USS SaratogaNewsSpring08.indd
Transcription
USS SaratogaNewsSpring08.indd
SPRING 2008 USS Saratoga Museum Foundation, Inc. PO Box 28581 Providence, RI 02908-0581 Non-Profit Org US POSTAGE PAID Providence, RI Permit No. 420 The Carrier PUBLISHED QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER OF THE USS SARATOGA MUSEUM FOUNDATION Congress Appropriates $282,000 For Saratoga Project To Current Resident or Funding is earmarked for educational and vocational training purposes in connection with aircraft carrier attraction at Quonset/Davisville On The Horizon Mark your calendars for the following events. We hope to see you there! Armed Forces Salute, Saturday, May 10, North Kingstown North Kingston Memorial Day Parade, Monday, May 26: Red Sox Legends Golf Dinner Sunday, June 29 Red Sox Legends Golf Tournament Monday, June 30 Wickford Art Festival Sat & Sun, July 12 & 13 Annual Saratoga Reunion October 1-5, Indianapolis, IN Monthly Volunteer Meeting May 20, June 17, July 15 6854 Post Road, North Kingstown Keep up with the latest events: www.saratogamuseum.org Plane Unveiled The U.S.S. Saratoga Foundation’s Grumman F9F Panther was unveiled Jan. 31 during a reception co-hosted by the foundation and the Japan America Society. Come and see the work in process at the Post Road Headquarters. The model USS Saratoga will be out and about again in the warm weather, collecting donations and raising awareness and enthusiasm. To volunteer for one of the most enjoyable jobs in the organization, call 401-398-1000. See story on page 2. Volunteers Make it Happen The USS Saratoga Museum Foundation could not function without its tireless corps of volunteers. These dedicated indiviuduals were honored at the recent 2007 Volunteer Appreciation Meeting on March 18, 2008. Volunteers do everything from restoring aircraft and museum artifacts to fundraising and publicity. Collectively, our volunteers gave more than 5,500 hours in 2007, and 2008 is off to an even better start! Continued on page 5 Efforts by the USS Saratoga Museum Foundation to create a family attraction, educational center and memorial at Quonset/Davisville took another major step forward as Congressman Jim Langevin announced a federal appropriation of $282,000 to support the project. This funding was included in the $485 billion Omnibus Appropriations bill passed by Congress. The bill funds important domestic programs for Fiscal Year 2008. “This legislation begins to reinvest in the priorities of the American people and provides support to many projects throughout Rhode Island’s Second Congressional District,” Congressman Langevin said in a press release. Frank Lennon, President of the Saratoga Foundation, expressed his delight with this grant. “It’s an early Christmas present for the hardworking volunteers who have built the credibility of this project over the years,” he said. “Just as importantly, it signals recognition by federal officials that our concept offers meaningful benefits to the communities we intend to serve.” Last year the United States Continued on page 3 1 Park a carrier at the grocery store! Contact Information Saratoga Museum and Gift Shop 6854 Post Road North Kingstown, RI 401-398-1000 fax: 401-885-1290 Mailing Address PO Box 845 North Kingstown, RI 02852 www.saratogamuseum.org www.saratogamuseum.org/shipstore USS Saratoga Association www.uss-saratoga.com 877-360-7272 Volunteer Meetings: May 20, June 17, July 15 Monthly volunteer meetings are held the third Tuesday of every month. 7 p.m. sharp 6854 Post Road, North Kingstown 401-398-1000 Bring a Friend! 2 One of the initiatives that has kept the Saratoga Project afloat over the past eight years has been the weekend outreach activities all over Rhode Island. Commonly called “Collections” among our volunteers, this program allows us to reach shoppers at area Stop & Shops, Walmarts, Dave’s Marketplaces and other stores. It informs the public about our endeavor to turn the USS Saratoga into a museum and educational center, and in turn many of them donate to our cause. Jean Cartier and Marco Marotto have been leading the crew since the beginning. They have had a lot of fun going out and being ambassadors for the Saratoga. In the past couple of years Days and locations for the 2008 some of their cohorts have passed on collections schedule: or become too ill to be involved, so they are looking for new people to May 17 & 18 join them. Dave’s Marketplace One of the main attractions for May 24 & 25 shoppers is the sixteen-foot model of North Kingstown WalMart the CV-60. Built by our volunteers in May 31 & June 1 2002, it holds models of airplanes that Frenchtown Rd Stop & Shop would have flown off of the CV-60, as June 14 & 15 well as a few models of other famous Hope Valley Stop & Shop airplanes. Not only is it visually June 28 & 29 attractive, but it houses speakers that Dave’s Marketplace play “oldies-but-goodies” tunes from July 12 & 13 the 1930s-50s. The music puts people Wickford Art Festival in a good mood and draws a lot of July 26 & 27 interest and questions. North Kingstown WalMart A typical day for collections volunteers: August 2 & 3 Dave’s Marketplace 8:30 am: Meet at Headquarters in North Kingstown. Travel to August 16 & 17 Frenchtown Rd Stop & Shop store location 9:00 am: Uncover model and August 23 & 24 Hope Valley Stop & Shop set up tables with merchandise and donation buckets September 13 & 14 Ten Rod Rd. Stop & Shop 9:15-12:30 pm: Outreach, talking to shoppers, selling merchandise September 20 & 21 North Kingstown WalMart 12:30 pm: Lunchtime! 