Merchant Marine Dedication Ceremony November 10

Merchant mariners served on Navy tugs and Army transport ships during World War II. And their sacrifices were great.

Of 250,000 merchant mariners that served between 1939-1945, some 9,521 were killed and 712 were taken as prisoners of war, according to the National World War II Museum. More than 1,731 merchant vessels were sunk. Two hundred and nine cadet-midshipmen from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy were killed while on their sea year. 

Skilled civilian mariners have served in every U.S. war since the Revolution and, while not considered military personnel, they can be called upon by the government during wartime to deliver military personnel and supplies and tow damaged vessels to shipyards for repair. 

Merchant mariners who participated in the Normandy invasion received veteran status in 1977. A federal court extended veteran status, but not benefits, to all Merchant Marine veterans of World War II in 1988. In 2020, Congress awarded those veterans the Merchant Mariners of World War II Congressional Gold Medal.

Now, the U.S. Merchant Marine will be honored on November 10 when the Merchant Marine emblem is dedicated at Veterans Memorial Plaza, at the entrance to the football stadium at Anacortes High School. The ceremony starts at 11 a.m. The general public and past and present merchant mariners are invited to the ceremony.

The Merchant Marine emblem will be displayed along those of the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Navy and Marine Corps.

Guest speakers will include CDR. Xochitl Castaneda, USCG (ret.), Pacific Northwest and Alaska Gateway director of the U.S. Maritime Administration; and Chief Engineer Byron “Andy” Anderson, U.S. Merchant Marine (ret.), who acquired the cast-bronze emblem and worked with the school district for its installation.

The ceremony will open with the sounding of attention on the bosun’s pipe, followed by a welcome and the National Anthem. Merchant mariners and their families will be recognized. Anderson will unveil the emblem to “Heave Ho! My Lads! Heave Ho!”, official song of the U.S. Merchant Marine.

The ceremony will close in memory of mariners who died or were lost at sea. The Navy Hymn, “Eternal Father, Strong to Save,” will be sung, followed by a minute of silence, the sounding of eight bells, and Taps. 

The Merchant Marineis composed of U.S. civilian mariners and civilian and federally owned merchant vessels. Merchant mariners transport domestic and international cargo and passengers during peacetime. They operate and maintain deep-sea merchant ships, charter boats, ferries, dredges, excursion vessels, towboats, tugboats, and other waterborne craft.In times of war, the Merchant Marine can be an auxiliary to the U.S. Navy.

Castaneda said she hopes young people will attend the ceremony and learn about the importance of the maritime service. 

“The Merchant Marine is the nation’s Fourth Arm of Defense,” she said. “In addition to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York, there are six state Merchant Marine academies and, particularly in our area, numerous seamanship training schools. These schools and programs are pipelines to rewarding careers on our region’s ferries, tugs, cargo ships and other vessels.”

Anderson thanked school district officials – particularly Superintendent Justin Irish and Maintenance Supervisor Andy Wilken — for working with him to have the Merchant Marine emblem added to the memorial plaza. 

“The contribution of the Merchant Marine to our nation’s defense is a story that is not told enough,” he said. “Experienced mariners are necessary for the transport of people and cargo in inland waters, along our coasts and across the oceans. And the United States has always known that it can count on those mariners to put their experience to work supporting our defense efforts in time of peril.” 

Anderson, a Guemes Island resident, graduated from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in 1957 with a bachelor of science in marine engineering. He served 13 years in the U.S. Navy — three years active duty and 10 years in the Naval Reserve, and attained the rank of lieutenant commander. He served as a nuclear test engineer on the USS Long Beach at Bethlehem Quincy Shipyard.

After Navy active duty, Anderson entered Merchant Marine service and was stationed aboard the NSSavannah, the first nuclear-powered merchant ship. He raised his license to Chief Engineer Steam and Motor, and worked for McCormack Lines and then Sea-Land Service. He served as Sea-Land’s Seattle port engineer. He retired from the Merchant Marine after 30 years of service. 

Chief Anderson has served as admissions field representative of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy since the mid-1970s. 

CONTACT: Byron Anderson, U.S. Merchant Marine (ret.), 360-220-0148
Xochitl Castaneda, U.S. Maritime Administration, 202-366-5209
Richard Walker, Able Seaman. U.S. Merchant Marine, 360-813-2916
Dr. Justin Irish, superintendent, Anacortes School District, 360-503-1210