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MSC says ‘Happy Birthday’ to U.S. Merchant Marine (6/12)

The U.S. Military Sealift Command has issued the following news release: Military Sealift Command honors U.S. Merchant Marine birthday Merchant mariners from Military Sealift Command helped celebrate the 232nd birthday of the U.S. Merchant Marine at a ceremony hosted by the U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation in Washington, D.C., today (June 12). “On this, the birthday of the U.S. Merchant Marine, we pause to honor the incredible contributions mariners make every day to ensure our nation remains strong in an increasingly competitive global economy,” said Navy Rear Adm. Robert D. Reilly Jr., in a message read at the ceremony by retired Navy Rear Adm. Richard Buchanan, president and CEO of the memorial foundation. Reilly is the commander of MSC, the global U.S. Navy command responsible for sea transport of combat equipment and supplies for the Department of Defense. MSC is the largest single employer of U.S. Merchant Mariners in the world, with almost 7,000 U.S. Merchant Mariners serving around the globe. “Now more than ever, we are a maritime nation, relying on the flow of goods to and from our shores to sustain our way of life, guarantee our prosperity and extend opportunities for a better way of life to every citizen on this planet. From Portland, Maine, to Port Everglades, Florida; down the muddy Mississippi to Galveston; from San Diego to Seattle and to the trade wind-swept waters off Honolulu, America’s mariners steadfastly continue to go down to the sea in ships,” said Reilly. “May we always admire their courage, determination and patriotism.” During the ceremony at Navy Memorial Plaza, a wreath was laid at the foot of the Lone Sailor statue, paying tribute to more than two centuries of U.S. merchant mariners and their service to the nation. Steve Delong, a licensed master in the U.S. Merchant Marine and senior staff member at MSC headquarters was one of the spectators at today’s ceremony. Delong, also a U.S. Navy Reserve captain, spent nearly a year at the helm of MSC Office, Kuwait. That office coordinated the arrival and departure of giant cargo ships delivering combat equipment and supplies to U.S. and coalition forces in the Central Command area of operations. “In the global war on terrorism, the strength and capabilities of the U.S. Merchant Marine are more important than ever to our national security and survival,” said Delong. “It’s fitting that we pay tribute to the generations of merchant mariners who have served our nation so valiantly. We owe them a tremendous debt of gratitude.” MSC operates approximately 110 noncombatant, merchant mariner-crewed ships that replenish U.S. Navy ships, chart ocean bottoms, conduct undersea surveillance, strategically preposition combat cargo at sea around the world and move military cargo and supplies used by deployed U.S. forces and coalition partners. ###