ATTENTION SHIPMATES!!! IT IS TIME TO MAIL IN YOUR DUES
USS CONWAY NEWSLETTER will be in January
A copy of the newsletter is being mailed to all shipmates on our mailing list.
If you are not on the list and want a mailed copy please contact Rick Miller at the address listed below on the dues form
ATTENTION SHIPMATES!!! IT IS TIME TO MAIL IN YOUR DUES
USS CONWAY NEWSLETTER will be in January
A copy of the newsletter is being mailed to all shipmates on our mailing list.
If you are not on the list and want a mailed copy please contact Rick Miller at the address listed below on the dues form
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CONWAY VETERANS ASSOCIATION 2026 DUES FORM
NAME: ______________________________________________________________________________________
MAILING ADDRESS:_________________________________________________________________________
CITY: _______________________________________________ STATE: ___________ ZIP: ________________
PHONE #: Home( _____ ) ___________________________Cell( _____ ) ____________________________
EMAIL ADDRESS: ___________________________________________________________________________
RATE/RANK: _____________________ YEARS SERVED ON THE CONWAY: 19______ to 19______
SPOUSE or SIGNIFICANT OTHER:__________________________________________________________
DONT"T FORGET TO SEND IN YOUR ANNUAL DUES: $15
Make checks payable to the USS Conway Veterans Association
MAIL TO: Richard E. Miller, Treasurer
USS Conway Veterans Association
1025 Bracken Fern Drive, New Bern, NC 28560
Phone 252-631-1474 or Email: [email protected]
--------------------------------------------------------
CONWAY VETERANS ASSOCIATION 2026 DUES FORM
NAME: ______________________________________________________________________________________
MAILING ADDRESS:_________________________________________________________________________
CITY: _______________________________________________ STATE: ___________ ZIP: ________________
PHONE #: Home( _____ ) ___________________________Cell( _____ ) ____________________________
EMAIL ADDRESS: ___________________________________________________________________________
RATE/RANK: _____________________ YEARS SERVED ON THE CONWAY: 19______ to 19______
SPOUSE or SIGNIFICANT OTHER:__________________________________________________________
DONT"T FORGET TO SEND IN YOUR ANNUAL DUES: $15
Make checks payable to the USS Conway Veterans Association
MAIL TO: Richard E. Miller, Treasurer
USS Conway Veterans Association
1025 Bracken Fern Drive, New Bern, NC 28560
Phone 252-631-1474 or Email: [email protected]
--------------------------------------------------------
2026 USS Conway Veterans Association Newsletter
A message from the president
Hello Shipmates and Families
The Conway Veterans Association's President hopes that all Shipmates and their families had a great Christmas, Holidays and New Year. Jo-Ann and I enjoyed time with family and friends. I had a busy time between Thanksgiving and Christmas performing in 15 concerts with the 5 bands that I play in. The final concert performance was playing in a brass choir at a Christmas Eve Vigil Mass
We are looking forward to seeing everyone at the April joint reunion with our friends from the USS Charles S. Sperry. The reunion is planned by Rick and Pam Miller, and the daily program looks great. You will find the detailed information in this newsletter. I would like to thank Rick and Pam for their tireless efforts in planning the North Carolina reunion. What could be better than a hotel with a view of the Atlantic Ocean? Many of us can remember fondly (lol) of sailing the Atlantic on the Conway.
Speaking of sailing, Jo-Ann and I took a Viking ocean cruise from NYC traveling to Halifax, Labrador, Greenland, and then circumnavigated Iceland the land of Fire and Ice. We had a great cruise and saw many wonderful things including 10 story icebergs
I have been in touch with Pam and Rick Miller. They are done hosting the Conway reunions. We thank them for their many years planning and executing some wonderful reunions. It is now time for someone else to step up and continue in their footsteps. The Sperry group will host the 2027 reunion. We need someone to coordinate the 2028 reunion. I am sure Rick and Pam will give you guidance. Please contact me if you are willing to take this on.
On another administrative note, I am now in my 3rd year of a 1-year term as President. Also, we do not have a Vice President who is willing to take over as President. I am willing to continue as President for another year. I am hopeful than a shipmate is willing to take on the Vice President role this year and move up to the President role in 2027. Please let me know if you are willing to do this.
