How to Save the SS United States for $1.43
Photo courtesy of Don Robson.
March 26, 2009 - The Conservancy recently received a donation from Jim and Judy Ducceschi from Germantown, Ohio, along with the letter below, utilizing one of the most unique and inspiring approaches to charitable giving we’ve yet to see…
“Enclosed find our check in the amount of $32.89 as our support for your efforts to hopefully recover, save or restore, in some manner, the great SS United States…. In the event that you may be curious about the reasoning and odd amount behind our donation, it really is quite simple.
a) Our chosen charities are few and only those we feel are truly worthy and not just a “charity business.” Some of these include the Mayo Clinic, Salvation Army, and Children’s Medical Center. We feel your goal is worthy because this ship represents some of the best that America was, could be, and our hope that it may be again…
b) …We’re using a nominal amount of our government “stimulus” windfall money that we didn’t ask for or need and donating it to your worthy cause in lieu of our government’s intended use of just spending it on more “stuff” to “help” our ridiculous economy.
c) We estimate there are presently approximately 350 million Americans and we heard that the estimate to restore this great ship might be as high as $500 million. That represents just $1.43 from every true American that appreciates the American greatness this ship represents. We are donating that amount for ourselves, each of our 5 children, their 4 spouses, and our 12 grandchildren, or 23 x $1.43 = $32.89. We sincerely hope this donation helps you achieve your goal.
May God bless the future of the SS United States and America!”
- Jim and Judy Ducceschi
The Conservancy appreciates the recent outpouring of support. If you’d like to make a contribution to support the ongoing effort to preserve the ship and her legacy, please visit our donation page.
Reader Comments
I volunteer aboard the SS Jeremiah O’Brien, one of two remaining fully functional WWII Liberty ships. We too struggle on a daily basis to keep history alive, the SS United States deserves not only the status as a historical icon, but the support of her country which she so graciously served. May she once again have “smooth seas and a following wind”.
In 1952 I took my daughter to England to visit her grandmother. We sailed on the United States and I still have the menus signed by our steward. I also have photos taken of us in the dining room. It was a trip I will never forget.
My in-laws sailed on the UNITED STATES in the 1960’s.
When my father-in-law Colonel W.H. Wilson retired from the U.S. Army he had just finished a two year tour in Southampton, England, as Port Comannder. He and my mother-law were returning home for retirement.
We have a beautiful framed picture of the ship given to my father-in-law and signed by Commodore John Anderson, and we treasure it very much. Years later our eldest son who was about 14 at the time attended an auction on board her at Newport News, Virginia and we have a few mementos he purchased. Our family used to ride down to Newport News to see the UNITED STATES until the day she sailed away to have the asbestos removed and undergo the first of many refits to become a functioning passenger ship again – never happened! Now she sits like a rusting piece of junk in Philadelphia where I saw her a few years ago and it brought tears to my eyes.
It is so sad to see what has happened to this icon of American history. I have sailed on ships for the P&O line years ago and one ship in particular I loved dearly the s.s.CANBERRA. I know how she was broken up in India, saw the pictures of her being torn apart for scrap. Should this fate be once again visited on a beautiful historic vessel that can still be useful as a museum, perhaps moored in New York near the INTREPID as a different type of museum?
The INTERPRID shows us what she did for us during wartime, cannot this beautiful UNITED STATES show us what peaceful pursuits she was capable of?
Please let us know what we can do to help to save this beautiful ship from extinction and the scrap heap.
Dear Susan;
I am extremely concerned about this great ship and want to help whatever way I can to keep her alive. I do not want this magnifient treasure taken away, just to be cut up for scrap in some faraway place. Please write back. I have some ideas how we can keep this wonderful vessel alive and perhaps, once again sailing across the oceans. I’d love to see the ship restored in some fashion, if nothing else, just to keep her from being ultimately destroyed. Please reply…AL
My Dad was a steward on the Big U and made the maiden voyage. I have fantastic memories on sailing day,trying to pick him out of the crowd, one last time until my brother and I saw him again 14 days later. We used to get the best stuff- Stieff stuffed animals from Germany, Chocolates from France, shoes and clothes from England.
Thanks to all the groups who are trying to save her. It breaks my heart to see her the way she is now.
