By Eoghan Fay, Conservancy Intern, BA Candidate, Notre Dame University

For almost as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated with ocean liners, ever since I was first introduced to the R.M.S. Titanic at the age of four. The S.S. United States is, of course, a central part of the legacy of ocean liners and I have held affection for her for a long time because of her unique and special place in maritime history. Obviously, since I am an avid ship enthusiast and admirer of the "Big U," my internship at the Conservancy was the experience of a lifetime and a labor of love for me. After all, how many people can say they interned for their childhood hero? In my view the United States must be saved and preserved for future generations for many reasons. She is a glowing testament to the American "can-do" spirit and this country's ingenuity.

As a "ship of state" the "Big U" was a perfect microcosm of American society in the glittering post-war years and from her we can learn many invaluable lessons about the society of both yesterday and today. "America's Flagship" is also a technological marvel which has yet to be surpassed in modern shipping, a  project on a par with the pyramids of Egypt or St. Paul's Cathedral, the United States is a monument to the skill and dedication of American workmen and women, and an emblem of the zenith of the American century. Perhaps most significantly, however, the S.S. United States is the pinnacle of America's nautical heritage. Many of us often overlook the importance of the sea to America, but, nevertheless, our nation's destiny is forever tied to it: our commerce flows across oceans, our national defense is predicated on the oceans, and for millions of Americans, myself included, our forebears came to this land by sea.

There is no greater symbol of America's deep connection to the sea than the United States, the greatest and fastest passenger vessel ever to set sail. In the 1950s, the S.S. United States was a beacon of positivity to a nation recovering from a global catastrophe, coming to terms with issues of race, and confronting an increasingly uncertain world. I know our "First Lady of the Seas" can help our country meet similar challenges today when she takes center-stage for her glorious second act.