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October 11, 2017Navy Birthday at USS SLATER on October 13
The Navy traces its origins to the Continental Navy, which the Continental Congress established on October 13, 1775, by authorizing the procurement, fitting out, manning, and dispatch of two armed vessels to cruise in search of munitions ships supplying the British Army in America.
In 1972, Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Elmo Zumwalt, authorized recognition of October 13 as the Navy’s Birthday. It is intended as an internal activity for members of active forces and reserves, as well as retirees, dependents, and friends. Since 1972, each Chief of Naval Operations has encouraged a Navy-wide celebration of this occasion “to enhance a greater appreciation of our Navy heritage, and to provide a positive influence towards pride and professionalism in the Naval Service.”
The Capital Area Chief Petty Officers Association will conduct a ceremony aboard USS SLATER beginning at 9:00 a.m. to celebrate the Navy’s Birthday. To mark this occasion, the Association is honoring USS SLATER volunteer Bernard Smith as their Volunteer of the Year.
Chief Bernard “Smitty” Smith has been volunteering aboard USS SLATER as a cook since 2007. He joined the Navy in 1964 and was initially rated as an aircraft mechanic, serving aboard USS YORKTOWN (CVS-10) and later USS BON HOMME RICHARD (CVA-31) off Vietnam. At the completion of his active duty, he did Reserve duty aboard USS GUADALCANAL (LPH-7) While in the Reserves he cross-rated to Commissaryman and eventually made Chief. In his post-Navy career, he worked for New York Telephone as an installer.
Volunteering aboard USS SLATER, “Smitty” has been part of the color guard, and cooks for the volunteers twice a week. He has also taken on the responsibility for cooking for the volunteer work week crews, which involves serving three meals a day for a week; he is aboard and in the galley from 0600 to 1700. Chief Smith is also active with his church, the Capital District Chief Petty Officers Association, and volunteered for many years with the Maritime Ministry.
USS SLATER is located on the Hudson River in Downtown Albany. Public hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $9 for adults and $7 for children.
USS SLATER will be open through November 26 this year, but closed on Thanksgiving Day. Call 518-431-1943 for more information or visit the website at www.ussslater.org.