1:00-4:00 pm: Outreach 4:00 pm: Pack up to return home Please let us know if you can devote a couple of days over the summer to furthering the Saratoga project’s presence in the community and to helping people understand what the organization is all about! Call 401-398-1000 to sign up. Is it time to replace that cap? Or shirt? Or mug? The ship’s store is always open. Check it out online, or use this order form to purchase items from our gift shop. Item Ship to: Price Qty Total USS Saratoga Ball Cap - Ship’s Force CV-3 or CV-60 CV-60A (Circle) $15 USS Saratoga Ball Cap - Rooster Crest CV-3 or CV-60 (Circle) $15 USS Saratoga Wooden Ditty Box CV-3 or CV-60 (Circle) $16 USS Saratoga Frosted Beer Mug CV/A-60 or CV-3 (Circle) $25 City, State , Zip USS Saratoga Blue Arnold Palmer Golf Jacket XL only $35 Phone USS Saratoga Experience T-Shirt (White) Circle size: S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL $15 Email Ghosts WWII Aviation Calendar, 2008 Name Address ❑ ❑ Check payable to “USS Saratoga Museum Foundation” is enclosed. Charge my MasterCard/Visa/Amex/Discover (pls circle) Number ❑ Email Exp. date Bill me via Paypal at this e-mail address: Long-sleeve denim CV-60 shirt $10 Circle size: $25 L or XL Sub-total RI residents add 7% sales tax 10% discount for members. Membership number: Shipping is $5 first item, $3 each additional item. Shipping total Total 7 The Taps List: HONORING OUR SHIPMATES CDR Waldo Born CVA-60 2007 Dennis Jones CVA-60 2007 Timothy A. Bray CVA/CV-60 2007 CAPT Howard Soester CV-3 2007 Bruce Caldwell 2007 CWO Harold F. Sessions CV-3 2005 Angelo Cirinelli CV-3 1997 Robert F. Runge CV-3 2007 Jake Durr CVA-60 2008 Bill D. Yeargin CVA-60 2007 Allen “Big Al” Goffstein CVA-60 2007 CWO4 Charles D. Wickliffe CVA/CV-60 2008 Stewart F. Hare CV-3 2007 BOARD OF DIRECTORS as of April 20, 2007 Francis L. Lennon, President and Treasurer Bradley A. Senter, Vice President William E. Sheridan, Secretary Jo Ann Engelhardt, Director RADM Donald E. Weiss, Director Joseph B. White, Corporate Counsel BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2008 Red Sox Legends GOLF EVENT The Alpine Country Club Cranston, Rhode Island Pairings Party, Dinner and Auction Sunday, June 29, 6:00 p.m. Golf Tournament Monday, June 30, 12:30 p.m. Proceeds to benefit: • The establishment of a satellite Ted Williams Museum in Rhode Island • The restoration of the U.S.S. Saratoga Museum Foundation’s Korean War-era fighter jet, a Grumman F9F Panther, the same type Williams flew in Korea. Reserve your slots now! Participation limited to 36 foursomes! Golf Day: $225 per Individual, $800 per Foursome Dinner the night before: $55 per Individual, $95 per Couple Tee signs and major sponsorships available For information or reservations, call 401-398-1000 or email [email protected] Co hosted by The Ted Williams Museum and Hitters Hall of Fame 6 Congress Appropriates $282,000 For Saratoga Project Hon. Robert Weygand, Chairman BG Louis Abbenante, USA (Ret) Dr. Vernon Alden BG James A. D’Agostino, USAF (Ret) LTG Robert F. Foley, USA (Ret) CAPT James “Lou” Gorman USNR (Ret) James M. Halley, EdD ADM James Hogg, USN (Ret) Professor Sergei Khrushchev Ambassador Arthur W. Lewis Roy J. Nirschel, PhD. CAPT Richard D. Suttie USN (Ret) Spencer W. Viner, Esq. Frederick C. Williamson SPECIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE Hon. Robert Weygand, Chairman Robert L. Crandall Laura M. DiSano Elizabeth Dolan John Evans Bob Galkin Warren Galkin Gail Ginnetty Tom Harper Richard P. Honack John Martin Dr. Edward Mazze Malcolm McGuire A. Ralph Mollis Jennifer Murray Colonel Sherwood “Woody” Spring USA (Ret) Michael Stenhouse Department of Agriculture’s Community Facilities Program set aside funds to guarantee $6.5 million in long-term project financing from Independence Bank of East Greenwich. Today’s appropriation reinforces the perception of continued federal support, and provides encouragement to Foundation leadership as they work to obtain long-sought final approval from the State to relocate the carrier to Davisville. Lennon hopes this grant will also result in