UNITED STATES NATIONAL MARITIME DAY, MAY 22, 2024
UNITED STATES NATIONAL MARITIME DAY
MAY 22, 2024
“Our Nation’s merchant mariners embody the highest aspirations of our democracy, always answering our country’s call with commitment and courage. Today, we honor their service and sacrifice. Together, we recommit to meeting our sacred obligation to care for them and their
families.
“Unbreaking and unbending in their devotion to duty, our merchant mariners have stood for our Nation’s freedom and liberty throughout history — from delivering critical goods and troops to the battlefields of World War II to responding to devastating natural disasters around the world and shipping the goods and military cargo that keep our Nation safe and prosperous.”
– President Joseph R. Biden Jr., 46th President of the United States of America, A Proclamation on National Maritime Day, May 22, 2024, The White House
OTTAWA, TODAY– Mr. Stéphane Ouellette, President and Chief Executive Officer, Merchant Navy Commemorative Theme Project (MNCTP), observed National Maritime Day in the United States of America.
It was on the historic day of May 22, 1819, when the first American steamship the S.S. Savannah set sail from Savannah, Georgia to Liverpool, England. This was the first transoceanic voyage fueled by steam. National Maritime Day was created by the United States Congress on May 20, 1933.
During the Second World War, more than 250,000 Merchant Marine sailed the treacherous oceans of the world. Over 6,835 American Merchant Marine were killed and over 11,000 wounded. In addition, 604 Merchant Mariners were taken prisoners of war, resulting in 61 casualties within POW camps. Over 2,199 Canadian Merchant Navy Seaman were killed in both World Wars.
Maritime Day is a special day which recognizes the rich seafaring history of The United States. The American Merchant Marine has been visible in every war and conflict dating back to The Revolutionary War of 1775, right up to present day conflicts. In times of peace, the U.S. maritime industry: employs more than 260,000 Americans; provides over $29 billion in annual wages; and, moves over 100 million passengers and $400 billion worth of goods between ports in the U.S. annually.
Globally, our seaborne trade accounts for 90% of the world’s food, fuel, raw material, and manufactured goods that are delivered to every corner of the globe. This worldwide shipping network is interconnected by over 100,000 commercial vessels, and consists of 2,800 ports within 150 countries. Over 1.5 million seafarers operate, maintain, and repair these massive ships, while simultaneously fighting rough seas, risking their lives through piracy and war zones, and sacrificing quality time with their families. Seafaring remains one of the most perilous and indispensable jobs on Earth. It is the world’s most important and widespread concentrated ‘human effort’ that is essential to ensuring security, defense, and prosperity for our society worldwide.
HISTORIC ATTENDANCE OF FOREIGN REPRESENTATIVES HONORING ALLIED MERCHANT NAVY AND AMERICAN MERCHANT MARINE VETERANS
NATIONAL WAR MEMORIAL
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA
SEPTEMBER 2, 2005
At the National War Memorial in Ottawa, on September 2, 2005, the Merchant Navy Veterans Day of Remembrance welcomed distinguished foreign representatives to pay tribute to the unsung heroes of the Allied Merchant Navy and American Merchant Marine. Among the attendees (from left) were His Excellency David Wilkins, United States Ambassador to Canada, and Capt. John McClain, US Naval Attaché, highlighting the historic global recognition of the sacrifices and contributions of these courageous veterans.
A MESSAGE OF GRATITUDE TO THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ON THEIR NATIONAL MARITIME DAY
MAY 22, 2016
“Since the early days of the United States, the Merchant Marine has been the foundation of our economic security serving as our “fourth arm of defense” in both peace and war. As the United States grew and US ships carried American innovation and craftsmanship around the globe, we have relied on Merchant Mariners to safeguard their travels. They have been essential in bringing food to the world’s hungry and delivering supplies to our brave men and women overseas in times of war. They have done so much for the United States and on National Maritime Day we take this opportunity to honor their service and sacrifice.”
– Congresswoman Janice Hahn, U.S. Representative for California's, 44th congressional district
“We are especially pleased to be honored by our Canadian neighbors. Specifically, we thank the Merchant Navy Commemorative Theme Project for not only recognizing the U.S. Merchant Marine, but also for remembering the Merchant Navies from all Allied nations of WWII.
“Maritime Day is a special holiday which recognizes the rich seafaring history of the United States. Although our Merchant Marine has always played a crucial economic role, it is their wartime service that we most recall each year on May 22nd. The American Merchant Marine has been visible in every war and conflict dating back to the Revolutionary War and right up through the ongoing War on Terror.
“However, it is the Greatest Generation of Merchant Mariners that deserve the spotlight. With unspeakable sacrifice and loss, the WWII MM built "steel bridges" across the oceans to deliver the war materials needed for the Allies to ultimately prevail; the war simply could not have been won without them. The bottom line: In peace and war, the United States Merchant Marine has always answered the call.”
