Seabees reunite in Gulfport over the weekend

Gulfport, Miss. (WXXV)- The Navy Seabee Veterans of America’s Island X1 Gulfport group hosted a Seabee reunion over the weekend. Seabees from all over the country meeting at the Courtyard Marriott.

Saturday’s ceremony began with the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer, remembering all those who gave their lives.

Afterwards the Seabees were served dinner, reuniting with old shipmates and meeting new ones.

Event organizers also reminding Seabees in the Magnolia State to order a Seabees license plate. They say 140 more need to be sold in order to keep them in rotation.

Seabees from Missouri and Georgia telling WXXV why events like this are important.

“Gee whiz, about 15 years I guess coming to these reunions,” says Charlie Rowell, serving as a Seabee from 1960 to 1983. “It’s always good to see former shipmates and what they’ve been up to. And rehashing the same lies we told last year!”

“This is the third time I’ve been to this one, but my battalion does one every year. I’ve been going to it since 2017,” says Roger Gardner, a Seabee from 1966 to 1993. “I enjoy getting together with all the guys and reminiscing, talking about all the good times we’ve had. You meet a lot of different people from all over, a bunch of different battalions. Everyone has a story.”

Rowell sharing a message for any Seabee who isn’t sure about attending a reunion.

“Ya’ll need to come in here. I drove down from Leesburg, Georgia to reunite with a bunch of you guys and you sit at home watching this on television. Come on out!”