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Graphic courtesy of Paul Stipkovich, NY & Northern NJ Conservancy Chapter Chair
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Super Bowl-winning former NFL coach Dick Vermeil speaks up for the SS United States
Having coached two NFC Championship football teams (the Philadelphia Eagles and the St. Louis Rams, the latter also winning the Super Bowl), Dick Vermeil knows a thing or two about winners. Having seen the ship in Philadelphia, Coach Vermeil was inspired by her history and her indomitable spirit and donated his time to the Conservancy to star in a public service announcement highlighting the importance of saving this ship for future generations.
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Save the United States, a message from
Coach Dick Vermeil
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The spot was recorded to celebrate the ship's 60th Anniversary, but Vermeil's message is still timely. We have saved our Lady from the scrapyard, but the fight is not yet over. We have some exciting things planned for this year, including our upcoming exhibit at the Independence Seaport Museum opening on March 7. The exhibit, titled SS United States: Charting a Course for America's Flagship, will feature some wonderful surprises, including a unique way for visitors to share their memories as well as ideas for the ship's redevelopment. We'll be sharing more about the exhibit over the next few weeks, but for a behind-the-scenes look, be sure to read the article below and, as Coach Vermeil says, "help in any way you can."
Support our efforts now to
help rescue and restore the SS United States
Also in this Issue:
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 Philadelphia Chapter Meeting & Upcoming Exhibit
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Philadelphia Conservancy Chapter meeting, photo by Kyle Ober
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The Philly Chapter extends a heartfelt thank-you to all of those who joined us on Saturday, January 18, to celebrate the New Year and to toast what hopes to be a truly pivotal year in Big U's history. We enjoyed seeing old friends as well as welcoming new members. In particular, we would like to thank Champps for serving a delicious meal and the Drexel University multi-media students for showing us their exciting digital cultural heritage project about the SS United States.
During the day's events, Advisory Council member Liz Lewis gave an informative overview of the Conservancy's upcoming SS United States: Charting a Course for America's Flagship exhibition opening March 7 at the Independence Seaport Museum, and explained how members can help and contribute to ensure the success of this exhibit.
If you're local and would like to help, please email us at ssunitedstatesship@gmail.com. And, if you're able to, all members are asked to please consider making a donation to help defray some of the costs associated with this unique and exciting opportunity. No amount is too small or too large!
Please know that every dollar you donate toward the exhibit will truly make a difference in pulling off what promises to be a tremendous outreach opportunity for the Conservancy!
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David Macaulay's Journey Continues: Fore Peak Tank
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The Conservancy is thrilled that author David Macaulay will be contributing a special sketch to our upcoming exhibit at Philadelphia's Independence Seaport Museum. Watch for more details in a future issue of our newsletter. In the meantime, on his special blog hosted on the Conservancy's website he continues to share stories and illustrations from his upcoming book, which features the SS United States. Macaulay's latest blog entry explores a particular area on the ship:
"Hello fellow ship lovers. There is nowhere on the SS United States that doesn't reward careful study, and that includes the things you can't actually see. My latest blog post is about one such place and I already alluded to it in my very first drawing.
"The subject of this post is the Fore peak tank that sits at the very bottom of the bow. At the best of times, it's under water. The Fore peak tank and the Aft peak tank at the stern are intended to help control the pitch of the ship - the dipping and rising of the bow and stern..."
To read this full entry and view all the sketches, visit Macaulay's blog HERE. |
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Our "Lady in Waiting" in the News
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Just a few days ago, Long Island's Newsday covered the efforts and potential future plans for our great historic ship. Read the article Bill Bleyer wrote about the legendary SS United States HERE.
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SS United States in New York, courtesy of Associated Press
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The United States is also featured on the front cover of the February issue of Fox Chase/Rockledge Life magazine, which includes a multi-page article by Art Petrosemolo. Download a PDF copy of the article HERE.
