Bridge
to Battleship's Future Former Battleship Officer Pledges Funds to
Restore USS Massachusetts Navigation Bridge
Former
Crewmember LCDR Ben Schulman has generously pledged 50% of the funding to restore
the navigation bridge aboard the Battleship Massachusetts. The remaining
funding will be provided through a National Park Services' Save Americas Treasures
Matching Grant.
Executive Director Ron Catudal first proposed this project
to Ben over a year ago, sending him pictures of the results of mother nature's
fury and over 62 years of wear and tear.
"Commander
Schulman stood many watches on the bridge of this ship, serving as navigator during
some of the most notable moments in our nation's history. His pledge will allow
us to make numerous improvement, including restorative and educational oral history
monitors."
This is hardly the
first time Ben has lead a historic preservation project on board Big Mamie. Last
year, LCDR Schulman co-sponsored the restoration of a 12-ton antiaircraft gun
on the battleship's main deck, and in 2002, he sponsored the restoration of the
Admirals' Quarters on board BB59—personally returning the admiral's ash-tray
he "liberated" from that very space some 60 years earlier!
