DECK LOG Saving USS Olympia: You May Donate When You Are Ready, Gridley! Many NMHS members responded to our plea to save USS Olympia, Admiral George Dewey's flagship at the Battle of Manila Bay (1898) during the Spanish-American War and the icon of America's emergence as a world naval power at the turn of the century. Because of the vital significance of this ship, we donated 10% of our own spring appeal towards her emergency repairs, and you were very generous. We know this is not enough funding in itself to restore her, but this effort helps to spread the word of her plight and demonstrates just how much the maritime heritage community values Olympia. You have asked where you can send yo ur donation directly towards Olympia's restoration, and an official website and account is now up and running. The National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP) has set up an account to receive funds for Olympia's restoration . We encourage you to contribute either online via their website at www.PreservationNation.org/Olympia, or you can mail a check, payable to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, to: The National Trust for Historic Preservation, Northeast Office, Seven Faneuil Hall Marketplace, 4'h Floor, Boston, MA 02109, attn: USS Olympia Fund. In the meantime, the Naval Sea Systems Command, which is responsible for managing the transfer of decommissioned ships, is working with the Independence Seaport Museum (ISM) in Philadelphia (current steward of Olympia), the National Park Service, and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission to select a new steward from among the groups that are seeking to take over ownership of the vessel and that have started the transfer application process (known as TAPP). Updates on the ship and the TAPP are posted online on the ISM's website at www.phillyseaport.org.
NATIONAL MARITIME HISTORICAL SOCIETY PUBLISHER'S CIRCLE: Peter Aron, Guy E.
C. M aitland, William H. White OFFICERS & TRUSTEES: Chairman, Ronald L. Oswald; Vice Chairman, Richardo R. Lopes; President, Burchenal Green; Vice Presidents, D eirdre O 'Regan, Nancy Schnaars; Treasurer, Howard Slomick; Secretary, Thomas F. Daly Trustees: Charles B. Anderson; Walter R. Brown; RADM Joseph F. Callo, USNR (Ret.); James Carter; David S. Fowler; William Jackson Green; Virginia Steele Grubb; Karen Helmerson; Robert Kamm; Richard M. Larrabee; Capt. Sally Chin McElwreath, USNR (Ret.) ; James J. McNamara; Michael W Morrow; Timothy J. Runyan; Richard Scarano; Philip J. Shapiro; Bradford D. Smith; H. C. Bowen Smith; Cesare Soria; Philip J. Webster; Daniel W. W halen; W illiam H. White; Jean Wort Chairmen Emeriti, Walter R. Brown, Alan G. Choate, Guy E. C. Maitland, Howard Slomick; President Emeritus, Peter Stanford FOUNDER: Karl Kortum (1917-1996)
Kick-Off to the War of 1812 Bicentennial NMHS was honored to co-host with the Naval Historical Foundation, Operation Sail, and the Navy League a June reception at the Smithsonian, where the Honorable Ray Mabus, Secretary of the Navy, in front of the Star Spangled Banner exhibit, announced to some 500 guests the upcoming plans to mark the anniversary of the War of 1812 and the writing of our national anthem. Secretary Mabus stated, "Beginning next year and con tin uing through 2015, the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, and United States Coast Guard, along with Operation Sail and a host of partners, will commemorate the War of 1812 bicentennial and the inspiration for America's hymn. The theme of this celebration is "Our Flag Was Still There," as indeed it NMHS Trustee Robert Kamm (right) with Secretary of is today. This "Second War for the Navy Ray Mabus at the kick-offcelebration. Independence" established US sea power and our continuing presence in the great blue and beyond. In commemorating the bicentennial of the War of 1812, we honor every sailor who has ever fought and served under the stars and stripes of the country ... This commemoration is going to remind us that these sailors, these marines, continue to live up to that brave legacy, bequeathed to them 200 years ago ... As we commemorate the War of 1812 we ought to remember the delicate weaving of history that has brought America to this great place of influence and great responsibility." Sea History will continue to bring you features on the War of 1812 (see pages 10-15) and on the many commemorative activities in this and upcoming issues. -Burchenal Green, President 4
OVERSEERS: Chairman, RADM David C. Brown; Clive Cussler, Richard du Moulin, Alan D. Hutchison, Jakob Isbrandtsen, Gary Jobson, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, John Lehman, Brian McAllister, John Srobart, Wi lliam Winterer NMH S ADVISORS: Chairman, Melbourne Smith; D. K. Abbass, George Bass, Oswald Brett, Francis J. Duffy, John S. Ewald, Timothy Foore, William Gilkerson, Steven A. Hyman, ]. Russell Jinishian, Hajo Knuttel, Gunnar Lundeberg, Joseph A. Maggio, Conrad Milster, W illiam G. Muller, Stuart Parnes, Lori Dillard Rech, Nancy Hughes Richardson, Bert Rogers, Joyce Huber Smith SEA HISTORY EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD: Chairman, Timothy J. Runyan; Norman J. Brouwer, Robert Browning, William S. Dudley, Daniel Finamore, Kevin Foster, John Odin Jensen, Joseph F. Meany, Lisa Norling, Carla Rahn Phillips, Walrer Rybka, Quentin Snediker, William H. White
NMHS STAFF: Executive Director, Burchenal Green; Membership Director, Nancy Schnaars; Communications Director, Suzanne Isaksen; Marketing Director, Steve Lovass-Nagy; Accounting, Jill Romeo; Store Sales & Volunteer Coordinator, Jane Maurice SEA HISTORY: Editor, Deirdre O ' Regan; Advertising Director, Wendy Paggiotta; Copy Editor, Shelley Reid; Editor-at-Large, Peter Stanford
SEA HISTORY 136, AUTUMN 2011