– Captain Christopher J. Edyvean, National President, American Merchant Marine Veterans (AMMV)
“I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to the people of the United States of America for over a decade of support excellence to our Allied Merchant Navy and American Merchant Marine Veterans.”
“It was on Friday, September 2, 2005, when His Excellency David Wilkins (United States Ambassador) and Capt. John McClain (US Naval Attaché), along with other world representatives, attended the Merchant Navy Veterans Day event, and participated in our sacred wreath laying ceremony, at the National War Memorial in Ottawa.”
– Mr. Stéphane Ouellette, President and CEO, MNCTP
OTTAWA, TODAY – Mr. Stéphane Ouellette, President and Chief Executive Officer, Merchant Navy Commemorative Theme Project (MNCTP), thanked the United States of America for over a decade of support excellence in acknowledging and commemorating the sacrifices and contributions made by Allied Merchant Navy and American Merchant Marine Veterans. Mr. Ouellette also provided his best wishes to American Merchant Marine Veterans on their National Maritime Day that took place on May 22, 2016.
It was on the historic day of May 22, 1819, when the first American steamship the SS Savannah set sail from Savannah, Georgia to Liverpool, England. This was the first transoceanic voyage fueled by steam. National Maritime Day was created by the United States Congress on May 20, 1933.
September 2, 2005, was the first time in Canadian history (as per the above) that such levels of national and international recognition were achieved for our forgotten heroes of the Allied Merchant Navies, which has now grown to include the American Merchant Marine.
Critical to preserving our national and international mosaics of heritage and culture, the MNCTP aims to bridge the gap between the present day shipping industry and its glorious and predominantly forgotten past. In this way, one of the MNCTP’s strategic objectives is to integrate and promote the critical services provided by the “modern trade-and-travel-by-sea” community to international security and to the global economy.
During World War II, over 6,835 American Merchant Marine were killed, in addition to over 11,000 being wounded, and the taking of 604 prisoners of war, of whom 61 died in POW camps, out of the more than 250,000 Merchant Marine that sailed. Over 2,199 Canadian Merchant Navy Seaman were killed in both WWI and WWII. The American and Canadian death statistics do not reflect global losses that were experienced by other Merchant Marine and Allied Merchant Navy countries.
Contact Information:
Merchant Navy Commemorative Theme Project (MNCTP)
Mr. Stéphane Ouellette
President and Chief Executive Officer
Ottawa ON Canada
Tel: 1-613-716-4137
E-mail: alliedmerchantnavy@bell.net
Website: www.alliedmerchantnavy.com
American Merchant Marine Veterans (AMMV)
Captain Christopher J. Edyvean
National President
P.O. Box 41
Hurley, WI 54534
Tel: 1-715-862-2531
E-mail: cjedyvean@hotmail.com
Website: www.ammv.us
Office of Congresswoman Janice Hahn
Mr. Jayson Braude
Legislative Assistant
Washington DC USA
Tel: 1-202-225-8220
E-mail: Jayson.Braude@mail.house.gov
Website:
www.hahn.house.gov
OpUNITY: OUTREACH INITIATIVE:
AMERICAN MERCHANT MARINE VETERANS (AMMV)
· MR. STÉPHANE OUELLETTE ADDRESS TO AMERICAN MERCHANT MARINE VETERANS AT THE 2015 AGM IN NEVADA
AUDIO FILE
FIRST TIME ATTENDANCE OF AMERICAN MERCHANT MARINE VETERANS
MERCHANT NAVY VETERANS DAY
NATIONAL WAR MEMORIAL
SEPTEMBER 7, 2014
(ABOVE) MR. MORRIS HARVEY, NATIONAL PRESIDENT, AMERICAN MERCHANT MARINE VETERANS (AMMV) LAYING A WREATH AT THE NATIONAL WAR MEMORIAL (OTTAWA) AND (BELOW) ADDRESSING MN VETERANS, DIPLOMATIC CORPS, AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, AND GUESTS AT MERCHANT VETERANS DAY IN SEPTEMBER 2014, AT THE LORD ELGIN HOTEL
MERCHANT MARINE MUSIC VIDEO
BY CELTAE
Associated Links
- American Merchant Marine Veterans (AMMV)
- United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA)
- A Message of Gratitude to the People’s Republic of China on their National Maritime Day | MNCTP | July 11, 2016 |
- A Message of Gratitude to the People of the United States of America on their National Maritime Day | MNCTP | May 22, 2016 |
- A Message of Gratitude to the Republic of India on their National Maritime Day | MNCTP | April 5, 2016
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Contact Info
Merchant Navy Commemorative Theme Project (MNCTP)
Stéphane Ouellette
President and CEO
E-mail: ouellettes@rogers.com
Website: www.alliedmerchantnavy.com
