The
USS Constitution, known as "Old Ironsides", is the flagship of the United States
Navy, the oldest continuously commissioned war ship in the world.
Please read the article in the upper right hand corner of page B2 of the
Weds, July 3rd Austin American Statesman. Now, please know that we have
succeeded in having Austin chosen as only one of three cities that will be
visited by the mobile educational outreach exhibit called "Old Ironsides Across
the Nation (OIAN)".
Please join us in making this a successful
learning experience for Austin school children. We need to pay half of the
cost of the exhibit; the USS Constitution footing the other half. The U.
S. Navy will cover the costs of the USS Constitution crews participation in the
exhibit.
I am not asking particularly for your contribution, but will
gladly accept any thing that you wish to give. More importantly, I ask
that you assist us with contacts with your service/civic organizations,
employer, foundations, or other businesses or individuals that would be
interested in becoming a partner with the Navy League, Military Affairs Council,
USS Constitution and Museum, Austin ISD, and LBJ Library, the current partners
involved in bring OIAN to Austin. They need not commit at this time, but
allow us to submit their interest and contact information to the USS
Constitution Museum who will make formal contact with them.
Below is
quoted a letter which we have been using; please feel free to use again on our
behalf. And, be sure to review the attachment to this email.
Thank
you for stepping up to support this valuable project to get real American
History into the classroom.
Glenn Looney, President
Greater Central
Texas Council
The Navy League of the United States
(512)
327-7413
rglennl@alumni.utexas.net
www.centexnavyleague.org
www.ussconstitutionmuseum.org
14 Chapin Lane
Austin, Texas
788746-2542
__________________________________________
GREATER CENTRAL TEXAS COUNCIL OF
THE NAVY LEAGUE
OF THE UNITED STATES
14 Chapin Lane
Austin, Texas
78746-2542
July 1,
2002
Name
Title
Company
Address
Dear Name
The
Greater Central Texas Council of the Navy League of the United States is a
civilian organization devoted to informing the public and public officials of
the importance of the Sea Services, Navy, Marine Corps, Cost Guard and Flag
Merchant Marine, to our nation’s economy and security. An important
element of our educational mission is the support of youth organization and
school districts with programs that bring history to life in the
classroom. One such program, known as Veterans in Schools, makes
veterans available to Austin schools to tell their personal experiences, often
with their memorabilia, of their service to their country while serving in the
Armed Forces of the United States.
Now, we have a unique opportunity to
bring even more vital American history into the classroom. We have been
working diligently to bring the USS Constitution Museum’s mobile teaching
exhibit to Austin and now Austin has been selected as one of only three cities
to host this exhibit during the next academic year, 2002-2003. The
museum’s program, “Old Ironsides Across the Nation,” accompanied by the
U. S. Navy Crew of USS Constitution (Old Ironsides) brings a replica of the
ship’s gun deck replete with one of its original cannons, along with other
nautical exhibits and seamanship demonstrations. The crew will spread
out across the city to visit classrooms, telling the story of “Old
Ironsides.” Two teachers’ workshops will be held in which area teachers
will receive training on a complete curriculum and receive the materials
needed to teach the history of the USS Constitution and its meaning to the
early United States of America. Finally, the Commanding Officer of the
USS Constitution and the Museum Director will be available to address local
civic organizations and a public reception.
In order to win this
honor, we had to demonstrate the involvement of the local school district and
I am happy to report that Austin ISD supports and is enthusiastic about this
opportunity. They see a close tie with the new TAKS testing. We
also anticipate Eanes ISD participation, as well as some private
schools. We had to locate a suitable venue for teacher workshops,
receptions and the 7,000 pound gun deck replica. LBJ Library has eagerly
agreed to host the workshops and receptions and we expect to set up the
display for public viewing on the LBJ School campus near the LBJ Museum.
We have identified local publicity support which was also
required.
Now, we must assist the USS Constitution Museum in
raising $25,000 to cover the cost of the museum staff, exhibit transportation,
curriculum and materials. The ship’s crew’s expenses will be borne by
the U. S. Navy. We've managed to get pledges of about $2,000 so
far from small donations, but now we're looking for corporate sponsors and
foundations that underwrite education programs, particularly one such as Old
Ironsides Across the Nation that is so rich in its object and visual based
presentation of history. Please review the enclosure for a more detailed
description of the “Old Ironsides Across the Nation” content and
schedule. Austin ISD, LBJ Museum, and USS Constitution Museum references
for confirming our credentials are available on request.
We ask that
the Company/Foundation join with the Navy League, Austin ISD, LBJ Museum,
and other donors in becoming a partner of the USS Constitution Museum in
bringing “Old Ironsides” to Austin and Austin school children. Nothing
is required at this time except for permission to forward the name of
Company/Foundation and its contact to the USS Constitution Museum who will
make formal contact.
Thank you for your consideration. For
questions or additional information, please contact me at 327-7413 or rglennl@alumni.utexas.net
.
Sincerely,
R. Glenn Looney
Council President