additional corporate support. “Business leaders can now see that the United States Government has taken a hands-on approach. We hope this funding commitment will ‘prime the pump’, so to speak, and result in additional corporate sponsorship.” The grant will be administered through the Small Business Administration. Funds will be used to plan, design, develop and equip workforce development and job training programs and facilities, which have always been a major element in the Saratoga plan. While the eventual goal is to use the fully-equipped machine shops aboard the ship for extensive school-to-career programs, the funding will be put to immediate use even before the aircraft carrier is donated by the Navy. “For a number of years we have been building relationships with educational institutions, ranging from Davisville 2009 Calendars! Coming soon! Look for more news in the next issue. Middle School to URI’s Graduate School of Oceanography,” Lennon said. “While access to the machine shops and other facilities aboard the ship would geometrically enhance future vocational training capabilities, this funding enables us to invest today in pilot programs which we can test before the aircraft carrier comes across the Bay.” Joint ventures with local schools and universities will form the backbone of this effort. “We have ongoing relationships with the North Kingstown School Department, Roger Williams University, CCRI and URI, “ said Lennon. “This grant will allow us to explore new relationships with other facilities such as the Chariho Career & Technical Center, and perhaps some inhouse corporate programs.” Recognizing that 2008 will be an extremely tight budget year for state funding of workforce development, Lennon also intends to explore working relationships with the RI Economic Development Corporation, the Quonset Development Corporation and labor unions with apprentice programs. The Saratoga Foundation plans to use its existing aircraft and vehicle restoration projects, particularly the “Ted Williams Airplane,” as the catalyst for these job training initiatives. John Gibbons is project manager for the restoration of the “Ted Williams Airplane,” an F9F Panther jet, the same type flown in combat in Korea by the Red Sox slugger when he was a Marine Corps fighter pilot. “The combination of the connection to baseball with the chance to restore a fighter airplane should be an irresistible combination for youngsters seeking to learn a trade,” Gibbons said. Plans are to modify a portion of the museum’s headquarters, located at 6854 Post Road in North Kingstown to accommodate these restoration projects while awaiting final state approval of the relocation of the aircraft carrier to Davisville. Under the watchful eye of qualified instructors, students and trainees will be able to help volunteers and staff restore other important artifacts, such as a landing craft now on Prudence Island. Centerpiece of the restoration efforts is the 1938 Ford sedan driven to battle on December 7, 1941 by Saratoga veteran and Pearl Harbor Medal of Honor recipient LT John Finn. Students will be able to learn about woodworking and Fiberglas when working on Paramount Pictures’ 39foot-long model of the USS Nevada, battleship of Pearl Harbor fame, used in “Winds of War” and other motion pictures. On the marine trades side of the operation, some of this funding can be used to plan the construction of a replica of the very first USS Saratoga, a 68-foot long 18-gun sloop launched in 1780. “Based on the hugely successful reconstruction of the Amistad at Mystic Seaport, we intend to pursue a similar project for students and community volunteers,” said Lennon. “These vocational training programs, which we can start almost immediately, should help provide youth with useful skills and experiences to help them become productive members of society,” concluded Gibbons. Once the Foundation takes ownership of Saratoga, funding would cover refurbishment and upgrading of existing machine tools and other equipment aboard, and the acquisition of additional tools, chucks, and computerized elements in order to create the most advanced job training facility in the state. On the culinary training side, a relatively small investment in the existing, fully-equipped institutional kitchens would result in the creation of a low-cost training facility. 