Relationship again to 1929, each January 1st, the officer of the deck or one other designated particular person on a U.S. Navy vessel, might write the usually customary deck log entry in poetic model of a to mark the transition to the New Yr.
Deck logs are official information that register required studies, important occasions and actions on a ship, and are maintained for administrative and historic functions. Nevertheless, the conventional model of deck log entries is usually dry and factual, specializing in the ship’s location, climate circumstances, and notable occurrences. The custom of the New Yr’s Deck Log Poem permits Sailors to inject a little bit little bit of humor, creativity, and private expression into their responsibility of sustaining the deck log. It offers a means for the crew to bond with their fellow shipmates and have fun the vacation spirit even when they’re removed from dwelling and family members.
Over time, it has turn out to be a cherished custom, with every ship placing its personal distinctive spin on the New Yr’s Deck Log Poem. Yearly, Naval Historical past and Heritage Command spotlights essentially the most inventive deck log poems in an annual contest. Sailors from throughout the fleet are inspired to submit their most inventive deck log poems, turning the normally formal information of ship actions into vibrant and imaginative expressions of naval life.
“I feel the custom of the New Yr’s Deck Log is extraordinarily vital,” stated Alexis Van Pool, the current Deck Log coordinator at NHHC. “It’s a method to join with the previous, with your complete historical past of the Navy. In 1929, you’d have a younger Ensign writing the poem, and now in 2023 you may have a equally younger Ensign writing it. There’s one thing bigger than themselves that types a line between the 2 of them connecting them practically 100 years aside.”
Whereas the officer of the deck is commonly the most typical writer of those poems, it isn’t unusual for different crew members, particularly these with a expertise for poetry or a knack for inventive writing, to contribute or collaborate on the New Yr’s Deck Log Poem. This custom fosters a way of camaraderie and permits Sailors to collectively have fun the vacation in a novel and significant means.
As 2023 involves a detailed, it’s within the custom of the New Yr’s Deck Log Poem to discover a second of reflection and unity. In a 12 months marked by heavy operational commitments and prolonged intervals away from family members, Sailors the world over have confronted challenges with exceptional tenacity. By their dedication and sacrifice, they’ve upheld the values and mission of nation and the U.S. Navy. The New Yr’s Deck Log Poem has allowed for the deck log to transcend its position as a easy document, changing into a cherished and enduring expression of the Navy’s heritage and custom.
“Within the strains of the Navy’s New Yr’s Deck Log Poems, we discover a distinctive tapestry of resilience, camaraderie, and custom, woven collectively by the women and men who serve with unwavering dedication,” stated Sam Cox, director of Naval Historical past and Heritage Command, Rear Adm. (retired). “As we boldly go and plot our course for the New Yr, we’re hopeful that this cherished naval custom continues to be a supply of unity and inspiration, reminding us that even in essentially the most difficult of instances, the spirit of the U.S. Navy perseveres.”
To be eligible for the competitors:
Entries should be from a commissioned US Navy vessel deployed or at shore.
Entries should be submissions to the ship’s official deck log.
Entries should be written as the primary entry on January 1, 2024.
Entries should be unclassified.
All paygrades energetic and reserve are eligible.
First to 3rd place winners shall be introduced in April, Nationwide Poetry Month. The primary-place writer will obtain a bit of historic copper sheathing from USS Structure.
Submission will solely be accepted by e mail at nhhc-decklogs@us.navy.mil. Scanned PDFs of the deck log entry are the popular type of digital submission.
For extra details about the deck log completion, go to NHHC at www.historical past.navy.mil.
NHHC, positioned on the Washington Navy Yard, is liable for preserving, analyzing, and disseminating US naval historical past and heritage. It offers the data basis for the Navy by sustaining traditionally related assets and merchandise that mirror the Navy’s distinctive and enduring contributions by way of our nation’s historical past and helps the fleet by helping with and delivering skilled analysis, evaluation, and interpretive companies. NHHC includes many actions, together with the Navy Division Library, the Navy Operational Archives, the Navy artwork and artifact collections, underwater archeology, Navy histories, ten museums, the united statesConstitution restore facility, and the historic ship Nautilus.
