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USS LAWRENCE 2008 REUNION
Chicago, IL ~ June 17th – 22nd, 2008
Welcome to Chicago
Chicago, known as the “Windy City” offers more to do and see than any city in North America. You will be awed by the gleaming skyscrapers, the beautiful lakefront, breathtaking architecture, wonderful museums, theater, restaurants and world-class shopping along the Magnificent Mile. You will have the opportunity to experience some of the city’s top attractions. Reunion events include a visit to the incredible Museum of Science & Industry, followed by an informative sightseeing tour of the city. There is a day trip planned to nearby Milwaukee to tour the Harley Davidson Plant and the Miller Brewing Company. Friday will be spent at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center where you will be a special guest at the Boot Camp Graduation, have the opportunity to visit the Naval Museum and have lunch on the base. There will be ample time for shopping or touring on your own. Of course, there will be many opportunities to spend time with shipmates, friends and family.
Hotel Information
The reunion officially runs from Tuesday, June 17th until Sunday, June 22nd. You will be staying at the full service Crowne Plaza Chicago North Shore which is located at 510 East Route 83, Mundelein, IL 60060.
The Crowne Plaza Hotel is located close to many of Chicago’s most popular attractions.
Reservation Information
The room rate is just $99.00 plus tax per night based on single or double occupancy and includes a complimentary breakfast buffet daily. Please make your hotel reservations NOW by calling the hotel directly at 847-949-5100 between 9-4 pm CST and ask for in-house reservations. You may cancel up until 24 hours before arrival at no penalty. Mention that you are with the USS Lawrence Reunion to assure you are associated with your group. You may request specific room types when you call to make your reservations (handicap accessible room, etc.). The hotel check-in time is 3:00pm. Please, don’t expect to get into your room before then. They will ask you for a deposit or credit card number to guarantee your room reservation. The hotel is holding rooms until they sell out or May 9th, 2008, whichever comes first.
Transportation & Directions
The closest airport is Chicago O’Hare (ORD). The hotel recommends American Taxi Service from the airport to the hotel. The cost is approximately $35 each way. To contact American Taxi use the courtesy phone located in the baggage claim. For those of you driving to the reunion, the hotel offers complimentary parking.
Travel safely and we will ….
See you in Chicago!
USS LAWRENCE 2008 REUNION EVENTS
WELCOME RECEPTION
Tuesday, June 17
th (5:00pm at the hotel)Join your friends for a casual Welcome Reception in your hospitality room. There is no cost for the reception, however please indicate on your reservation form the number in your party who will be attending. Don’t miss this first opportunity to reconnect with your friends and shipmates.
EVENT A:
MILLER BREWING COMPANY & HARLEY DAVIDSON TOUR IN MILWAUKEEWednesday, June 18
th (8:30am-4:30pm)The day begins at the
Miller Brewing Company to see how the “Pride of Milwaukee” is made. The tour starts at the Girl in the Moon Brewery Shop, where you will have time to browse for unique gifts (please note the tour will end 4 blocks from the gift shop). Then begin your indoor/outdoor guided walking tour which will take you through 150 years of the famous brewery’s heritage. Experience everything from the history of Fredrick Miller’s 1855 arrival in Milwaukee, to the high-speed production lines being used today. Then it is on to the Harley-Davidson Factory. Your tour experience begins at the tour center which features an engine timeline - from the classic "Flathead" to the contemporary Twin Cam 88®. Then it is on to the factory floor where you will watch Sportster & Buell power trains take shape on the assembly line and see engines hot-tested to ensure they meet strict Harley-Davidson standards. You'll be guided through the Genuine Motor Parts and Screamin' Eagle® manufacturing processes and stop in the Engine Remanufacturing Department. Then return to the Tour Center where you will have time to visit the gift shop and the chance to sit on the latest Harley-Davidson and Buell models. Make sure you have your cameras. There will be time for lunch on your own at an appropriate location.Harley Davidson Tour Notes
: Full enclosed shoes are required. Maximum heel height is 1 inch. The tour involves 30 minutes of flat surface walking. While not on tour you may visit the gift shop or several of the static displays. No one under 12 years of age is permitted on the tour. This tour is limited to the first 50 people to sign up, get your forms in early.EVENT B:
MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY & CHICAGO CITY TOURThursday, June 19
th (9:00am- 4:00pm)Your day begins at the
