The U.S. Merchant Marine’s proud and important history was cited throughout this year’s National Maritime Day ceremonies in Washington, D.C. on May 22—but the featured speakers also emphasized the continuing need to maintain a strong American-flag fleet.The SIU participated in all three D.C.-area National Maritime Day events. The union delegation included SIU President Michael Sacco, Executive Vice President Augie Tellez, Vice President Contracts George Tricker and Assistant Vice President Ambrose Cucinotta. Students from the SIU-affiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education attended two of the ceremonies and were enthusiastically recognized by Rear Adm. Robert Reilly, commander, U.S. Military Sealift Command; and by U.S. Maritime Administrator Sean Connaughton.
The day’s events included a National Maritime Day observance hosted by the Maritime Administration at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, and a memorial service and wreath-laying ceremony hosted by MSC at the Washington Navy Yard. In between, Lt. Gen. Kenneth Wykle, USA (Ret.) addressed a large gathering at a luncheon jointly sponsored by local chapters of the Propeller Club and the Kings Point Club.
The featured speakers at MarAd’s ceremony were U.S. Rep. Gene Taylor (D-Miss.), a longtime backer of the U.S. Merchant Marine; Rabbi Joshua Boettiger, great grandson of Franklin Roosevelt; and Administrator Connaughton.
Addressing the crowd at MSC were Rear Admiral Reilly and Administrator Connaughton.
FDR’s Legacy
Boettiger noted that the MarAd ceremony marked the first time he had visited the FDR Memorial.
The agency chose that site for the occasion because of the 32nd president’s work on behalf of the United States Merchant Marine Act of 1936 “and to honor his vision for the U.S. Merchant Marine and America’s maritime industry.”
Boettiger told the audience, “Franklin Delano Roosevelt took great pride in the merchant marine of World War II. No doubt, he would be pleased at the recognition the merchant marine finally has gotten in the past 20 years” (a reference to awarding veterans’ status to mariners who sailed in the war).
Taylor, always a no-nonsense speaker, said it’s time for America to prove that it truly values the maritime industry by supporting it.
“If we’re really serious about homeland security, we must control our waterways, we must control the Jones Act,” Taylor stated. He added that the nation should invest in its shipyards and pointed out the historically proven dangers of exclusively relying on other nations to build and transport material.
He said that in order to honor the mariners of World War II, America must commit to the industry’s future. “We have to recognize that 95 percent of everything going to the Middle East (for Operation Iraqi Freedom) goes by sea. In the future it’ll be the same way.”
Connaughton, himself a former mariner, reminded those in attendance that Roosevelt “understood that mariners are vital to projecting America’s power…. Our challenge today is to find a vision for our industry as effectively as FDR did.”
He described today’s U.S. seamen as “the best manpower in the world” and declared that the industry as a whole must “have the courage and vision to take advantage of opportunities” for growth.
“The maritime industry has been at the forefront of America’s military campaigns from the Revolution to Iraq,” he added. “We must never forget that legacy.”
Manpower Is Key
Wykle, president of the National Defense Transportation Association, explained in detail his vision for how America can improve and expand on its maritime infrastructure.
But, he also pointed out, “Maritime assets are meaningless without the men and women who serve in the U.S. Merchant Marine. Maritime training and education are important to the longevity of the U.S. maritime industry…. The seafaring unions also play an integral part in training, recruiting and maintaining a viable U.S. maritime labor force.”
He voiced support for the U.S. Maritime Security Program, which is crucial to keeping the American flag on deep sea commercial ships.
“The expansion of the MSP demonstrates the continued recognition of the vital role the U.S. maritime industry assumes in our nation’s defense infrastructure,” Wykle said. “The MSP program is the most cost effective way for the Department of Defense to meet its military sealift needs. If DOD had to acquire or maintain those assets organically, it would cost billions of scarce defense dollars.”
Bright Future
During his welcoming remarks, Rear Admiral Reilly recognized the Paul Hall Center students and told the crowd, “By looking at them, it’s obvious our future is bright…. The merchant marine has been a crucial part of our security and prosperity from the beginning. It’s a great debt of gratitude we owe them.”
Connaughton stated, “Probably the most important thing I have to say today is to veterans of the merchant marine, veterans of all the sea services and those on active duty: Thank you for your service. This industry has made great sacrifices, both in body and spirit, for this country.”
At the heart of the ceremony was the presentation of three wreaths to commemorate mariners lost at sea— one of which was carried by Veronica Hernandez, a member of Class 694 at the Paul Hall Center. The wreaths were placed in front of the U.S. Merchant Marine bronze relief sculpture on the East Wall of the Navy Memorial following the ceremony.
Retired NMU member Carlos Ralon, who sailed in the engine department during World War II, attended the MSC event.
“You come with a smile on your face and leave with a tear in your eye—that’s the way I feel about this ceremony,” he said. “I feel very honored to be here to see a bunch of us civilians remembered for something we did so long ago.”
Congress established National Maritime Day in 1933.
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