authorization bill that allows t h e use of MARAD gram funds fo r its own ma ritime heritage need s. Efforts to strike the am endm ent did not succeed, but the N ational M aritime Alliance, its partners, and congressional supporters wo rked with M A RA D to fund the gra nts program. MARAD agreed to commit o ne half of the funds available. The tra nsfer of funds required a memorandum of ag reement between M A RAD and the National Pa rk Service, a process that stalled for nearly two yea rs. Because of interes t in the M a ritime H eritage Act am ong members of the Connecticut congressional delegation, Mys tic Seaport took a lead role in wo rking with their Council of American M aritime Museums colleagues and the A lli ance to organize advocacy. The maritime heritage community has been persistent in working with MARA D , N PS , and the U S C ongress, a nd the outcome is positive. There will be a grants prog ram for the A merican m aritime heritage community. Because of the aforem entioned amendmenr, the amounr will be half the original amount. The N ational M aritime H eri rage Act is a powerful statem ent in support of the significance a nd value of Am erica's m aritime heritage. The Act was supported by C ongress and signed by the presidenr, and the m aritime heritage community succeeded in gaining support at the highes t levels of government. Pro perly funding the act w ill provide support to the m any maritime organi zations that bring the story of America's maritime heritage to the public.
D r. Timothy J Runyan is chair ofthe National Maritime A lliance. H e also serves as chair of the Sea History editorial board and as a trustee of the National Maritime H istorical Society
One of the recipients of the first round of Maritime H eritage Act grants, the 1886 ship Balclutha is one of the historic ships in the San Francisco M aritime National H istoric Park in California. She is also a National H istoric Landmark.
National Historic Landmark Ii National Memorial to Coast
Guardsmen who lost their lives during WWII thro ugh Vietnam. • Awarded two Naval Presidential Unit Citations for her service during Vietnam. • Credited with sinking Li-Boat 626 during convoy duty in the North Atlantic. Don't miss the opportunity to tour this ship. learn about its remarkable history. the recently completely underwater re-Rt and the current work being done restoring her topside. USCGC ING HAM is located in Key West on the Truman Waterfront.
You can Visit ...You Can Help The foundation seeks donations to continue restoratio n of this important vesse l. Please send your ta x-deductible contributions to:
USCGC INGHAM Memorial Museum P. 0. Box186. Key West. Florida 33041 • Phone: (305)-395-9554 www.uscgcingham.org SEA HISTORY 145, WINT ER 2013- 14
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