United Seamen Service director,  Bill King, stands with wreath on the USCGC Galveston Island.

CDR Bob Kennedy
on board the USCGC Galveston Island:

"This is the 70^th anniversary of Maritime Day. On 20 May 1933, Congress passed a joint resolution designating May 22, as National Maritime Day. The date marks the anniversary of the steamship SS Savannah, which left its homeport, in Savannah Georgia, on the first successful transatlantic voyage under steam propulsion and that occurred in 1819. Thus making a material contribution to the advancement of ocean transportation.

The resolution authorized and requested the President - annually to issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe National Maritime Day each May 22; President Franklin Delano Roosevelt issued the first proclamation in 1933 and each subsequent president has done the same.

I would like to read the original proclamation that was issued by President Roosevelt in 1933. This is from the 73^rd Congress of 1933, Resolution #7, joint resolution designating May 22, as National Maritime Day.

Whereas on May 22, 1819 the steamship Savannah set sail from Savannah Georgia, on the first successful transoceanic voyage under steam propulsion thus making a material contribution to the advancement of ocean transportation.

Therefore, be it resolved by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that May 22 of each year shall hereafter be designated and known as United States National Maritime Day. And the president is authorized and requested annually to issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe such National Maritime Day by displaying the flag at their homes and other suitable places and government officials to display the flag on all government buildings on May 22 of each year.

This was approved on May 20, 1933, and as it said, every year since that date in 1933 and we have received an advance copy of this year’s Maritime Day Proclamation from President Bush.

We pause today to continue the Maritime Day celebration that again, marks it’s 70^th year. Now, the Chaplin will issue a prayer." (See Prayer on left)

Chaplin Furniss Harkness:

"As we are about to pray and put the wreath overboard in memory of those who sacrificed, I want to just read a word about the sacrifice they made. Those of us that are on kind of, I guess the tip of the spear that is military service, sometime emphasize what we do and forget that there are others who’ve made huge sacrifices to enable our network to be done.

This is in a book, “Always Faithful,” about war dogs that embarked the ship that came here, to this island – to land on these shores, on board SS Skinner. The Skinner was manned by American merchant marines, the civilians that sail merchant ships, freighters, tankers and such.

During WWII, thousands of them went down with their ships carrying supplies to our allies and our own armed forces. Our captain, who was Dutch, told Taylor and me that we were bound for Guata Cannel and our next stop would be New Caledonia.

The captain had been in the Atlantic for the most dangerous convey workforce and had been sunk four times.

Today as we put the wreath overboard, we do so in appreciation of the ongoing work of the merchant marine and in memory of those who gave it all – that we may have the freedoms that we enjoy. I want to ask you to pause for a few moments of silence and we’ll close with a brief prayer."
(See prayer above left with Chaplin's photo.)

Four members of the Guam Territorial Band provided background music for the ceremony.
 

On this 70^th Maritime Day, I want to thank the crew of the Galveston Island for hosting us today, my hat’s off to you fellows, thanks so much for taking time out of a busy Sunday to do that.

Bob Kennedy  Commanding Officer,  Military Sealift Command Office Guam

Chaplin Furniss Harkness sharing account from the book, "Always Faithful" to guest on the Galveston Island.

Commander Bob Kennedy: “This wreath is going overboard to commemorate the 70^th anniversary of Maritime Day and to honor those Merchant Marines who have gone before us.”