Thanks for the memories...

March 28, 2010 – Dan Trachtenberg, Chairman of the SS United States Foundation, recently announced the organization would cease operations “in order to present the most unified, concise vision possible regarding the future of our beloved vessel…” The Foundation website will now direct visitors to the SS United States Conservancy site and will encourage its membership to support Conservancy efforts on behalf of the ship.

It’s safe to say that the Foundation re-introduced the American public to the history and plight of our great national flagship and for that, true believers in the SS United States should be deeply thankful.

“They really did a lot to kick-start the movement to save this irreplaceable national icon,” said Dan McSweeney, who currently serves as Executive Director of the Conservancy. “Dan Trachtenberg has been a part of the SS United States preservation movement for well over ten years and he’s never waivered in lending an encouraging word to those who share his vision for saving the ship at any and all costs.”

The Foundation scored major media placements in the late 1990s and early 2000s under the leadership of Robert Hudson Westover, who founded the organization.

“Robert’s efforts will not be forgotten. His enthusiasm attracted many supporters who went off to pursue their own efforts on behalf of the ship,” said McSweeney. “He was a resonant voice in support of a deep and strong vision to ensure this great ship is not lost.”

The Conservancy thanks the Foundation for its many years on behalf of the “Big Ship.” We are glad to be combining the different organizations that have worked to ”Save Our Ship” and understand the importance of unified effort, both in order to maximize impacts and minimize confusion about how members of the public can join the cause of ensuring the SS United States is not lost to future generations of Americans.

“This is a time for unity,” said Conservancy Board President Susan Gibbs. “There is much hard work to be done.”

China: The Sword, the Purse and the Word

The Sword, the Purse and the Word. No, this is not the title of the next Harry Potter book. It is the simple formula as to how Western nations have managed to prosper and hold the levers of world power for over 500 years. The simplistic breakdown of this formula is roughly: The Sword (military power and empire). The Purse (the bootie and accompanying wealth of empire). The Word (the philosophical principles and laws—the governance of a people).

The third, the Word is the most crucial. Without a system of just and humane laws a nation, no matter how wealthy, will collapse in on itself through its own corruption and ineptitude.

Since Magna Carta the West has managed through fits and starts to bestow upon the common man the rights and privileges once afforded only to a tiny and elite aristocracy throughout the great expanse of human history. This is the Western world’s Word. And this is why the Western powers will continue to prosper and control those levers of international power. (I remember how Japan was supposed to be the next superpower—speak of collective intellectual amnesia!)

As many American companies are learning (the hard way) China has the Sword (for sure) and now a lot of Purse, but it has very little of the Word as it applies to the rights of the common man and for this reason it will fail.

It would behoove American companies (and other international companies that are based in human rights-oriented political systems) to sparsely invest in countries, institutions and/or cultures that repress the Rights of Man. And those that do not tread lightly in these totalitarian systems, despite their misguided convictions of some elusive political stability, will eventually regret such investments—just ask Google.

RESOLUTION BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE S.S. UNITED STATES FOUNDATION

Whereas, Robert H. Westover has tirelessly dedicated himself to thepreservation of the S.S. United States for many years without pay;
Whereas, he has provided inspiring leadership for fellow supporters ofthe S.S. United States and exemplified the spirit of volunteerism at itsfinest;
Whereas, he deserves credit for being a public face for this worthycause in the national media and is responsible for stirring publicawareness and attention;
Whereas, he will be moving on from the leadership of the S.S. UnitedStates Foundation;
Be it resolved by the Board of Directors of the Foundation, that weexpress our deep and profound gratitude for his dedication and inspiredefforts on behalf of her preservation and express our determination tocontinue on the path that he has pioneered for us.