3 SARATOGA MUSEUM FOUNDATION RECEIVES SIGNIFICANT EXHIBIT FROM US NAVAL ACADEMY Graphic display panels depicting Naval WWII history now on display in North Kingstown. The US Naval Academy has transferred one of its most significant exhibits to the USS Saratoga Museum Foundation for permanent display here in Rhode Island. The donation consists of interpretive/educational signage plus a number of museum-quality display cases. The collection includes more than 30 large panels, consisting of photos, texts and interpretive graphics, which tell and show the history of the US Navy during World War II and the Cold War. Several of the panels are interactive with video and audio; the Pearl Harbor display, for example, includes speakers which broadcast President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “Day of Infamy” speech. The average panel is six to seven to feet tall and three to four feet wide, although one is eleven feet long and eight feet high. The museum in Annapolis closed in December for 18 months to allow for a complete renovation and makeover of the facility. “This exhibit was designed in 2000 as a prototype for the type of exhibit the new museum would contain,” said Frank Lennon, president of the USS Saratoga Museum Foundation. “However, Naval Academy officials decided not to include it in the new facility, which will ultimately focus on the history of the Naval Academy and the contributions of Annapolis graduates, rather than the history of the Navy. “We were able to pull this off thanks to the resourcefulness and responsiveness of our volunteers,” Lennon stated. Richard Picard of Woonsocket and Patrick Twohey of North Smithfield flew to Baltimore on January 12, and picked up a prearranged rental truck close to the airport. They then drove to Annapolis, where USNA Museum Curator Scott Harmon was awaiting their arrival. 4 “We were able to pull this off thanks to the resourcefulness and responsiveness of our volunteers.” Assisted by Twohey’s uncle, Annapolis area resident James Donahue, they dismantled the exhibit and loaded the truck until dark. “We took everything we could, and filled every inch of that truck interior,” said Picard. The panels now at the Saratoga HQ in North Kingstown formed the heart of an exhibition entitled “100 Years and forward...” which was opened in April of 2000. The cost for the entire exhibit in 2000 was in the vicinity of $1.5 million. In addition to depicting the history of the Navy from the beginning of the 19th Century through Vietnam, “...the exhibition serves as a prototype for a new approach to exhibits that will be installed in the near future in a renovated Preble Hall. These exhibitions will combine art, artifacts, models, text, and audio-visual presentations to interpret in a more exciting and engaging way the history of the Academy.” A slideshow depicting the fullymounted exhibit in Annapolis can still be seen at the Naval Academy Museum website: http://www.usna.edu/Museum/ hundredslideshow.htm These photos show the fully-mounted exhibits, complete with artifacts and memorabilia which have been retained by the Naval Academy. The Rhode Island donation consists of the graphic panels and empty display cases only. “This exhibit puts us in the education business immediately,” says John Gibbons, one of Saratoga’s project managers. “Because of its size, a permanent display of the whole exhibit must await the opening of the aircraft carrier Saratoga. In the interim, we would welcome working with another group or organization with a space large enough to effectively display it all.” For now, segments of the exhibit will be on display on a rotating basis at the Foundation’s headquarters, 6854 Post Road, North Kingstown. For further information, please call 401-398-1000, or visit http://www.saratogamuseum.org. Holiday Cheer The artifact-filled downstairs of the Varnum Armory was the setting for 2007’s festive holiday party. The USS Saratoga Museum Foundation and the North Kingstown American Legion Post 12 came together to celebrate the spirit of the season. Volunteer Appreciation Meeting Continued from front page Volunteers have made it possible for The Foundation to come within reach of our goal to Save Sara! However, we can always use more help! Please call 401-398-1000 to to find out about all of the many volunteer opportunies available. Thank You Volunteers: 1000+ hours James “Edge” Edgerton 600-999 hours Jean Cartier John Gibbons Marco Marotto 201-500 hours Ed Bowers Dave Gamache Monty Gomez Paul Haas Greg Maruska Al Metzger 101-200 hours Bob Albee Angel Cogean Crystal Cogean John Graham Armand Guertin Marie Lucas Larry Meersman Dick Ricker 1-100 Hours Joe Bedard Linda Bowers Richard Crudele Brian Haas John Kramer Jimmy Lent Yma Maruska Pete Papa Maureen Ricker Pete Sauvegeau Hours Not Submitted Jakob Conroy Carol Dale Jane & Mickey Deptula Tony Jandron Cecilia Leary Don Marcum Emile Munschy Richard Picard Charlie Ross Peter Squibb Jen St. Peter Doug Wilkey *We apologize for any omissions Fiore Pontiac • GMC • Volkswagen 525 Quaker Lane, Route 2 West Warwick, RI 02893 401.822.4400 fax: 401.828.0620 The Knives That Help Build America. Colonial Knife Company Laser Etched Ask for our catalog PO Box 960 North Scituate, RI 02857 Toll Free: 866-421-6500 Tel: 401-421-6500 Fax: 401-421-6555 5