First Youngstown-Vienna Naval Reserve unit reunion scheduled

VIENNA — Old friendships will soon be renewed – and anniversaries will be celebrated.

A reunion is planned for all naval reservists who have drilled at the centers in this area – at the former facility on East LaClede Avenue in Youngstown and at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station in Vienna.

The Aug. 15 event is to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Naval Reserve Center’s move to the Vienna location and the 63rd year of the naval reserves being in the Youngstown area, said Capt. Richard Rumbaugh, reunion coordinator.

A reunion has never been held, Rumbaugh said, and the 20th anniversary is a good reason to hold the celebration.

“Also,” he added, “we felt a general need, a few of us, to reunite the friendships that were made 20 years ago when the move was made into the new center.”

The day will begin at the airbase in Vienna at 11:30 a.m. with a luncheon. Programming about benefits available to reserves and retired personnel will follow.

There will also be a program covering the 63 year history of the reserves in Youngstown, including their original use of a high school until they moved into the East LaClede Avenue facility. A presentation by current drilling reservists will explain what they do now for active forces.

“As all reunions, it’s a good time to re-associate with old friends and acquaintances and to build some new friendships as well,” Rumbaugh said.

About 100 people are expected to attend, Rumbaugh said. Some 6,000 reservists have drilled at the Vienna center in the past 20 years.

Reservations are necessary, and must be made by Aug. 1. Contact Andy Ragan at (330) 549-2376 or Rumbaugh at (330) 627-2918 for reservations.