2017 CHARLESTON S. C.
22 - 25 OCTOBER 2017
CHARLESTON RIVERVIEW HOLIDAY INN
HOSTED BY: JEWELL BROWN, KATHY THOMPSON, SUSIE MCDOWELL AND BRANDI DENNIS
WITH A STRONG SUPPORT FROM LEN AND ERIE BROWN, TOMMYTHOMPSON, JASON DENNIS, STUART AND BETHANY COCHRAN, SCOTT AND BAMBI JONES, LYNDSEY MCDOWELL, MICHAEL MCDOWEL, SCOTT AND LESLIE HORTON, LES THOMPSON AND MAGGIE BROWN
22 - 25 OCTOBER 2017
CHARLESTON RIVERVIEW HOLIDAY INN
HOSTED BY: JEWELL BROWN, KATHY THOMPSON, SUSIE MCDOWELL AND BRANDI DENNIS
WITH A STRONG SUPPORT FROM LEN AND ERIE BROWN, TOMMYTHOMPSON, JASON DENNIS, STUART AND BETHANY COCHRAN, SCOTT AND BAMBI JONES, LYNDSEY MCDOWELL, MICHAEL MCDOWEL, SCOTT AND LESLIE HORTON, LES THOMPSON AND MAGGIE BROWN
THIS WONDERFUL FAMILY STAGED AN OUTSTANDING REUNION THAT WAS ENJOYED BY THE 34 SHIPMATES, FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS THAT ATTENDED THE REUNION.
SUNDAY 22 OCT-DAY ONE:
WE BEGAN THE REUNION WITH REGISTRATION/VISITING IN THE SUMTER ROOM (OUR HOSPITALITY RO0M) ON THE 14TH FLOOR OF THE HOTEL. AFTER LIGHT SUPPER WE HELD THE FIRST DRAWING FOR RAFFLE PRIZES. RAFFELS ON SUNDAY, TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY EVENINGS REPLACED THE AUCTIONS USED IN PAST REUNIONS TO RAISE FUNDS TO COVER REUNION AND OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.
WE BEGAN THE REUNION WITH REGISTRATION/VISITING IN THE SUMTER ROOM (OUR HOSPITALITY RO0M) ON THE 14TH FLOOR OF THE HOTEL. AFTER LIGHT SUPPER WE HELD THE FIRST DRAWING FOR RAFFLE PRIZES. RAFFELS ON SUNDAY, TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY EVENINGS REPLACED THE AUCTIONS USED IN PAST REUNIONS TO RAISE FUNDS TO COVER REUNION AND OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.
MONDAY 23 OCT-DAY TWO:
DAY TWO STARTED OFF WITH INCLEMENT WEATHER (IT RAINED HARD) BUT THIS DID NOT STOP US FROM AN
ENJOYABLE (THOUGH THERE WERE SOME WET SEATS ON THE CARRIAGE RIDE) VISIT TO THE CHARLESTON HISTORIC DISTRICT. SOME OF US PASSED ON THE CARRIAGE RIDE AND TOURED THE SHOPS AND BOOTHS IN THE OLD SLAVE MARKET. ( PURCHASES INCLUDED SOUVENIR UMBRELLAS) . FOR LUNCH WE ALL GATHERED AT TBONZ ON THE MARKET. WE WERE ALL ABLE TO FIND SOMETHING DELICIOUS ON THE MENU. FOLLOWING LUNCH WE BOARDED OUR BUS AND RETURNED TO THE HOTEL.
AFTER SOME FELLOWSHIP IN THE HOSPITALITY ROOM WE BOARDED A BUS TO TAKE US TO THE HARBOR FOR THE SPIRITLINE DINNER CRUISE - IT WAS AN ENJOYABLE CLOSE TO OUR FIRST DAY
DAY TWO STARTED OFF WITH INCLEMENT WEATHER (IT RAINED HARD) BUT THIS DID NOT STOP US FROM AN
ENJOYABLE (THOUGH THERE WERE SOME WET SEATS ON THE CARRIAGE RIDE) VISIT TO THE CHARLESTON HISTORIC DISTRICT. SOME OF US PASSED ON THE CARRIAGE RIDE AND TOURED THE SHOPS AND BOOTHS IN THE OLD SLAVE MARKET. ( PURCHASES INCLUDED SOUVENIR UMBRELLAS) . FOR LUNCH WE ALL GATHERED AT TBONZ ON THE MARKET. WE WERE ALL ABLE TO FIND SOMETHING DELICIOUS ON THE MENU. FOLLOWING LUNCH WE BOARDED OUR BUS AND RETURNED TO THE HOTEL.
AFTER SOME FELLOWSHIP IN THE HOSPITALITY ROOM WE BOARDED A BUS TO TAKE US TO THE HARBOR FOR THE SPIRITLINE DINNER CRUISE - IT WAS AN ENJOYABLE CLOSE TO OUR FIRST DAY
TUESDAY 24 OCT-DAY THREE
AT 0900 WE BOARDED A BUS TO TRAVEL TO PATRIOTS POINT FOR OUR MEMORIAL SERVICE AND TOUR OF THE USS YORKTOWN.
AT 0900 WE BOARDED A BUS TO TRAVEL TO PATRIOTS POINT FOR OUR MEMORIAL SERVICE AND TOUR OF THE USS YORKTOWN.
IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY WITH A BRIGHT SUN WHEN WE ARRIVED AT PATRIOTS POINT. MUCH BETTER THAN MONDAY.
