Two former Navy shipmates continue reunion tradition at South Lake Tahoe 4th of July Parade

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - You may remember last year when Orly Larson and David Kramer, two former Navy shipmates, reunited at the South Lake Tahoe 4th of July Parade after 56 years since seeing each other.

Now, in 2023, the new tradition continues.

The year was 1962, and Orly Larson and David Kramer enlisted in the Navy from their perspective hometowns. Two years later the men met when they were assigned to the USS Belknap DLG26, what was then a brand-new guided-missile destroyer.

The two shipmates were both Radarmen Second Class, specializing in Naval Tactical Data Systems. They were both members of the original commissioning crew, also known as “plank owners."

Orly and David served together for two years on the ship, until the end of their enlistments, from 1964-66.

Orly and David hadn't seen or talked to each other until Orly found his former shipmate recently through Navy social media in 2022, meeting up in South Lake Tahoe that summer - the first time since July of 1966.

David is a member of the American Legion, Post 1776 in the Minneapolis, Minnesota area, and Orly is a member of the American Legion, Post 795 in South Lake Tahoe.

During the 2022 parade, the pair were awarded the "History and Heritage" award from the City of South Lake Tahoe.

Watch for the two shipmates during Tuesday's parade in South Lake Tahoe. They could be seen at many locations throughout the community last year, so keep your eyes peeled for the two in their red, white and blue from head to toe.