Heart to Hearth Cookery

SS United States, July 1 2010

Please help save this ship and read on!!! This may seem like a digression from food history-but there are two links!  The first is that I have all the menus of the food my parents were served when they crossed the Atlantic Ocean on this wonderful ship.  And the second and probably more important is that I am passionate about food history and have that same passion for this ship.  I was one of those early “artists” that captured this ship on paper in crayon at the age of 4!  (I have always wished that my Mother had saved that “masterpiece”.)  With my love of working ships, the SS United States has been breaking my heart every time I see her at her berth in Philadelphia (as you see her pictured at left) decaying.  This picture was taken at the July 1, 2010 National Flagship Celebration held by the SS United States Conservancy on the 58th aniversary of her maiden voyage that broke the transatlantic speed record that she still holds. I was determined this year to see her closer (than from I 95) since I found out that bids from scrappers were being accepted by her owners in February 2010!  I searched for how I could help save her and found the SS United States Conservancy (www.ssunitedstatesconservancy.org) and started buying planks.  The good news that was announced at the July 1 celebration is that “Gerry” Lenfest, a Philadelphia philanthropist, has donated $5.8 million for the conservancy to buy the ship and berth her for another 20 months.  Now that saves her from the scrap heap for now and gives some breathing room to save her-IF the conservancy receives donations and partners to reach the goal of making her a “waterfront attraction with restaurant, retail, entertainment and museum offering”.  This ship is an important part of maritime history!  She was designed by William Francis Gibbs who also designed the World War II Liberty Ships and she was built with a dual purpose of carrying an army division 10,000 miles without need for refueling in the cold war!  I encourage you to read and find out more about this historic, national symbol and maritime engineering masterpiece!  Be a plank owner, the cost is $25 and the certificates are wonderful for framing.  Maybe you have relatives that crossed the Atlantic on her as she made over 400 crossings from 1952 to 1969?  I have a certificate in memory of my parents and they also make great gifts.  I could not stop applauding for “Gerry” who has given us a 20 month reprieve to save this ship but 20 months passes quickly.  Please help save this ship and her rightful place as a symbol of this country and our maritime history!  I can not think of a better way to celebrate the 4th of July!! How can we scrap a ship that has been christened the SS United States??!!  And thanks to all of you that have read this post.

Susan    www.hearttohearthcookery.com