Philadelphia Inquirer: The SS United States’ stewards bid farewell to the Philly ship destined for Florida: ‘Bon voyage, you grand lady’

The SS United States, a ship parked in Philadelphia since 1996, hosted a small farewell Saturday as it prepares to semi-retire to Florida.

The vessels’ stewards, members of the SS United States Conservancy, and Florida officials from Okaloosa County — where the ship is eventually headed to be sunk into an artificial reef — marked their marriage of convenience with a small transfer-of-title ceremony aboard the defunct boat.

“We can tell you that you will not be lost, you will not be forgotten, you will no longer be neglected and abused,” said Thomas Watkins, a conservancy board member and retired judge of the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania, in a goodbye to the ship.

CLICK HERE to read the full story from the Philadelphia Inquirer.