Preserving a piece of US Maritime History - invaluable

The USS Olympia is a cruiser that fought in the Spanish American War in 1898 and has been preserved in Philadelphia. She's a one of a kind ship, a national historic monument, and in danger. She needs approximately $10-15 million in repairs to keep her a viable museum for years to come. If you have the resources, or connections to those resources, please consider helping. (full disclosure - there is no financial benefit to me to ask the question - we need to save this ship for posterity). Please contact me at 612-599-1935 or bdskon@fedex.com if you have additional questions.

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Saturday, July 2, 2011

Independence Day - July 4th, 1776 - one of THE great days in American History

'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that... they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.'

'We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.


Thursday, June 30, 2011

AFRICOM: AF, Navy still flying Libya missions - Navy News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

AFRICOM: AF, Navy still flying Libya missions - Navy News News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

I'm guessing that the Obama administration isn't real pleased w/this report. Don't get me wrong, I'm okay with the US Military participation. But don't lie to me and tell me they're not there.

Additionally, don't play the stupid limited warfare game. Bring a US Navy supercarrier to the fight and finish this off. USS Entprise CVN 65 is close by.

Wharf Rat

USFF Hosts Bold Alligator 2012 Main Planning Conference

USFF Hosts Bold Alligator 2012 Main Planning Conference

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Sailors aboard the guided-missile frigates USS Thach and USS Boone (FFG 28) gather on the foc'sle for a briefing after arriving in Valparaiso, Chile.
VAPLARAISO, Chile (June 24, 2011) Sailors aboard the guided-missile frigates USS Thach and USS Boone (FFG 28) gather on the foc'sle for a briefing after arriving in Valparaiso, Chile. Thach and Boone will participate in the Chilean navy-hosted Pacific phase of UNITAS 52. Thach and Boone are deployed to South America supporting Southern Seas 2011. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Steve Smith/Released)
The aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) arrives for a routine port visit at U.S. Naval Support Activity, Souda Bay.
SOUDA BAY, Greece (June 24, 2011) The aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) arrives for a routine port visit at U.S. Naval Support Activity, Souda Bay. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Cayman Santoro/Released)
F/A-18F Super Hornets assigned to the Red Rippers of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 11 fly over the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65).
 MEDITERRANEAN SEA (June 27, 2011) F/A-18F Super Hornets assigned to the Red Rippers of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 11 fly over the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65). The Enterprise Carrier Strike Group is supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Jesse L. Gonzalez/Released)