USS
HUGH PURVIS REUNION ASSOCIATION (HPRA) RECAP
ANNAPOLIS MD REUNION RECAP
by Gene S.
(Note: Photos will link to a full sized one - Underlined items are website links)
Our stay was at the "DoubleTree" by Hilton. It is located just off U.S.
50, in Annapolis. There is a good restaurant and Bar within the hotel,
providing three meals a day. Breakfast was not included for our stay,
which seems to be the norm in recent years. You were given a large warm
chocolate chip cookie when checking in. There is a large outdoor pool,
exercise equipment, lounge areas and other amenities. The rooms were
clean and comfortable. WiFi was included (but no Ethernet connection).
There are a number of restaurants, shops and stores within walking
distance. The hotel also provides a free shuttle service for local
transportation, up to 5 miles, including pickup when ready to return
(airport trips were not included).
The passing of the wreath, between two lines of shipmates as normal, ending with the last shipmate, Captain Hennessey who then passed it to Hugh Purvis and son Hugh, who then passed it on to Terry to place upon its stand next to the Hugh Purvis' Monument. Terry was very impressed with how well we did our memorial service. It was emotional to all. The third photo above is the full complement of the Purvis family.
After milling around and getting to talk with the Purvis family for a while, we boarded the buses for the return trip back to the hotel to get ready for the evenings dinner. Our annual formal dinner commenced at 6pm for cocktails, and 7pm for dinner. Chaplain Brian presented his invocation, then dinner was served. The food was good and the service was great.
Following dinner, Terry Purvis gave a talk on the history of Hugh Purvis and the family. He explained the family tree, noting the wife of Hugh Purvis being 20 years younger than her husband. She outlived him by 29 years. Terry has a photo of himself and Great-Grandma, Mary Alice Purvis, sitting on her lap. Hugh Purvis - 1840 to 1922. Mary Alice Purvis - 1860 to 1951.
Hugh Purvis, from Pennsylvania, was a soldier in the Civil War, involved in multiple major battles, including Sherman's March and Gettysburg. After the war he joined the Marines. Following his marine period, he became the Armorer for the Navel Academy.
Following the reunion, over the weekend, we received a note from Terry Purvis, addressed to George and I, as to how impressed they all were, with the service, the dinner and the overall experience. He has expressed a deep interest in joining us in Newport in 2025. It is on his calendar. The dates are set for Newport for June 17 – 20, 2025.
by Gene S.
(Note: Photos will link to a full sized one - Underlined items are website links)
Our 2024 HPRA reunion in Annapolis, MD. is history. What a great one it
was, and planned to perfection by George B. This reunion officially ran
from Monday June 10 to Thursday June 13. A number of attendees started
their visit on Saturday and Sunday.
Our stay was at the "DoubleTree" by Hilton. It is located just off U.S.
50, in Annapolis. There is a good restaurant and Bar within the hotel,
providing three meals a day. Breakfast was not included for our stay,
which seems to be the norm in recent years. You were given a large warm
chocolate chip cookie when checking in. There is a large outdoor pool,
exercise equipment, lounge areas and other amenities. The rooms were
clean and comfortable. WiFi was included (but no Ethernet connection).
There are a number of restaurants, shops and stores within walking
distance. The hotel also provides a free shuttle service for local
transportation, up to 5 miles, including pickup when ready to return
(airport trips were not included).
The reunion officially opened at 2pm on
Monday, in the hospitality room. It didn't take long for things to get
busy. The hospitality room was too small for our group, but by
scrounging more chairs from adjacent rooms, we made it work.
There was a special item on the program for this year. Representatives
from the "Navy Memorial" in Washington DC, sent two film/interview
crews. Their purpose was to interview and film anyone who would like to
have their navy story added to the Memorial. "14" of our members took
this opportunity. Each were taken to a quiet room to tell their story.
These stories will be available for all to see on the Navy Memorial
website. Each will be notified when completed and available. (This page
will be updated when they are available.)
The reunion really
began at 9 am on Tuesday morning, with a windshield tour of Annapolis,
tour guide included. This terminated at the Annapolis City Dock for a
one-hour harbor boat tour. The weather was great, the waters smooth and
there was plenty of sun. Upon completion, we returned to dockside right
at lunch time. There were plenty of places and an hour plus to have
lunch.
After lunch, everyone headed for the Museum of Historic Annapolis. A
guided tour of the museum was provided. This is recommended if you
should visit Annapolis in the future. After this, we hopped
back on the
buses and went to the Paca House for a guided tour. The
Paca House is
not a replica, but the actual one that has been refurb
ished to its
original setting. (photo needed) After it was first built, in 1763, it
went through multiple revisions, including a hotel. Now back to its
original form, it is quite a nice museum with beautiful gardens.
ished to its
original setting. (photo needed) After it was first built, in 1763, it
went through multiple revisions, including a hotel. Now back to its
original form, it is quite a nice museum with beautiful gardens.
