As we welcome 2025, Americans for a Stronger Navy extends heartfelt wishes for a joyful and prosperous New Year to our members, subscribers, and supporters. Your dedication to our mission continues to inspire us as we advocate for a strong and resilient Navy.
To celebrate, we’d like to share a piece of naval tradition highlighted in The Washington Post by retired Navy captain Sam Tangredi. His article, “On New Year’s Day, the U.S. Navy Rules the Rhymes,” features poetic entries from U.S. Navy ship logs—a unique way sailors have rung in the New Year since the 1920s.
Here’s an excerpt from the USS Coral Sea’s New Year’s log, written by Lt. J.G. R.J. Barrett in 1975:
USS Coral Sea
By R.J. Barrett, lieutenant junior grade, U.S. Navy Reserve
Assumed the watch.
Nineteen seventy-five, the very first day
Finds Coral Sea in Subic Bay.
Section Four is the “lucky one”
To stay aboard and miss the fun.
Our shipmates all have gone ashore,
At twelve o’clock we heard the roar.
So far away and yet so near;
Moored starboard side to Alava Pier.
[Full poem continues in The Washington Post article.]
This snapshot of life aboard a U.S. Navy vessel showcases the creativity and camaraderie of our sailors. You can read the full article, including poems from the USS Constellation and USS Charleston, by visiting The Washington Post.
As we step into the new year, let’s remember the sacrifices and traditions that unite our Navy community. Thank you for your ongoing support as we continue to champion the needs of our Navy and the brave individuals who serve.
Fair winds and following seas,
The Americans for a Stronger Navy Team