American mariners past and present were honored May 22 in Washington, D.C., during that city’s traditional National Maritime Day ceremonies.Seafarers International Union President Michael Sacco led an SIU delegation that included Executive Vice President Augie Tellez and students from the union-affiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education. SIU of Canada President Roman Gralewicz and Executive Vice President Michel Desjardins also attended the ceremonies, along with hundreds of other guests and dignitaries.
The events (in order) included an observance at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial sponsored by the U.S. Maritime Administration; a luncheon hosted by the Propeller Club of Washington and the Kings Point Alumni Association; and a ceremony at the Washington Navy Yard conducted by the U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC).
Featured speakers at the respective events were as follows: at the MarAd ceremony, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters and Rhode Island State Senator Leonidas Raptakis; at the Propeller Club luncheon (which also took place at the Navy Yard), U.S. Maritime Administrator Sean Connaughton; and at the MSC ceremony, General Norton Schwartz, commander, U.S. Transportation Command.
Always Ready
Peters recalled the long history of the U.S. Merchant Marine, in particular pointing out its “central role” in defending America during the War of 1812.
“America’s story could not be told without the many, many sacrifices and contributions of merchant mariners,” she stated. “Their early ships brought the settlers, possessions, and goods that helped build the nation from the ground up. Their spirit of enterprise staked out a place for the United States in global commerce that continues as a mainstay of American prosperity to this day. And their valor has ensured that our troops have the supplies and equipment they need – no matter how far from America’s shores they must go to defend our freedom and way of life.
“From the War of 1812, to the Liberty ships of World War II, to today’s global war on terror, every time our nation’s military has been called to protect U.S. interests, America’s merchant mariners sailed alongside or close behind,” Peters continued. “These seafarers brave the natural dangers of the sea, as well as the perils of war, so that our fighting forces have the food, fuel, ammunition, and supplies to get the job done and return home safely.”
She noted that many mariners have made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our country, and specifically pointed out that the U.S. Merchant Marine in World War II suffered a casualty rate second only to that of the U.S. Marine Corps. (More than 1,200 SIU members gave their lives in World War II.) Addressing the merchant marine veterans in the audience, she said, “On behalf of President Bush, Vice President Cheney, and a grateful nation, I want to extend a special welcome to you all and to express our deep appreciation for your service and your sacrifice.”
Peters further pointed out that the vast majority of cargo moved to support our troops now in the Middle East travels aboard U.S.-flag commercial vessels.
She concluded, “Thankfully, in every generation, America has been blessed with men and women willing to face the difficulties of life at sea in order to safeguard our national security and promote our economic prosperity. Today is no exception… As Theodore Roosevelt said in his final message to Congress, ‘To the spread of our trade in peace and the defense of our flag in war a great and prosperous merchant marine is indispensable.’ Those words ring as true today as they did a century earlier. So, as we commemorate Maritime Day 2008, I join Americans everywhere in saluting you for your indispensable service.”
Raptakis credited American seamen for always answering the call to duty. “In every military conflict and time of challenge, the U.S. Merchant Marine has been there,” he said. “The U.S. Merchant Marine plays a vital role today as it did 75 years ago (when National Maritime Day first was declared by Congress), whether keeping the seas safe for commerce or defending our shores from terrorism.”
He added, “I’m pleased to honor all of our merchant mariners. All of you are what FDR called the crucial, decisive factor in our ability to remain a free people.”
Opportunities for Growth
Connaughton, who sailed in both the merchant marine and U.S. Coast Guard, touched on the nation’s maritime history and thanked mariners for their dedicated service. He then focused on modern-day challenges and opportunities facing the industry.
“Marine transportation is the critical link in today’s economy and will be into the future as 95 percent of America’s trade is moved by ship,” he said. “This means steadily growing cargo volumes for ships, barges, ports and the labor, shipyards and service industries that support them. With such a large national-international market as this, America and Americans are in a unique position to be strong and robust competitors and to reap the economic benefits from the increased demand for transportation.
“The U.S. maritime industry should be and must be a major participant our international trade,” Connaughton continued. “Not only for purely economic reasons. We need to have the capacity to move the trade essential to our economy in times of peace and national emergency. To talk about the benefits of the global economy and to ignore the vulnerabilities in the transportation system necessary to make it work is to invite potential disaster.”
He listed numerous objectives that would benefit the industry as a whole, including promoting U.S. ship and barge building and repair facilities; advancing a highly skilled maritime workforce; making better use of the nation’s ports and marine highways; freeing the industry of regulatory and tax burdens that inhibit competitiveness; and promoting the use of American mariners and managers “in every aspect of transportation operations.”
Connaughton called for cooperation from throughout the industry to “make these goals a reality. Existing industry partnerships must be revitalized. Strong new ones must be formed that will support, not inhibit, a robust maritime industry. All parties, including federal, state and local governments, ports, shipyards, labor, carriers, shippers, operators and ultimately, consumers must recognize that the marine industry is critical to the economic future of the United States and their future wellbeing.”
‘Heritage of Service’
In his welcoming remarks, Rear Admiral Robert Reilly Jr., MSC commander, acknowledged the Paul Hall Center apprentices and said they “represent the future.”
He described the merchant marine as “a crucial part of our prosperity and security – an unbroken circle of heroes. Their service has never left any doubt that they’ll deliver.”
Schwartz called SIU President Sacco “a great friend, a great mentor,” and recognized some others in the crowd. He talked about the merchant marine of World War II and reminded everyone that victory in that conflict “was far from a foregone conclusion.”
He paid tribute to civilian mariners’ “heritage of service and accomplishment, often under extreme pressure. That is what we honor today. It is an understatement to say we count on you.” Schwartz said that today’s mariners “are the people who ensure that the promises we’ve made to our service men and women are and always will be promises kept.”
He also said the U.S. Merchant Marine is “the linchpin of our wartime and peacetime sealift capability” and the “backbone of our ability to project sea power wherever and whenever needed.”
The general pledged his continued support to the industry and said of U.S. mariners, “Their labor is priceless.”
Also at the heart of the ceremony was the placing of three wreaths to commemorate the sacrifices that generations of mariners have made in service to the nation. The solemn occasion drew to a close with a 21-gun salute by a seven-person firing party positioned on the Anacostia River waterfront just outside Navy Yard’s Cold War Museum. Following the ceremony, the wreaths were transferred to the U.S. Merchant Marine bronze relief sculpture on the East Wall of the Navy Memorial in Washington.
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