(USS) Constitution Designated Ship of State

[unhappycamper]

Constitution Designated Ship of State
November 12, 2009
Navy News|by MC1 Eric Brown

CHARLESTOWN NAVY YARD, Mass. - USS Constitution became America's Ship of State.

USS Constitution's primary mission will remain education and public outreach, and any Ship of State functions will be an adjunct to the ship's primary mission, according the National Defense Authorization Act For Fiscal Year 2010 in section 1022. It is the sense of Congress that the president, vice president, executive branch officials, and members of Congress should use the USS Constitution for the conducting of pertinent matters of state, such as hosting visiting heads of state, signing legislation relating to the armed forces, and signing maritime related treaties.

Constitution's 71st and current commanding officer, Cmdr. Timothy Cooper, could not be more excited about this law signed by President Barrack Obama, after the House of Representatives and the Senate passed the bill earlier in October.

"I am really proud and humbled to be a part of this honor," Cooper said. "USS Constitution has always been the most visible reminder of the beginnings of our Navy. Now, USS Constitution is a visible reminder of America, and all that we stand for."

Constitution was launched into the Boston Harbor on Oct. 21, 1797. In her years of active service, from 1798 - 1855, the three-masted wooden frigate fought in the Quasi-War with France, the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812. Today, Old Ironsides is the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world, has a permanent crew of 73 active duty U.S. Navy Sailors, and is visited by nearly half a million people every year.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/news/article/navy-news/constitution-designated-ship-of-state.html?col=1186032311124

[liberal N proud]

1. The one time I was in Boston was on a day she sailed

I wanted to tour the great ship as she was to be moored at the shipyard where she was restored. I arrived, was able to visit the museum but the ship was sailing that day.

She returned while I was in the museum and I missed that. Could not go aboard because the were still prepping from the trip.

[unhappycamper]

2. They take the old girl out in the harbor to spin her around on July 4th.

Sorry you missed the tour.