We have a very interesting and exciting opportunity for our boys (and girls). On Monday October 13th, Columbus Day, the United States Navy is hosting a special tour of USS Nassau, an amphibious assault ship, The ship is massive, a smaller version of an aircraft carrier designed to transport Navy and Marine Corps personnel and their helicopters. The special tour for Scouts will be available from 8:30 am to 10:30 am at Pier 88N, on the west side of 48th Street. The ship will be docked right next to a submarine from Italy, also in port for Columbus Day. See below for more details

Pack 33 will be coordinating a field trip down to the ships. The plan is take the train into Grand Central at 8am make our way over to the ship at around 8:35am. A parent MUST accompany each Scout. If you are interested in joining us please respond ASAP to ffitzpatrick@pw-inc.com. Of course, Scouts and their parents are welcome to go on their own as well, and den leaders who are available may want to try to coordinate their dens (again, with parents accompanying).

The reason the Navy is involved in this year's Columbus Day activities is that in 1908 there was a massive earthquake in Italy that killed up to 200,000 people. President Roosevelt sent the Great White Fleet, then off the coast of Egypt, to help in the recovery and rebuilding of Italy. The Navy ended up staying 6 months building homes and villages in one of the first and greatest acts of charity this country has performed for a foreign country. The Columbus Citizens Foundation, which organizes the Columbus Day events, and the U.S. Navy have partnered to commemorate the 100th anniversary of this event, and the Navy is sending the ship to sail along an Italian submarine to pay tribute to the friendship of the two countries. In addition to the ship, there will be an excellent museum-quality exhibition in Grand Central Terminal regarding the earthquake and humanitarian assistance rendered by the Navy. After visiting the ship you may want to stop at the exhibit, which is very visual and educational. The exhibit will be up from October 7th-17th for those of you who pass regularly through Grand Central Terminal. Here is an interesting link:

http://www.columbuscitizensfd.org/cfleet.shtml

And here is a link to info about the USS Nassau: http://www.nassau.navy.mil/default.aspx