The National Parks of Boston have announced a remembrance event at the USS Constitution and USS Cassin Young. This memorial event is set to take place at the Charlestown Navy Yard.
The event details, as described by official sources, give an insight into the planned proceedings. A 3-part event will be held in the Charlestown Navy Yard and will include lunch and a speech at the U.S.S. Constitution Museum, as well as an outdoor ceremony and warm drinks to end the event. According to the U.S. National Park Service news release about the event, the list of speakers will include "National Parks of Boston Superintendent Michael Creasey, USS Constitution Commander Billie J. Farrell, USS Constitution Museum President & CEO Anne Grimes Rand, Massachusetts Executive Office of Veterans Services Secretary Jon Santiago, and Boston Commissioner of Veterans’ Services Robert Santiago."
Cannon salutes from the USS Constitution and USS Cassin Young, as well as a rifle salute from the Flying Leatherneck Honor Society Color Guards will also be part of the Dec. 7 events, according to the press release.
History holds significant relevance in understanding today's activities; such is also true for our focus ship, USS Cassin Young. The USS Constitution Museum’s website notes that USS Cassin Young was part of seven battles in World War II and served for a decade beyond its expected lifetime. It is one of four Fletcher-class destroyers still afloat, according to the museum. A guided tour below deck is available through the U.S. National Park Service.
The ship's historical background contributes further insights into its significance. USS Cassin Young was built in 1943, in San Pedro, Calif. The ship is one of 175 Fletcher-class destroyers built during World War II and was modernized and repaired in the Charlestown Navy Yard in the 1950s, according to the National Park Service website about the USS Cassin Young as part of the Boston National Historical Park. For those who cannot make it to the ship and the navy yard, there is a virtual tour of the USS Cassin Young available from the National Park Service.
Finally, we delve into the history behind its namesake — U.S. Navy Commander Cassin Young. The ship was named after U.S. Navy Commander Cassin Young, who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the attack on Pearl Harbor. According to the National Park Service news release about the remembrance event, "as commanding officer of USS Vestal, which was moored to USS Arizona, Cmdr. Young took personal command of his ship’s three-inch anti-aircraft gun at the beginning of the attack. When the forward magazine of Arizona was hit, Cmdr. Young was thrown overboard and incredibly swam back to his ship amidst burning oil on the water between the two ships. Despite the subsequent bombing of Vestal, Cmdr. Young moved his ship away from Arizona to save countless lives."
