INFORMATION PACKET FOR THE

USS DOWNES DE/FF1070 REUNION 2019

June 20th-23rd, 2019 Branson, Missouri

The USS Downes Reunion Committee invites all shipmates who served onboard at any time to attend the third reunion,

June 20th-23rd, 2019, in Branson, Missouri. Our 2017 San Diego reunion saw roughly 45 shipmates and guests gather

and celebrate their time at sea on the finest, fairest, fastest, frigate in the fleet – the USS Downes. Since then our list of

shipmates located has grown considerably, so let’s try and triple that number of shipmates at our next reunion!!

A complimentary Hospitality Room is being provided by the hotel for shipmates and guests. Generally the fee for the

meeting space is typically $800 plus tax, but they are waiving the fee with the intention of shipmates staying at The

Lodge filling (and hopefully then some) the number of rooms blocked for our group, to socialize with shipmates, peruse

photos, cruise books, or other memorabilia from time on the ship. This is the place to meet your old shipmates, make

new friends, and retell all those sea stories! Guests will learn the history of the ship, your military service, and develop

a deeper appreciation of what you have done for them and your country.

ACCOMODATIONS

The host hotel for the 2019 reunion is The Lodge of the Ozarks, 3431 MO-76, Branson, MO 65616. The hotel offers

free parking, however RV parking is not allowed. Lodging has interior corridors, elevators and includes complimentary

hot, deluxe breakfast each morning. Rooms include refrigerator, coffee maker, hairdryer, iron/ironing board, and wire-

less Internet access. The hotel has an indoor pool and spa. All rooms are non-smoking and no pets are allowed. Hotel

room reservations must be made with a credit card by you directly by calling Renee Contreras in the Reservations

Department at 800.335.2555 Monday-Friday, 8a-5p CST. You must ask for the USS DOWNES REUNION group rate

based on desired room type, single or double adult occupancy plus 12.1% taxes (State tax rate 8.1% + City tax rate 4%):

Room Type: Double Queen (60 blocked)/$89.95 + $10.88 tax = $100.83

Standard King (15 blocked)/$94.95 + $11.49 tax = $106.44

Jetted-tube King (based on availability)/$99.95 + $12.09 tax = $112.04

Subject to availability, rate above will be extended to guests for three nights before and after event.

A $10.00+ tax per night charge will apply for additional adults in same room. Children 17 & under stay free in same room as parents. Maximum room occupancy is 4

adults or 2 adults & 3 children. Reservations may be taken at group rate after block release date but is subject to availability. Payment for rooms will be collected

from each guest upon arrival. The hotel will do its best to accommodate all special needs and requests, however they cannot guarantee requests. Cancelation Policy:

Cancel no less than 24 hours prior to arrival and no penalty will apply.

Block release date: Monday - May 20th, 2019 @ 5:00PM

Thursday – June 20th, 2019

1400-1800 Report to Crystal Hall/Hospitality Room Registration Meet & Greet

**DINNER ON YOUR OWN**

1600-2330 Welcome Reception w/ Cash Bar Crystal Hall/Hospitality Room Raffle Tickets & 50/50 tickets will be available for purchase

2019 REUNION PLAN OF THE DAY ATTENTIVE SCHEDULE

Friday – June 21st, 2019

0630-0930 Breakfast in Lodge’s Breakfast Lounge 0930-1730 Hospitality Room open* Raffle Tickets available for purchase *If host available to man room. 1200-1730 Cash bar available in Hospitality Room 1800-1815 Meet in lobby for dinner show 1815-1825 Walk as group to dinner show “SIX” Hughes Brothers Theater 1830-1930 Dinner 2000-2200 “SIX” performance

2230-0000 Hospitality Room open*

Saturday – June 22nd, 2019

0630-0930 Breakfast in Lodge’s Breakfast Lounge 0930-1500 Hospitality Room open* Raffle tickets available for purchase *If host available to man room.

1600-1730 Individual/Couple/Group Photos 1730-1800 Cocktail Hour/Cash Bar Available

Crystal Hall/Hospitality Room

1800-1900 Banquet Dinner /Cash Bar Available Crystal Hall/Hospitality Room

1900-2330 Banquet Program & Raffles Cash Bar Available

Sunday—June 23rd, 2019

0630-0930 Breakfast in Lodge’s Breakfast Lounge 0800-1200 Hospitality Room open* For Farewells

GENERAL INFORMATION

Please note, all attendees are required to register if plan on

attending. Planned activities throughout the 2019 Reunion

are included with each registration. Some are at set times

while others are at your leisure. All reunion activities includ-

ed in your registration are described later within this packet.

