Mayport Council Remembers Pearl Harbor Anniversary

Sea Power, Feb 2004

A number of Mayport (Fla.) Council members took part in a Pearl Harbor remembrance service Dec. 7, aboard the Naval Reserve Force frigate USS Boone about 15 miles offshore of Mayport Naval Station.

The Mayport Council was represented by retired Rear Adm. John Gavan, past president of the Mayport Council; Tom and Pat Pumphrey, who is editor of the council newsletter and publicity chairwoman; Bill McLoughlin, national director and council vice president for membership; and Bob Lowenthal, 2004 president of the Mayport Council. Various other groups, including a number of American Legion posts, Fleet Reserve Association branches, and the Pearl Harbor Survivors Chapter 6 also attended.

Despite an unusually cold, windy day, Pumphrey said the service was very moving, with various groups throwing their flowers or bouquets into the ocean in honor of those who lost their lives in the Pearl Harbor attack and others who died in defense of the nation. The ceremony concluded with a 21-gun salute by the Boons. rifle team. Cmdr. Walter T. Towns, captain of the Boone, was the host of the service. The guest speaker was Cmdr. Pat Carmody, executive officer of Afloat Training Group, Mayport. Following the Pearl Harbor remembrance service was the burial at sea ceremony for eight recently deceased sailors, family members, and friends. Each family was presented with an American flag as part of the ceremony.