International Director Lewis Quinn and Captain Bailey's Visit

We had the honor of entertaining International Director Lewis Quinn during his visit to Juneau to attend the festivities leading up to the Unveiling Ceremony of the USS Juneau Presentation Silver.

International Director Lewis Quinn speaking with Captain Eugene Bailey and Lion Mike Norton

Last night's social took place at the Buoy Deck in the Coast Guard Station.  Veterans and Active Duty were invited from all branches of the military along with staff from the Juneau-Douglas City Museum, and Lions.

Captain Eugene Bailey was our special guest, with his wife, Juanita, who flew to Juneau solely for the unveiling of the Presentation Silver. Captain Bailey was the first Captain to bring the third USS  Juneau named for our city to its namesake port.

Captain Eugene Bailey and Juanita Bailey

This celebration respected and honored the 697 sailors and crew that perished at the Battle of Guadalcanal in 1942 when a Japanese torpedo hit the USS Juneau CL-52 and sunk it.  Ten survived for eight days in shark-infested waters before being rescued.

Lion Tom Dawson (in the center)

Randy Wanamaker and Juanita Bailey

Lion Becky Allison with WWII survivors, Commander Steve Sztuk
and Past President of Douglas Lions George Roberts

Lion Mike Norton, former Lion George Roberts, and Captain Eugene Bailey

Faith Guthert and Lion Donna Hurley.  Faith worked on the original Memorial in 1986.

Lions Bob Hurley, Ted Quinn, ID Lewis Quinn and Captain Bailey

Lions Ben Hotch and Ted Burke from the Juneau Lions Club

Lion Donna Hurley, Captain Eugene Bailey (back to us), McHugh Pierre,
Goldbelt Inc., Tim Armstrong, PP Commander, Order of the Purple Heart, MC in 1986, Commander Dick Hand, Juanita Bailey (back to camera).  

Lions Donna and Bob Hurley and Chevelle Hogan

Captain Bailey recognized and honored every branch of the military for their service and I'm sure the veterans appreciated the recognition for their service.

Lion Susan Albury and her children

International Director Lewis Quinn speaking to the veterans.

International Director Lewis Quinn

Lions Rena Sims, Mike Norton, ID Lewis Quinn, and Bruce Wing

Lion Lenny Sims and Juanita Bailey

Lion Donna Hurley has been eating, breathing, and sleeping USS Juneau for years now and most recently the last year as she pulled the coming event to a head.  Yet, she still had time to create a keepsake that represented the three USS Juneau ships.

ID Lewis Quinn, Lions Donna Hurley and Tom Dawson

Lions Donna Hurley and Tom Dawson with their "visual" story:   The long string of pearls represents the 697 officers and crew that died when the USS Juneau was torpedoed and sunk; the shorter string represents the ones left adrift in shark-infested waters for eight days before being rescued; and the shortest string of pearls representing the ten who were rescued.  

The longest string 532 men who died onboard, second string 165 men blown off ship into water,
 and 3rd string of 14, 4 who lived by transfer and 10 who survived 8 days in water.  

International Director Lion Lewis Quinn and Lion Donna Hurley.
ID Lewis received a dome that holds 3 pearls, one for each ship named for Juneau
with an angel's wing to remind us that we are the guardians of their memories.  

 #100Lions Legacy Project

We Serve!
Lion Nancy Norton