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Latest info regarding the next reunion

Dates Location Hotel
June 26 - 30, 2025 Indianapolis, IN Windham Indianapolis West
2544 Executive Drive
Indianapolis, IN

USS Lloyd Thomas 2025 Indianapolis Reunion

The 2025 USS Lloyd Thomas Reunion will be held in Indianapolis, Indiana from Thursday, June 26th through Sunday, June 29th. Chuck Yunker (70's crew) has volunteered to be the local host. The reunion hotel is the Windham Indianapolis West at 2544 Executive Drive, Indianapolis, Indiana 46241. The hotel is in the Indianapolis suburb of Plainfield, and is just East of Indianapolis Airport.

The Wyndham has offered us a rate of $149.00 per night, plus taxes, including a complimentary breakfast for two persons per room. The hotel will extend that rate for two days before and after the reunion.

If you are arriving before June 26th, or staying after June 29th, the online booking link will not accept those dates at our negotiated rate. In that case, you need to make reservations by phone at (317) 248-2481, or (877) 361-4511. When you make reservations, please be sure to mention you are with the USS Lloyd Thomas Reunion to receive our contracted rate, and to be counted toward our room/night contract minimums, even if you are staying on points, or have other arrangements.

If the reservations agent says there are no rooms available, that may only mean we have exceeded our blocked room type amount for those dates. Just let me know, and I will ask the Sales Manager to increase the room block amount, if the hotel has remaining unblocked rooms.

We encourage you to make your hotel reservations as soon as possible, as the more desirable rooms and any special requests will be filled on a first come, first served basis. You can always cancel if your schedule does not work out. The guest room cutoff date is June 5th. After that, rooms are only on as-available basis.

We appreciate having your events sign-up sheet returned to us no later than May 29th. We can always handle a late sign-up or two, but the earlier you can submit the sheet, the better.

If you have not attended our reunion before, and would like to visit and check us out, we would really love to see you. There are no registration fees, and all the tours and events are optional. You may attend as many events as you wish, or you can just drop by and visit us at our hospitality room each evening, just to say hello. If you are corresponding with another shipmate, please ask them if they would join us at Indy.

Time is passing, and our shipmates health issues have reduced our attendance over the years. We have thought about joining the USS Keppler Reunion, but so far, we have decided to keep the reunion all LT. The future of our reunion depends on the attendance of our shipmates, so, if you are able, please do not wait to attend a future reunion.

The hospitality room, Parlor Suite 162, is our base of operations at the hotel, and it will be open from when we return from the day's tours until the last group decides it is bedtime. Our reunion is family friendly, so your relatives and friends are most definitely welcome.

There is a space on the sign-up sheet to indicate your interest in sharing a room with a fellow shipmate. We will put you in touch with others willing to share the cost of a room. If you are experiencing mobility issues, we have contacted a company that will deliver rental wheelchairs or other mobility equipment to the hotel. Please check the block on the sign-up sheet if this is of interest to you.

Indianapolis International Airport (IND) is located about 6 miles, or about 10 minutes Southwest of our hotel. The Wyndham has a free airport shuttle. For other ground transportation, Uber/Lyft and taxi services are available. The AMTRAK station and the Greyhound Station are South of center city Indianapolis, and are about 8 miles (15 minutes) away. If you need transportation help, please give us a call.

The Event Schedule for the 2025 Reunion is:

Day 1, Thursday, June 26

Arrive, check in (Hotel check-in time is 3:00 PM), get reacquainted and swap sea stories. Check In will be in the Hospitality Room at the Parlor Suite 162.

There will be a Welcome Buffet served in the hotel's Golden Ballroom 1-2 from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM. You are welcome to sign up for this event if your arrival time allows.

BBQ Welcome Buffet - The Buffet includes BBQ Pork, Grilled Chicken with Mustard BBQ Sauce, Roasted Potatoes, Green Beans, Cole Slaw, Cookies……Coffee and Tea Station.

