Subbing in

Sep 2

2 min read

Hamilton, OH - Run silent, run deep.

Not only the name of a 1958 Clark Gable/Burt Lancaster film about WWII in the Pacific theater, but also a standard submarine tactic for avoiding enemy detection.

How deep? In the case of the USS Cincinnati, more than 600 feet.

Specific depth capabilities? Classified, according to Bob Viney - Vice President and Project Executive, Submarine Cincinnati Memorial Association - the featured speaker at the Celebrating Self luncheon at the Fitton Center for Creative Arts September 2.

Viney spoke on the USS Cincinnati Memorial Peace Pavillion at Voice of America Park in West Chester, officially dedicated in May. It took more than a decade from taking delivery of pieces of the ship (commissioned in 1978) to reach the dedication event this spring.

Viney said it was well worth the wait. To say nothing of the effort to coordinate with the litany of local, county, civic, park, state and military officials, plus all the private donors who helped fund the memorial.

Viney and a pair of Peace Pavillion tour guides came armed with a seven-foot working radio-controlled model of the USS Cincinnati for display. Before the program, they swapped stories of their own submarine service, including tales of commanding officers and the music they preferred on board.

There were at least three other submariners on hand, too, including Allan Bailey (of the event sponsor Allan Bailey Family), Bryan Butz and Alek Kranbuhl.

There was another special guest, too, as Gloria Hill celebrated her 95th birthday a couple days early at the luncheon.

In additions, a new class of Transitions Team students from Hamilton High School assisted guests with seating and beverage service.

The next Celebrating Self luncheon takes place Wednesday, October 7, when costume professor Clara Jean Kelley the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music shares colonial clothing inspired by One City One Book Hamilton with a live runway fashion show.

Tickets are available online right here, by phone at 513-863-8873, ext. 110 or in person at the Fitton Center box office.

Meantime, enjoy some photos from the September luncheon in the gallery below.