In closing, I hope that you continue to stay healthy and happy. I will look forward to seeing you in April. Take care.
Joe Friend [email protected], 215-906-8025
Recap from 2025 Sperry/Conway Reunion in Covington, KY
Sunday, April 27th -Thursday, May 1st
The 2025 Reunion in Covington, Ky and Cincinnati, OH was well planned and filled with fun things to do. Our host ship USS Sperry worked hard to schedule things that appealed to everyone. The hotel location gave us access to all the two cities had to offer. Shipmates could choose a tour of The New Riff Distillery, a trip to the Amazing National Museum of the US Airforce in Dayton OH, a Cincinnati Reds Baseball game, a cruise and lunch on the Ohio river aboard the River Queen, and a trip with lunch to Patriots Landing and tour of Veterans wood shop. Free time allowed us to use the convenient and free bus and trolley service right outside the door of our hotel to visit Cincinnati.
Back at the hotel the Hospitality Room gave everyone a chance to socialize with old and new friends and to compare the day’s activities and get suggestions for nights for dinner on our own. The ship also hosted the annual Fun and Games night with time to shop the silent auction items 50/50s, warmup games and the always hotly contested LIVE auction. The Auction always raises money for both ships. The Conway provided an overview of their plans for the 2026 reunion in Carolina Beach NC.
The final night included a Banquet Meal and a formal candlelight fallen shipmates service at the end of the evening.
TREASURER’S REPORT FROM RICK MILLER
Below are the spouses of fallen Shipmates that continue to honor and support the CVA:
Lise Belanger (Mark) Pat Coy (Larry)
Louise Keen (Tom) Bill Pearson (Lorenzo Alagia)
Kim Hunyadi (Ed Slifka) Marion Fisher (Bud)
Judy Moody (Bob)
NOTE: If you know of any Conway shipmates who have passed since our last reunion,
PLEASE contact Rich Dinardo at: [email protected] Phone #: 724-967-2126
Currently the CVA Treasury contains $6,263.76. In addition, we have a $10,000 5-month CD which is maturing on January 27th, 2026. On January 28th the CD total of $10,161.92 will be returned to the CVA treasury. During this Spring’s board will decide whether to renew the CD for another 5-month period. This past year the CVA collected 42 dues payments from shipmates and families of fallen shipmates. During 2025 the CVA took in a total of $825. When I took over the treasurer’s position in the fall of 2015, we received dues payments from a total of 80 shipmates in 2016. This decline is obviously expected. In 2021 the CVA board recommended that some of the treasury would be used to offset the costs of reunions. This will take place this reunion to help offset the cost of the 2 cash bars and the hotel set up fee for the Tuesday Buffet and Wednesday Plated Dinner. Finally, as in past years, Spencer French has been kind enough to perform an audit of the CVA’s treasury, from the previous year, and develop an audit report. The Cincinnati 2025 Reunion audit and annual CVA audit was sent to Spencer in May of 2025. The 2026 Reunion and Yearly audits will be sent to Spencer following this Carolina Beach reunion. The following is a note from Spencer French (auditor)
“All deposits and charges were properly documented with receipts attached as necessary.
It appears all is in good order, and I recommend Rick’s Treasury Report should be approved.”
Rick Miller (CVA Treasurer)
A message from the president
Hello Shipmates and Families
The Conway Veterans Association's President hopes that all Shipmates and their families had a great Christmas, Holidays and New Year. Jo-Ann and I enjoyed time with family and friends. I had a busy time between Thanksgiving and Christmas performing in 15 concerts with the 5 bands that I play in. The final concert performance was playing in a brass choir at a Christmas Eve Vigil Mass
We are looking forward to seeing everyone at the April joint reunion with our friends from the USS Charles S. Sperry. The reunion is planned by Rick and Pam Miller, and the daily program looks great. You will find the detailed information in this newsletter. I would like to thank Rick and Pam for their tireless efforts in planning the North Carolina reunion. What could be better than a hotel with a view of the Atlantic Ocean? Many of us can remember fondly (lol) of sailing the Atlantic on the Conway.
