Florida Chapter NCVA

Unfortunately we have to cancel our 2025 reunion due to lack of participation. Hopefully we can reschedule at a better time. Thank you all who responded.

Contact John Koval at the email address below with questions, concerns or ideas. Thanks!

Johnkoval46@gmail.com

John Koval is planning the FLNCVA Chapter reunion for the weekend of 21 – 23 March 2025. Moving the reunion back to the Spring season will avoid the Hurricane season so we can expect better weather than our outing on the River Cruise last October. This weekend also corresponds to the Reserves training weekend. Please save this date!

We are attempting to have our local reunion March 21st – 23rd at the Hampton Inn in Altamonte Springs. We are awaiting confirmation of our guest speaker Congressman Corey Mills. I do need to know if you plan on attending this function as I have to schedule the caterer for our dinner on the 22nd of March.

Can you please email John Koval at the below address. He needs to know your participation so he can give the caterer a number. Dinner will be $30 per person. Please let him know by the 30th of January.

Johnkoval46@gmail.com

Beset by hurricane Milton the week before and still affected by flood water and high winds, the 2024 FLNCVA get together went amazingly well. When the St. John’s River Ship Company had to cancel the cruise down the St. John’s river due to flood waters on lake Monroe combined with high winds half of those who had booked the cruise decided not to attend. The six of of that did attend had a great time dockside with a fine lunch and good entertainment provided by the crew.

This year we are planning a little SEA-DUTY. We are going to have a luncheon on the St. Johns River ship (Barbara-Lee), departing from Historic Downtown Sanford, Florida at 10:30am on the 19^th of October. Our luncheon will include a 3 hour voyage up the St. Johns River aboard the Barbara-Lee. A full table service menu is provided and will include your choice of the following:

• Prime Rib
• Tropical Chicken
• Chicken Marsala
• Chicken Parmesan
• Salmon Filet
• Entrée Caesar Salad
• Roasted Vegetable Lasagna
• First Mates Meal

You will enjoy climate-controlled comfort as you cruise up the St. Johns river. Reservations can be made by phone (321 -441-3030) and reference the NCVA reservation # 4232 8743. Cost is $79.52 per person. Free parking is available at the pier (433 N. Palmetto Ave., Sanford, FL 32771). Reservations must be made by September 15^th.

Additionally, we have made rooms available at the Hampton Inn located in Altamonte Springs if your planning on an overnight visit. They can be contacted at (407) 331-0220. Be sure and reference NCVA. For those coming in on the 18^th and staying at the Hampton Inn, we will probably visit the Italian Restaurant located around the corner that night for dinner.

If you have any questions, please contact John Koval at (321 277 6180) or by email (johnkoval46@gmail.com).

By John Koval

The annual reunion was held the weekend of 9/09/2023 at the Hampton Inn located in Altamonte Springs, Florida. As part of our annual tradition, the Florida Chapter honors a Sailor-of-the-Year . This year’s honoree is CTR1 Bridgette Beriault from the reserve component (NIOCGA) NAVOPSPTCEN Orlando, Florida. Lt. Nicholas Russo accepted the award on her behalf.

Deputy Sheriff’s from the Seminole County Financial Crime Task Force presented a lecture on the many scams that are currently targeted at our senior citizens. I believe all in attendance found this presentation interesting.

How will the expected government shutdown affect the VA? They have posted a web page that explains what to expect from the VA if there is a government shutdown. Follow this link to see their post.

The Florida Chapter NCVA (FLNCVA) is holding their annual reunion the weekend of September 8-10, 2023 at the Hampton Inn and Suites located at 161 North Douglas Avenue, Altamonte Springs, Florida 32714. We are inviting any member of the NCVA who wishes to attend.

Contact the Hampton Inn at (407) 331-0220 and give them the code “NCVA” for your reservation. Room rates are $105 for either the Standard Queen (double queens) or the Standard King. Reservations must be made by August 16,2023.

Our guest speaker will be a Deputy Sheriff from the Seminole County Financial Crimes Task Force discussing a number of topics related to forgery, identity theft, embezzlement, contractor fraud and other scams as they apply to senior citizens.

Once again, our banquet will be provided by Magic Occasions at $25 per person. You can direct any questions to John Koval at (321) 277-6180 or johnkoval46@gmail.com.

Please RSVP to John by August 16^th as we are limited to 50 guests per meeting room restrictions.

Rear Admiral William (Bill) D. Masters, Jr of Ormond Beach, Florida a long time member and ardent supporter of the Florida Chapter NCVA passed away on Tuesday, April 4 2023. He will be always remembered and greatly missed.

There will be a celebration of life on Wednesday, April 12, 2023 at 2:30pm At the Halifax River Yacht Club, 331 South Beach Street, Daytona Beach, Florida 32114. If you choose to wear a uniform (optional), the uniform is Service Dress Blue. Please arrive at least a little early. The family has requested in lieu of flowers, please donate To the Honor Flight Network (honorflight.org) or American Heart Association (heart.org). His obituary is posted at https://baldwincremation.com/obituaries/william-masters-jr/.

If you will be attending please RSVP by this Saturday, April 8th to John Koval. Ph: (321) 277-6180; Email: johnkoval46@gmail.com

Sep 14, 2022

Contact us at this link if you know any of these people.

A Salute to SPQ3c John Langfeldt

John Langfeldt, 95 years young, of Palm Beach Gardens, FL is a long time member of the FLNCVA. John served as a Communication Specialist on Station Able, Guam during World War II. This is a picture of John and some of his shipmates on the island. Thank you John for clearing the Japanese from this island and making it the paradise it has become for those of us that followed you. If you can identify any of these people please contact us at this link and let us know.

Another successful FLNCVA annual reunion was held the weekend of 9/11 at the Hampton Inn located in Altamonte Springs, Florida. Thirty- Four persons were in attendance for the reunion dinner on Saturday (9/10) which included ten CT’s from the reserve component (NIOCGA), NAVOPSPTCEN Orlando, Florida.

FLNCVA always honors a Sailor-of-the-Year. This years honoree is CTR1 Melissa Mikulenchak.

Scott Storz, our guest speaker, gave a very interesting presentation of the Deland Naval Air Station Museum’s recovery and restoration of WWII aircraft.

the 2022 Reunion photos have been posted to the Members Only site under the Archives page. You will need to login there to see them. See you all next year or perhaps even sooner. I hear Jack Maher may be planning a spring outing.