Draft Remarks at the Installation of the Barry Arch at USNA S Barry Gate
Finally, we are meeting at Barry Gate today!
Thank you for coming here today to witness the installation of the arch over the new Barry Gate. We appreciate the hard work of Signcraft of Annapolis and their workers in designing and erecting this Barry arch today. And we appreciate the countless donations from many Americans to help make this day a reality.
This is indeed a great day for the Irish American community and the United States Naval Academy. For a long while we have been saying – “Let’s meet at Barry Gate.” Finally, we are here today actually meeting at Barry Gate.
With the Barry arch now securely in place over this pedestrian gate, this gate is now known as the Commodore John Barry Gate. Let us make it democratic. All those in favor of naming this gate the “Barry Gate” please say “yes.” OK – It is unanimous – it is now Barry Gate.
Why are we honoring Commodore John Barry?
Although born in Ireland, Barry served heroically his adopted country in the Continental Navy during the Revolution to help create a new and free nation. He captured 20 British ships, was seriously wounded and shed his blood, and fought in the last naval battle of the Revolutionary War in 1783.
14 years later in 1797, President George Washington, on his 52nd birthday, summoned his friend and Revolutionary War naval hero, John Barry, to the Presidential Mansion in Philadelphia. President Washington personally presented Barry with Commission Number One in the newly formed United States Navy under the US Constitution and entrusts Barry with its command and leadership. Barry accepts the commission as a Captain, the highest rank authorized by Congress at that time. It was backdated to June 7, 1794, the date of his original appointment. He was given command of the frigate United States.
With these actions, the United States Navy under the Constitution is born. Captain Barry directed the construction and outfitting of the Navy’s first frigate USS United States and trained many of the first officers of the Navy, including the naval heroes of the Tripoli War and the War of 1812. Barry later commanded a naval squadron as a Commodore, becoming the first recognized flag officer of the Navy by an act of Congress.
He served as head of the American Navy under Presidents George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson until his death in September 1803. How many people can put up with the egos of three presidents today?
The Ancient Order of Hibernians and other Irish American groups, including the Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick here today, are working to honor the life and memory of Commodore John Barry with a memorial here on the grounds of the United States Naval Academy. We are currently raising the funds to make the memorial to Barry a reality within the year just inside the new Barry Gate. This area will become known as Barry Plaza.
Please keep in mind that Barry’s contemporaries held the Commodore in very high esteem. Commodore John Barry is today living history for his words and deeds continue to inspire us, and our youth will look up to him as a model.
Barry lives on in our American history, and he continues to be part of our nation’s legacy both today and down the remaining years of time. That is why we are honoring Commodore John Barry here in 2012 at entrance of the Naval Academy.
For 175 years the Hibernians honored the memory of Commodore John Barry. Today, because of Barry’s life, patriotism, heroism and great naval victories are a model and inspiration for our future commissioned officers of the Navy and Marine Corps. By honoring Commodore Barry here at the entrance of the Naval Academy, it is our hope as citizens that this gate and future memorial will be a daily inspiration to the midshipmen.
To each and everyone here today who contributed to making this new gate possible, and to everyone one of you who contributed toward this noble memorial project – Jack O’Brien and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
January 6, 2012
John E. McInerney
National Co-Chairman and
Public Relations Director
Commodore John Barry Project at USNA
Ancient Order of Hibernians
218 College Station Drive
Largo, Maryland 20774
Cell (202) 213 – 2055
Barry Gate Remarks, 6 January 2012
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