by Pat Lovell
RELIVING REUNION 2009, As reported by
by Pat Lovell
We had
approximately 145 attendees. They started arriving on Thursday, and I believe
the last
person left
Monday night.
Thursday
On Friday was the GREAT, and I do mean GREAT picnic hosted by
Fred
Pryor, class of 58. What a grand time we had.
All that you could eat, which included a whole pig, roasted
to perfection.
Bar b cue chicken, franks, hamburgers, the most delicious potato salad I've had
in a long
time. In other
words everything you expect at a bar B cue plus more. Of course the sodas and
alcoholic
beverages were
plentiful. Fred had a staff of very courteous, and polite people that catered to
your every request.
The DJ was on
the money! He played oldies but goodies, and modern day music as well. Horseback
riding and hay
rides were
also part of the fun. We left at dusk, and continued to party back at the hotel,
in the hospitality suite. Friday
Saturday
morning
there was coffee, tea and danish in the hospitality suite. Also Friday morning.
Saturday
afternoon, there was a meeting chaired by Sherman Etheridge, which the class of
60 announced that their
reunion will
be held next year, Sept 2010, in Savannah GA. Norma Wiley put in a bid for the
following year, 2011, for
the Texas
chapter.
Saturday
evening, bought on the Casino/Dancing/Card playing, and a delicious buffet, all
hosted in the combination of
three
ballrooms. The dress was casual, which really pleased most of the guys Everyone
was given a ticket worth
$50,000
in chips.
They played
Roulette, Poker, Craps, Blackjack and Texas Hold
Em. They ate, gambled, danced, rested, then started all
over again.
Prizes were given away for those that had enough chips left over, and were able
to trade them in for tickets to
put in
the bowls in front of the prize of your choice. The more chips you had the more
chances you had to win. The Grand
Prize was
a $300 gift certificate toward a cruise. After the festivities, some were able
to still hang out in the hospitality suite.
Most were too
tired and went to bed.
very moving
experience. The mass was presided over by two African Priest from the
Shearin
printed their names in the beginning of his picture slide show of the mass. Of
course Danny Coakley sang.
Immediately
following the mass was a very spiritual memorial ceremony for all of the
deceased alumni, nuns, and priest.
Flowers were
put in
a vase by an alumnus representing each decade beginning with the 20's, on up to
the present. After
eating brunch,
quite a few of
the cars drove
down to where the agriculture building once stood, which is now a Memorial
Circle
Garden, constructed by Mr. Allan
Brooks,
formerly Brother Bernard Brooks, CSSp. We formed a circle said
prayers, and
Father Peter blessed the garden and those
that
attended.
Finally we
went over to St Francis, where a lot of memories
were re-visited. There were a few tears shed, but for the most part
memories were
happy ones. We were only allowed on the first floor, because the building is in
dire need of repair. We were
able to go
into the chapel,
but just a few
at a time. We didn't want to cause any additional strain on the structure. Of
course,
lots of
pictures were taken, so we now have additional
memories. Some returned home after the visit to the schools, but many
returned to
the hotel, and to the hospitality suite of course. At this time we enjoyed
walking around, and visiting the canal area.
The hotel
provided transportation free of charge to anywhere you wanted to go
within a three
mile radius, so we took advantage
and went out
to dinner in all directions.
Definitely a
good time was had by all.