Historic Sailing Ships

"I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy." (quotedb) This quote by John Adams, the second president of the United States, illustrates the importance of history and its study. For this reason it is crucial to promote the preservation of historic sites and articles. War has been one of the most defining moments of our country's early beginnings. A crucial part of these conflicts was the war at sea and the vessels involved. They represented our nation valiantly and deserve to be remembered. Therefore several of these ships have been preserved to teach our younger generations of the great history of our nation. Two of these noble ships are the USS Constitution and the USS Brig Niagara. Both ships saw action in the War of 1812 and were instrumental in protecting our rights against British oppression. These ships have long since been surpassed by more technologically advanced warships, however their historical significance cannot be overlooked.

The USS Constitution was commissioned to be built in 1794 by the Congress of the United States. The ship was used primarily in a policing role until 1812 when it battled the British frigate Guerriere. It was after this clash that she was given her nickname "Old Ironsides" because of the ships impenetrable oak hull (US Navy). The warship continued on during the War of 1812 to total ten victories over enemy vessels (Historic Naval Ships). However, when examined in 1830 she was deemed unfit to sail and plans were made to have her scrapped. Due to overwhelming public outrage she was recommissioned by Congress and repaired. After this, the Constitution remained active as a patrol and training ship until she was placed in port as a museum. The ship still sails on occasion and is maintained by the US Navy through federal funding. However the Constitution can most frequently be found in her home port of Boston as a tourist attraction and tribute to American independence.

The story of the USS Brig Niagara is not nearly as well known or illustrious. The warship was commissioned by the navy as a member of a Great Lakes Fleet to protect our fledgling country from British invasion through Canada. The squadron was constructed in Erie, Pennsylvania under the cover of Presque Isle Bay. The flagship of her fleet was the USS Lawrence and all told there were 10 warships (Erie Maritime Museum). After encountering the British fleet a battle ensued and during the fighting the Lawrence was crippled and Commodore Oliver Perry took the Niagara as his flagship. The invading English were eventually defeated by the heroics of the Niagara crew. Legend has it that while in the midst of battle Commodore Perry raised a flag emblazoned with the quote "Don't Give Up The Ship". This allegedly rallied the men of the Niagara to victory and their ship into infamy. The Niagara was reconstructed for the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Lake Erie, but due to significant decay the ship was then completely rebuilt and launched in 1988 as the flagship of Pennsylvania. She remains in port at the Erie Maritime Museum and is used as a "sailing classroom".

These boats have provided us with examples of our own heritage and history and their preservation is crucial to the maintenance of American values. Without an appreciation of our past we will have no direction for our future. While the upkeep of these ships is expensive and even demands some of our current soldiers and sailors, it is still crucial to the fabric of our society. In every history class we must take as children, we learn about history and its development over time, the problem is that the idea is never hammered home unless a more vivid image can be presented. This can be seen as multimedia becomes more and more a part of the classroom experience. First projection machines, then videos and now PowerPoint dominate the learning experience. However, all of these can only be enhanced by visiting the actual site or object being discussed. Field trips were always an effective way to put a real world example in place of what we could only imagine existed. For this reason, we must preserve our articles of history to forever imprint the importance of our past on the next generations. That is why 750,000 people agree and visit the USS Constitution each year (US Navy). For example, no matter how many times you hear the "Star Spangled Banner" it doesn't quite hit home until you see the devastated fort that Francis Scott Key wrote those powerful words about. By seeing the small outpost and imagining the walls being pounded by British cannonballs as they tried to crush the Americans with sheer firepower, you gain a huge appreciation for what the soldiers must have endured to retain our fledgling freedom. You cannot obtain these images through any written medium nor can you completely comprehend through images on a screen. So despite what some see as a waste of time and money, the effort and funding placed to keep these living classrooms afloat is well worth it.

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