Day 2, Friday, June 27

After our free breakfast at the hotel, our first stop will be the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. The newly renovated museum is slated to reopen on April 2, and we will tour there for two and a half hours. Then we head to lunch at Shapiro's Deli. Shapiro's is a Cafeteria Style Deli, so lunch there will be on your own. We will be dining in a private room reserved for us. After lunch, we will take a short ride to the Scottish Rite Cathedral for a one hour tour of this historic building. After that we will board the bus for another short ride to the USS Indianapolis Memorial. We should return to the hotel around 4 PM.

Day 3, Saturday, June 28

The first stop will be at the American Legion National Headquarters, and visit the American Legion Mall, which includes the Cenotaph Square and WWI, WWII, Korean, Vietnam and other Memorials, a visit to the Blackmore Museum, viewing the original hand written copy of GI Bill by Harry W. Colmery, a video history of The American Legion and our Memorial Service in the Legion's National Executive Committee Room.

After that, we go to lunch at the Rathskeller Restaurant. We will gather in a private room where orders will be taken from a limited menu. A copy of the menu will be at the restaurant, and also in your check-in handouts After lunch, we will take the bus to the Indiana War Memorial Museum for a semi guided tour. We will spend about an hour and a half at the War Museum, returning to the hotel before 5 PM..

Day 4, Sunday, June 29

Sunday morning activities will be on your own. At 3 PM we will hold our business meeting in the Hospitality Room. Happy Hour before dinner starts at 6 PM in the Golden Ballroom 1-2, followed by the Farewell Banquet dinner there at 7 PM.

Banquet menu choices are:

  • Beef  -  Beef Stroganoff
  • Chicken  -  Grilled Basil Chicken .
  • Fish  -  Mahi Mahi, with Mango Lime Salsa

Entrees will be served with Chef's Choice of Starch and Vegetable.

The salad will be a Caesar Salad.

Dessert will be a New York Cheesecake, with Berry Compote.

Day 5, Monday, June 30

Departure - Hotel check out time is 12:00 noon. Farewell until the next reunion!

We fund our Hospitality Room with money raised by a raffle drawing held at the Sunday evening banquet. We will provide items from the Ship's Store, and some Indy area items for the raffle. If you have any items you would like to donate to our raffle, please bring them with you to the reunion.

Would you consider hosting a future reunion in your hometown, or in an area you know well? All it takes is a familiarity with the local geography, and an idea of some interesting events and attractions you feel your shipmates might enjoy. We can provide advice on hotel selection and negotiations, and do the paperwork to make it happen. We just need ideas, and a little groundwork on your end.

This schedule and the events themselves are subject to adjustment, but we will do our best to keep to the plan.

We hope to see you in Indianapolis!

Download the Signup Sheet from HERE.

Scott and Nadine Sheffer, Reunion Coordinators
PO Box 37
Lamartine, PA 16375
814-797-5458 H
412-951-0588 Cell
lloydthomas@breezeline.net
Charles Yunker, Local Host
PO Box 17
Tecumseh, KS 66542
785-408-0207 Cell
rd2charlesmyunker@gmail.com

Photo Books of Some Reunions

The following Reunion Photo Books are available to view.

If you're interested in buying a copy, contact the reunion coordinator.

These links will take you directly to each book at picaboo.com.

Roland Farmer also submitted some photos from Charleston, 2012. Not actually a photo book, but photos nonetheless.

Summaries of Past Reunions

You’re missing some great times if you have not attended a reunion. We always have beautiful weather, great tours, and a fantastic time together.

  • 2021 – Galveston/Houston, TX

    April 18 – 21, hosted by Ann and Mike Balog

    Read Scott Sheffer’s Highlights of Galveston/Houston, TX Reunion


  • 2023 – Annapolis, MD

    June 22 – 25, hosted by John Lienhard and Bill Webb

    48 in attendance, 28 shipmates, 2 first-timers

    Read Scott Sheffer’s Highlights of 2023 Annapolis, MD Reunion


  • 2019 – San Antonio, TX

    Feb 25 – 27, hosted by Ron Hruby

    47 in attendance, 24 shipmates, no first-timers

    Read Scott Sheffer’s Highlights of San Antonio Reunion.


