THE BANCROFT MEMORIAL

AT KINGS BAY, GEORGIA

 

 

The sail from the 643 was salvaged when she was scrapped and it was sent to the Kings Bay, GA submarine base in 1998.

After a lot of effort by a lot of people and a lenthy fund drive, the sail was made into the memorial you see at left. The display is actually just outside the Franklin Gate of the base.

In April of 2000, a Sail Dedication ceremony took place at the Memorial Exhibit with a pretty good compliment of the ex crewmembers present at the setting of the watch. About 25 former Bancroft sailors showed up.

Later that same weekend, we had our first reunion gathering at the Cumberland Inn & Suites in Kingsland where the Bancroft Association was started. It was there that we all decided we wanted an official Association and that we would go about setting up the legal organization structure as a "not for profit" organization. We arranged for adopting a set of bylaws and getting set up as a corporation. Our attorney, John Sigler, took care of that for us and an official, full blown Reunion was planned for the following year, 2001, in Groton, Ct.

 

 

 

 

 

This is a copy of the official photo that was handed out by the base to all attendees. It was a well done, 8X10 photo.

 

 

 

 

                               

                      

 

THE PHOTOS BELOW ARE FROM THE SAIL DEDICATION CEREMONY BACK IN APRIL 2000. ABOUT 30-40 BANCROFT SAILORS ATTENDED

                                              

THE SHOTS BELOW ARE OF THE SPECIAL CORNER CREATED IN THE MUSEUM FOR OUR SHIP

                                                                             

THE TWO PHOTOS ABOVE ARE THE GEORGE BANCROFT'S CORNER DISPLAY AT THE ST. MARYS SUBMARINE MUSEUM , IN ST MARYS, GA.

THIS MUSEUM IS JUST UP THE ROAD FROM THE REAL MEMORIAL OUTSIDE THE GATE TO THE SUB BASE, SO WHEN YOU ATTEND OUR NEXT REUNION,

MAKE SURE YOU TAKE A RUN OVER TO CHECK IT OUT.

 

 

GENERAL CHRONOLOGY OF THE BANCROFT MEMORIAL

AND THE BANCROFT ASSOCIATION

1993-09-21-GEORGE BANCROFT DECOMMISSIONED, CHARLESTON, SC AND LATER TOWED TO PUGET SOUND NAVAL SHIPYARD FOR SCRAPPING.

1998- BANCROFT SAIL SECTION IS DELIVERED TO SUBMARINE BASE, KINGS BAY, GA.

2000-04-07- GEORGE BANCROFT SAIL EXHIBIT DEDICATION AT FRANKLIN GATE OUTSIDE SUBMARINE BASE, KINGS BAY, GEORGIA.

                          SEVERAL DOZEN FORMER BANCROFT SAILORS ARE IN ATTENDANCE.  

2000-04-08- 1st REUNION AT CUMBERLAND ISLAND INN & SUITES. THE BANCROFT ASSOCIATION IS FORMED.

2001-10-06- 2nd REUNION IN MYSTIC, CT

2003-05-01- 3rd REUNION IN KINGSLAND, GEORGIA

2005-04-21- 4th REUNION IN CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA

2007-04-26- 5th REUNION IN COCOA BEACH, FLORIDA

2009-04-16- 6th REUNION IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA

2011-06-18- 7th REUNION IN NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT

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