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News & Events

News, Events & More


Who’s Coming to the Reunion as of 1 September?
Posted: 9/1/2026

The registration lists have just been updated! Click on the ALPHA or BATT/COMPANY link to see who’s registered as of Tuesday, 1 September 2026. For totals by EVENT, Click HERE.

Reunion Checklist (including how to access the Yard and Midstore), please click HERE.

Don’t see one of your buddies on the list? Be sure to contact them to encourage them to come to Annapolis for the great Class of 1966 60th Reunion!

Go Navy! Go Class of 1966!!


Class Lunch Focus: NAVY SPORTS
Posted: 8/4/2026

Seventeen USNA 1966 Classmates and Guests met on July 8th at The Fleet Reserve Club in Annapolis for the July 2026 Class Luncheon.

The Guest Speaker, Mike Kelly, President of the Naval Academy Athletic Association and Director of Athletics, joined us for the reception at 1130 and a delicious buffet lunch at 1200.

Carson Talbot from NAAA also attended and assisted with the presentation.

Mike Kelly gave a highly informative overview of NAAA with well-prepared slides and interesting comments. 

He identified the Midshipmen who have earned honors with the Atlantic Conference in football, baseball, and other sports.

He also pointed out that the Naval Academy supports 36 Varsity Sports and is one of only six other universities in the country that support 36 or more Varsity Sports.

Mike also plays key roles in the College Football Playoffs and NCAA committees, as well as sports in general. He received an Honorary Doctorate from St. Thomas University and is currently pursuing a doctoral degree at the University of South Florda.


Dive Into History on Thursday, 29 October in Muskegon, MI
Posted: 7/21/2026

USNA 1966 Classmates are invited to commemorate the 66th Anniversary of Charlie Votava’s (17th Company) WWII Submarine Legacy at USS SILVERSIDES and Museum in Muskegon, MI on Thursday, 29 October.

Charlie Votava wants to celebrate the day he became a sailor in the US Navy Submarine Reserve. He would like any Classmates, spouses and widows to join him and Sharon, Thursday, (plus a day or two) on 29 October 2026 at the WWII submarine USS SILVERSIDES (SS 236) and Museum in Muskegon, MI.

That date, 66 years ago, Charlie was sworn in aboard SILVERSIDES and would like another photo with Classmates on the same deck location as shown in the newspaper photo. 

SILVERSIDES was the 3RD most decorated submarine of WWII: after THRESHER (SS 200) and TANG (SS 306).

A few Classmates have expressed interest in joining him and Sharon, but he would like to get an idea of who else may be interested before he arranges for a hotel gathering place. The museum has provided him a point of contact for a group visit.

Full disclosure: There may be an issue actually going aboard SILVERSIDES. Mid-July she was towed to a Sturgeon Bay, WI. shipyard for needed maintenance. Click HERE for an article on how she “Tows like a dream”. Present schedule is for her to return to Muskegon in mid- October.

Let him know if you would like to attend. Email: charlievots17@gmail.com.

For a look at the museum click: silversidesmuseum.org. Below is a photo of SILVERSIDES moored alongside the Chicago Naval Armory about the time Charlie enlisted onboard. That is not his MG. He drives a Fiat.


Prout Continues to Advocate for Veterans and Their Families
Posted: 7/14/2026

Kathy Prout, widow of ’66 Classmate Jay Prout (1st Company) was again recognized for her incredible advocacy for military spouses and families in a front page article of the July 9 Coronado Eagle & Journal.

Click HERE for story.

Prout was also quoted in the July 2026 issue of “Military Officer”, the magazine of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA). “It is our job to educate them (Congress) about the issues. There are too many bills for any one person to know about all of them,” said Prout. The organization led a recent campaign on the Hill that included several MOAA members and staff among the advocacy teams meeting with legislative leaders. “Everyone should have the opportunity to see how democracy works,” said Prout, who was honored this year as one of MOAA’s 2025 Changemakers. “I feel so fortunate to be able to participate in our government through grassroots advocacy.”

The article lists three priorities of the Gold Star Spouses of America (GSSA) – each backed by MOAA.

  • The Love Lives On Act (H.R. 1004 | S. 410). This bill would allow surviving spouses to maintain certain benefits, including DIC and Survivor Benefit Plan payments, regardless of the age at which they remarry. Current law revokes these benefits if the spouse remarries before age 55, leaving many young spouses a stark choice: Restore a two-parent household or maintain financial security. [TAKE ACTION: Ask Your Lawmakers to Support the Love Lives on Act]
  • The Caring for Survivors Act (H.R. 2055 | S. 611). Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) rates for survivors of those who die in the line of duty, or of veterans who die of service-connected ailments, have been only minimally adjusted since 1993. They now rest at 43% of a 100% disabled veteran’s compensation; this bill would raise that rate to 55%, resulting in about $450 more per month and matching the compensation percentage offered by similar federal programs.
  • The Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act (H.R. 6047). This bill would increase the rate of DIC to provide additional financial support for survivors and increase the rate of Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) to boost financial support for catastrophically service-connected disabled veterans.