  • 2017 – Charleston, SC

    Mar 8 – 12, hosted by Chief Ed and Diane Edwards.

    Read Scott Sheffer’s 2017 Charleston Reunion Review.

    60 in attendance, 33 shipmates, 4 of which were first-time attendees.


  • 2016 – Charleston, SC

    Scheduled for Oct 5 – 9, cancelled and rescheduled for Mar 8 – 12, 2017


  • 2015 – Cleveland, OH

    Sep 28 – Oct 2, hosted by Rich and Kathy Madansky

    Read Scott Sheffer’s 2015 Cleveland Reunion Review.

    73 in attendance, 43 shipmates.

    2015 Cleveland Reunion Photo Album is available at picaboo.com


  • 2014 – Phoenix, AZ

    Oct 20 – 24, hosted by Grant Smith and Jack Summers

    Read Scott Sheffer’s 2014 Phoenix Reunion Review.

    77 in attendance, 36 shipmates.

    5 shipmates were first-time attendees.

    Special performance of Taps at our Memorial Service.

    See our Reunion Photo Album at Picaboo.com The book is available for purchase.


  • 2013 – Gettysburg, PA

    Oct 15 – 17, hosted by Paul and Natalie Lyter.

    Read Scott Sheffer’s 2013 Gettysburg Reunion Review.

    89 in attendance, 51 shipmates.

    11 shipmates were first-time attendees.

    See our Reunion Photo Album at Picaboo.com. The book is available for purchase.


  • 2012 – Charleston, SC

    Oct 1 – 5, hosted byRon & Jeanne Campus

    60 in attendance, 38 sailors.

    3 sailors were first-time attendees.


  • 2011 – Pittsburgh PA

    Oct 10-12, hosted by
    Jack & Angela Malady & Jim & Karen Clark

    5 sailors and 3 wives were 1st time attendees.


  • 2010 – Pensacola FL

    Oct 12-14, hosted by
    Ed & Cheryl Ragsdale


  • 2009 – Colorado Springs, CO

    Sept 28-30, hosted by
    Jack & Therese Froehle


  • 2008 – Richmond, VA

    Oct 2-4, hosted by
    Bob & Grace Scherrer


  • 2007 – San Diego, CA

    Oct 11-13


  • 2006 – New England

    May 4-6, hosted by
    Ed Frederick

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    • Go to MY PHOTOS

  • 2005 – Myrtle Beach, SC

    Apr 29 – May 1, hosted by
    Ronnie & Jean Campus

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  • 2004 – Annapolis, MD

    Apr 25-29, hosted by
    Charles & Betsy Dobbs

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  • 2002 – Chicago, IL

    Sep 26-29, hosted by
    Horace “Pete” Peterson
    155 in attendance


  • 2001 – Norfolk/Virginia Beach

    Apr 5-8, hosted by
    Bob & Grace Scherrer


  • 1999 – Baton Rouge, LA

    Sep 29 – Oct 3, hosted by
    Clement & Gail Guidroz


  • 1998 – Orlando, FL

    Apr 15-19, hosted by
    Tom & Gwen Swisher
    145 in attendance


  • 1996 – Portland, OR

    Aug 28-31, hosted by
    Harry & Ramona Hendricks


  • 1995 – Philadelphia, PA

    May 17-20, hosted by
    PJ & Nancy Miller
    130 in attendance


  • 1993 – Charleston, SC

    Fall, hosted by
    Ed & Diane Edwards


  • 1991 – Norfolk/Virginia Beach

    Spring, hosted by
    Bob & Grace Scherrer


  • 1989 – Newport, RI

    Fall, hosted by
    Al & Marcia Liftman

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