The “Christmas Ship,” a tradition in the U.S. Navy, began in 1915 so that ships’ crews could entertain local children in foreign ports,”

USS Breck

Friends of the U.S. Naval Institute,  The “Christmas Ship,” a tradition in the U.S. Navy, began in 1915 so that ships’ crews could entertain local children in foreign ports,” Robert E. Davis relates in his Naval Institute Press biography Baldwin of the Times on the life of Hanson W. Baldwin – Naval Academy graduate, officer, and 40-year, New York Times military correspondent/editor. In December 1926, Ensign Baldwin was serving on the USS Breck (DD-283) making a port call in Marseilles, France.             “ On Christmas Eve, the crews of the Breck and the USS Toucey (DD-282) entertained fifty boys and girls from a local Catholic orphanage. The ships were decorated with signal flags, branches of fir trees were lashed to the masts, and all the ships’ lights were turned on, including the search lights. Santa Claus (Père Noël) made an appearance to hand out gifts to the children:  pocketknives for the boys and dolls and handkerchiefs for the girls. Carols were sung, and all the children had an enjoyable time.”             As we celebrate this holiday season with so many at home enjoying family and friends, we pause to honor and say a prayer for the safety and success of our men and women in uniform far from home, at sea, in distant lands, and in the air, vigilant, in action providing for our Nation’s security. All of us at the Naval Institute thank our Sailors, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, Soldiers, and Airmen for their service. We wish you the best of holidays. We wish you good health and a Happy New Year. Peter H. Daly Vice Admiral, USN (Ret.) CEO and Publisher, U.S. Naval Institute Life Member and Member since 1978