11/11/2025
Today, many USS ORLECK sailors, along with their families and friends, have gathered in Jacksonville, Florida aboard their cherished USS ORLECK DD 886, which serves as the focal point of the JAX NAVAL MUSEUM. Every year on Veterans Day, following the "11/11/11 plan", a proposal unanimously adopted during their 2022 reunion in Jacksonville, USS ORLECK sailors, loved ones, and supporters make a special pilgrimage to the ship. The plan calls for everyone to be welcomed aboard the ORLECK at 11:00 AM on November 11th, making the date and time both meaningful and easy to remember 11/11/11. (Please note, some events may begin earlier than 11:00 AM, so it is important to pay attention to announcements.)
For many, the ORLECK is a beloved home away from home, and these gatherings offer a heartfelt opportunity to honor their service and that of others and relive memories.
This year’s ceremony featured museum speakers who updated attendees on the ongoing restoration efforts aboard the ORLECK. Shipmates shared stories of their time serving on the ship, and a moving remembrance took place: those present cast flowers into the water in tribute, accompanied by the playing of taps.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, a bell was rung to commemorate the end of World War II gunfire on Armistice Day, symbolized also by the significance of 11/11/11. Following the ceremony, attendees watched the impressive Jacksonville Veterans Day Parade from a reserved seating area and then returned to the ship to enjoy lunch and guided tours.
We will continue to celebrate this day in this way as long as we are alive and there are those who wish to come and honor those living and dead who have served our nation and freedom throughout the world.
God Bless our Veterans! Thank you all for your service and God Bless the USS ORLECK DD 886.
Bob Orleck
