MARAD
10-03
Thursday, May 22, 2003
Contact: Robyn Boerstling
Tel.: (202)
366-5807
US Transportation
Secretary Honors U.S. Merchant Marine on National Maritime Day
As part of the celebration of National Maritime Day, U.S. Secretary of
Transportation Norman Y. Mineta, today honored the men and women of the U.S.
merchant marine by presenting Merchant Marine Expeditionary Medals to civilian
merchant mariners who served in OPERATIONS ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM.
In a morning ceremony at
the Navy Memorial in Washington, DC, Secretary Mineta honored four merchant
mariners and five midshipmen from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings
Point, New York with the Merchant Marine Expeditionary Medal. All medal
recipients served aboard the Maritime Administration’s Ready Reserve Force
ships during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
“Each time our Nation’s
military deployed to protect U.S. interests, the lives of America’s men and
women were placed at risk. And in each one of those deployments, their
logistical lifelines – merchant mariners – were right alongside, or close
behind, with the tools to get the job done and return home safely,” said
Secretary Mineta.
“U.S.-flag
ships transported a myriad of critical cargo including: Apache helicopters;
Multiple Launch Rocket Systems; a multitude of wheeled vehicles including
HUMVEES and fuel tankers; bulldozers and other combat engineer equipment; and
ammunition to our forces,” he added. “The
role of the U.S. merchant marine, once again proved crucial to victory in
2003.”
The Merchant Marine Expeditionary Medal is awarded to men
and women who serve aboard U.S.-flag ships in support of operations involving
American and allied military forces. More
than 80 percent of the military cargo shipped to the Middle East in support of
U.S. Armed Forces during the Iraqi conflict was shipped on U.S. flag commercial
or government vessels.
Today’s recipients of the Merchant Marine Expeditionary
Medal are Lisa Overby, Master of the Cape Douglas; Nicholas Christian, Second
Mate of the Cape Gibson; Paul Cammaroto, Chief Engineer of the Cape Washington;
and Karen Domerego, Able Bodied Seaman of the Cape John.
Midshipmen from the United States Merchant Marine Academy that were
honored today include, James M. Dulong, Aaron J. Kleinerman, Peter G. Petricone, Christopher R.
Renders, Christopher C. Rentner. The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy is the
only federal service academy that sends its students into conflict.
President George W. Bush today issued a proclamation calling for the observance of National Maritime Day, which honors the sacrifices and contributions made by merchant mariners and the maritime industry. The President asked the Nation to celebrate this observance and to display the flag of the United States at their homes and in their communities. He also requested that all ships sailing under the American flag dress ship today.
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