Telling the Maritime Story The Seafarers International Union and the National Maritime Historical Society have much in common. The Society is dedicated to the preservation of America's maritime traditions ... telling our sea history and saving old and historic ships as reminders of our seafaring heritage. The Seafarers International Union is dedicated to the preservation-and expansion-of our merchant marine. There are many who care less whether or not we even have a merchant fleet. Fighting this apathy-this indifference to our maritime traditions-means that we must tell the merchant marine story in every possible way. In the way that NMHS is doing; by preserving dramatic examples of our maritime heritage. And in the way that the SIU is doing-by convincing legislators and opinion makers that a merchant marine is vital to our trade and commerce and to our national defense. Time and again in our nation's history merchant ships have proven to be the always-ready "fourth arm" of our military forces, able to take the seas in time of crisis and carry the goods of war wherever they are needed. Millions of Americans must be made aware of our merchant marine. The NMHS can help in this by making history come alive. The SIU will continue to fight in Washington where merchant marine policy is formed ... where our maritime fortunes either live or die. For each of us in our own way it must be "full speed" and "steady as she goes."
f-v~ k./0-d Frank Drozak
Seafarers Int'/ Union of North America 675 Fourth Avenue, Brooklyn , N.Y. 11232
President Seafarers International Union