A list of resources for Gold Star families can be found at https://americasgoldstarfamilies.org/about/resources-for-gold-star-families, and additional support can be found at https://www.goldstarspouses.org/ and https://www.navygoldstar.com/.

Prout’s advocacy Facebook group for military widows can be found at https://www.facebook.com/groups/MilitarySurvivingSpouses/, along with the Facebook group for Gold Star Spouses of America at https://www.facebook.com/groups/3429626710655087/.


’66 Ladies Announce Next Book Chat, Release Summer Book List
Posted: 7/9/2026

The wives and widows of the great Class of 1966 started a “Book Chat” in 2025; a low-key occassional discussion of books. In May, the ladies enjoyed reviewing Theo of Golden.

The next Book Chat will be on Wednesday, September 16 during the regular Zoom call. The book selection is Whistler by Ann Patchett. Click HERE for more details.

Additionally, the Ladies just released their Summer Book List. Click HERE to download a list of what some of the Band of Sisters are reading.

Finally, for fun, we share the New York Times Book Review’s “Summer Reading Bucket List”, a checklist of 10 literary “to do’s”.

Happy Reading!


Who’s Coming to the Reunion as of 9 July?

The registration lists have just been updated! Click on the ALPHA or BATT/COMPANY link to see who’s registered as of Thursday, 9 July 2026. For totals by EVENT, Click HERE.

Don’t see one of your buddies on the list? Be sure to contact them to encourage them to come to Annapolis for the great Class of 1966 60th Reunion!

Go Navy! Go Class of 1966!!


Who’s Coming to the Reunion as of 15 June?
Posted: 6/26/2026

The registration lists have just been updated! Click on the ALPHA or BATT/COMPANY link to see who’s registered as of Monday, 15 June 2026. For totals by EVENT, Click HERE.

Don’t see one of your buddies on the list? Be sure to contact them to encourage them to come to Annapolis for the great Class of 1966 60th Reunion!

Go Navy! Go Class of 1966!!


Class Luncheon on 8 July
Posted: 6/19/2026

’66 Classmates, spouses and widows are invited to attend the Class Luncheon on Wednesday 8 July at the Fleet Reserve Club in Annapolis. The event will begin at 1130, buffet lunch at 1200, and our Guest Speaker at about 1230. Cost of the luncheon is $45 per person.

Wives, Widows, and Guests are most welcome to join us!

Director of Athletics of the Naval Academy Athletic Association, Mr. Michael Kelly, will be our Guest Speaker.

Michael Kelly has a very interesting background in college athletics and coordination and management of college sports activities at the National level. He is a 1992 graduate of Wake Forest University, and he also earned a Master’s degree from St. Thomas University in 1994. Click HERE for more info on Michael Kelly.

Contact Mike Baird by Friday, 3 July if you plan to attend (pmbaird@verizon.net). As always, should you be able to attend at the last minute, please come as there is always room for one more!


Beck Kicks Off 60th Reunion at Yankee Stadium
Posted: 5/25/2026

Bob Beck (25th Company) will kick off the Great Class of 1966 60th Reunion 2 days and 60 years* after tossing his hat in Annapolis…at Yankee Stadium!

Bob will be honored as the “Veteran of the Game” on Saturday, 6 June when the Yanks play a night game (7:35 pm) against the Boston Red Sox.

All in the stadium (and those watching on National TV) will see Bob on the field to be honored during the bottom of the 7th Inning.

Interesting backstory to Bob’s recognition by the Yankees:

The process began about 3 years ago when he attended a Yankee game with some friends and witnessed the ceremony honoring a WWII Vet. Bob’s friends looked into the process and encouraged him to apply. After many different submissions, he was “qualified” about 2 years ago. In November 2025, Bob was tentatively selected to be the Vet of the Game on 6 June. He finally received official notification on 6 May.

As an aside, the current wait is greater than 6 years according to a Yankee official.

Bravo Zulu Bob, and we’ll see you on TV on 6 June AND at the Class Reunion on Thursday, 1 October!

*868 Midshipmen were awarded diplomas and a degree of Bachelor of Science certificate on 8 June 1966.

For more fun facts about the Class of ’66 graduation including Class Facts and favorite songs, Click HERE.



Who’s Coming to the Reunion as of 15 May?
Posted: 5/15/2026

The registration lists have just been updated! Click on the ALPHA or BATT/COMPANY link to see who’s registered as of Friday, 15 May 2026. For totals by EVENT, Click HERE.

Don’t see one of your buddies on the list? Be sure to contact them to encourage them to come to Annapolis for the great Class of 1966 60th Reunion!

Go Navy! Go Class of 1966!!


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