JOIN US FOR AN AFTERNOON SIGHTSEEING VOYAGE, RECEPTION, AND SPECIAL PRESENTATION

Supporters of America's Flagship to Gather in New York City on August 20th
Looking to spend a fun afternoon on the water with fellow SS United States enthusiasts?

Join the Conservancy and its New York Chapter for a special maiden voyage 70th anniversary Circle Line cruise of New York Harbor on Saturday, August 20 at 2:30PM. This exciting excursion will include breathtaking views of New York City's skyline, as well as the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

Following the cruise, we will proceed to nearby Pier 76 for a special presentation at the SS United States' propeller, which will be live-streamed on the Conservancy's Facebook page.

The Circle Line cruise and presentation will take place the day before the "Saving Our Maritime History" cruise, which sets sail for Maine and Canada on August 21. If you're joining the Conservancy for either or both of these events, please don't forget to tag @SSUSC in your social media posts.
REMEMBERING CONSERVANCY ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBER LAWRENCE DRISCOLL

Educator, Author, Maritime Historian was a Longtime Supporter of America's Flagship
Author, Conservancy Advisory Council member, and longtime supporter Lawrence ("Larry") Driscoll passed away last week having lived a life filled with a passion for education, travel, ships, airplanes, and service to others.

In 1950, Larry, his mother, and two siblings sailed aboard the SS America to Paris to join his father, who was working on the Marshall Plan and later for Voice of America. After seven years, the family returned home on the SS United States. Both ships made a deep impression on Larry, pictured here at the Heritage Program held earlier this year at the Mariners Museum.
After retiring from a career in education, Larry became a successful writer and historian, specializing in American passenger liners. In 2013, Larry authored "The Last Great Race: The SS United States and the Blue Riband," which explored the outsized personalities and interpersonal dynamics among US Lines' General Franklin, ship designer William Francis Gibbs, and Commodore Harry Manning, formidable personalities who all loved the Big U. (Sadly, the book is now out of print.)

Conservancy President Susan Gibbs recalled, "Larry was a longstanding and invaluable member of the Conservancy's Advisory Council. Through his writings and presentations, he introduced audiences the world over to the mystique, drama, and storied history of the SS United States. Larry did much more than write about the Big U: He was also passionate about saving America's Flagship for future generations, and he never stopped believing that if we all joined together, we could."

The Conservancy and its supporters extend our deepest condolences to Larry's beloved wife, Janet, their children, and Larry's many extended family members and friends.
MORE FROM THE SS UNITED STATES CONSERVANCY
As the Conservancy continues its summer-long celebration of the 70th anniversary of the maiden voyage of America’s Flagship, Voyage, the official publication of the Titanic International Society recently shared a piece by Conservancy President Susan Gibbs.

In the article, Gibbs writes in part, “Today, the SS United States remains a singular and unrivaled marine engineering and design achievement. She remains the holder of the Blue Riband and most likely always will. And against all odds, she remains proudly afloat to this day.”

Christine Heyse (pictured here aboard the SS United States in 1959) was only three years old when she and her mother boarded the SS United States in Southampton, England, for the ship's maiden westbound voyage. It would be a memorable trip, both for Christine and America's Flagship.

As Christine recalls it, they encountered some rough seas along the way but in the end, the SS United States returned to New York in record time, capturing the famed Blue Riband.

THE BIG U CONTINUES TO INSPIRE...

"One shocking memory was getting my head stuck between the railings while trying to get a better look at the ocean whizzing by." - Christine Heyse, former passenger