Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Heritage or Pork for PA and the USN?

We are about to commit a crime against history. This is the Navy's fault more than anyone else - closely followed by Congress and then the State Government of PA. If we won't defend our history - who will. Talk is cheap - but I haven't even seen that.

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.

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.”
Here is something for you PA voters to take to your next townhall meeting with your elected representative.
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.