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24 March 08: Dead Kennedy
 That big ol' ship you see on your Philly Skyline is the USS John F Kennedy -- CV-67 -- which came into port at the Philadelphia Navy Yard Saturday afternoon. The all purpose aircraft carrier was decommissioned last summer after nearly 40 years of active service for the United States Navy. The vessel was originally scheduled to be towed into the Navy Yard on Thursday, but high winds kept her at sea until Saturday afternoon, which ended up working out, as thousands of people lined the banks of the Delaware, from the Bay in Delaware all the way to the Commodore Barry Bridge Park in Chester to the boat launch and fishing piers of West Deptford, New Jersey. Matt Johnson and I met at Red Bank Battlefield in National Park, New Jersey (where he did a photo essay last year). Red Bank is home to Fort Mercer, the Jersey-side fort opposite the River from PA's Fort Mifflin, which in concert defended colonial interests from the British and Hessians during the Revolutionary War. (They served their purpose well until they were abandoned during the British siege of November 1777, which ultimately led to the Continental Army's reset in Valley Forge.) The present Battlefield Park leads down to the river's shore, and one can hike nearly a mile north around the river's bend -- during low tide. Matt and I did that and watched five tugboats and loads of other escorts such as the Philadelphia Police and Fire Departments' marine units bring Big John to shore. (Getting back to the Battlefield during high tide was a little more adventurous, since a good part of our hiking route was underwater.) Henry Holcomb was at the head of the USS JFK coverage and had a great write-up of Saturday's events in yesterday's Inquirer. Navsource.org features a number of historical photos of the aircraft carrier, including the christening by Jacqueline and Caroline Kennedy HERE. The fate of the Kennedy is, as of now, uncertain. As reported by Henry Holcomb, she is "classified 'out of commission in reserve.'" That could mean a return to active duty -- meaning a load of renovation and modernization -- or it could mean relocation to another port of call to function as a museum (similar to the Battleship New Jersey over in Camden). In the interim, there is one enormous ship called John F Kennedy at the very bottom of South Broad Street. GO TO PHOTOS –B Love |
