photo by joseph rudinec
Admiral Jonathan Greenert, USN (Ret.), former Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), gave the final tribute of the evening in presenting the NMHS Distinguished Service Award to J. W. Marriott Jr. A career Navy man, Greenert explained how gratifying it is for the US Navy to have those who have served acknowledge the lifelong lessons they gleaned from their experience. He was especially pleased to hear Mr. Marriott include the lessons of character, teamwork, and integrity among those he took away from his military service and was impressed with how closely the tenets Mr. Marriott empowered the personnel on his staff to follow align with the Navy’s creed: put people first, pursue excellence, act with dignity, embrace change, and serve our world. Mr. Marriott replied with a generous grin how much he was enjoying having a Lieutenant JG be introduced by a CNO. He recounted his carrier days when he ran the soda fountain and the laundry—he recalled his great relief when he wasn’t court marshalled after having starched the admiral’s pajamas. He was grateful to have had the Navy experience. As Boysie Bollinger had remarked and Marriott reiterated: “Service is the key.” In addition to the awards presentation and the musical performance by the USMMA Glee Club, this year’s event also featured the Washington Invitational Marine Art Exhibition, a one-night-only exhibition of works by a select group of contemporary masters from the American Society of Marine Artists, organized by acclaimed artist Patrick O’Brien. Jonathan Greenert with J. W. Marriott Jr. Highlights of the evening were the incredible video introductions by award winningdocumentarian and NMHS vice chairman Richardo Lopes and photographer/editor Alessandro Lopes, and, of course, the incomparable wit and grace of Master of Ceremonies Gary Jobson. As so many in the room would concur, the maritime world is a small one. Also joining us for the evening was US Maritime Administrator RADM Mark Buzby, USN (Ret.), who—it turns out—had been coached by Gary Jobson when he was a midshipman at King’s Point. When Jobson introduced him, Admiral Buzby told us that his old sailing coach gave him some of the most useful advice he ever received and which he followed time and time again in his many years at sea—“If you can’t tie a knot, tie a lot.” All in all, it proved a spectacular evening, with the movers and shakers in the maritime world enjoying meeting with the guests in attendance who represent the myriad organizations and interests related to ships, seafaring, and the sea. —Burchenal Green, president US Maritime Administrator RADM Mark H. Buzby, USN (Ret.) introduces the US Merchant Marine Academy Kings Point Glee Club.
photo by andrew snow
photo by andrew snow
Executive directors, curators, and trustees of the following organizations were included on the dinner committee gathered here, or attended as guests: the American Merchant Marine Museum, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Conservation International, Historic Ships of Baltimore, Independence Seaport Museum, the Sultana Education Foundation, the Naval History & Heritage Command, the Naval Historical Foundation, the Historic Naval Ships Association, Mystic Seaport Museum, South Street Seaport Museum, North Carolina Maritime Museums, Upstream Alliance, the US Navy Memorial, the Navy League of the United States, the Naval Submarine League, the Smithsonian Natural History Museum, Maine Maritime Museum, the Shipbuilders Council of America, the Association of Maryland Pilots, the Mariners’ Museum and Park, the USCG Chief Warrant and Warrant Officers Association, as well as the National Coast Guard Museum Association and the National Maritime Historical Society.
SEA HISTORY 163, SUMMER 2018 11