USS Morton Reunion 2011

The 2011 MORTON Reunion will be held at the Best Western Oceanfront hotel in Virginia
Beach. It is located on the boardwalk at 2809 Atlantic Ave, Virginia Beach, VA, 23451. We
received a discounted rate of $97.00, plus tax, for a total of $111.61 per night. All rooms are
oceanfront, non-smoking, and are equipped with two double beds, or one king bed, refrigerator,
coffee maker, iron and ironing board, hair dryer, free wireless internet, private balcony, and
of course….a fabulous view of the Atlantic Ocean. The hotel also has an oceanfront restaurant,
ice cream shop, fitness room, game room, and both indoor and outdoor pools.

The reservation deadline is April 10, 2011, when
all unreserved rooms will be returned to the hotel’s
inventory. You must make your own reservations, and they must be guaranteed by a
credit card. All cancellations must be prior to 72 hours before check in. The reservation number
is 1-800-344-3342, and you must ask for the USS MORTON block of rooms. The hotel is
also holding rooms prior to, and after our event, for those of you who wish to stay longer.
The Norfolk Airport is about 15 minutes from the hotel, and a cab ride will cost about $35.00.
The hotel does not have an airport shuttle. Go to www.bestwesternoceanfront.com for a look
at the hotel.
The following tentative events have been planned so far:
Wed, May 11, 2011 4pm. Welcome reception for all shipmates and guests, featuring hot and
cold appetizers and a no host, cash bar.
Thurs, May 12, 2011 9am-3:30 pm. Board the motor coach at the hotel for a riding tour of
Norfolk, and then visits to the National Maritime Center, NAUTICUS, and a tour of the Battleship
USS WISCONSIN (BB-64). Lunch will be on your own at the Nauticus Café. Following
lunch we will enjoy a narrated riding tour of Olde Towne Portsmouth, featuring the largest collections
of antique homes found anywhere in Virginia. Next stop will be a visit to the Naval
Shipyard Museum, and the Lightship Portsmouth Museum. The cost for this tour is $46.00 per
person.

Thurs, May 12, 2011 6pm-10:30 pm. Dinner Cruise. We board the coach and proceed to downtown Norfolk to
enjoy a three hour dinner
cruise on the magnificent
Spirit of Norfolk
The Spirit features
a top of the line
buffet with several hot
entrees. The selection
includes beef,
poultry, and seafood,
plus all the trimmings.
An interactive DJ will
entertain us with hits
we are sure to recognize.
The ship has
two fully enclosed, climate
controlled lower
decks, and an openair
upper deck. The
cost for the dinner
cruise is $79.00 per
person.

Fri, May 13, 2011 9am-3:30pm. Board the motor coach at the hotel with our guide to visit the
Mariners Museum, one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. The Museum features
the USS MONITOR exhibit that opened in 2007. The center’s galleries recreate the Civil
War battle of the ironclads, USS MONITOR and CSS VIRGINIA. Lunch will be on your own at
the museum café. After lunch we will visit Ft Monroe and Casemate Museum featuring Civil war
relics and the prison cell where Jefferson Davis was imprisoned after the Civil War. The cost for
this tour is $47.00 per person.
Fri, May 13, 2011 6pm. All shipmates and guests will assemble for the business meeting followed
by our always-popular raffle. Please bring an item or two to donate. This is the Association’s
main fund-raising event.
Sat, May 14, 2011 The US Navy is again allowing base tours and ship tours. I am currently working
on a tour of one of the newest destroyers in the Fleet, the Arleigh Burke class. More details to
follow in upcoming newsletters.