FMI JOINS CONSORTIUM

The USS Forrestal Museum, Inc. takes pleasure in announcing the formation of a business consortium dedicated to the establishment of the  $175 MM "Port Covington Maritime Village" in Baltimore, MD.  This organization, comprised of a group of Philadelphia bankers, an engineering firm, a construction group and the Forrestal Museum, Inc. (FMI) has made a substantial deposit on the Port Covington site; with the balance due by the end of January.  FMI will receive $10 MM as working capital to bring the ship in to the Port of Baltimore.  Mr. Frank Eurice, Chairman of the Board of FMI will also serve as a director in the new Port Covington Development Corporation, along with Mr. Bill Natter, developer and Honorary/Advisory Board member.


NEW HONORARY/ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS

The Board of Directors of FMI are pleased to welcome Mr. Hugh McCabe, Mr. Bob Kohler, ex-SECNAV John Dalton, Senator John McCain and Ms. Marsha Jews to the board.  With Mr.'s  McCabe and Kohler, this links the Forrestal Association very closely with the Baltimore effort;  SECNAV Dalton is the third SECNAV to join our Advisory Board and help our cause.  Senator McCain needs no introduction, as many of you are aware of his exploits on Forrestal.  Ms. Jews brings with her an expertise we sorely needed;  she is a national authority in education dealing with minority involvement  in the sciences and engineering fields.  She will be our "Top Gun" in education programs and relations with the educational academia in Baltimore.  WELCOME ABOARD ALL!!!


F. EURICE, ADM. BELING & MILT CRUTCHLEY BRIEF NAVSEAS

On 11 January, a meeting is to be held at NavSeas to update the department on the Forrestal Project.  The presentation of the Port Covington Maritime Village will be revealed to the Navy Department with other pertinent information regarding the Mooring, Towing, Financial Studies, Engineering and Environmental studies being addressed.


MEDALLION BECOMES VALUABLE!

So Okay---You bought a Medallion from the USS Forrestal Museum;  no doubt the Franklin Mint did one Helluva great job in the artwork and minting of these heirlooms.
So What if you can actually identify Capt. Ed Grunwald grinning visage in the seat of that Fury sitting on the # 1 Cat?  Durnit, what else can you do with it?-----------------

Well Swab Jockey, Good News is at hand!  When Forrestal comes into Baltimore, ALL Medallion Owners get PRIORITY SEATING. (And We Know Who You Are - Capt. Grunwald has a List!)  That's right!  Special prime areas will be set aside for those that backed us in the "hard times";  these will be assigned with the first being assigned to those that bought sets, second to the gold, third to the silver and fourth to the bronze medallion.  Additionally, we are planning a "Medallion Day" for these great folks complete with free admission, barbecue, music and anything else to while away a summer's day of celebration.  We of the Board feel that we owe at least this (if not more) to our friends and we intend to reward that faith!


A NOTE FROM THE CHAIRMAN

Shipmates:
There is a famous Chinese proverb that states that " The March of a Thousand Miles Starts with the First Step".  The Forrestal Project has been a march of that magnitude;  I knew back in 1993, when you elected me the chairman of the Forrestal Task Force that this task was a undertaking of that magnitude;  I knew that I could not even hope to succeed without having other dedicated and loyal members of my committee.  I also knew that it would take perseverance of  a much higher order to bring this project to fruition.  I got lucky-----

I found that the most dedicated individuals were Forrestal's ex-crew.  All of us officers and enlisted have a keen dedication to our ship;  all of us have a "vested interest" in our old home.  It makes no difference if you served in the Navy as a career or only for a couple of years;  the emotions regarding "The Forrestal" run deeply within our very fiber.  Everyone remembers back and recalls times, some good - some bad, but with a yearning to do it "One More Time". 

For the past few years, as we busted our sprockets trying to establish our ship as the pre-eminent naval museum in the world, there were a lot of highs and lows.  As a Board, we met those issues together.  I am proud, deeply proud, of the Board of Directors:  Aldao, Beling, Killmeyer, Crutchley, Grunwald, Dougherty, Thomassey and Moynihan.  Also I would like to single out Mr. Ed (Fast Eddie) Bogdan.  This guy worked free of charge - for the past three years!  And he's from the Saratoga and a Plank Owner on the Constellation!  These fellow shipmates were the "Guards At The Gate";  They Preserved Forrestal.

Fair Winds,
FJE