New York Council Honors Sacrifices Of World War II Merchant Mariners

Sea Power, Feb 2005 by Atkinson, Peter

St. Patrick's Service Salutes Those Who Died In the Line of Duty

Nearly 700 people attended a prayer service at New York's historic St. Patrick's Cathedral Nov. 17 to honor Merchant Mariners who perished during World War II. The interfaith service was sponsored by the Navy League's New York Council.

Retired Navy Vice Adm. John R. Ryan, president of State University of New York Maritime College, and Vice Adm. Joseph D. Stewart, superintendent of the Merchant Marine Academy at King's Point, N.Y, were among the attendees. They were joined by New York mayoral and gubernatorial representatives, members of the clergy, Navy Leaguers and guests from the sea services to honor the 9,700 Merchant Mariners who were killed during World War II.

"It was a great success," said National Vice President Robert A. Ravitz.

According to Frank Visconti, a council vice president and a former Merchant Marine officer, the service represented an opportunity to salute the many members of the Merchant Marine who served the country with great valor. "Too often their service goes unrecognized and on behalf of all New Yorkers, where most ships sailed from, this is an important and long overdue recognition."

Music for the service was provided by the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy choral group, led by Dr. Cindy Bell.

Pasadena Navy Leaguers Help Rescue Local Veterans Day Event

With some last-minute help from Pasadena, Calif., Navy Leaguers, the city's annual Veterans Day ceremony went ahead as scheduled.

"There's never a time when you should let remembrance of veterans pass by unnoticed, but I think it is even more important when the country is fighting a war," Pasadena Council President Todd Moore told the Pasadena Star News prior to the event.

The Pasadena Chamber of Commerce traditionally had sponsored a memorial service on the front steps of City Hall. But a combination of short staffing at the chamber and a construction project at the City Hall building put the Veterans Day ceremony in jeopardy.

Pasadena Council members stepped in and helped rescue the event. With the help of city officials, the council put together a ceremony that was held at Pasadena's Memorial Park, which recently became home to a memorial honoring local military men who died in the Vietnam War.

The council recruited the Blair High School Army Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps to provide a color guard, a local Catholic bishop to give the benediction and Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogard to serve as speaker. Moore spoke as well. The event was emceed by National Director John Watkins.

The ceremony was marked by a flyover at 11:11 a.m. by eight vintage World War II planes from the "Condor Squadron." Approximately 300-400 people attended. Council Vice President Jane Pellegrino recruited 60 middle school students to attend and interview veterans about their experiences. The students later turned in essays about men and women who served in World War II, Korea, Vietnam and the Gulf War, Moore said.

"We were very pleased that these young people used the occasion to learn about the extraordinary sacrifices that ordinary people have made in support of the cause of freedom," he said.

Philadelphia Council Cites Author for His Charitable Work

The Philadelphia Council recently helped a local author and Navy veteran celebrate his 80th birthday by honoring him for his contributions to a restoration project for the last Landing Ship Medium (LSM) still configured for its original troop and supply transport mission.

Council Board Member Stu Abramson presented Albert R. Pincus, a retired attorney from Buckingham Township, Pa., with a certificate of appreciation during a birthday party for Pincus. The celebration was attended by more than 100 people, including a number of Navy Leaguers from Pennsylvania and New York, Abramson said.

Pincus has recently published From Brooklyn To Tokyo, A Sailor's Story of WWII. The book is a memoir of Pincus' experiences in the Pacific as an electrician's mate, mostly aboard LSM 472, during World War II. He will be donating proceeds from the sale of the book to the LSM Association, which is working to restore the LSM 45. The ship was towed last spring from its former mooring at Freedom Park in Omaha, Neb., to the Marine Corps Museum of the Carolinas in Jacksonville, N.C., where it will be displayed.

For his generosity, the Philadelphia Council saluted Pincus with the certificate that reads, in part, "You are a true example of the unsung heroes of an era that has become known as the 'greatest generation."'

Councils Adopt Carrier, Cutters

Fall was a busy time for ship adoptions, with councils on both coasts hosting ceremonies to formally adopt vessels from the Navy and Coast Guard

On Oct. 13, the Lake Washington, Wash., Council marked the Navy's 229th birthday by adopting the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. Council President Roger Ponto, Treasurer Lee Anne Peterson-Walker, Vice President Ron Matthew and Director Jules Bresnick went aboard ship to present an adoption certificate to ship's Commanding Officer Capt. Kendall Card and Executive Officer Capt. Dave Lausman. The council also presented the Lincoln with an initial $500 check to the ship's Morale, Welfare and Recreation fund.