We had a good turnout for our September 11th meeting, which included one new member (Jim Lassiter) and one guest who is also a prospective new member (Greg Sisco). We started out by asking the ladies to stay for the beginning of the meeting and after COB Rob McNamara read the Submariner's Creed, led us in the Pledge of Allegiance and tolled the boats lost in September - Commander Kenn McDermott inducted Sid Padgett into the Holland Club.

The Holland Club has a very prestigious and unique membership beginning when it was established by USSVI in May of 1964 to recognize those members who have been qualified in Submarines FIFTY (50) or more years. Sid Padgett joins four other USS Virginia Base members and is our senior Holland Club member since he qualified in 1944. The reason he was only recently inducted into the Holland Club is because Sid has been a member of Submarine Veterans of World War II. Although he joined USSVI and USS Virginia Base in April, 2005, it was only this year that USSVI offered all Sub Vets of WWII Life Membership and Holland Club inductions, which Sid took them up on.

Our other Holland Club members are: Bill Hiesley, Mickey Martin, Pat Rodgers and Warren Rucker.

Base Commander Kenn McDermott presenting Holland Club certificate to Sid Padgett	Sid's Holland Club Patch & Membership Card