People may get in a snit over the "tradition" of Herndon - but that is just a distraction. Forget about a possible new Navy Museum in DC. Let's talk about something real; something unique; something once gone you will hate yourself for being so myopic.When it comes to our Navy and our Nation's history - it is time to put up or shut up.
The old warship has been part of Philadelphia's waterfront for 50 years and left lasting impressions on thousands of visitors who heard gripping stories of its role in the Spanish-American War.Where is the CNO? Where is the SECNAV? Where is the Navy League? Where is Rep. Sestak (D-PA)? Where is Sen. McCain (R-AZ)?
Now the Olympia - the last surviving vessel from that 1898 conflict - could face an ignoble end as an artificial reef off Cape May if a new benefactor cannot be found.
The Independence Seaport Museum and the Navy have already checked with officials of New Jersey's Artificial Reef Program on the possibility of sinking the ship, once a source of national pride.
"Another option would be scrapping Olympia," said James McLane, interim president of the museum, which owns the ship and is adjacent to it at Penn's Landing. "But the Navy has told us that 'reefing' is better because it would allow divers to go down on it and would preserve Olympia."
The museum can no longer afford the ship's upkeep, McLane said.
Where; indeed.
20 comments:
It seems unreal to me this ship should go to waste.
Could you preserve it with the wages intended for 11,000 plus new IRS agents?
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Save Our Ship!
Shame Our Sponsors!
It is a marvel of naval technology from a bygone era, as precious as IJNS Mikasa or HMS Warrior.
We have only a single WW2 DD as a naval museum in Poland, but we cant trace back further becaues there wasnt Poland before WW1, and we lost most of pre-WW2 ships in the war. I cant imagine ORP Błyskawica scrapped by ANY Polish government. I HOPE fot he CHANGE in US politicians minds.
Maybe if we offered to convert it into a museum of American Aggression and War Attrocities ala the Vietnamese the current regime would be more sympathetic.
you know, we blow billions on bogus bailouts, you think we could have thrown a few towards maintaining our heritage.
Shame.
and their new shotguns.
http://www.businessinsider.com/the-irs-arms-60-of-its-investigators-with-12-gauge-pump-actions-guns-2010-2
I don't think "preserve" means what they think it means.
I am sending $20 to help out. Anyone else willing to put their money where there mouth is? I just hope it does some good.
Maybe the USNA Class of 2010 can send the money they would have sent to the AA and put it to this worthy cause.
Remember, all Communist regimes, from Pol Pot to V. I. Lenin's, start at the year zero when they take over. Who want's to preserve anything B.O.?--Before the age of Obama.
All those bad memories..
I'm in...
Where do you send it?
When I raised this issue on the NHHC's LinkedIn discussion page last year, Jim D.'s response, briefly: not their job. When I queried, then what was in their charter, the response came down, not this. So don't expect any action from the DC Navy Yard beyond requesting additional dollars for office remodeling.
I'll send some $$ and I'm an Air Force guy. The first US troops to fight bolsheviks at Murmansk in 1918 were sailors from Olympia
$20 million isn't chump change. To be saved you need to be thinking in terms of a national monument with federal dollars. Don't expect the states to help any either given current finances.
How far have we fallen when we can spend billions buying votes...err, enacting a "simulus" plan, and yet cannot come up with $20 million to save a major piece of history?
If Nimitz himself can help fundraise to preserve the Mikasa, why can't CNO or CJCS stand up for the Olympia? And for what paltry dollars ARE available, the Olympia definitely should get the first cut over the Iowa (much as I love those ships, there are already 2 well preserved...).
ps
I'm in for a hundred bucks...
I'm in for a C-note.
USS Olympia is a world heritage vessel of great historical naval importance that should be saved at all costs. The idea that it should be preserved as a sunken man-made reef only available to be seen by a few divers is nonsense. The ship would be forever lost to the American people and international visitors and scholars alike.
The group trying to preserve the wreck of monitor HMVS Cerberus in Australia would dearly love their vessel to be in the same condition which Olympia is in. I'm also sure that the Russian government would never consider disposing of the cruiser Aurora which is of a similar type and era to the Olympia.
I live in England, UK and available cash is very short here too. Goodness knows we have many ships and boats of our own which are in need of saving and preserving, but I am willing to contribute a hard found donation to help save the USS Olympia, however paltry this sum may have to be.
Wake up America!
If you want to save it, go to www.fotco.org, we are the friends Of The Cruiser Olympia and have formed a non profit to save the ship. we need people to spread the word about us , and we are accepting donations to save and preserve this great ship...Capt Harry Burkhardt President of fotco
Captain Harry,
You will be getting a visit from a ruggedly handsome Marine LtCol around the end of the month, as I have never been aboard Olympia, but have driven by and admired from the expressway many times.
I look forward to seeing her and doing what I can to keep her.
Sink it and feed the homeless.
No matter how well intentioned...tributes to war impliments is misguided.
SINK IT
Ralph,
If they sink it, you should be aboard. But then again, your empty head will likely provide enough buoyancy to keep her afloat to get to a drydock and be repaired.
Hey, Ralph, not only are you REALLY late to the show, but you are, in the immortal words of Bugs Bunny, a "Mah-roon".
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