SUSIE GOT US ORGANIZED AND TOLD US HOW TO BOARD THE YORKTOWN FOR THE MEMORIAL SERVICE AND TOUR.
AS JIM BEASON READ THE NAMES OF OUR DEPARTED SHIPMATES, FARRELL MORROW RANG THE BELL. WE HONORED 10 OF OUR SHIPMATES: JAMES MALLETTE
HENRY "HANK" GARDNER
HOWARD CARDEN
FROYCE D. FREEMAN
GENE C "CHICK" GUINN
MAX E EZELL
JERRY GOFF
WILLIAM D "DOC" FANNING RICHARD D. FOX AND JIM FOWKES
HENRY "HANK" GARDNER
HOWARD CARDEN
FROYCE D. FREEMAN
GENE C "CHICK" GUINN
MAX E EZELL
JERRY GOFF
WILLIAM D "DOC" FANNING RICHARD D. FOX AND JIM FOWKES
AFTER THE SERVICE WE WERE ABLE TO GET A PICTURE OF THE ENTIRE GROUP ON THE STAGE. FOLLOWING THE PICTURE SESSION, WE TOOK A GUIDED TOUR OF THE YORKTOWN FOLLOWED BY LUNCH IN THE CPO GALLEY. FOLLOWING LUNCH WE RETURNED TO THE HOTEL FOR SOME RELAXING AND SEA STORIES IN THE HOSPITALITY ROOM.
AT 1700 WE BOARDED THE BUS FOR TRIP TO SHEM CREEK FOR DINNER AT VICKERY'S. (YOU MIGHT ASK SOME OF OUR ATTENDIES ABOUT THE "ELEVATOR" TO THE DINNING ROOM-A LITTLE RUSTIC). DINNER WAS GREAT AND ACCOMPANIED BY A BEAUTIFUL SUNSET. AFTER DINNER WE RETURNED TO THE HOTEL FOR DESERT AND RAFFLE DRAWINGS TO END THE DAY.
WEDNESDAY 25 OCT 17-DAY FOUR
WE LEFT THE HOTEL AT 0930 FOR THE OLD CHARLESTON NAVY BASE TO TOUR THE HUNLEY MUSEUM. WHILE WE WERE THERE WE WERE GIVEN INFORMATION ON THE EFFORTS TO RECOVER AND RESTORE THE CSS HUNLEY. THE HUNLEY IS THE CONFIDERATE SUBMARINE THAT, ON 17 FEB 1864 SANK THE USS HOUSATONIC, PART OF THE NAVAL BLOCKADE OF CHARLESTON HARBOR. THAT WAS THE LAST TIME THE HUNLEY WAS SEEN UNTIL IT WAS FOUND ON THE SEABED IN 1995 AND RAISED IN 2000.
WE LEFT THE HOTEL AT 0930 FOR THE OLD CHARLESTON NAVY BASE TO TOUR THE HUNLEY MUSEUM. WHILE WE WERE THERE WE WERE GIVEN INFORMATION ON THE EFFORTS TO RECOVER AND RESTORE THE CSS HUNLEY. THE HUNLEY IS THE CONFIDERATE SUBMARINE THAT, ON 17 FEB 1864 SANK THE USS HOUSATONIC, PART OF THE NAVAL BLOCKADE OF CHARLESTON HARBOR. THAT WAS THE LAST TIME THE HUNLEY WAS SEEN UNTIL IT WAS FOUND ON THE SEABED IN 1995 AND RAISED IN 2000.
THE HUNLEY IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING RESTORED SO IT CAN BE PUT ON VIEW IN THE MUSEUM. IT IS A LONG AND LABOR INTENSIVE EFFORT. WE WERE ABLE TO OBSERVE WHERE THE RESTORATION PROCESS IS TAKING PLACE. THE HUNLEY IS KEPT IN A SPECIAL SOLUTION WHEN NOT BEING WORKED ON.
FOR MORE ON THE HUNLEY STORY YOU CAN GO TO www.hunley.org.
AFTER LUNCH AT BRECK'S (BUS DRIVER DESERVES A METAL FOR GETTING IN AND OUT OF THE PARKING AREA) WE RETURNED TO THE HOTEL FOR A SHORT BUSINESS MEETING. DURING THE MEETING MARY AND FARRELL MORROW VOLUNTERED TO HOST 2018 IN BRANSON. DATES OF 16-21 SEP 18 WERE ESTABLISHED. WE THEN PREPARED FOR OUR CLOSING BANQUET.
AT 1800 WE GATHERED IN THE HARBORVIEW RESTAURANT FOR THE BANQUET. IT WAS QUITE A VIEW. AS YOU CAN SEE, THE HOTEL IS IN THE MIDDLE WITH TRAFFIC COMMING OUT ON THE LEFT AND IN ON HE RIGHT.
A MERRICK COXSWAIN DID NOT DO THIS
AFTER DINNER THERE WAS TIME FOR A PICTURE OF THE MERRICK LADIES - DID NOT WANT TO RISK ANOTHER CAMERA ON THE MEN.
WE THEN RETIRED TO OUR HOSPITALITY ROOM TO EXPRESS OUR THANKS TO JEWELL AND THE REST OF THE BROWN CLAN FOR ALL OF THEIR HARD WORK IN PUTTING THIS GREAT REUNION TOGETHER.
THEN IT WAS TIME FOR CAKE
AND THE FINAL RAFFLE DRAWINGS
THEN GOODBY UNTIL NEXT YEAR IN BRANSON