By Seaman Matthew R. Fairchild and Mass Communication
Specialist 2nd Class Peter D. Melkus, USS Constitution Public Affairs
BOSTON (NNS) -- USS Constitution Sailors conducted an
underway demonstration aboard America's Ship of State in Boston Harbor in commemoration
of the 70th anniversary of D-Day and the 72nd anniversary of the Battle of
Midway June 6.
More than 400 guests, including several World War II
veterans, embarked Old Ironsides for the ship's first underway of 2014. During
the three-hour underway, Constitution Sailors conducted a 21-gun salute off
Fort Independence on Castle Island in South Boston, followed by an additional
17-gun salute off U.S. Coast Guard Base Boston before returning to the ship's
berth in Charlestown Navy Yard.
During the underway, a wreath-laying ceremony was performed
in honor of those who fought and lost their lives during the allied invasion of
Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944, known as D-Day, and the Battle of Midway,
June 4-7, 1942, a naval engagement in which the U.S. Navy sunk all four
Japanese aircraft carriers that participated in the battle. Both events played
major roles in helping to turn the tide in the Allies' favor in both the
European and Pacific fronts of World War II.
The memorial wreath was dropped into the waters of Boston
Harbor by retired Chief Boatswain's Mate Daniel James Coyle, a 90-year-old
D-Day veteran from Mansfield, Mass. who participated in naval amphibious
operations aboard LST-281, a tank landing ship. Coyle was assisted by Director,
Navy Staff, Vice Adm. Scott Swift during the ceremony.
"This is the greatest honor I've ever had," said
Coyle. "The crew and officers have all been so welcoming - this day
couldn't be any better."
The underway was also a special day for 94-year-old Fred
Schleipman, of Norwich, Vt. Schleipman finally fulfilled his dream of riding
aboard Old Ironsides 85 years after he contributed 2,000 pennies as a
9-year-old to Constitution's 'pennies campaign' in 1929 - where school children
across America donated their spare change to raise more than $154,000 to help
restore Constitution, which was in critical need of repairs at the time.
"Today was one of my greatest lifetime
experiences," said Schleipman.
Though remembering and honoring the sacrifices made by
service members who fought in World War II were the key themes of the underway,
there were also moments of joy and celebration.
"(The underway) was amazing and unforgettable - unlike
anything I've ever done before," said Amanda Kennedy, an English teacher
and Constitution guest who was proposed to by her boyfriend, Andrew McDonald,
on Constitution's spar deck during the cruise.
After she said "yes", Kennedy and McDonald's
engagement was announced over the ship's speaker system by Lt. Cmdr. Eric Coop,
Constitution's executive officer, which was met with cheers and applause from
the crowd.
"I was totally surprised, happy and shocked all at the
same time," said Kennedy.
Following the conclusion of the underway, an additional
D-Day commemoration event was held aboard the decommissioned World War II-era
Fletcher class destroyer USS Cassin Young at her berth in Charlestown Navy
Yard, with a large number of World War II veterans, active duty service members
and their friends and family in attendance to show their collective support.
Amongst the speakers was Daniel Coyle, who read several
excerpts from a journal he kept on his recollections of D-Day aboard LST-281.
Other speakers included Bill Needham, a retired member of
the Army Air Corps who assisted with establishing the first air landing strip
in Normandy, and Christian Frehr, a resident of Normandy during the war who
witnessed the aftermath of D-Day firsthand.
The ceremony concluded with the laying of another wreath in
Boston Harbor, followed by a moment of silence and the playing of taps in
remembrance of the fallen.
"I cannot think of a more prestigious honor then to go
underway aboard Constitution and be here aboard the USS Cassin Young to
celebrate the 70th anniversary of D-Day," said Coop, who served as master
of ceremonies for both events. "Hearing these gentleman talk about their
experiences on that day really helps one to put into perspective what it was
like to be a part of the landing."
Constitution's remaining 2014 underway demonstrations, which
will be her final underway events in Boston Harbor until 2018, are scheduled
for July 4, Aug. 22, Aug. 29 and Oct. 17.
USS Constitution, the world's oldest commissioned warship
afloat, actively defended sea lanes against global threats from 1797 to 1855.
Now a featured destination on Boston's Freedom Trail, Constitution and her crew
of U.S. Navy Sailors offer community outreach and education about the ship's history
and the importance of naval seapower to more than 500,000 visitors each year.
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