NMHSNEWS Walter Cronkite Honored at NMHS Maritime Education Initiative Reception Walter Cronkite received long-overdue recognition for his co ntriburion to rhe maritime heritage as fri ends and supporters of NMHS gathered at India House in Lower Manharran on Tuesday, 6 October, to honor his work wirh NMHS 's Mari rime Education Iniriarive, which he serves as chairman. H e was presented wi rh the Society's Founder's Sheer Anchor Award, given to individuals whose work wirh NMHS rakes the Society in new directions and to greater purposes . A broad cross-section of people from the marine industry, maritime educators and preservationists, and business leaders, as well as friends and colleagues of Mr. Cro nkite fill ed the roo m with cheers and laughter as he looked ar his warch, and wirh his newsman's sense of riming, nored thar he'd been allowed 40 seconds fo r his remarks . H e proceeded to tell the assembled: The educational initiative we began a few years ago has begun to pay off We have miles to go yet, and we will sail those waters together. I am particularly proud of the new educational effo rt to bring back to the people ofNew York the great heritage of our port, one ofthe great ports ofthe world. Godspeed to you and this organization. Joining in the NMHS tribute were George Plimpton, Kent Barwick and Howard Slotnick; William F. Buckley, Jr. and Peter Jennings sent messages to be read ar the reception. A high point of the eve ning was rhe rime Mr. Cronkite spent discussing sail training wirh four students from rhe Spirit ofMassachusetts, docked in New York City as part of its O cean C lass room educational voyage along the East Coast.
Excellence in Maritime Education As parr of the work of the Maritime Education Initiative, NMHS has so ught our and recognized particularly innovative, challenging and effective programs for students. This year, rhe WalterCronkiteAward for Excellence in Maritime Education was presented by Mr. Cronkite to Alix T. Thome of the Schooner H arvey Gamage Foundation for her successful programs in deepwater sea experience under sail at high school, undergraduate and postgraduate levels. (See Ms. Thorne's remarks on p. 8.) We also presented the 1997 award to Capt. James Gladson, founder and president of the Los Angeles Maritime Institute, for his
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successful, intensive work with th e children of Los Angeles and his inspired leadership of the TopSail Yourh Programs.
Capital Ship Essay Contest Through generous grants from rhe D avid M . Milton Trust and rhe Mobil Corporation, the Maritime Education Initiative carried out a national essay compennon to encourage students to explore rhe maritime and commercial heritage of ports (see Sea H istory 86, p. 32) . Benjamin Ying, winner of the first prize, received his award and had the opportunity to discuss his research on the port of New York with Mr. Cronkite. -JUSTINE.AHLSTROM
With their awards, from left: Capt. Jim Gladson, A lix T Thorne, Walter Cronkite, Daniel Ying, Benjamin Ying (top). At right, Walter Cronkite checks his allotted time as he receives the NMH S Founder's Sheet Anchor Award. (Photos: Patrick Callahan)
ANNuAL AWARDS D INNER SALUTES AMERICA'S TALL SHIP, USCG BARK EAGLE A record crowd of 280 members and image to Capt. Papp for the ship . The fri ends gathered at the New York Yacht two were also presented with copi es of C lub in Manharran on 5 November fo r Sea History Press's new edition of The NMHS 's Annual Awards Dinner-this Skipper & the Eagle, by Capt. Go rdon year a tribute to the US Coast G uard McGowan. The evening was enhanced Academy and America's tall ship, rhe by superb performances by the cadets of USCG Bark Eagle. We we re particularly rhe USCG Academy Singers. privileged to have RADM Douglas We thank the Dinner Commirree, led Teeson, superintendent of the Coas t by Trustee Guy E. C. Maitland, for their G uard Academy in New London, Con- work in creating such a successful event. necticut, as keynote speaker. H e From left: j ean Wort, Howard Slotnick (NMHS rece ived th e Society's Distintrustees), Capt. Robert ]. Papp, J r. ofEagle, artist guished Service Award, as did William G. Mu ller, RADM Douglas Teeson, USCG Eagle's current commandUSCGA (Photo: CDR Daniel R. Croce, USCG) ing officer, Capt. Robert J . Papp , Jr. , and Howard Slotnick, trustee and director of tall ship events for NMHS and chairman and CEO of OpSail Miami. A high light of the event was rhe presentation of W illiam G. Muller's painting of Eagle in New York H arbor to Admiral T eeson for the Academy and m e presentation of a framed print of the
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