Museum of Science & Industry, where you will spend the morning exploring one of Chicago’s most popular attractions. The massive Museum of Science and Industry is the granddaddy of interactive museums, with over 2,000 exhibits. Some of the exhibits include the U-505, German submarine that was captured in 1944 and then completely rehabbed in 2005. This is the only German sub in the United States, and a National Historic Landmark. An inside tour of the sub is available, (The cost is $5 to tour the U-Boat, please indicate on your reservation form if you would like to take the tour, the U-Boat tour is not wheelchair accessible) or you may choose to just browse the exhibits and news-reel footage which puts the U-Boat in historical context (there is no additional cost if you choose to just browse the exhibits). Don’t miss the full-scale Coal Mine, The Silver Streak; a fully refurbished Pioneer Zephyr train, and Take Flight the aviation exhibit featuring a full scale 727 aircraft. The museum also offers an Omnimax Theater (theatre tickets are available for purchase at the museum and are not included in the price of the tour). The museum has a full food court where you can have lunch on your own before the city tour. As you leave the museum board your coach, sit back, and relax as you experience the vitality and excitement of Chicago on this very informative tour! Learn about the history, culture and incredible architecture of this famous city as your experienced tour guide relates interesting anecdotes. You will view as many sites as possible during your morning riding tour; including the famous “Loop”, The Sears Tower, Millennium Park, the Wrigley Building, John Hancock Building, famous Wacker Dr, State St., and the Magnificent Mile.EVENT C: RECRUIT GRADUATION, NAVAL BASE MUSEUM & LUNCH
Friday, June 20
th (7:00am-3:00pm)Today you will visit the
Great Lakes Naval Training Center to attend the Boot Camp graduation ceremony as special guests. Held in the newly constructed Drill Hall, this is going to be a moving experience. After the graduation program you will have a guided “windshield” tour of the center. You will notice there is no more marching for miles to and from the barracks to the chow hall, "grinder", and school halls. The new barracks are all self contained with ship's names and ship characteristics. This includes coffin lockers, mess decks, and training compartments with computerized self paced training. The only remaining buildings of the past are the ones on the National Historical Register. You will travel to “Mainside" or the Great Lakes Naval Training Center for a window tour of the "A" & "C" School part of the base. “Mainside” has also become modernized and updated with dozens of new structures, including the Naval Museum on base. The tour will be followed by a group lunch at the Port O’Call on the naval base overlooking Lake Michigan. Enjoy the beautiful view as you dine on an all-you-can-eat luncheon buffet. The day will conclude with a visit to the Naval Museum located on the base. Important Tour Notes: Space is limited to 100 people for this tour. Get your forms in early, first come first served. Government issued photo identification (like a drivers license) is required. You must be able to climb the steps on the bleachers, wheelchair spaces are not guaranteed.BANQUET DINNER
Saturday, June 21
st (7:00pm at the hotel)Join your friends for the Banquet Dinner at the hotel. Please make your entree selection on the reservation form.
Do you plan on attending the 2008 USS Lawrence Association Chicago Reunion?
If so please click on the Reunion Reservation Form below to download the form.
This form is in PDF Format so you must have the Adobe Reader in order to download the form. If you need the free Adobe Reader click on the emblem below.
REUNION FUNDRAISING
In order to help raise money to cover the cost of this website, the yearly newsletter, and the reunion mailing we hold two fundraising event during the Farwell Banquet on the final night of the reunion. Here is a description of these two events.
50/50 Raffle
We sell tickets and a random ticket is picked. The winner receives half of the money taken in from the selling of those tickets. The other half goes to the Lawrence Association.
States Raffle
This is a fun and unique event. Every family attending is encouraged to create a unique gift basket, bag, or box that contains items, gifts, or products that are unique to the state in which they reside. The value of the basket should be between $20-$30.
HOSPITALITY ROOM
Your are encouraged to bring memorabilia and pictures from your time on board USS Lawrence. There will be tables available to display the items. Please remember that the room may be unattended at times so anything of value please lock up in your room as the USS Lawrence Association is not responsable for any stolen or lost items.
Because of state law, BYOB or bringing in your own alcohol is not permitted in the Crowne Plaza's Hospitality Room. Instead the hotel is donating soda, water, coffee, teas, beer, wine, and call brands of liquors. They are also providing at no cost all dry snacks for the room.
REUNION EVENTS
1. REGISTRATION FEE - Everyone has to pay this fee. It covers the cost of name tags and other items provided by the Military Reunion Planners.
2. WELCOME RECEPTION - Crowne Plaza is providing this at no cost. This includes all dry snacks and beverages.
3. TOURS - While the cost may seem high, remember the cost of fuel that you are paying at the pump today. The majority of the cost for each tour is the cost of the motor coach.
4. BANQUET - This cost went up from llast year as well due to higher food prices. A very important thing to remember here is that when you look at the Crowne Plaza providing all items for the Hospitality Room and Welcome Reception for free, that more than offsets the higher cost of the banquet.
FUTURE REUNIONS
Unless otherwise stated, all future reunions will be held the fourth week of June from Tuesday until Sunday.
2009
June 23-28, 2009
Looking for suggestions so please e-mail us with your ideas at
or click on the buttons below to cast your vote
2010
June 22-27, 2010
Boston, MA
2011
June 21-26, 2011
Jacksonville, FL
We plan on having this reunion on the Jacksonville Historical Naval Ship Museum the
USS Charles F. Adams, DDG-2
Plans are to have the ship fully restored and moored in Jacksonville by mid-2010. The Adams is the lead ship of the original group of 23 ships that our USS Lawrence DDG-4 belonged to. The Adams will represent the crews and ships of all 23 Adams Class Ships.