On November 15th 1963 I sailed on the S.S United States leaving Southampton for New York. I was 18 and had never left England before. What an experience an adventure – she was an amazing ship and I hope one day she will be restored and will sail the seas again. We experienced rain, snow, hale stones and an eventual hurrican at sea. I was sure we would not sea land again. What memories I have and would lik to think that one day I would have the opportunity to travel on this wonderful ship again. The S.S United States needs all the support it can get to restore it to its original working condition. I do have some momentos but due to travelling have lost most. DOES ANYONE HAVE PHOTOS OF THE SHIP AND ITS VOYAGE – leaving Southampton on November 15th 1963 arrival in New York harbour November 22nd 1963. Please let me know. Many thanks. K
I wa sso glad to see this site. My father John W. Nelson Jr was a radio operator i believe on the maiden voyage of this tremendous ship. When i finished graduate school in Richmond Virginia, my father and I took a trip to Newport News to view this incredible piece of history. I had lost track of what had happened. i hope that funds can be raised to save this. New York is the perfect place for it. My sister and I have a piece of radio equipment from the ship and although we tried unsucessfully to sell it, we will be happy to donate this piece. If there are any pictures of our father available please let us know.
Thanks John III
Possibly, the SS United States could be refitted as a operational cruise ship and still be used to transport US military people if needed. The ship could also be refitted as a disaster ship that could be used when earthquakes happen, such as Haiti. The emergency ship could be used after hurricanes too. At one time there was an American University, somewhere that was sited on a ship. Possibly the ship could be refitted as a hospital training facility and be operated that way.
Many possibilities and usages for the refitted ship.
John Konieczny
jmk1950@aol.com
Our family sailed from Southhampton in June 1956, returning from a one year stay in Germany, where dad, E.C. Keachie served as an exchange professor. I’ve never forgotten the voyage, and spotting the Statue of Liberty.
It seems to me that it may be time for the ship to have a new mission, and absolutely not a casino!
I propose setting her out as a roving ambassador /hospital /emergency ship, based primarily in the Americas. If I recall correctly, she just fits the Panama Canal, and could be anywhere within a week or so. This would be so handy in a haiti like situation. I have set up a Facebook site to promote the idea:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=438628365506#/group.php?gid=438628365506&ref=nf
I realize this may not set well with the purists, but she was made to convert to a troop ship in a pinch, and this may be her salvation, in these tight times.
How much would it cost to rebuild the old girl because it is nothing left inside of her. I have heard it would cost more than bulding a new ship to bring her to todays standards . Please correct me if I am wrong.Rusty
Has anyone contacted DONALD TRUMP about this project?
Surely he would have the financial resources to prevent the scrappers from getting near this ship.
He and New York City are so much a part of each other.
The SS US belongs at the Port of New York City!
It could be so many things combined: Museum – Convention Center – Resort Hotel – CASINO !!
Come on, Donald !! Imagine the publicity stunt:
“Donald Trump Saves The United States !!”
Everyone MUST give to the SS United States Conservancy!!! We HAVE to save the United States from the scrap vultures. She was our “American Icon” and our nation’s flagship. My father was “Chief Printer” aboard her from her Maiden Voyage in 1952 until 1964. I went down to see her in Philadelphia on April 17, 2010 with my family who had never seen her except for pictures I have of her. What a thrill to see her again in the flesh, but very heartbreaking to see her in her present state. HOW CAN OUR COUNTRY ABANDON HER IN THIS WAY!!! She does not deserve this treatment!!! The SS United States was our “First Lady” and could be again with everyone’s support. PLEASE GIVE to the Conservancy so that we can save this “American Icon”!!! Let her come home to New York City where she belongs!!!
I wept at the sight of our dear old lady.
OUR great lady. For shame! To let such a valiant
and noble ship be sold for scrap! The abomination
of desolation… I was a passenger the first time
as a military dependent, and not yet born baby in 1960 en voyage to LeHavre, France. Again in 1969, from New York City to LeHavre, France, as a 9 year old with my mother, en route to join my Dad, an Officer of the US Army. What a grand journey. I still have a double pack of playing cards- one set with a daytime picture of the SS United States at full steam- the other at night with light shining through the portholes. I am very sad to see her in such a state. I am going to send what I can to help. America- please do not let this symbol of our greatness die such a horrific death! Symbols can be more important to our country than talk and words. Let us embrace this grand old Lady- and ease her into a golden retirement. We did the same for the USS Constitution at port in Boston Harbor. “old Ironsides” is still a warship on active duty and is a command billet. We can do as well for the SS United States. Please get her out of Philadelphia and back where she belongs at port in New York City. Thank-you all. God bless America and God Bless the Americaqn people!