In celebration of the 243rd Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, USS Constitution and her crew took more than 450 guests underway from the ship's berth in Charlestown, Mass., July 4.
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh kicked off the day’s celebrations by firing the ship’s saluting battery for morning colors.
During the underway, Constitution Sailors read the Declaration of Independence to the guests.
“To be aboard Constitution today is a great honor,” said Cmdr. Nathaniel R. Shick, 75th commanding officer of USS Constitution. “This is a ship that was named by President George Washington, who in July 1776, read the Declaration of Independence to his soldiers, who were recently minted as the Continental Army, as they were looking at the British Armada off the coast of Long Island and the Hessian soldiers and British regulars that were aboard the ships. As Washington was trying to find ways to motivate his men, the words from the Declaration of Independence took on a different meaning.”
“The soldiers were no longer a ragtag band of rebels that were resisting taxation, they were now a Continental Army who had sworn and pledged their lives to defend this idea of freedom,” Shick added. “Fast forward 221 years—Constitution still remains as a beacon of freedom and we remember the sacrifices that her Sailors and Marines have shared over the years in order to keep us as a sovereign nation.”
Shick also said he was happy to have so many patriotic people enter the lottery this year.
“Over 10,000 applicants put in for an opportunity to sail with us here on Constitution,” said Shick. “For those who won, it is an opportunity not only to enjoy the cradle of American Revolution here in Boston, but also an opportunity to engage with my Sailors as we tell the story of Constitution’s legacy as well as the mission of Constitution back in 1798 and how that mission is still very similar to the mission the Navy plays today.”
After departing, Constitution navigated down the Charles River Basin and through Boston's Inner Harbor.
Among the lottery winners was Joshua Bordner.
“I was amazed that I won the lottery,” said Bordner. “It was amazing to be aboard an icon that has shaped the past of our great nation and that makes the country what it is today. It is absolutely astounding to see how well Constitution is preserved and I’m very happy that I was able to come aboard her today.”
Interior Communications Electrician 2nd Class Angela Careccia read the Declaration of Independence during the underway.
“To be aboard America’s ship of State for the Fourth of July is an absolute honor,” said Careccia. “I could not ask for a more patriotic way to celebrate this holiday than to be aboard the Oldest Commissioned Warship Afloat in the World. I know we had thousands of entries into our lottery this year, and I can’t be more appreciative of the excitement and encouragement they had to come aboard.”
Halfway through the underway, Constitution fired a 21-gun salute near Fort Independence on Castle Island, which was returned by the 101st Field Artillery Regiment of the Massachusetts National Guard.
Fort Independence is a state park that served as a defensive position for Boston Harbor from 1634 to 1962.
The ship also fired an additional 17 rounds as she passed U.S. Coast Guard Sector Boston, the former site of Edmund Hartt's shipyard where Constitution was built.
Each round of this salute honored the 16 states that comprised The United States when Constitution launched in 1797 and one in honor of the ship herself.
Also among the guests aboard Constitution for the underway was Ian Toll, the historian and author of the book Six Frigates, which outlines the early history of the U.S. Navy.
“I’ve been aboard the ship many times before but never while she has been underway, it is a completely different feeling,” said Toll. “To be here today with so many boats out in the harbor escorting this historic frigate, showing respect and honor for her is making this a great day. We have almost 500 people aboard today and that’s what the size of the crew would have been in the War of 1812 so everyone can get a feeling for what it was like being stationed aboard the ship during that time.”
Toll said one of his favorite parts about being underway was being reminded of all of the things he’s researched about Constitution.
“This day reminds me of my favorite anecdote about the ship which was when Constitution was able to escape an entire squadron of British warships just off the American coast during the first month of the War of 1812,” said Toll. “I think that was the most extraordinary chapter of this ship’s career because that was an incident where escape seemed impossible and the crew was able to do it through seamanship and hard work.”
USS Constitution, the world’s oldest commissioned warship afloat, played a crucial role in the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812, actively defending sea lanes from 1797 to 1855.
Designated America’s Ship of State, Constitution and her crew engage in community outreach and education about the ship’s history and the importance of naval power to more than 500,000 visitors each year.
| Date Taken: | 07.04.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 07.04.2019 17:35 |
| Story ID: | 330352 |
| Location: | MA, US |
| Web Views: | 193 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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