Merchant Marine Academy to Honor National Maritime Day

On May 22, 2013 starting at 12:00 p.m., the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy will honor National Maritime Day with a brief ceremony at Barney Square followed by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) tree dedication in memory of Margaret Corbin, a role model for equality in military service. The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy was the first federal academy to admit women in 1974, two years before any of the other service academies, and actively supports equality in military service.

Following the tree dedication, the American Merchant Marine Museum will host a new exhibit from the Seamen’s Church Institute entitled: Sermons to Sea-Land: TheSeamen’s Church Institute of New York and New Jersey, along with items from its own collection. The museum will make a series of announcements including a new book publication by the late Herman E. Rosen ‘44, Gallant Ship, Brave Men: The Heroic Story of a WWII Liberty Ship, that recounts a cadet-midshipman’s first-hand experience of being torpedoed and spending 30 days in an open lifeboat.

Curators of the new exhibit will officially unveil the exhibit and give a presentation at 1:00 p.m. after the tree dedication. In honor of Maritime Day, the museum will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The beautifully landscaped and peaceful grounds of the museum are in full bloom during this season. The grassy areas, picnic tables, benches, patios, and telescope will be available for use all day for picnics and leisure.

www.usmma.edu