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2013 USS U.S. Grant Alumni Association Reunion
Land Based Portion
Oct 9th to Oct 13th
Click on the individual photo to enlarge or browse photos with slide slow at top window.
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The Hospitality Room Photos

The Hospitality Room opened for registration at 1600 hours
on Wednesday, Oct 9th.  The room was well decorated with
submarine memorabilia.   Refreshments were provided.
Registration Photos were taken of all registrants.
Click here to see: Registration Photos 
The Hospitality Room was open each day at 0830 hours til
2400 hours.   Shipmates and their guests swapped many
a tall sea tale and took the time to catch up on each 
others lives.   
Image: 
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Drayton Hall Tour
Thursday, Oct 10th

John Drayton began building his southern mansion
in Charleston in 1738.  The home is pristine and is
as near as possible to it's original construction.
Hank Drayton, Gold Crew Plank Owner and Navigator, 
is a descendant of the Drayton Family.  
The home was given by the Drayton Family
to a National Trust for preservation.
The home is one of the finest examples of 
Georgian-Palladian Architecture in the United States.
Hank Drayton gave a special presentation on the 
Drayton family and it's history prior to the tour.
Image: 
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Downtown Treks and Pirate History Tour
Charleston
Oct 10th and 11th

Many shipmates and their guests opted for a 
trek to Downtown Charleston.  A Pirate History 
Tour and a visit to the Charleston Market 
were enjoyed by many.
Image: 
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Hotel Patio and Fire Pit

Shipmates and their guests enjoyed the warm weather
as they sat around the Fire Pit on the Hotel Pool Patio.
On Thursday evening, a USS Grant "Cook-Out" was held
on the pool patio.  Hamburgers, Hot Dogs and all the garnishes
one could want were the evening fare.
Image: 
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CSA Hunley Museum
Friday, Oct 11th

The first submarine to sink a ship was the CSA Hunley.
Horace L. Hunley, designed and built the Confederate
submarine in Mobile, Alabama in 1863.  
The completed submarine was then moved to Charleston.
On 17 Feb 1864, the CSA Hunley 
sank the Union Blockade Steamer Housatonic.
The Hunley never returned to port and was feared lost.
Searches for the boat were unsuccessful.
On 3 May 1995, the National Underwater Marine
Agency (NUMA) successfully located the remains
of the Hunley in 30 feet of water buried under 3 foot
of sediment.   A professional recovery team was organized
and excavation began in January of 2001.
The Hunley was taken to the Warren Lasch Conservation
Center in Charleston.  The bodies of 8 crewmen and 
numerous personal artifacts were recovered from the sub.
The 8 man crew was buried in a large processional
through Charleston at the Magnolia Cemetery on 17 April 2004.
Magnolia Cemetery is the Memorial Site also for the 
two submarine crews lost during sea trials previous
to the Hunley's successful mission.  Horace Hunley was
a victim on one of the sea trials himself.
The Hunley is being kept in a 90,000 fresh water 
conservation tank at the center as research continues.
Image: 
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Friday, October 15th

After a long day of tours to the Hunley Museum, Downtown Tours and
Pirae History Tours, the evening was spent by shipmates and their 
guests in the Hospitality Room.
A Pizza Party was held and 42 Pizza's were demolished.

The USS U.S. Grant Alumni Association Board of Directors
held their annual meeting on Friday evening.
Bob Arias was appointed as the Reunion Coordinator
for the 2015 Reunion to be held in San Diego, California.
Ruth Jordan was named as Assistant Coordinator.
Mike Arterburn was nominated as the new Association Historian.   
All Association Officers volunteered to continue 
their service to the Association for the next two years.
The financial report was given and approved.
A reduced dues structure was voted on and approved
for the next two years.
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Shipmate Remembrance Ceremony
Cold War Memorial, Patriots Point
Saturday, Oct 12th

A solemn ceremony was conducted at the Cold War 
Memorial at Patriots Point in the Charleston Harbor.
The sail and rudder of the USS Lewis and Clark SSBN-644
are displayed next to the Memorial Circle where the 
ceremony was held.
Association President Ed Farris gave opening remarks.
The names of USS U.S. Grant shipmates
that are on "Eternal Patrol" were read 
by Ed Farris, Larry Jordan and Ray Lomberk.  
The bell was tolled by Wayne Orrison after names were read.
  A bugler sounded Taps.
The poem "The Final Patrol" was read
by Mike Arterburn followed by Chuck McGregor
sounding of the Diving Alarm Klaxon, "Dive, Dive".
A bagpiper played Amazing Grace to end the ceremony.
There was not a dry eye present.
~ Sailor Rest Your Oar ~
Image: 
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Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum
Charleston Harbor
Saturday, Oct 12th

Shipmates and their guests visited Patriots Point,
home to the USS Yorktown CV-10, the USS Laffey DD-724
and the submarine USS Clamagore SS-343.
There is a Civil War Medal of Honor Museum on board
the Yorktown and a life size Vietnam Naval Support Base
Camp Exhibit at the park.  Harbor tours around the Charleston
Harbor and to Ft. McHenry were also available.
Image: 
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USS U.S. Grant Reunion Dinner
Banquet Room, Double Tree by Hilton Hotel
Saturday, Oct 12th

Shipmates and their guests met in the Banquet Room
of the hotel for the closing dinner.  Larry Jordan, Reunion
Coordinator, was the Master of Ceremonies.
Awards were presented to Association Officers, 
Past Grant Captains in attendence and reunion coordinators.
The dinner was finalized by the presentation of 
two cakes representing the Commissioning and 
Decommissioning Dates of the USS U.S. Grant SSBN-631.
Image: 
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Cigars under the Stars and Lady Pirate Tales
Saturday, Oct 12th

After the Reunion Dinner, the Grant gentlemen
gathered at the pool for Cigars and Brandy.
The Grand Ladies met in the Hospitality Room
for a "Lady Pirate Tales" presentation.
Image: 
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Grant Land Reunion Farewell
Sunday, Oct 13th

Sunday morning saw shipmates enjoying their
last daily complimentary breakfast at the hotel.
Bags were packed and shipmates bid their farewells.
Many shipmates and their guests continued the 
Reunion by transporting to the Reunion Cruise
on the Celebration Cruise Ship "Fantasy" tied up
in Charleston Harbor.
Those not continuing on returned on the Hotel Shuttle
to the Charleston Airport or drove home in thier automobiles.

A successful land reunion to say the least
with a wonderful turn-out.
This web site is published by the USS Ulysses S. Grant Alumni Association,
a tax-exempt organization under 501(c)(19) of the IRS Code.
All rights reserved.  Copyright 2009		 President: president@ussgrant.com
Membership: membership@ussgrant.com
Webmaster: webmaster@ussgrant.com

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