The 2013 National Maritime Historical SocietyAnnualAwards Dinner What an Evening-What a Night! by Burchenal Green, NMHS President
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n rhe mag nificent venue of rhe New York Yachr Club on this brisk O ctober night, garhered a cross-secrion of leaders in and ardent supporters of the m aririme field. Educators, w rirers, presidents of m aririme museums, shipping m agnares, boar builders and sailors, historians, anists, cruise company executi ves, documernarians, and many from all other walks oflife who support m aritime heritage, congregated in a flurry of conversations and exchanged ideas. Is ir this interchange thar makes rhe NMHS annual awa rds dinners so successful ? The wa rm hospitality and impressive history of the NYYC? The inspirational voices of the USCG Academy Cadet Chorale? The compelling speeches by the awardees? There is a chemisrry to the evening thar is bigger than any of rhese compo nents.
This year's awardees join Norma and Peter Stanford, NMHS president emeritus (font row), trustees, and master ofceremonies Richard du Mo ulin to celebrate their achievements in maritime heritage. (back row, l-r) Richard du Moulin, Ronald Oswald, Rick Scarano, Rear Admiral Sandra Stosz, Stanley Birge, Richardo Lopes, and Stan Ho ney).
and shipping executive-and good friend to NMHS- Richard du Moulin presented the award to Cunard Line, which was accepted by Cunard's VP for North America, Stanley Birge. It was particularly moving to h ave Joanne O 'Neil, widow of beloved NMHS trustee David O 'Neil, and their daughter Jacqueline O 'Neil Boutin, to present the David A. O 'Neil Sheet Anchor Award to Richardo Lopes. We were also most gratified when each recipient, in his and her own way, acknowledged the imponance of the work of your Society in preserving our mariri me heritage and paying it forward to the next generations . .
The NMH S Awards D inner is held at the incomparable New York Yacht Club.
Each year, rhe Sociery recognizes exemplary wo rk in rhe m aririme field , to both honor ir and to inspire others to emu la re the awardees. This mi ssion is a silent guest in the room. Amid rhe good time, rhe laughrer and conversation and delectable food is the knowledge for so many people who care deeply abour preserving our maritime herirage, that we a re honoring those dedicared to it. A nd we lisren to the rem arks of the recipients wirh care: how NMH S vice chairman Rick Lopes was drawn to dedicate his ra lents a nd rime to preserving and promoting our maririme tradirions through the interests of his farher and grand fat her before him; whar inspires US Coast G uard RADM Sa ndra Stosz in her pursuir to educate the next generation of Coasr G uard officers and
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how her career path was influenced by the strong women who helped pave the way for women in the Coast Guard; why the historic passe nger liner company C unard is committed to ocean travel for the life-enhancing experience ir can provide to the public; how Sran Honey combined hi s passions for sail racing and engineering into a pioneering rechnology that would transform rhe way we watch and understand the modern America's C up competitions. We were especially fonunate this year to have Am erica's C up champion a nd comm entator Gary Jobson present the NMHS Distinguished Service Award to Stan Honey, and Robert ] . Flynn, ch ai rman of the Coast G uard Foundarion, to present the award to Rear Admi ral Sandra Stosz. Yachtsman
(l-r) Richardo Lopes, Joanne O'Neil, and Jacqueline O'Neil Boutin
We are grateful to our corporate underwriters, Carnival Co rporation and Howard Slotnick, and to our many sponsors. We thank A. G. A. Correa & Son whose gorgeous handwoven turkshead silver bracelet set the tone for o ur auction , and to all who donated the great array of items we offered. Thank yo u for helping make the evening a resounding success . .t
SEA HISTORY 145, WINTER 2013- 14