Chairman Westover Stepping Down

Effective upon the announcement by the board of directors of the SS United States Foundation of a new leader, I will no longer serve as Chairman of the SS United States Foundation. It’s been an incredible twelve years and I have been honored to lead and inspire those seeking to Save the United States. When news arrived that Norwegian Cruise Lines would no longer attempt to refit the Big U, I knew a tremendous effort would have to be launched to bring the type of attention needed to make an 11th hour and 59th minute rescue necessary.
However, after over a decade of countless hours working to save our great national flagship, I knew I didn’t have the stamina for another full throttled battle. Unfortunately, my doctor confirmed this and without getting into details, I need to ease my load somewhat—at least for now. But don’t think for a minute I’ve completely resigned my effort. I will continue to fight on through social marketing efforts and occasional visits to thought influencers when and where the board of directors deems it appropriate.
Our accomplishments over these twelve years have been tremendous. Some of the highlights include:
•Placement of the SS United States on the National Register of Historic Places •Two front page national sections stories in the New York Times (the first such national coverage in nearly fifty years) •Repeat national and international broadcast exposure on ABC World News Tonight, CNN Live and the World News Service of the BBC •The Addy award winning advertising campaign “Save the United States” •Yahoo.com’s 2003 “Website of the Day” for http://www.ssunitedstates.org/ •The book “SS United States Fastest Ship in the World” now in its third printing •And, most importantly, building a national movement from scrap with an active membership and supporters base of thousands!
If this ship is saved, it will not be because of any one person, or even an one organization, it will be because we as a group of dedicated enthusiasts inspired a nation to save one of it’s most unique and irreplaceable treasures. I will go down with this ship. I will not give up the fight. God bless all of you and God “Save the United States”!
Robert Hudson Westover Founding Chairman SS United States Foundation Washington, DC
Some of the latest stuff:
Turning Publish is reprinting the popular “SS United States Fastest Ship in the World”! To get a copy go to: http://www.turnerpublishing.com/detail.aspx?ID=528 This two-hundred page plus coffee table book contain more photos and color pictures than any other book ever printed about the SS United States. It’s considered a most have by maritime historians and a most read by ocean liner enthusiasts.
Recent Media on the effort to Save the United States:
The Examiner
Help save the SS United States tonight at IKEA South Philly The SS United States Conservancy and IKEA South Philadelphia will join together tonight for an Outreach Event and Campaign Update focusing on the preservation and restoration of the cruise liner/naval auxiliary ship, the SS United States. Beginning at 6 until 8 p.m., a buffet dinner and program discussing the vessel’s history and future will occur at IKEA South Philadelphia Restaurant and Café, 2206 South Columbus Boulevard, which provides a waterfront view of the ship and Pier 81 on the Delaware River where she is docked. For the full story go to: http://www.examiner.com/x-10357-Philadelphia-Cultural-Events-Examiner~y2009m7d31-Help-save-the-SS-United-States-tonight-at-IKEA-South-Philly
ABC News
PHILADELPHIA - July 30, 2009 -- Philanthropist H.F. "Gerry" Lenfest has pledged a $300,000 matching grant to help a nonprofit buy a historic cruise ship that is rusting away on Philadelphia's waterfront. (The comment about the SS United States Foundation is incorrect. The event mentioned was hosted by the SS United States Conservancy) For the full story go to:
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=6940350
The Post and Courier Ship lovers fear fabled liner lost
Bill Wood has marveled at the Confederate submarine H. L. Hunley. But the fate that likely awaits the cruise ship S.S. United States has left him and other ship enthusiasts from the Carolinas teetering on depression. For the full story go to:
http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2009/feb/18/ship_lovers_fear_fabled_liner_lost72017/
South Philly Review Shipping out
Before the SS United States relocated to her current home of the last 13 years at Pier 82 across from IKEA, she was moored for about a week a bit farther south at Packer Avenue Marine Terminal. For the full story go to:
http://www.southphillyreview.com/view_article.php?id=8519

A Silent Casualty -- Published in The Washington Post and The San Diego Union Tribune

My Grand Mother and Me

Links to the story:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20071104/news_lz1j04grace.html
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postmortem/2007/11/the_daily_goodbye_1.html

My grandmother didn’t make it this time. The stress from the fires incinerating hundreds of thousands of acres in Southern California (power outages, false evacuation orders, fear of losing her home--again) was too much this time. She’d already come close to losing her home twice in the past, the flames literally lapping the deck of her home in Pine Valley, CA during the terrible fire there so many years ago. Then there was the Cedar Fire four years ago (the flames only made it as far as the property line this time.) Lucky? Invulnerable? Immortal, perchance?

I guess I figured she would easily make it through this time. I mean the fire was far enough away from Descanso this time and even though she had suffered a heart attack a month before she seemed to be improving and so I didn’t get the plane ticket for the requisite “last time” visit (even though I have plenty of frequent flyer miles).

At 93, grandma Grace had seen so much. Her childhood was haunted by the First World War, the Spanish Flu and then the Great Depression. Yet, as many of her generation did, she rose to the occasion and reinvented herself from a simple farm girl to the wife of a Marine Corps officer who would hold the rank of major and serve as the provost marshal for the island of Formosa (now Taiwan).

And then a heart attack some 40 odd years ago nearly killed her but as always she pulled through. Her only son, my father, died 12 years ago but grandma exhibited the stoic fortitude of another generation and comforted me more than I did her at Dad’s funeral.

So when grandpa called to tell me it was different this time, I found myself incredulous. “She’ll pull through—like always—she’ll make it. I know she will,” I kept convincing myself as more and more excuses here in Washington, DC kept from making that trip back home.

Then Wednesday evening I got the phone call from grandpa, the one that isn’t just the “how ya doin’” kind of chat. There it was. She was dead. The fires won this time--or so it seemed. She collapsed in my grandpa’s arms, never coming out of a coma, at the home she lived in for decades and was damned and determined to die in, with just she and grandpa. “I’m going first,” she would often kid with him—she wasn’t kidding after all. It was a fitting end to a 70 year love affair. 70 years.

Simple to say, the grief I feel is deep, like the throbbing pain of a terrible headache that won’t let up, but I can’t even begin to know how grandpa must feel. To lose a loved one is never easy, we all know it, those of us who have passed through death’s relentless emotional gauntlet, but to lose a loved one because of a terrible natural disaster (directly or indirectly) triggers emotions I’m not familiar with and hope never to have again--feelings of anger, confusion and hopelessness. I hear myself repeating the words of those I’ve seen express their grief after a loved one was murdered, “This shouldn’t have happened this way.”

My grandmother was recovering. I believe she could have lived another five, seven maybe ten more years. Or was it time to go? I’m certain I will be sorting this out for a long time and may never come to terms with the disaster that enveloped California and brought an end to my grand mother’s life.

Perhaps had she and grandpa opted to live in a retirement community in a safer urban area of San Diego County, and not at the edge of the Cleveland National Forest, she would be alive today, but that wouldn’t have been the woman I’ve came to call “Grandma Grace Under Fire”. Yes, the fires that still rage across Southern California took my grand mother’s life, but it didn’t take her soul. And that soul, her spirit, will live on through her family for many generations to come.

Robert Westover,
Washington, DC