One could also be stunned to find that Weinstein wrote these stanzas within the ship’s deck log. Usually deck logs should not the place for descriptive language, as their function is to function a ship’s every day chronology of occasions for administrative or authorized causes.
Nevertheless, these traces that can without end seem within the official document of Lake Champlain’s deck log, are a part of a long-standing Navy custom known as the Midnight New Yr’s Day Poem. This custom permits the primary entry in a ship’s deck log to be written in verse.
To encourage Sailors to hold on the distinctive naval custom of the Midnight New Yr’s Day Poem, Naval Historical past and Heritage Command (NHHC) holds a fleet-wide New Yr’s Deck Log Entry contest.
NHHC introduced the 2022 New Yr’s Deck Log Contest winners, that are as follows:
1st Place: Ens. Sarah Weinstein – USS Lake Champlain (CG 57)
2nd Place: Lt.j.g. Megan Stilley – USS Russell (DDG 59)
third Place: Lt. Austyn Sutton – USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54)
This custom supplies a human facet to the deck log, giving a glimpse into the minds of Sailors and shipboard life all through the years.
“The essential, heavy work that will get finished onboard a warship rightfully will get the lion’s share of focus, however it’s essential to not overlook the custom and levity that create every ship’s sense of identification and group,” stated Lt. Cmdr. Nick Ruesch, one of many contest judges and Navy Reserve Naval Historical past and Heritage (NR NHH) Operations Officer.
The Midnight New Yr’s Day Poem is in contrast to some other deck log entry. On this night time annually, Sailors can specific their artistic aspect by poetically writing the primary deck log entry.
“I loved the artistic manner the assorted authors shared their ship’s accomplishments, deployments, and main milestones,” stated Lt. Cmdr. Sarah Eggleston, a contest choose assigned to NR NHH. “2021 was one other difficult 12 months, and plenty of logs did an awesome job documenting the harder aspect of sea responsibility with a little bit of humor. In addition they added some nice views into every day shipboard life.”
In USS Curtis Wilbur’s first deck log entry of 2022, Lt. Austyn Sutton highlighted actions for every month of 2021, together with elements of the ship’s arduous deployment and prolonged time spent at sea with no port visits as a consequence of COVID-19 restrictions. “After 5 months at sea, April was a relaxation/Mount Fuji by morning had us feeling our greatest,” the deck log famous.
The Midnight New Yr’s Day poem written by Lt.j.g. Megan Stilley in USS Russell’s deck log echoed Sutton’s sentiments about 2021: “We made first rate headway throughout the Pacific/ No port calls no drawback, we sailed amidst a world pandemic.”
Capt. Liz Leonard, one of many contest judges assigned to NR NHH, linked to this 12 months’s contest entries in a particular manner.
“I loved this custom once I was a navigator, and it was a pleasure to learn so many excellent entries this 12 months,” stated Leonard. “I completely loved the creativity and professionalism our Sailors showcased via their efforts to remodel a routine log right into a poem with meter, rhyme, and phrase photos.”
The precise origin of the New Yr’s custom is unknown. The Navy Occasions promoted the custom in 1968 with a contest, and so they acquired a whole bunch of entries. In 2020 NHHC revived the competition hoping to protect the custom and enhance participation all through the fleet. This 12 months NHHC acquired 37 entries, which is a rise of 12 % from the earlier 12 months.
“Traditions like these reinforce satisfaction in sea service and distinguishes itself from different professions,” stated Leonard. “It makes every day routines memorable and showcases the expertise of our Sailors.”
The primary prize winner will obtain an engraved piece of copper sheathing from the USS Structure and a certificates. The entire winners will obtain an NHHC commander’s coin. To learn the profitable entries, go to https://www.historical past.navy.mil/analysis/archives/resources-for-the-fleet/deck-logs/new-years-contest/2022.html.
NHHC, positioned on the Washington Navy Yard, is answerable for preserving, analyzing, and disseminating U.S. naval historical past and heritage. It supplies the information basis for the Navy by sustaining traditionally related assets and merchandise that mirror the Navy’s distinctive and enduring contributions via our nation’s historical past and helps the fleet by helping with and delivering skilled analysis, evaluation, and interpretive companies. NHHC contains many actions, together with the Navy Division Library, the Navy Operational Archives, the Navy artwork and artifact collections, underwater archeology, Navy histories, 10 museums, USS Structure restore facility, and the historic ship Nautilus.
