FAMED NFL COACH DICK VERMEIL SETS UP DRIVE TO SAVE THE UNITED STATES IN NEW PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTSuper Bowl XXXIV Champion Coach Goes Long for America’s Flagship

Philadelphia, PA…May 31, 2012 – He knows what it’s like to lead a team to victory.  Now former NFL coach and broadcaster  Dick Vermeil is lending a hand to America’s flagship, the  SS United States in a new public service campaign.  Vermeil stars in a new public service announcement  which will be distributed to television stations in connection with the 60 ^th anniversary of the launch of the world’s fastest ocean liner will help raise awareness about the ship’s history and drive interest in the efforts to restore and repurpose her.

Built to be both luxury superliner and Cold War weapon, America’s flagship, the   SS  United States  was the fastest and safest ocean liner ever built.  Larger than the Titanic and faster than the  Queen Mary, the  United States is one of the last remaining of the great 20 ^th century ocean liners and a symbol of American post-war innovation.  Berthed in Philadelphia for more than 15 years awaiting revitalization, the ship still holds the transatlantic speed record.

“This ship symbolizes the very best of America.  The SS  United States is a true American champion and she deserves our help,” states Vermeil who makes a  personal appeal to save the ship in the  PSA.  “It is an honor to be part of this noble cause and so that this great American achievement can be restored and celebrated for generations to come.”

“We are so grateful to Coach Vermeil for supporting our efforts to save the  United States,” says Susan Gibbs, Executive Director of the SS United States Conservancy.  “He has a genuine passion for this patriotic cause.  We hope that his endorsement of our efforts to save the  United States will inspire and galvanize others throughout led a hand to our efforts to restore and repurpose this extraordinary ship.” The Conservancy hopes to air the public service announcement initially in the Philadelphia, New York and St Louis markets.

Purchased by the Conservancy in 2011 in an attempt to save the historic vessel from the scrap yard, the ship awaits transformation into a museum and mix-use waterfront destination in a major port city.  The Conservancy is currently raising funds to maintain the ship and begin the restoration process.  The group is also advancing an aggressive search for developers interested in using some of the vessel’s more than 650,000 square feet of usable space for a variety of commercial purposes.

ABOUT THE SS UNITED STATES CONSERVANCYA national nonprofit organization founded in 2004, the SS United States Conservancy leads the global effort to save and repurpose the SS  United States.  The Conservancy raises public awareness and financial resources for the maintenance, restoration and ultimate reuse of this iconic vessel and works to ensure that the fastest ocean liner ever to cross the Atlantic remains an inspiration for generations to come.  For more information about the SS  United States visit  www.ssusc.org.

Media Contact:Thomas J. Basile, SS United States Conservancy TBasile@EmpireStrategy.com–  917-579-2216