August 19, 2011 Vol. 115 No. 33
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VOL. 115 - NO. 33 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, AUGUST 19, 2011 $.30 A COPY Madonna della Cava Festival ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY ... USS Constitution Nicknamed “Old Ironsides” by JO1 Lorraine Ramsdell, Naval Reserve Office of Information Det. 206, Washington, D.C. The USS Constitution was one of six frigates authorized for construction by an act of Congress in 1794. Joshua Humphreys designed them to be the Navy’s capital ships. Larger and more heavily armed than the standard run of frigate, Constitution and her sisters were formidable opponents even for some ships of the line. Built in Boston of resilient live oak, Constitution’s planks were up to seven inches thick. Paul Revere forged the copper spikes and bolts that held the planks in place and the copper sheathing that protected the hull. Thus armed, she first put to sea in July 1798 and saw her first service patrolling the southeast coast of the United States during the Quasi-War with France. In 1803 she was desig- nated flagship for the Medi- terranean squadron under Captain Edward Preble and went to serve against the Barbary States of North Africa, which were demand- ing tribute from the United Father Claude blesses the image of Madonna della Cava States in exchange for allow- before the procession through the streets of the North ing American merchant ves- End led by long time member Jimmy Cammarata. For sels access to Mediterranean July 17. By the following lessly off Constitution’s hull additional photos see page 6. ports. morning the lookouts had — giving her the nickname (Photo by Rosario Scabin, Ross Photography) Preble began an aggressive determined they were a “Old Ironsides.” campaign against Tripoli, British squadron that had Under the command of blockading ports and bom- sighted Constitution and were William Bainbridge, “Old barding fortifications. Finally giving chase. Finding them- Ironsides,” met Java, another News Briefs Tripoli, Tunisia and Algeria selves becalmed, Hull and British frigate, in December. agreed to a peace treaty. his seasoned crew put boats Their three-hour engage- by Sal Giarratani Constitution patrolled the over the side to tow their ment left Java unfit for re- North African coast for two ship out of range. By using pair, so she was burned. This Isn’t Bush’s War Anymore years after the war ended kedge anchors to draw the Constitution’s victories gave I am so sick and tired of liberal Democrats to enforce the terms of the ship forward and wetting the American people a tre- who won’t take President Obama on about treaty. the sails down to take ad- mendous boost of morale and Afghanistan, Iraq and to some extent Pakistan She returned to Boston in vantage of every breath of raised the United States to and Libya. We are fighting losing battles where 1807 for two years of refit- wind, Hull slowly made head- the rank of a world-class Americans keep getting killed for nothing. This ting. The ship was recom- way against the pursuing naval power. isn’t the War Against Terror, this is nation- missioned as flagship of the British. After two days and Despite having to spend building and this war belongs to Obama. We can’t North Atlantic Squadron in nights of toil in the relent- many months in port, either even trust our allies over there. The latest trag- 1809 under Commodore less July heat, Constitution under repair or because of edy a helicopter shot down over Afghanistan kill- John Rodgers. finally eluded her pursuers. blockades, Constitution man- ing 38 of which 30 were Americans and 22 of them By early 1812, relations But one month later, she aged eight more captures, Navy SEALs. This was the worst day in the with Great Britain had de- met with one of them again including a British frigate 10-year war in that country. teriorated and the Navy be- — the frigate Guerriere. The and sloop sailing in company When Obama ran for office, he campaigned on gan preparing for war, which British ship fired the first which she fought simulta- ending the wars over there. He hasn’t. If anything, was declared June 20. Cap- shot of the legendary battle; neously, before peace was he’s made things worse. Where is U.S. Senator tain Isaac Hull, who had been 20 minutes later, Guerriere declared in 1815. After six John Kerry, the guy who fought to end the Vietnam appointed Constitution’s com- was a dismasted hulk, so years of extensive repairs, War? Why is he so silent on this war being run by manding officer in 1810, badly damaged that she was she returned to duty as flag- a Democrat in the White House? These wars are put to sea July 