PRESS RELEASE
U-156/U-502 ROUNDTABLE MEETING
From June 20 – 27, 2009 we are expecting about 200 visitors from the U.S. for their Lago Aruba Reunion, which is held here in Aruba every three years. These people and/or their families worked for Lago and lived in the Lago Colony.
Included in their program is a meeting to discuss what took place at Lago and Aruba during the Second World War because many had experienced this. One of these visitors is Mr. Don Gray who is heading a U-156/U-502 Roundtable organization. In every Reunion, they hold these types of meeting, either in Aruba or the U.S. This group of people do a lot of investigations on WWII in Aruba so as to provide a true and correct documentation in the future. Two members of Aruba are in this organization, namely Mr. Clyde Harma and Dufi Kock. So far the members have produced four books: German U-Boat 156 Brought War to Aruba, February 16, 1942 by W. C. Hochstuhl/Clyde Harms; When Lago Was Lucky by Ray Burson; The Patrols of U-156 and From the Beginning to Das Ende by Stan Norcom. Aside from that, we have just received from Holland: Een Gemeenschappelijke Strijd di Ad van den Oord, Jules Rijssen, and Ted Schouten, which is now on the local market.
On June 23, the meeting is scheduled from 9:30am – 12:30pm in Ballroom “G” of the Aruba Westin Resort. We are expecting more visitors to attend this meeting than three years ago, because of the interest displayed on the recent recovery of the SS Oranjestad propeller. This meeting is open to the public and the program is as follows:
1. Introduction by Mr. Don Gray
2. Presentation by Mr. George Tielen; Pilot, Author, & Entrepreneur, introduced
By Mr. Don Gray
3. Presentation by Mr. Percy Sweetnam, professional and commercial diver,
leader of the SS Oranjestad Propeller Recovery dive team. Also, the dive team,
introduced by Dufi Kock.
4. Presentation of a 30-minute video on the recovery of the SS Oranjestad propeller,
by Mr. Dick de Bruin.
5. Questions and answers, comments, and discussion.
6. Adjournment
There will be coffee and tea. Also available will be an opportunity to buy Stan Norcom’s books. In the future there will be the Dedication of a WWII Memorial located on the cliff overlooking the big lagoon in the Seroe Colorado. (Please see Dufi Kock or any member of the diving team for donations to the memorial and for more details.)
If there is any question on this program, please call Dufi Kock on telephone 584-1201 or Cel: 592-9417. Should anyone be interested on WWII in Aruba, please go to www.lago-colony.com
and click on World War II.
By means of this letter we would like to extend an invitation to all media to attend this meeting. Your presence is highly appreciated.
In the name of the U-156/U-502 Roundtable organization,
Sincerely,
Dufi Kock, Coordinator
U-156/U-502 Roundtable
Savaneta 125-F
Tel: 584-1201
Cel: 592-9417