Commodore Alex Harrison welcomed at Epping Forest
The wind was brisk and the setting sun was making its way toward the horizon as Epping Forest Yacht Club & Country Club held its 29th Change of Command ceremony March 31.
During the traditional evening ritual, which was held near the club’s marina on the St. Johns River, former Commodore John E. Trainer, Jr., watched as his burgee was replaced with the flag of incoming Commodore Alex P. Harrison of Julington Creek.
Rev. Dr. Nicholas G. Louh, senior pastor of St. John the Divine Greek Orthodox Church, gave the invocation and benediction, while former Commodore Dennis Guidi served as master of ceremonies, tearing up the traditional script with much fanfare only to replace it with one of his own.
As tradition would have it, Guidi introduced the commodores in attendance from other yacht clubs, as well as the many former Epping Forest Yacht Club commodores sitting in the audience before embarking on the traditional ceremony which marks the changing of roles for Epping’s flag officers and board members.
Serving under Harrison will be Vice Commodore Hillary Almond, Rear Commodore and Fleet Captain Victor Barbe, and Trainer as well as Board members George T. Henley, Annie Tutt, Morgan Teichert, Holly Rosenbloom, Holly McMurry, John Moore, Michael Mussallem and Eric Nord.
Mussallem, Moore and Nord are new to the board this year. Retiring from the board were Nathan Moore, Allen Morley and Guidi.
Epping Forest Founder Herbert H. Peyton was recognized and made a few short remarks before inviting the crowd to dinner.