Governor Saltonstall spoke of America’s plans for a great merchant
marine fleet, and said, “I congratulate you on the opportunities that
lie ahead of you.”
Capt. Walter K. Queen, U.S.N.R., Ret., chairman of the Academy’s board
of commissioners, announced that the total number of Massachusetts
lads trained for officer duty since the Academy was founded now was
2,277. In keeping with a long-time custom, the Boston Marine Society,
established in 1742 and the oldest marine society in the world,
presented its prize to Vincent Francis Leahy of Brookline as “the
graduate excelling in those qualities making for the best shipmaster.”
Prizes were presented also to other outstanding students by the Society
of the War of 1812 and the Massachusetts State Society.
Cape Cod, pioneered by men of the sea, is an appropriate setting for a
modern school of shipmasters. The future looks extremely promising and
the Academy, hardly established on the new site, is steadily expanding.
Its erstwhile students are in the thick of action in this war, and many
of them saw the worst of it while “delivering the goods” to Murmansk.
Some have been killed, some wounded and some decorated for valor.
Cape Cod and New England at large will hear much about the
Massachusetts Maritime Academy as time goes on, for the signs point to
increasing heights of achievement by the American merchant marine after
peace is won.
Capt. Claude O. Bassett, U.S.N.R., is the Academy superintendent. A
mild and good-humored veteran and thoroughly schooled and seasoned in
the profession of the sea.