Shipmates and their guests are encouraged to host 2-3 hour

time slots in the Hospitality Room. Hosts are welcomed and

encouraged to have light snacks available for those visiting

the room. The cost of the snacks would be the responsibility

of the hosts, and can be brought in from the outside. You

can even co-host a time slot with another shipmate! For

more information on this, please contact Shannon Metzger

at ussdownesff1070@gmail.com.

PHOTO SHOOT

We will be documenting this special event through staged

photos of couples, individuals plus group photos for the re-

union archives prior to the banquet. Photo location and time

will be on the info board in the Hospitality Room.

Six Voices. Zero Instruments. All SIX, a contemporary vocal band on power-mode, features six real brothers who take musical

entertainment to a whole new level. Critically acclaimed and dubbed as “an orchestra of hu-

man voices” and “masters of showmanship”, these multi-talented brothers sound like a

band using only their mouths. Infusing lively choreography and dysfunctional family comedy

into the show as only brothers can do, they perform everything from contemporary pop to

R&B to classic rock’n’roll to doo-wop to gospel to patriotic.

SIX not only continues to push the envelope, always adding new material that’s fresh,

unique and unexpected, but also continues to amaze audiences with their ability to consist-

ently deliver powerhouse vocals, impeccable harmonies, and unparalleled high-end profes-

sional production. Once you experience it, you will understand the power of SIX!

Registered reunion attendees will be wowed by this performance. Performing at The

Hughes Brothers’ Theater, we will not have to travel far…..The Hughes Brothers’ Theater is

attached to The Lodge of the Ozarks resort. Registered shipmates and guests will walk over

as a group to take in dinner prior to the start of the show. The show and dinner is included

in your registration.

The Veterans Memorial Museum in Branson, Missouri, is a national tribute to the brave men and women who defended our liberties during the 20th Century. A visit to the museum is a powerful, emotional experience. Admission to the museum is included in each reunion attendee’s paid registration. Visiting the museum is at your leisure. The museum is composed of ten great halls covering the wars and conflicts fought during the 20th Century. Circulation and viewing starts in the World War I Hall, progressing through World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, and more. Each hall features dramatic and thought-provoking exhib-its. Sculpture, murals, historical artifacts, objects d’ art, and thousands of authentic memorabilia honor all branches of the service, major battlefronts, campaigns, industrial defense, and more. The names of the men and women killed in action in WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Persian Gulf, and recent conflicts of the 20th Century are displayed on the walls of the halls.

1250 W 76 Country Blvd, Branson, MO 65616

417.336.2399

2505 W-76 Co. Rd., Branson, MO

The Branson Ferris Wheel was formerly Chicago's iconic Navy

Pier Ferris Wheel, ridden by nearly 17 million people from 1995 to

2015. Standing 150 feet tall, its 40 gondolas hold 240 riders, and it

lights up the night with 16,000 LED lights. The Branson Ferris

Wheel boasts spectacular views of the famed entertainment corri-

dor. Just a short walk from The Lodge of the Ozarks hotel, stroll

down during the day or take an evening ride seeing the magnifi-

cent views of the beautiful Ozark Mountains! After your ride, cap

off your spin with a special (and delicious) treat from Andy’s Fro-

zen Custard or Beaver Tails Pastry!

Tickets for a spin on the ferris wheel are included in each reunion

attendee’s paid registration. (Andy’s Frozen Custard and Beaver

Tails Pastry are not included—but highly recommended!)

SPECIAL NEEDS

If you have any special dietary, handicapped, or other special requirements, please provide the details below. Please be VERY

specific. Special dietary meals are available.

Handicapped Requirements: __________________________________________________________________________________

Special Dietary Needs: _______________________________________________________________________________________

USS DOWNES DE/FF1070 REUNION 2019 June 20-23, 2019 - Branson, Missouri

REGISTRATION FEES + TOURS + EXTRAS

Registration fees include: One (1) t-shirt, dinner & show ticket to SIX, admission to the Veterans Memorial Museum and Bran-

son Ferris Wheel, and banquet meal. Raffle and 50/50 tickets are separate costs.