Speaking of sailing, Jo-Ann and I took a Viking ocean cruise from NYC traveling to Halifax, Labrador, Greenland, and then circumnavigated Iceland the land of Fire and Ice. We had a great cruise and saw many wonderful things including 10 story icebergs
I have been in touch with Pam and Rick Miller. They are done hosting the Conway reunions. We thank them for their many years planning and executing some wonderful reunions. It is now time for someone else to step up and continue in their footsteps. The Sperry group will host the 2027 reunion. We need someone to coordinate the 2028 reunion. I am sure Rick and Pam will give you guidance. Please contact me if you are willing to take this on.
On another administrative note, I am now in my 3rd year of a 1-year term as President. Also, we do not have a Vice President who is willing to take over as President. I am willing to continue as President for another year. I am hopeful than a shipmate is willing to take on the Vice President role this year and move up to the President role in 2027. Please let me know if you are willing to do this.
In closing, I hope that you continue to stay healthy and happy. I will look forward to seeing you in April. Take care.
Joe Friend [email protected], 215-906-8025
Recap from 2025 Sperry/Conway Reunion in Covington, KY
Sunday, April 27th -Thursday, May 1st
The 2025 Reunion in Covington, Ky and Cincinnati, OH was well planned and filled with fun things to do. Our host ship USS Sperry worked hard to schedule things that appealed to everyone. The hotel location gave us access to all the two cities had to offer. Shipmates could choose a tour of The New Riff Distillery, a trip to the Amazing National Museum of the US Airforce in Dayton OH, a Cincinnati Reds Baseball game, a cruise and lunch on the Ohio river aboard the River Queen, and a trip with lunch to Patriots Landing and tour of Veterans wood shop. Free time allowed us to use the convenient and free bus and trolley service right outside the door of our hotel to visit Cincinnati.
Back at the hotel the Hospitality Room gave everyone a chance to socialize with old and new friends and to compare the day’s activities and get suggestions for nights for dinner on our own. The ship also hosted the annual Fun and Games night with time to shop the silent auction items 50/50s, warmup games and the always hotly contested LIVE auction. The Auction always raises money for both ships. The Conway provided an overview of their plans for the 2026 reunion in Carolina Beach NC.
The final night included a Banquet Meal and a formal candlelight fallen shipmates service at the end of the evening.
TREASURER’S REPORT FROM RICK MILLER
Below are the spouses of fallen Shipmates that continue to honor and support the CVA:
Lise Belanger (Mark) Pat Coy (Larry)
Louise Keen (Tom) Bill Pearson (Lorenzo Alagia)
Kim Hunyadi (Ed Slifka) Marion Fisher (Bud)
Judy Moody (Bob)
NOTE: If you know of any Conway shipmates who have passed since our last reunion,
PLEASE contact Rich Dinardo at: [email protected] Phone #: 724-967-2126
Currently the CVA Treasury contains $6,263.76. In addition, we have a $10,000 5-month CD which is maturing on January 27th, 2026. On January 28th the CD total of $10,161.92 will be returned to the CVA treasury. During this Spring’s board will decide whether to renew the CD for another 5-month period. This past year the CVA collected 42 dues payments from shipmates and families of fallen shipmates. During 2025 the CVA took in a total of $825. When I took over the treasurer’s position in the fall of 2015, we received dues payments from a total of 80 shipmates in 2016. This decline is obviously expected. In 2021 the CVA board recommended that some of the treasury would be used to offset the costs of reunions. This will take place this reunion to help offset the cost of the 2 cash bars and the hotel set up fee for the Tuesday Buffet and Wednesday Plated Dinner. Finally, as in past years, Spencer French has been kind enough to perform an audit of the CVA’s treasury, from the previous year, and develop an audit report. The Cincinnati 2025 Reunion audit and annual CVA audit was sent to Spencer in May of 2025. The 2026 Reunion and Yearly audits will be sent to Spencer following this Carolina Beach reunion. The following is a note from Spencer French (auditor)
“All deposits and charges were properly documented with receipts attached as necessary.
It appears all is in good order, and I recommend Rick’s Treasury Report should be approved.”
Rick Miller (CVA Treasurer)