The reunion information we've all been anticipating is here. I know you'll be as excited as I was to learn our Reunion Team selected the city of New Orleans for our 11th reunion. This decision was only reached after carefully considering economic concerns, airline and auto travel and the historical and military interest of the city. The team fully agreed that New Orleans is one of the world's most fascinating cities but more importantly, the city best met the requirements of our extended Perry family. Save the date, October 18 – 22, 2012

A detailed itinerary will be delivered to you shortly. However, to wet the appetite I'll give you a brief overview. We'll kick off the reunion with a pool side get acquainted cocktail party followed by dinner jazz cruise on an authentic steam boat down the Mississippi. Our snipes will be especially pleased to know they'll be able to go below to make sure the engines are in proper working order. We'll also be touring the City / French Quarter and visiting the famous National WW-II museum. Dinners are also planned at a restaurant offering authentic Cajun food and live traditional Cajun entertainment. We'll also be dining at world famous Chef John Besh restaurant. And to top off this wonderful itinerary, an exquisite farewell banquet will be held at the hotel. This reunion promises to be one to be remembered for years to come.

Dale Mcintosh is planning an exciting golf outing so plan to arrive a day early for a fun filled round of golf. Don't golf, then just carry the beer and have a few laughs watching your shipmates trying to imersonate a golfer the game of golf.

Shipmates,

I recently received the following in an e-mail and I quote….
“Too many people put off something that brings them joy just because they haven't thought about it, don't have it on their schedule, didn't know it was coming or are too rigid to depart from their routine. I got to thinking one day about all those people on the Titanic who passed up dessert at dinner that fateful night in an effort to cut back. From then on, I've tried to be a little more flexible.” With that thought in mind please consider joining your shipmate this fall in New Orleans for our eleventh reunion.

Please consider this your personal invitation. We plan to make this one the best yet, but we need you to make that happen.

Reunion details will be emailed to you shortly and will also be posted on the web site. So let’s make this a
“NO EXCUSE” reunion.

Looking forward to seeing you in “Big Easy”
Peace, Martin E. Deeney, President
USS Perry Reunion Association, Inc.

 Did you know ? ? ?

This is the Bi-Centennial year commemorating the War of 1812

You're right, our namesake Oliver Hazard Perry was the hero of the Lake Erie battle of 1812. In the War of 1812, Perry constructed and commanded a fleet of American warships on Lake Erie. When his flagship Lawrence was shattered and sinking in the Battle of Lake Erie, Perry fired her last effective gun, took his battle flag, and rowed across shot-splashed waters to Niagara where he fought on to victory, and reported, "We have met the enemy and they are ours"

New Orleans, one of the world's leading seaports, will be hosting vintage ships from a bygone era as the city and the nation commemorate the War of 1812. Friendly crews from these ships will welcome visitors aboard for tours. The New Orleans Navy Week festival will take place April 17-23, 2012.

Other Tall Ship Festivals will take place throughout our country as ships sail from port to port.

I'm pleased to report that our prayers have been answered.

Sid Brown is doing well after several surgeries and sends everyone a thank you

Boats Hemphill report. "Thanks for the prayers sent up. I'm home doing well. No long lasting problems foreseen, still a little dizzy but nothing that can't be handled. They tell me I lost about 20% of my brain but no one can tell the difference. I haven kept up with this years reunion, please send me an update". Don't you just love the humor !!!

Joy Flanagan ask that we please remember her grandson Andrew in our prayers. Andrew who will be 20 years old on April 18 is being deployed to Afghanistan this April. So young to be carrying the burden of war for us all ........

Joy, Please tell Andrew his extended Perry family wishes him a most Happy Birthday and will be praying for his safe return home.

Many more of our shipmates and their families are dealing with serious health issues and need our prayers. So please remember them as well.

Many Thanks To Our Prayer Warriors

Thanks to all the attendees who made the Jacksonville Bull Session a success
February 25, 2012 , Holiday Inn Express, Jacksonville Beach, FL

Our ship's mascot Jaycee extends a thank you for his Christmas gift. The XBOX game he received with all the bells and whistles were from shipmate contributions.

In closing, I hope the date of our reunion and location works for you. We guarantee you a fabulous time and as Martin so eloquently put it it in his statement above, please seize the opportunity and don't pass up dessert and lets make this a NO EXCUSE reunion.

See you at the reunion and till then, smooth sailing mates.

Steve Silk
Smooth sailing,

http://www.ussperry.com
27 years of dedicated service to our country