This excellent article by Julia Hatmaker delves into the rich history of the SS United States -- including William Francis Gibbs' legendarily obsessive fireproofing -- and projects what the future could hold for "the jewel of the American maritime experience."Hatmaker's piece includes gorgeous video reporting from our crew reunion in September. "It is not fair to say that this is just a ship," former passenger Heinz Bayer told her. "It is more than a ship. It is for people like me, a way into a new life ... and a new world. It becomes like a mother that takes you someplace where you're safe, and the SS United States had been my mother in regards to that."Click here to read the full piece.
November 11, 2016 -- The Conservancy Marches In America's Parade
We're proud to announce that our New York Chapter carried on the tradition of participating in the New York Veterans Day Parade, also known as America's Parade. They marched up Fifth Avenue to honor the brave individuals who served our nation, and to commemorate the SS United States' proud career as a peacetime flagship liner always ready to serve her nation if duty called.Thank you to our New York Chapter Co-Chairs Paul Stipkovich, Glenn Lappin and Carl Weber for leading the SS United States Conservancy's contingent, as well as to Lloyd Burket, Ralph Casado, Eric Fahner, Jaye Maynard, Fred Rodriguez, Rita Sharkey, Mike St. Amour, Eileen Wangner, and to all the chapter members, family members, and supporters who gave their time and enthusiasm to the event. The generosity and dedication of all involved made it possible to represent the SS United States with bright, festive conviviality.To all our nation's veterans and active-duty service members, we salute and thank you![huge_it_gallery id="9"]
Sept 17, 2016 -- Crew Reunion and Celebration Recap
The SS United States Conservancy welcomed over 150 guests at our 2016 Crew Reunion and Celebration, among them, seventeen former crew members, twenty-four former passengers, and several former Gibbs & Cox employees, including one of William Francis Gibbs' former assistants!Bill Magee, of MageeMedia Productions, did a remarkable job of capturing the spirit of the event on video. His documentation of the event ensures that stories told by the crew members that day -- and ultimately, the history of the Big U -- will be preserved.Click here to watch a short highlights reel that features excerpts from interviews with Joe Orlando, a former Gibbs & Cox employee, and former crew members Joe Rota and Joe Muchulsky, as well as Dan Landau's stirring performance of "To Every Journey," his homage to the ship.Click here to watch the director's cut that includes the entirety of the interviews with "the three Joes," as well as a bonus interview with former crew member Larry Walker, whose father also worked aboard the SS United States.The Conservancy also produced a commemorative booklet featuring recollections from former crew members, as well as photos from the ship's service career. You may access a PDF of that booklet here.Thanks to our dedicated "crew" -- both past and present -- the reunion was a resounding success. A special thank you is due to Conservancy Board Member Mark Perry, Advisory Council Member Frank Slate Brooks, and Executive Director Susan Gibbs for sponsoring our happy hour reception at the Union League, as well as to Advisory Council Member Sean Edwards for helping us secure the beautiful McMichael Room.All photos courtesy of Kyle Ober.[huge_it_gallery id="8"]