DD-748 Reunion - Day 2

On day 2 of the Hubbard reunion our group went by bus to La Jolla, CA. Our first stop was at the Mt Soledad National Veterans Memorial where we held our annual memorial service for our departed shipmates. Then we visited the Stephen Birch Aquarium.

The entry sign.

The memorial monument was undergoing restoration.

 The views from the memorial were breathtaking.

 The monument is surrounded by many rows of circular walls with thousands of black marble plaques honoring our veterans.

Both sides of the walls had plaques.

 Some of the more notable plaques were for General Patton,

Jimmy Stewart,

 Bob Hope

and Dwight Eisenhower.

 The DD-748 reunion group gathers for our memorial service.

 The traditional wreath honoring our departed shipmates is carried down to the flagpole.

 And gently placed as Taps is played.

The DD-748 wreath.

Could there be a better place for our wreath?

Our next stop was at the Stephen Birch Aquarium.

 Lots of coral reef displays,

 fish,

 exotic sea horses,

turtles,

 and baby gators.

 We then stepped outside to enjoy the views.

 Purdy!

 Susan and I pose with our Navy friends Otto and Charlene Brock.

 I never knew that a Manta Ray could jump that high!

Nice jumping Whale and Porpoise art in front of the aquarium.

 We then stopped at Tom Ham's Lighthouse restaurant for a catered lunch.

We then stepped outside to enjoy the view. . .

. . . of San Diego.

A land-locked model of a Navy ship that is used to train sailors.