The USS 
Constitution is the oldest commissioned naval warship afloat. The wooden three masted “super-frigate” in launched in 1797, is due for a three year overhaul and dry-docking starting in early 2015. Before the historic ship enters the shipyard, she will leave the dock for five short cruises in Boston harbor this summer. The first cruise, or as the Navy puts it, an “underway demonstration” is tomorrow, June 6, to commemorate the 70th anniversary of D-Day and the 72nd anniversary of the Battle of Midway.
The Constitution will get underway at 9:30 a.m. At approximately 11 a.m., there will be a 21-gun salute off Fort Independence on Castle Island in South Boston in commemoration of the Battle of Midway and D-Day. At approximately noon, Constitution sailors will also conduct an additional 17-gun salute near U.S. Coast Guard Base Boston prior to the ship’s 1:30 p.m. return to its pier at Charleston Navy Yard.
Constitution‘s remaining 2014 harbor excursions are scheduled for July 4, Aug. 22, Aug. 29 and Oct. 17. They will be final times the ship gets underway prior to the completion of her refit in 2018.
Ah Midway…can you think of it without conjuring The Battle of Midway March (hear it http://www.4shared.com/mp3/LVuWelkX/_us_navy__-_battle_of_midway_m.html?locale=en), attributed , I believe, to Admiral/Ambassador/Secretary Bill Middendorf. I got a picture of him a few months ago with my cousins Chet and Dick Lay whose mother Catherine Nimitz Lay, oldest and sole survivor on Admiral Nimitz’ four children turned 100 in March.