T-Shirt Size:

Shirt 1: S M L XL 2XL 3XL 4XL 5XL

Shirt 2: S M L XL 2XL 3XL 4XL 5XL

Shirt 3: S M L XL 2XL 3XL 4XL 5XL

Shirt 4: S M L XL 2XL 3XL 4XL 5XL

Registration Fee (required for each attendee): $150.00 per person # attending _______ = $__________

50/50 Tickets $10.00 each OR 3 for $20 # of tickets _______ = $__________ Raffle Tickets $20.00 each OR 3 for $50 # of tickets _______ = $__________

(Raffle & 50/50 ticket proceeds will be donated to the Missouri Honor Flight Chapter)

TOTAL FEES SUBMITTED: = $___________

REGISTRATION/CANCELATION/REFUND POLICY

All reunion registrations with full payment, including advance raffle & 50/50 ticket purchases, must be postmarked or deposited

by APRIL 20th, 2019. Late registrations will not be accepted. By submitting this registration form, you understand and agree that

for any cancelation of paid registrations that are postmarked on or before APRIL 20th, 2019, there will be a $50.00 fee plus the

cost of any activities that have already been paid for, or for which guaranteed numbers has been provided to a vendor. There will

be NO REFUNDS—for any reason—for cancelation requests postmarked after APRIL 20th, 2019. If you must cancel your trip to

the reunion, remember YOU must: (1) call the hotel directly to cancel your room, and YOU must (2) call Shannon Metzger @

765.894.1685 as soon as you know so that we may modify our hotel/activities count.

By signing below, I understand, agree to, and acknowledge the registration/cancelation/refund policy.

Shipmate’s Signature Required: _______________________________________________________________________________

Please return this form along with your payment. Thank you!

USS DOWNES DE/FF1070 REUNION 2019 June 20th-23rd, 2019

Branson, Missouri

Complete & return your registration with your check or money order to the address listed below:

c/o SHANNON METZGER 1009 MATTERHORN DR.

LEBANON, IN 46052-3120

SHIPMATE INFO:

Shipmate Name: _______________________________________________Nickname onboard: ___________________________

Guest Name: _______________________________________ Relationship: __ Spouse __ Significant Other __ Family __Friend

**For additional guests attending with Shipmate, please see form included in registration for listing their information.**

Street Address: _____________________________________ City: ___________________ State: ________ Zip: _____________

Home Phone: _______________________________________ Cell Phone: ____________________________________________

Email: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Total number who will be attending this event in your group: ____________ Other attendees: FAMILY / FRIENDS

Check here if you do not want to be included in the shipmate directory. (The directory will only be available to participating shipmates) □

Check here if you want your confirmation sent by USPS (otherwise it will be sent to the email listed above). □

If there should be an emergency during the reunion and we need to contact a member of your family, who should that be?

Name: __________________________________________________________ Phone Number: ____________________________

Your cell phone or travel number in case there are any last minute changes: __________________________________________

WHILE ONBOARD:

All Positions Held: ______________________________________________ Date(s) Onboard: _____________________________

Highest Rank Held While Onboard: _________________________________ Rate: _______________________________________

Most memorable memory from time onboard:

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Your favorite fishing story from the ship:

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

USS DOWNES DE/FF1070 REUNION 2019 June 20-23, 2019 Branson, MO

PAYMENT METHOD

Please make all checks and checks payable to:

USS DOWNES 2019 REUNION

□ Personal Check #_____________ □ Money Order #_____________

Total Payment Amount Enclosed: $_________________

Shipmate’s Signature Required: ________________________________________________________________

Shipmate’s Name Printed: ______________________________________________

Complete & return your registration with your check to the address listed below:

c/o SHANNON METZGER 1009 MATTERHORN DRIVE LEBANON, IN 46052-3120

Please return this form along with your payment. Thank you!

MEMORIES Time spent aboard ship was documented through shipmates photos. Long after leaving the

boat, those same photos helped preserve memories of times traveled to places you only

imagined going, visits to various ports of calls, documenting your job on board for family

back home, and countless others.

For the 2019 reunion, we are asking for you to share those same photos with reunion

attendees. If you already have the photos scanned or have the ability to send them elec-

tronically, please email them to: ussdownesff1070@gmail.com . You are able to mail-in

actual, hardcopy photos; they will be returned to you within 14 days (please be sure to pro-

vide the address in which they need to be returned to). The collected photos will be turned

in to a continuously looping photo montage played in the hospitality room.

Please send photos to: Shannon Metzger

c/o USS Downes 2019 Reunion

1009 Matterhorn Drive

2019 - BRANSON, MO

USS DOWNES DE/FF 1070

REUNION COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Andrew “Drew” Rouse & Bernice Vela—Chicago, IL

James “Jim” & Tressa White—Bayard, NE

Kenny & Christy Moberly—Rolla, MO

Mark & Terrie Davidson—Yellville, AR

Russell & Shannon Metzger—Lebanon, IN

COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, AND/OR CONCERNS MAY ALSO

BE SENT TO THE COMMITTEE’S EMAIL:

ussdownesff1070@gmail.com

Details may also be found on the website at:

www.ussdownesff1070.weebly.com

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