July 29 memorial traditions for USS FORRESTAL shipmates
July 29 is the day the crew remembers the 1967 flight deck fire and the shipmates lost that morning.
This page is a volunteer-written field guide for reading the association's own posts, finding the right contact,
and pairing memorial travel with the reunion mail you already get if you belong to the association.
Start at the association home page when you want the full column layout, join graphics, and quick links to every section.
Why the association still publishes July 29 items
The board posts cancellations, hotel blocks, wreath details, and safety notes the same way it did before the hull went to recycling.
Those notes are not generic Navy history. They are written for people who lived the noise of the flight deck and who still carry the names of division friends.
When you see a July headline in the news index, read the full item for times, rain plans, and any change to muster points around Arlington or Norfolk.
Five steps to stay tied in each year
- Scan the news page starting the third week of July for the current year's ceremony copy. Officers usually mirror the same facts in the Spot Sheet if you get it in the mail.
- Open the history section when you want the long-form timeline that names key 1967 events and later memorial legislation the association tracked.
- Use the contact directory when you need the chaplain, public affairs, or memorial coordinator instead of guessing an old personal address.
- Leave a short note in the guestbook if you are trying to find a division mate who might search your hull number or squadron.
- Confirm your dues and mailing address on the join and renewal page so reunion packets and memorial invitations reach you before hotel blocks close.
Washington area visits that pair with July 29
Many families combine Arlington National Cemetery stops with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall walk the association advertised in past years.
Wear comfortable shoes, carry water, and expect security lines that move slowly on summer mornings.
If you cannot travel, you can still read the posted prayers and muster reports on the site, then call a shipmate who is attending so your name is spoken during roll call.
Board roles that touch memorial work
The chaplain line handles invocations when a post asks for clergy support. Communications routes press questions. The historian files primary sources so future July articles stay accurate.
The about page lists the current volunteer names and mail links. This guide does not replace those contacts, it only tells you which site door to open first.
When you finish here, return to the USS FORRESTAL Association home page for membership banners, the animated banner tips, and the rotating news tables.