who would like to attend the reunion with you please bring them, they are completely welcome, just let me know their names so we can have names tags made for them.

Remember! The deadline for making your hotel reservation at the $69.00 rate is Aug. 15th, they have a 24-hour cancellation policy so there shouldn't be any problems if there are last minute changes. Phone number for reservations is 1-800-222-8733. Some people use their airline miles etc. when they make their hotel reservations, we don't blame you for this but please remember we have an attrition clause in the hotel contract and if we don't fill the rooms we contracted for we have to pay for them, so if you can use your airline miles etc. At another time or for another purpose we would really appreciate it.

If your e-mail address changes please notify Sue Birdsong at: bnsbirdsong@rnindspring.com, if your want an e-mail list she will e-mail one to you. If your home address or area code changes please notify me.

Our shipmate and committee member (sergeant at arms) Arthur Nokes passed away on Jan 19, 2004. I didn't know about this until 8 July. Art and I served aboard at different times but over the last 12 years Art and I became very close friends. Art attended most of the reunions and due to his health it was very difficult for him to attend some of them, but being a committee member he felt a responsibility to attend, he was very dedicated to the Parks Association and will be sorely missed by all his shipmates.

Don't forget our raffle, we already have some excellent items plus cash prizes, suggest you bring the return address labels you received in the mail to put on back of the tickets this makes it much easier for everyone and expedites the raffle at our banquet dinner.


If you have misplaced your reunion sign up form let me know and I'll send you another one. Just Received anew order of Parks caps, golf shirts & F.B. Parks license plates. Caps $10.00, golf shirts, & license plates, $20.00, plus $3.00 postage on each.

Membership list are available upon request, we have located quite a few new members since we established the website.

The last newsletter indicated your dues status, most people sent dues they owed, however some didn't if you are one that didn't, we would like them before the reunion.

Robby/530-283-2165

Some info you might find interesting....



Greetings Shipmates,

Hope everyone is enjoying the summer months. Loree and 1 have been busy gardening, as well as spending a week at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina with the children and the two grandsons. Debbie and her family have relocated to Auburn,
Alabama. We are very excited because Zack, our oldest grandson is only 3-4 hours away. August is fast approaching. I'm excited because our annual Parks reunion is just around the corner. This year the reunion will be held September 13-20 in Portland, Oregon. Hope that everyone will make plans to attend!

As I begin to write this newsletter, I found an article I shared some time back. After reading it, I thought it would be appropriate to share again. Minister Joe Wright was asked to open the session of the Kansas Senate. All were expecting the usual politically correct generalities, But what they heard instead was a stirring prayer, passionately calling our country to repentance and righteousness. The response was immediate and a number of legislators walked out during the prayer. In six short weeks, the Central Christian Church had logged more than 5,000 phone calls, with only 47 of those calls responding negatively. Paul Harvey aired the prayer on the radio and received the largest response ever.

Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask Your forgiveness and seek you direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, `Woe on those who call evil good, but that's exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reverted our values. We confess that
We have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and called it pluralism. We have worshipped other gods and called it multiculturalism.
We have endorsed perversion and called it an alternative lifestyle. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.
We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.
We have killed our unborn children and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.
We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem We have abused power and called it political savvy.
We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression.
We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, O God, and know our hearts today. Cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent by this great state. Grant them the wisdom to rule, and may their decisions direct us to the center of Your will.
I ask it in the name of Your Son, the Living Savior, Jesus Christ- With this in mind, let me share Psalm 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance.
Sincerely,

Herman W. Carter
Chaplain