National Maritime Day is celebrated each year on May 22nd to honor the United States Merchant Marine and maritime industry. Congress declared National Maritime Day to commemorate the American steamship Savannah’s voyage from the United States to England, marking the first successful crossing of the Atlantic Ocean with steam propulsion.
Celebrations and ceremonies around the country recognize the sailors our maritime nation depends upon for the transportation of goods and persons over the oceans and seas. Each year, the Department of Transportation holds a national ceremony in Washington, D.C., at the Department of Transportation headquarters.
Many people celebrate this day by attending a local ceremony to honor all merchant mariners and recognize all those merchant mariners who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation.
Mr. Ross Rowlinson, a former merchant mariner, has worked to bring a local ceremony to Indian River County. In 2023, he organized the dedication of a WWII Merchant Marine monument. This year, he organized the first annual local ceremony in recognition of National Maritime Day at the Veterans Memorial Island Sanctuary in Vero Beach.
Sebastian River High School Navy JROTC cadets assisted in the ceremony by performing a ceremonial wreath presentation. Mr. Rowlinson invited many former Merchant Mariners, local community leaders, and other U.S. Service Veterans to present flags, give speeches, and even fire a rifle salute.
The ceremony provided an excellent local commemoration of National Maritime Day and honored our Merchant Mariner veterans. Please view the ceremony video at https://vimeo.com/949302931.
To learn more about the SRHS Navy JROTC unit, or to partner with the unit for events and volunteer activities, contact CDR Peter Bissonnette by email at snsi@srhs.us, by phone at 772-564-4413, or by submitting an event support request at https://njrotc.srhs.us/about-us/event-support-request.
Jazlynn Lopez is a student at Sebastian River High School and a cadet in the Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps. She currently serves as the NJROTC Assistant Public Affairs Officer.