12, without not worth towing to port. Hull ship of the Mediterranean endless and the Taliban are still more empow- orders, to prevent being had used his heavier broad- Squadron. She sailed back to ered than ever. blockaded in port. His inten- sides and his ship’s superior Boston in 1828. tion was to join the five ships sailing ability, while the An examination in 1830 (Continued on Page 10) of Rodgers’ squadron. British, to their astonish- found her unfit for sea, but Constitution sighted five ment, saw that their shot ships off Egg Harbor, N.J., seemed to rebound harm- (Continued on Page 14) THE POST-GAZETTE SATELLITE OFFICE IS NOW OPEN AT 35 BENNINGTON STREET, EAST BOSTON This office is open on Tuesdays from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM and Thursdays from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PMPM, for the convenience of our East Boston and North Shore clients and contributors Call 617-227-8929 for more information Page 2 POST-GAZETTE, AUGUST 19, 2011 Res Publica by David Trumbull Berlin Wall, 1961-1989 Fifty years ago this month East German Communist dictators imprisoned the residents of East Berlin behind a VESPASIAN THE CONNIVER concrete “wall of shame.” The Cold War of 1946 to 1991 It cannot easily be proved that he used these men as and he encouraged the arts. between Communistic oppression and Western freedom got that any innocent person sponges, soaking them He accomplished all of this several degrees chillier. It would stay chilly for many was ever punished except in when dry and squeezing while at the same time his years, and a prolonged stand-off between the free West and Vespasian’s absence or them when wet. His passion financial management was enslaved East was accepted by too many American leaders without his knowledge. His for money even caused him marked by great economy. as an established fact to be acknowledge, accepted and only vice was a love for to tax the use of public con- He was never ashamed of managed, but not challenged. money. He not only revived veniences. When his son the social level of his origin All that changed when Ronald Reagan became President. the taxes that were repealed Titus found fault with him and was never annoyed at “My idea of American policy toward the Soviet Union is by Galba, but added new and for doing such a thing he satire or ridicule. He was simple, and some would say simplistic,” said Mr. Reagan to heavier ones. In some cases held one of the coins to his most generous to all classes an advisor back in 1977, “It is this: We win and they lose. he actually doubled the taxes son’s nose and asked if the of citizens, given needy ex- What do you think of that?” Mr. Reagan found an ally in the that were to be paid by the odor was offensive. When consuls an annual stipend fight against Communism in British Prime Minister provinces. During the ear- Titus ‘said “No,” he replied, and restor-ing or rebuilding Margaret Thatcher. “Freedom and democracy will leave lier years of his reign, the “It comes from urine.” many cities throughout the Marxism and Leninis on the ash heap of history,” city was unsightly because While emperor, Vespasian empire which had suffered Mr. Reagan accurately predicted in a June 8, 1982 speech of past fires and failing rose very early and read from fires or earthquakes. in the the British House of Commons. buildings. Anyone was per- his correspondence, the He encouraged men of On June 12, 1987, President Reagan called out Soviet mitted to take possession of reports of officials and then talent and the arts, estab- leader Mikhail Gorbachev when, standing in front of the vacant sites and build upon admitted visitors while he lished salaries for Latin and Berlin Wall and with Berliners on both sides able to hear them if the rightful owners was dressing. After taking Greek teachers of rhetoric him, Mr. Reagan said: failed to do so. Vespasian care of the business of the and rewarded artists. “General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek began the restoration of state he would take a drive One day, he was ap- prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek Rome in person and was the and then nap with one of proached by a woman who liberalization: Come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this first to start clearing the his several concubines. He said that she was dying of gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” debris; some of it he even then bathed and dined, and love for him, so he saved her The wall did come down starting on November 9, 1989. carried off on his own back. at no other time during the from this imagined death by The rest of Soviet Communism soon followed.