Last week ( June 2023) the family decided to go to Boston to see the historical sites. The first site we visited was the USS Constitution museum, were we had the opportunity to board the ship and see most of it, they won’t let you go to the lowest level and the captain quarters, unknown to me, my cousin, who knows about my admiration for the ship, had made the proper arrangement to take a private tour ( You can go to their website and request a private tour, but it may take a couple of months to get it which means that my cousin was working on this surprise for 3 months). Up to this time I was not aware of the surprise, every one in the group was aware of the plan except my wife and me.
So we went back to the ship late in the afternoon with the excuse that my cousin had forgotten something and needed to go back to retrieved it. When we arrived, there was this seaman dress in a uniform of the era(The Constitution is a duly commissioned US Navy war ship so all personnel are US Navy personnel). He introduce himself and started the tour, at this time, like an idiot, I started to think “Why we have to go trough this just to retrieved my cousin item”
In this tour we were allowed to seen the entire ship, including the areas that we could not see in the first tour.
The Constitution fires one of its cannon, early in the morning, when rising the flag, and in the afternoon when they lower it, to my surprise the seaman approached me and said “sir, you have been selected to fire the cannon” my answer was “You are kidding me” the sailor answered “ no, sir, we want you to fire the cannon to celebrated your service to this nation while in Vietnam”.
Well, I got to fire the cannon, and I own all of this to my cousin who expend 3 months arranging it.
That is an awesome honor, glad to read your cousin made that happen. As a Navy Veteran the Constitution and to go back to Pear Harbor are on my bucket list.
Wow what a great experience. I waited in line with my family for the standard tour - probably 45 minutes or so. We were at the gate, next in line when a procession of Naval folks in their best dressed uniforms walked by and we were informed that the museum is closing due to a retirement ceremony… Indeed it’s still a comissioned ship in the US navy. Still had fun looking at her close up from the dock though.
Congrats on a very special trip and honor. Thank you for your service for our country. Visiting the USS Constitution, the Charles W.Morgan, & the HMS Victory are all on my bucket list
Very nice! Boston is a place to visit on my bucket list, and USS Constitition very much among my sites to see there.
A good friend of mine who was in the Navy received one of his promotions aboard her. Being that he was a Gunners Mate, I think that locale was most appropriate for one of the oldest rates in the Navy. He had a lot of pride when he spoke of getting promoted aboard her, and many good things to say about how Boston treated US Navy sailors back in the day.
I had my turn some years back. I think it was 81 or 82 . I was so taken Aback I felt like a kid with unlimited funds in a candy store ! Congratulations, She’s quite the floating Lady isn’t she?
My son-in-law took the following short movie while I was firing the cannon and edited it by adding some music and a split image showing the outside of the cannon while being fire. He is a computer designer and part of his job is producing this sort of video for his company. I hope the link works
Well, this link did not work, I may be doing something wrong, I will check with my son-in-law for him to help me install the correct link
My wife and I were there last October. It was a great time we had. We purchased one of the flags on the aft deck and they raised it for a few moments then brought it down packed it up and we received a certificate that the flag flew over the Constitution
I was not aware that this could be done, I guess I now have an excuse to go back to Boston again. I just have to convice the Admiral that there is a need for me to do so!
