Wharf Rat's Home - A Shipmate Who Never Made it to Sea.

'It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.'

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.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Happy 111th Birthday, U.S. Submarine Force!

http://cl.publicaster.com/ClickThru.aspx?pubids=145|73028|68234|5&digest=txk0esVgpL5T68smZtP2jA&sysid=1

Like a prairie dog peeking from its burrow, John P. Holland, arguably the father of the modern submarine, looks up from the conning tower of his invention after its construction in
1897.

In 1900, this boat, the sixth he built, was purchased by the U.S. government and became the USS Holland (SS-1), the first submarine in the United States Navy. Mr. Holland designed and built the sub to his own specifications and at his own expense, and became known at "The Father of the Modern Submarine". Circa 1900.

(We in Minnesota are now bubbleheads, uh, submariners - as our last warship tied to our state was USS Minneapolis/St. Paul, and coming in 2013 - Virginia-class fast attack submarine Precommissioning Unit Minnesota SSN 783)