NMHS: A CAUSE IN MOTION Service, Leadership, Dedication: The 2011 NMHS Annual Awards Dinner in New York Honors Achievement in the Maritime Heritage Community
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n O ctober, rhe Narional M aririme Histo rical Sociery recognized four individuals who have made impo rtant conrriburio ns towards preserving our maririme heritage at its annual gala awa rds dinner in New York C iry. Againsr a backdrop of hundreds of ship models and fanras ri c maririm e art which ado rn th e New Yo rk Yacht C lub's model room, N MHS Chairman Ronald Oswald remarked thar chis yea r's awa rdees have nor onl y made las ring contriburions to the fi eld, bur rhey have inspired ochers to embark o n o r continue rheir efforts in wharever as pect of m aritime heritage rh ey might be involved. The missio n co nrinues, thanks to their ongoing work and the high standards they set. We were proud to recognize rhe Honorable John F. Lehman, for mer secrera ry of rhe navy, wirh the NMHS Distinguished Service Award and to have dinner chairman D aniel Whalen present the awa rd . The Bravo Zulu Award was presenred to a lo ng-time fri end of the Sociery, Admiral Robert J. Papp Jr., Commandanr, U ni red Stares Coast G uard, who has been a vocal advocate of the value of teaching C oas t G uard history to rhe m en and women in the C oasr Guard and to the pub lica history of doing exrraordinary work wirh o rdinary means. Shipping execurive and N MH S ch airm a n emeritus C lay Maitland presented rhe awa rd. The David A. O'Neil Sheet Anchor Award was pre- (above, 1-r) NMH S chairman Ron Oswald, sentedto N MHSchairman chairman emeritus Clay M aitland, and A demerirus Walter R. Brown miral Robert]. Papp J r. by president of US Sailing and America's Cup winner Gary Jobson, who also serves as an N MHS overseer. Finally, the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Maritime Education was presenred to Woodson K. Woods and the Lynx Educational Foundation by awa rd-winning aurhor and N MHS trustee W illiam H . W hite. The impo rtant wo rk do ne by each of the fo ur recipients was vividly broughr to life in the short documentaries produced by N MHS vice-chairman Rick Lopes and his crew ar Lopes Picrure Company, a The 2 011 NMH S awardees (1-r): Woodson K Woods, John F highlighr of rhe evening. All of rh e award recipients were excellenr speakLehman, Admiral Robert]. Papp J r., and Walter R. Brown. ers, discussing rhe val uable li fe lessons rhey have learned rhrough sailing and time ar sea, and how rhese experiences have srrengthened them in life in myriad ways . Each recipient spoke abo ur rhe impo rtanr role rhe Sociery pl ays as rh e narional voice of rhe maririme herirage communi ry, and how crucial iris to cominue rhe high qualiry of "- Sea H istory, rhe books published by Sea Histo ry Press, and rhe o rganization's website. 1hey congratulated the Sociery's stand in being proacrive in irs efforrs to save iconic historic ships. Gary Jobson a1id C lay M aitland ably served as joint mas ters of ceremony, and rhe USCG Academy Cader Idlers, under rhe direction of Dr. Robert Newton , entertained dinner guests wirh music of the sea that ranged from parrioric runes to ro llickin g chanteys, m akin g ir a most memorable evening. The evem was a lively and inrim are gatherin g of rhe maritime com m uni ry, highlighting great works in rhe maritime field while raising essemial funds fo r the Sociery. - Burchenal Green, President
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D r. Robert Newton (2nd from right) and choral groups from the US Coast Guard Academy have p erformed at the NMH S Annual Awards Dinners for many years. This year, they were particularly honored to sing for the Commandant ofthe United States Coast Guard, Admiral Robert]. Papp J r. (center), who was one ofthe evening's honorees.
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SEA HISTORY 137, WINTE R 2011-12