My husband remembered how they received a lot of flack for having the convention that year right after 9/11, but by law they had to have it. He said it was mainly about 9/11, foregoing normal convention business under the circumstances, and was extremely respectable memorializing NYPD losses and all the events of that day.
Yes, we enjoyed the times we went, although we don’t drink so we mostly observed the other wild people, but had our own good times. Always enjoyed our dinners at the Captain’s Table restaurant, I think that was the name of it. We haven’t gone the last couple of years, my husband was a delegate, not sure if he would still be. We got tired of going I guess, same ole thing after a few times!
That’s probably the one thing I do recall about that year’s convention: how many said it shouldn’t have happened. That was silly imo since life goes on and this was such a big part of my life and so many others. We had such wonderful times at those annual conventions. My oldest brother did the Irish weekend that same year, like all the other years, and that year was truly meaningful for him.
LOL! Captain’s Table. I recall the name but not the location. It was either on Cresse Ave or down further in the Crest. My Aunt owned a home and business on Cresse Ave so I spent many summers there and for some reason I think the Captain’s Table was on the corner of Cresse and Pacific (?) Ha, I’m getting old I can’t even remember exactly. I also recall a Captain’s something down further in the Crest but maybe that Admiral’s Table? or the Admiral hotel? That may be a hotel, lol. We spent lots of time at the Bal Harbor because a friend worked in the snack bar there.
I haven’t gone to that weekend since sometime during college but spent that weekend there all through grade and high school. We always stayed at the Park Lane(?) I know I;m screwing up the name of the motel. It was across the street from the Pan American? A hotel on the beach with a rotating globe. It had a restaurant and me and my best friend who came with us each year use to eat breakfast there. I’m sure both were in the Crest. That’s the only thing I recall about the hotels/motels. I spent years in Wildwood, recall Duffer’s (?) restaurant and so many other spots. Same with Margate, again an aunt owned a summer home there.
I stopped going after my freshman year in college but my parents, brothers, family still went for a few years afterwards. It was the Last weekend of the summer for us, the annual LAST WEEKEND. Fireman Convention and VFW weekend. Wonderful memories.