Field Day of Past

FIELD DAY OF THE PAST

The USS Virginia Base has sponsored a display at the Field Day of the Past every year beginning in 2013. This is a Team Anderson (Bill, Curtis & Sandi) initiative that the Base has consistently voted to fund every year because it's a great way to show support for our beloved submarine service and also recruit new Base members.

CLICK HERE TO READ A MESSAGE FROM PROJECT LEADER BILL ANDERSON REGARDING OUR 2024 PARTICIPATION

Here's a photo of our very first 2013 display:

Left to right that's Kenn McDermott, Bill Wellner & Bill Anderson

And here's a photo of our 2016 display with our new Brow Skirt mounted:

And here's a photo of the Saturday crew at the 2017 FTOTP

Left to right: Curtis Anderson; Bob Kutzenberger; Chris Knaggs, Kenn McDermott (the BC who forgot his sub vet vest); Tom Jones; Bill Anderson and John Lamsens

And here's a photo of a watch section at the 2018 FTOTP

Left to right: John Williams; Bill Anderson; Al Ptasznik; Tom Jones & Rec Stanbery

And here's a photo of a watch section at the 2019 FTOTP

Left to right: Bill Anderson, Bob Post; John Williams; Al Stafford & Curtis Anderson

Bravo Zulu to all ten of our 2019 watch standers: Chris Knaggs; Bob Kutzenberger; John Williams; Tom Jones; Vince Eikmeier; Al Stafford; Bob Post; James Pentz; Curtis Anderson and Bill Anderson. Will done men!

For 2019 Team Anderson made some modifications to the displays. Instead of using boards and ropes to hang displays, they used cold water pipes and plumbing hardware to hang the displays. This made for a cleaner and more professional look booth. They also made a display for the Clean Sweep Qualifications flags; redesigned the mount for the klaxon and added a Ship Rocker Patch display.

And here are some photos of the 2022 FTOTP

Pictured are Bill Anderson, Vincent Eikmeier and Joseph Rodrigues

Left to right: Bill Anderson, Thurman Register Jr.,Christopher Knaggs and Curtis Anderson

Here is a photo of the 2023 FTOTP

Here is a photo of the 2024 FDOTP New Larger Display

Participation by members, family and friends for our Base FDOTP displays is appreciated since this is a full three-day event and Team Anderson needs volunteers to assist with setting up the tents (a day early on Thursday) and displays, as well as standing watches in our display throughout the three days to answer questions about the sub service and recruit qualified submariners who are not members of USSVI or our Base. They also need assistance stowing/unstowing display items every night/morning into their trailer, and then taking everything down, including the tents, and repacking it all in their trailer at the end of the event.

Bill Anderson submits the Exhibitor Registration Form and purchases Attendance Tickets for all volunteers. This is a Base sponsored event so we cover all costs from the Base Treasury - but your help is both required and appreciated in order to make this event a continuing success for our Base.

WHAT?	FIELD DAY OF THE PAST Base Sponsored Display
WHEN?	September 20th, 21st & 22nd of 2024
WHAT TIME?	Gates Open at 8 a.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday Arts & Crafts, Exhibits, Demonstrations and Displays close at 6 p.m. Friday-Sunday
WHERE?	12000 Patrick Henry Highway (Rt 360) Amelia Court House, Va 23002 Web Site: https://www.fielddayofthepast.net
HOW DO I SIGN UP?	Send BILL ANDERSON an e-mail by clicking on his name to let him know which DAY(s) and HOURS you would like to help and/or stand a watch
DIRECTIONS Click on the "Directions" link in the map address box below. Type in the address you are departing from in the "Choose Starting Point" field on the page that comes up. This will build a custom map for you which includes driving instructions.

Project Leader Bill Anderson's 2022 Message

Shipmates,

The 2024 Field Day of the Past is just around the corner, September 20th, 21st & 22nd. And again this year I'm inviting members to stand a watch manning our booth. The Base will provide tickets for you and a guest.

If you are unfamiliar with the Field Day of the Past, it is fair type event with the following:

• Historic displays, buildings, demonstrations and re-enactments

• Tractor and Truck Pulls

• Small Engine Displays

• Living History exhibits for antique machinery including a sawmill, Wooden spoon making machine and others.

• Arts and Crafts Vendors and a Flea Market

• Antique and Modern Construction Equipment

• Heritage Craft Area

• Sorghum Molasses making

• Carnival Rides

• Animal Exhibits and Equestrian Events

• And Much Much More!

If you would like more information about the Field Day of the Past, please go to their website at www.fielddayofthepast.net

What we need of our Watch Standers is a commitment to either half or all day, Friday the 20th, Saturday the 21st or Sunday the 22nd.

You will be "hanging out" with the other watch standers (Base Members), my son Curtis (an Associate member of the base) and me, plus one or two other members and their guest. We use this venue to recruit new members and inform the public of submarines and to honor our Brothers on Eternal Patrol.
There is time for you to go out and enjoy the amenities of the fair. A photo of last year’s booth will be posted on this web page soon - but some earlier photos are already posted.
There will be a trailer with air conditioning in case the heat gets to be too much.

If you can’t do the weekend, what about Thursday the 19th? Curtis and I will meet up and set up the tent and larger items so the setup on Friday mornings is a lot easier. Let me know. At most this will take two hours, at most.

If you have a piece of memorabilia that would be of interest to either Submariners or a civilian and you would like it displayed, let me know. All of our displayed items do get locked up when we close the booth for the evening.

Come on out and stand a watch (more like a midwatch) like we did back on the boats.

If you have that weekend free, please consider coming out to the Field Day of the Past. Email me to reserve a watch or if you have any questions at ftb1ss@comcast.net.

Bill & Sandi Anderson

Submariner - FTB1(SS)

USS Tecumseh (SSBN-628)

SWFPAC, Submarine Base Bangor, WA

USS Kamehameha (SSBN-642)

Safe Cracker

7129 Harver Way

Mechanicsville, VA 23111

(804) 614-6380 (Bill's Cell)

(804) 301-1997 (Sandi's Cell)

Narrative Directions to the Show Grounds

The Field Day of the Past show grounds are located off RT 360 (Patrick Henry Wwy) in the 12000 block. This is approximatly 33 miles south west of Richmond Virginia. Follow the signs.

Additional directions while be posted in the future.

Parking