KINGS POINT, N.Y., May 22, 2017 - The United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) at Kings Point celebrated National Maritime Day with a lunchtime ceremony in Delano Hall.

CAPT John Hagedorn, USMMA's most senior mariner read the President Trump's National Maritime Day Proclamation. "Today, the men and women who crew ships remain essential to our Nation's prosperity and security.  Those in the maritime industry, including merchant mariners, promote our economic growth, facilitating the export of more than $475 billion in goods just last year and sustaining our critical defense industrial base.  Merchant mariners also actively protect our homeland, serving as our eyes and ears on the seas.  They serve with distinction and courage, heading into war zones, and too often sacrificing their own lives for our protection."

The Congress, by a joint resolution approved May 20, 1933, has designated May 22 of each year as "National Maritime Day," to commemorate the first transoceanic voyage by a steamship, in 1819 by the S.S. Savannah.  By this resolution, the Congress has authorized and requested the President to issue annually a proclamation calling for its appropriate observance. 

After the Presidental Proclamation was read, CAPT Sean Tortora, USMS, called his fellow licensed mariners to be recognized for their outstanding contributions to the economic well being and national defense of the United States of America in times of peace and war.