Russ Alsteen, 76, of Green Bay, Wisconsin, drove for two days to come to the Navy Club of the USA national convention, held this year in Pottsville.
"It was 960 miles. I forget how many hours it was. It took me forever because I drove in rain. I hit delays in Chicago. I wanted to forget," Alsteen, paymaster for the Navy Club of Green Bay Ship 18, said.
But he was determined to enjoy the three-day national convention.
It began Thursday night when about 60 delegates from across the country attended the opening ceremony held at Navy Club of Black Diamond Ship 257, Minersville. The group gathered Friday at the main ballroom at the Ramada, Pottsville, for the opening joint session with the Navy Club and Women's Auxiliary. Tonight at 7 p.m., the group will return to the Ramada for a banquet, according to Bob Laughlin, Minersville, a member of Black Diamond Navy Club and the national commandant of the Navy Club of the USA, based in Harrisburg.
"And if I don't have a good time," Alsteen said, "it's my fault."
Schuylkill County Commissioner Gary Hess and Pottsville Mayor James T. Muldowney presented the club members with proclamations Friday morning.
When he got up to the microphone, Muldowney started his speech by honoring a fallen Schuylkill County soldier.
"Thank you very much for having me. More important than that, thank you for your service. Here in Pottsville in the last couple of weeks we've experienced a loss. One of our own was killed in Afghanistan," Muldowney said.
Capt. Jason Benjamin Jones, 29, of Orwigsburg, was killed June 2 in a small-arms firefight near Jalalabad, Afghanistan. He was the commander of a 12-man Special Forces A-Team with the Army Special Forces, also known as the Green Berets.
"All you people who put your life on the line, we thank you," Muldowney said.
And Pottsville police Capt. Steve Guers read a letter from city police Chief Richard F. Wojciechowsky, who is the son of a Navy veteran.
"He deeply regrets that he could not be here, but he has prepared a statement for me to read to you folks," Guers said of the chief.
"On behalf of the City of Pottsville Bureau of Police, I would first like to thank you for your service to our country and second welcome you to the City of Pottsville for the 2014 Navy Club convention. As the son of a Navy veteran who served honorably in Vietnam, I assure you we are honored to have you celebrating this weekend in our city and promise to assist you in any way needed," Wojciechowsky said in the letter.
The Navy Club also held a service for its deceased members. It was conducted by Stephen Darosh, Minersville, a member of Black Diamond Ship 257 and the national chaplain for the Navy Club of the USA.
The Black Diamond Navy Club was formed in 1987. It had hosted a national convention previously in 1995, according to Laughlin.
Leo F. Haley, Pottsville, one of Black Diamond's founding members, was the master of ceremonies Friday morning. He said he served in the Navy from 1951 to 1954.
"With this event, we're looking forward to the camaraderie. It involves all the ships scattered across the United States," Darosh said.
There were representatives from more than 25 ships at the events Friday at the Ramada.
"I was in the Marine Corps from 1983 to 1987," Darosh said.
"The Navy's Army," Haley said, referring to the Marines.
"The Navy is nothing more than a glorified taxi. When the jarheads need to get somewhere, we'd say 'yo, let's go,' " Darosh said in return.
"So we'd take them, drop them off and we'd go get a hot meal," Haley said.
For more information about Navy Club USA, visit www.navyclubusa.org.