We've covered it before - but we are going to do it again.
... 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.Here is something for you PA voters to take to your next townhall meeting with your elected representative.
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.”
Tough economic times – but the $20 million needed to rehab the Olympia is exactly the amount allocated in the new state budget for an Arlen Specter library and a John Murtha “Center for Public Policy.”
Hat tip Joseph via andrewb.
13 comments:
Just for the record, I'm pretty sure that in a previous post it was mentioned that 30 million US$ were needed for restoration. And here there's talk of 20million. From where the discrepancy?
20 million US$ for an Arlen Specter Library and a John Murtha Center for Public Policy?
Jesus Christ. I tell you CDR and all the other Americans here. We over here in Europe are in DEEP SHIT. But you are NOT that much better off.
Basically everything you say and write makes sense to me, and so do the comments of the other people here. Must I assume than that there are no top brass with the same amount of intelligence and common sense in the USN?
From the headline I thought this was going to be about Murtha ... oh ... and ten it was
It is about time that we honor the political career class of the U.S. without further, substantive questioning.
Murtha and his altruistic ilk should be accorded unstinting memorialization versus restoring a hulk that memorializes a nondescript and supernumerary relic commissioned before any living person's grndmother was ever born.
Lets say NO to preservation of naval history and YES to preservation of dead career politician history. Ideally, we should have Murtha stuffed and placed on display in D.C. When career politicians are lawyers, we should bronze their a$$es (only) and have them displayed in state capitals.
just a thought.
If only it had fired on the Winter Palace.
This is just...
sad.
Call Bill Gates - tell him there is a priceless technology relic to be saved. You can build a ship on a year or 2. You can train a crew ina few years. Tradition takes centuries.
Here is a list of members from the last congress (110th) who served. (I don't have a list from the current 111th Congress)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_members_of_the_110th_United_States_Congress_who_have_served_in_the_United_States_military
What I suggest is that we write or email each of these members regarding this issue. I'll draft a letter/email and post it here tomorrow that anyone who is interested it participating can use.
One other thought-The Navy League, and the TROA are fairly well connected politically. If anyone is a member of either, they should contact them about this issue.
Mike: Such an opinion is not mandatory. You are free to form your own, based on the facts and the evidence. It could even differ.
Here's another idea: Would it be possible to have the USN offer its personnel, reserves and retirees an option to donate a small amount ($5-10/payperiod) to preserve the USS OLYMPIA? This way, the Navy would be taking care of its own, in a manner of speaking. If people think this is a good idea, how would we get the ball rolling on it?
This was three years ago, (or at least uncovered three years ago...) but I wonder if all this $ obviously badly spent, would have made a difference: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/5300476.html
<span>John Murtha “Center for Public Policy.” Why not the John Dillinger Center for Bank Security.</span>
<span><span>Here's aproposed letter for use as a template:<span> </span></span></span>
<p><span><span><span> </span>Dear Senator,</span></span>
</p><p><span><span><span> </span>It has come to my attention that the USS OLYMPIA (C-6), the flagship of Admiral Dewey at the Battle of Manila Bay, is currently in a state of disrepair.<span> </span>As you are undoubtedly aware, USS OLYMPIA is the oldest steel warship currently afloat, and is a National Historic Landmark. Despite this history, the press is reporting that the OLYMPIA is currently in a state of disrepair, and is gradually rusting away. Its current owner is unable to properly maintain it, and it will be forced to close the ship in September.<span> </span>See </span><span>http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/85456487.html</span><span>.</span></span>
</p><p><span><span><span> </span>The loss of this national treasure is simply unconscionable.<span> </span>I request that your office look into finding funds and a suitable home to both renovate the USS OLYMPIA and allow it to continue its duty in instructing current and future generations of Americans on our country’s maritime heritage.<span> </span></span></span>
</p><p><span><span><span> </span>In the alternative, if you believe that this nation can not afford the expenditure of the $20 million needed to preserve the USS OLYMPIA, I ask that your office either draft or sponsor legislation authorizing the Secretary of the Navy to request Navy and Marine Corps personnel, civilians and retirees to voluntarily authorize withdrawals from their paychecks to go to a fund designed exclusively for the preservation of the USS OLYMPIA.</span></span></p>
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