Sloop Providence was returning to its namesake city following a visit to Kingston, N.Y. where they toured the Hudson River for the 225th anniversary of the British invasion of the Hudson Valley. While en route to Providence, the Sloop was able to divert into the Thames River for the first ever sail-by for the sloop.
"We wanted to do this for symbolism of the ships' namesake," said Richard Weinberg, the city of Providence webmaster. "We were able to bridge the centuries of history and pay tribute to the people who serve aboard USS Providence."
The crew of the submarine Providence was honored to receive the greetings from their historical namesake. Several members of the crew assembled on the stern of the submarine and returned the salute as the sloop passed by the submarine and fired three shots from their broadside cannons.
"It's pretty cool to participate in something as important as this and to be a part of this kind of military history and tradition," said EM2(SS) John Smith, a Providence crewmember. "It was cool of them to sail by and render honors from a warship of the past to a warship of the present. It shows the continuing importance of naval history and how we look to the past as we move into the future."
The event also gave John J. Lombardi, Mayor of Providence, the opportunity to honor the submarine's crew.
"The city of Providence is proud of the Providence's central role in Operation Enduring Freedom," he said. "On behalf of all Providence residents, I salute the members of her crew for the exceptional courage and bravery and for the tremendous pride they have brought to our capital city and to our entire nation."
The Sloop Providence, based in Providence, R.I., serves as an innovative educational tool for teachers and offers a life-changing experience for students. The sloop's crew brings school children aboard and shows them what it's like to work as a team and recreate activities of centuries past such as raising the sails or lowering the anchors.
The 110-foot long ship was built in 1976 and bought by the city of Providence in 1995 as part of the Providence Maritime Heritage Foundation to ensure it continues to be an educational, historical and cultural resource for the public.
"The Providence played an important role, not only in the formation of the Rhode Island Colonial Navy, but also in our nation's early struggle for independence," Lombardi said.
The Sloop is open between the months of May and October, and visitors can accompany the crew on public sails during that time. For more information on the Providence, visit their website at www.sloopprovidence.org
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