National Maritime Day 2012

Seal of the United States Maritime Administration. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

From MARAD:

Celebrate National Maritime Day

Dates & Location:
From – May 22, 2012 10:00 am
To – May 22, 2012 11:00 am
Location – U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Wa

America’s maritime industry has made significant economic and defense contributions to our country and its citizens in times of war and peace throughout our nation’s history. From its earliest beginnings prior to the American Revolution, through the War of 1812, Civil War, two world wars, the Vietnam and Korean conflicts, and more recently the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S. maritime industry continues to support and defend our freedom and liberty.

Please join the Maritime Administration as we pause briefly to honor our maritime industry, our mariners and our proud traditions on National Maritime Day.

We would welcome your presence and participation, for we recognize and sincerely appreciate your continued efforts on behalf of the American maritime industry. (Unfortunately you had to RSVP by the 18th…)

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Merchant Mariners are often overlooked in Memorial Day tributes. I found this speech given last year at ceremonies at the National WWII Memorial.

The USMM.org website has a great link to all the presidential proclamations given. I have yet to find this year’s….  hmmm…. well, it is only 7:53 AM and its raining and everyone knows if it rains in the DC area traffic is a nightmare. So I guess I have to give them time to get to work and do the “proclaming.”