Sailor of the Year candidates visit Virginia's Historic Triangle

Photo By tamekia perdue | Sailor of the Year (SOY) candidates from Commander Navy Region Mid-Atlantic (CNRMA) pose for a photo at the Scope studium during the annual SOY competition Nov. 14. During the tour, Sailors went behind the scenes of the Scope stadium and learned the requirements to keep the stadium and the players game ready. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Tamekia L. Perdue/Released)  

NORFOLK, VA, UNITED STATES

11.13.2012

Courtesy Story

Navy Public Affairs Support Element East - (Reserve)

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class(SW) Tamekia Perdue
Navy Public Affairs Support Element East

NORFOLK, Va. – Sailor of the Year (SOY) candidates from Commander Navy Region Mid-Atlantic (CNRMA) toured, Norfolk’s Historic Triangle during the annual SOY competition Nov. 13.

The Historic Triangle tour included Colonial Williamsburg, the Yorktown Battlefield and the Mariners Museum’s USS Monitor Center, where the sailors spent time learning the history of the USS Monitor and the Battle of Hampton Roads.

“Visiting the museum gives the Sailors a sense of heritage and knowledge on how Sailors lived and fought during the Civil War,” said Russell Morrison, tour guide for the Mariners Museum. “I think they are more aware of how difficult it could be to be on one of the older ships like the Monitor.”

USS Monitor, commissioned December 1861, was among the first ironclad ships during the Civil War era, explained Morrison.

Being able to see the artifacts that came off of the Monitor was educational for Yeoman 1st Class Tamara Hollis, CNRMA, who explained that the tour helped her learn more about Navy history and heritage.
“Learning about the USS Monitor is very important to me because it is part of Navy and state history,” said Hollis.

Built in New York, the ironclad ship set sail for Hampton Roads March 9, and was immediately sent into action against confederate ironclad CSS Virginia (formerly USS Merrimack). The battle between the two iron-armored warships ended in a tactical draw and ultimately prevented the Virginia from gaining control of Hampton Roads.

According to Morrison, the battle was a turning point in naval history. “It was the end of wooden ship battle,” said Morrison. “From then on, every ship that was built in the world was made of iron.”

Gaining more knowledge of the battle and seeing the artifacts at the museum was a goal of the trip.

For Hollis, details of the battle and the visual aids from the Navy of 1800 demonstrated how certain aspects of the Navy are still the same despite technological advances.

“We let our Sailors of the Year see the history and the heritage that makes up our Navy,” said Master Chief Dominick Torchia, command master chief, CNRMA. “They get to see where we came from, and I thought it was very important to see that and relate them both together.”

• Date Taken: 11.13.2012
• Date Posted: 11.15.2012 21:29
• Story ID: 97885
• Location: NORFOLK, VA, US