The annual USS Bennington Reunion took place August 30-September 3, 2016 in Omaha, NE and was hosted at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel. Members came together from across the country to enjoy the four-day event, Tuesday-Friday, reuniting with old shipmates.
On Wednesday the USS Bennington Reunion Attendees got to explore two of Omaha’s biggest tourist attractions – the Strategic Air & Space Museum and Boy’s Town. More than thirty of the world’s most famous military aircraft are on display at the Strategic Air and Space Museum. A 300,000 square foot facility, the museum includes the SR-71 “Blackbird” and the B-36 “Peacemaker. The historic collection is a celebration of aviation and the men and women who served at Nebraska’s Strategic Air Command. Father Flannigan’s Boy’s Town was founded in 1917 and incorporated in 1936. Boy’s Town is a complete community for over 550 boys and girls having trouble at home, or with no home at all. The complex is a world-renowned college preparatory and technical training facility.
On Thursday morning, folks loaded up a bus for a guided tour of Omaha. Tour highlights included: the Lewis & Clark Landing, the historic spot where the duo landed; the historic Gold Coast District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places; Billionaire Warren Buffet’s home, a 1903 Scottish Castle; The Blackstone Hotel, the birthplace of the Reuben sandwich, St. Cecilia’s Spanish Cathedral; TD Ameritrade Park, home of the annual NCAA Men’s College World Series; the Omaha Community Playhouse; and many more hot spots in Omaha! After lunch on their own at the Old Market Downtown District, attendees traveled to the Union Pacific Railroad Museum, which houses one of the oldest corporate collections in the nation. The Museum includes artifacts, photographs, and documents that trace the development of the transcontinental railroad to the American West.
Friday morning began with the association’s annual business meeting and the reunion wrapped up on Friday evening with the reception and dinner buffet with Omaha steaks!
Armed Forces Reunions loves planning the USS Bennington Reunion annually and is looking forward to planning the group’s 2017 reunion in Great Lakes, IL!