Maritime Preservation

Project S.s. Mariposa-s.s. Monterey a Floating Retirement Community SaN Francisco, CALifornia, 1979

The Bankrupt Liners S.S. Mariposa/SS.Monterey Pacific Far East Lines "The Bidders in the Federal Bankruptcy Court of San Francisco, California in April 1979 were The Sailors Union of the Pacific along with the California Department of Housing and Urban Redevelopment, the Taiwan Shipbreakers--Tung Sun, and Ed Daly of World Airways. Mr. Daly won the winning bid at @ $3,000,000 (three million dollars). Unfortunately The Project Mariposa-Monterey was never to become a reality."

--Ian Robertson, Project Coordinator

Sailors' Union of the Pacific

Andrew Furuseth 1892 Founder of The Sailors' Union of the Pacific--

"You can throw me in jail-- but you can never make me eat coarser food than the food I've ate, live in tighter quarters than the quarters I've lived or live a lonlier life than the life I've lived as a seaman."

a Mariner's 23RD PSALM

A Mariner's 23rd Psalm

The Lord is my shepherd,

I shall steer a steady course.

"Weigh Anchor."

"Stand By."

"Full Steam Ahead."

With compass and bearing down

channel to the open sea,

He guides my rudder,

He keeps the buoys in sight.

His comforting arms

are my life preserver.

He keepeth my daily log book,

As the wind blows in from the North.

"Batten down the cargo hatches."

"Secure all gear."

"Steer her between

the anchors QuarterMaster".

"Steady As She Goes."

And when the swells are large

And I loose sight of land,

I shall weather the storm

for Thou art with me.

With faith on the bow

and fear on the stern,

He brightens the stars

that guide me by night.

He will prepare a harbor before me.

"Secure the bow and stern lines."

And when I walk the final gangway,

I will anchor in the homeland

of Eternity forever.

"Rudder Midships."

"Bridge to the Engine Room."

"Finished With Engines."

Amen

by Ian Robertson, AB Quartermaster, DaNang War Zone, Vietnam, 1968

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Eight Bells--

can be rung to honor a Mariner at his funeral

marking the end of the watch --

Eight Bells

**********************************

Awarded the Vietnam Service Ribbon

the flag

MY COLORS ARE

RED, WHITE AND BLUE.

I AM MORE THAN JUST A CLOTH

SHAPED INTO DESIGN.

I AM THE SILENT SENTINEL

OF FREEDOM.

I AM THE EMBLEM

OF THIS GREAT SOVEREIGN NATION.

I AM THE INSPIRATION

FOR WHICH SOLDIERS,

SAILORS,

AIRMAN,

MARINES

AND COMMANDOS

MARCHED INTO BATTLE

AND GAVE THEIR WAR TORN BODIES.

I HAVE CROSSED OVER OCEANS

ATOP THE MASTS OF SHIPS

TO MAKE THE WORLD

A SAFER PLACE.

I WAS CREATED

TO SERVE THE PEOPLE

AND THE GOVERNMENT IN POWER.

I HAVE COVERED THE COFFINS

OF OUR DEAD HEROS

BEFORE THEY ARE LOWERED

TO THEIR FINAL RESTING PLACE.

I AM SILENTLY REMOVED

AND FOLDED BY HAND

AND GIVEN GENTLY TO

THE BROKEN HEARTED NEXT OF KIN.

I AM THANKFUL

TO ALL OUR VETERANS

WHO CARRY THEIR MEDALS

WITH PRIDE.

I HONOR THOSE

WHO GAVE THEIR FULL MEASURE

OF DEVOTION

FOR THEIR COUNTRY.

I HAVE FLOWN THROUGH WARS,

PEACE AND PROSPERITY.

NEVER LET MY ENEMIES

TEAR ME DOWN.

AND THE NEXT TIME YOU SEE ME

WAVING IN THE BREEZE,

TAKE A MOMENT TO REMEMBER

I SHALL REMAIN

THE SYMBOL OF FREEDOM

AND PEACE FOR ALL MANKIND.

Adapted by Ian O. Robertson

Ocean Liner Row

Ocean Liner Row

Music by Billie Holiday