When the
touring was done, we returned to the hotel for our annual business
meeting. When all "old business" was taken care of, it was time "new
business" to decide on the 2025 reunion location. Newport was the most
popular choice in the survey completed in February. Others included
Cleveland, by Bob A. and back to Charleston, suggested by Brian G. and
Alan Z. In the end the vote went easily to Newport. It will be in June
2025, with the dates to be determined. We also talked about the new
leadership that will be needed if the organization is to continue
beyond 2025 when Gene and George retire.
Wednesday was
the highlight of this reunion, a visit to the Navel Academy. We boarded
the buses for the ride at 9am. Our first stop was the visitors center,
partly to register the group and pick up our guides, and of course
visit the gift shop. We also met with a special person. Terry Purvis,
the Great Grandson of Hugh Purvis and Terry's wife Beth. I had been in
touch with him over the past year, as they wanted to be a part of our
visit. Terry and 9 members of the Purvis family were available during
two sections of the tour.
We then
embarked on a windshield tour of the Academy. Our guide was previously
a navy nurse and served in Viet Nam. She provided an excellent tour,
explaining all the different buildings, and what the students have to
go through during their 4 years. On my bus, we had one officer that was
a Naval Academy Graduate. He commented on some of the differences when
he attended. We then visited the Chapel and the crypt of John
Paul Jones, the father of the US Navy.
Following this, we went to the Academy Museum for a self-guided tour.
It was here that we met all of the Purvis family members. What is extra
special, there were 11 members of the extended Purvis family, including
these three...
Terry Purvis - Great
Grandson of Hugh Purvis
Hugh Purvis - Great-Great
Grandson
Hugh Owen Purvis -
Great-Great-Great Grandson (10 years old)
The highlight of the museum tour was the display of the Medal of Honor,
won by Hugh Purvis - Private USMC. Terry Purvis made sure the museum
would have it available. It was located in its own display case,
surrounded by photos of Hugh Purvis and others during the Korean
Conflict of 1871. The Purvis family joined us there to see it. The
medal itself was presented by the family on July 30, 1993, to the Navel
Academy by grandson Hugh Eubank, so as to make it available for
everyone to see, rather than it hidden from view in someone’s home.
(photo needed) The letter from Hugh Eubank on the presentation of the
medal to the Academy can be seen here {Link}. Following the museum
tour, we walked to the Officer Club for our catered lunch, in a private
dining room. The Purvis family were invited to join us for lunch. In
all, there were 11 representing the Purvis family.
Our next stop
was at St. Anne's Cedar Bluffs Cemetery, for our memorial service,
located at the grave site of Hugh Purvis. This is a Purvis family plot.
The entire group of the Purvis family joined us there for the service.
Brian G, our chaplain gave a very nice presentation, as he always does.
He commented afterwards how emotional this one was for him.
The passing of the wreath, between two lines of shipmates as normal, ending with the last shipmate, Captain Hennessey who then passed it to Hugh Purvis and son Hugh, who then passed it on to Terry to place upon its stand next to the Hugh Purvis' Monument. Terry was very impressed with how well we did our memorial service. It was emotional to all. The third photo above is the full complement of the Purvis family.
After milling around and getting to talk with the Purvis family for a while, we boarded the buses for the return trip back to the hotel to get ready for the evenings dinner. Our annual formal dinner commenced at 6pm for cocktails, and 7pm for dinner. Chaplain Brian presented his invocation, then dinner was served. The food was good and the service was great.
Following dinner, Terry Purvis gave a talk on the history of Hugh Purvis and the family. He explained the family tree, noting the wife of Hugh Purvis being 20 years younger than her husband. She outlived him by 29 years. Terry has a photo of himself and Great-Grandma, Mary Alice Purvis, sitting on her lap. Hugh Purvis - 1840 to 1922. Mary Alice Purvis - 1860 to 1951.
Hugh Purvis, from Pennsylvania, was a soldier in the Civil War, involved in multiple major battles, including Sherman's March and Gettysburg. After the war he joined the Marines. Following his marine period, he became the Armorer for the Navel Academy.
Following the reunion, over the weekend, we received a note from Terry Purvis, addressed to George and I, as to how impressed they all were, with the service, the dinner and the overall experience. He has expressed a deep interest in joining us in Newport in 2025. It is on his calendar. The dates are set for Newport for June 17 – 20, 2025.
2025 Newport information will
be available in early 2025. Stay tuned!
PAST
REUNION RECAP's
| 2010 St. Louis | 2011 Washington D.C. | 2012 Newport |
| 2013 Norfolk | 2014 Jacksonville | 2015 New Orleans |
| 2016 Memphis | 2017 Harrisburg | 2018 Savannah |
| 2019 Hartford | 2020 Boston Canceled | 2021/22 Milwaukee Canceled |
| 2022 Charleston * | 2023 Norfolk 6/11-14 * | 2024 Annapolis MD 6/10-13* |
| --------- |
* Planning by
George Baker
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