Dakota Beacon

“Ay, tear her tatter’d ensign down!”  I recall as a child, being stirred by the heartfelt patriotism and affection for the grand ship of America - “Old Ironsides”, more properly known as the U.S.S. Constitution.   It was a very romantic image - this invincible old ship with flags flying and sails full! Sailing into a raging battle on the high seas.  

Actually it was my mother who would recite that and many other poems to me constantly.  I remember the rhythm of the lines now.  

So when years later my husband and I went to Boston for a conference, we made it a point to find the U.S.S. Constitution in the harbor.  She was majestic. We had a chance to tour the historic vessel - the oldest commissioned sailing ship in the world, as it happens. We got to see the cannon, the great masts, the polished brass fittings.  We saw the captain’s quarters and the galley, the deck, the sailors’ quarters and their hammocks below. It was really an exciting thing to see.  

The storied ship was commissioned by none other than President George Washington.  America, just starting out, had no fleet. We needed a battleship that was both able to withstand an engagement and able to move quickly through the waves, out-maneuvering other ships.  There are many interesting facts about this ship, including the detail that its fittings were forged by Paul Revere. Yes - “the” Paul Revere. It seems he had a lot to do with American success.

The poem, “Old Ironsides” was written by Oliver Wendell Holmes in a fit of anger and outrage that this fine old ship appeared about to be consigned to scrap.  It “went viral” to use the current vernacular, and the indignation of the public spread like wildfire. Pressure was brought to bear on Congress to allocate funding to restore the great ship.  Today she is a training ship and the pride of the U.S. Navy. Its past is glorious - she  engaged the Barbary Pirates, it stopped slave traders, she won glory in our skirmish with the French.  The Constitution established our Navy and our reputation for not being the nation to push around. Here is a history and also some interesting factoids about the U.S.S. Constitution, “Old Ironsides”.  And a tour!

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