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Susan Gibbs & Dan McSweeney, courtesy of Art Petrosemolo
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The Legacy Project: Brenda Llanas
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The newest installment in our Legacy Project series features the story of Brenda Llanas. In August of 1966, Brenda Llanas embarked on a voyage aboard the SS United States from New York harbor to Le Havre, France and Southampton, England. As the American shore disappeared on the horizon, Brenda was captivated by the ship's powerful wake--the imagery of the gentle, rolling waves was forever imprinted on her memory. Click HERE to read the rest of Brenda's story, including the identity of the famous passenger on board when she traveled!
The Legacy Project is an on-going initiative aimed at collecting, preserving, and archiving photographs, visual materials, and the stories related to passengers and crew who traveled in, helped build, and/or served aboard our nation's flagship, the SS United States. For more information, visit our The Legacy Project web page. Want to share your story? Email us at info@ssusc.org. |
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New SS United States Photography Exhibit
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 | | Promenade Deck on the SS United States, by Kevin Husta |
The majesty of the SS United States' iconic stacks...soft light filtering through the 1st class promenade windows... These are just two scenes included in an upcoming photography exhibit at the Ocean City Arts Center in New Jersey. New work by photographer
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The iconic funnels of the SS United States, by Kevin Husta
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Kevin Husta will accompany memoirs from passengers who sailed on the SS United States during her glory years from 1952 through the 1960s. The exhibit captures the essential spirit of the ship, highlighting not only her history but also reminding us of her enduring power as a symbol of the nation.
The exhibit will run from February 1 through February 28, with a "Meet the Artist" reception on February 7, from 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm. The reception is free, and open to the public.
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The 2014 Calendars Are on the Way! Did You Order Yours?
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The Conservancy is in the process of shipping out the 2014 SS United States wall calendars, and most of you will receive yours by mid-week.
This year's edition highlights some of the SS United States' staff and crew, and also includes glorious photos of the ship in service.
The 12" x 9" calendars are priced at just $16.95 each, plus $5 to cover shipping and handling in the US and Canada, or $8 to other international locations.
It's not too late! You can still order yours, and by doing so, support the United States. To order your 2014 SS United States wall calendar to ship:
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Dates in SS United States History
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January 30, 1962: SS United States makes the first of 23 cruises during her service life - this one a 14-day excursion to the West Indies.
February 1, 2011: The Conservancy takes ownership of the SS United States, marking the first time that a preservation organization held title to the vessel.
February 5, 1964: Commodore John Anderson retires; Captain Leroy J. Alexanderson assumes command.
February 6, 1946: Naval architect William Francis Gibbs presents "Design 12201" (which would become the SS United States) to General John M. Franklin of United States Lines for the first time.
February 7, 1957: Commodore John Anderson maneuvers the 990-foot United States to her berth without tug assistance for the first time, due to a tug workers' strike.
February 8, 1950: The keel for "Hull 488" (later the SS United States) is laid at Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock. The SS United States was the first passenger liner to be nearly entirely constructed in dry dock.
February 9, 1942: The French liner Normandie catches fire and later capsizes at her New York pier. The disaster partially fuels William Francis Gibbs' obsession with fire prevention. Among the fireboats at the scene is the Gibbs-designed Fire Fighter.
February 10, 2009: Norwegian Cruise Line, then-owner of the SS United States, announces that it will abandon plans to refit the ship to active cruise service, and lists the vessel for sale.
February 12, 1956: Commodore Anderson appears on television's What's My Line? The game show consisted of four contestants trying to guess the occupation of the guest.
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Keep up-to-date and help us reach more people in our quest to save America's Flagship.
The support and enthusiasm of our fans is one of the many things that
keeps us in the fight to save the United States. Thank you!
Stay current with the latest news by following us on social media.
 
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SS United States Conservancy
P.O. Box 32115
Washington, DC 20007
(888)-488-7787
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