121 years ago, this month, May 1898. Battle of Manila Bay.

[aerialbridge]

The original Thrilla in Manila. Fought by Commodore Dewey and his seven ship Asiatic Squadron May 1, 1898. 11 Spanish ships destroyed, 250 men injured, 150 killed. American losses: none. Prompting the question for medal collectors- Dewey or Sampson?

 

Dewey.

[Teamski]

Let's hope that the USS Olympia will last another 120 years.....

 

-Ski

[aerialbridge]

Let's hope that the USS Olympia will last another 120 years.....

 

-Ski

 

Absolutely. It's a unique, tangible piece of American history and connection to the past. Where that ship has been is pretty amazing- Built at San Francisco, launched in 1892, commissioned in 1895, its first assignment to replace the protected cruiser Baltimore as flagship of the Asiatic Squadron, it's 8 inch main battery leading Dewey's squadron at Manila in '98, twenty years later, its 5 inch guns bombarding Murmansk and embarking landing parties during the Russian civil war. And a couple years later, bringing the Unknown Soldier home to Arlington before Olympia was decommissioned a year later at Philadelphia, almost 100 years ago. If those decks and bulkheads could talk, what tales they would tell. After what Olympia's been through and facing the prospect of becoming an artificial reef less than a decade ago, if it's not preserved as long as there is an America, a future decision to "let it go" would be a sad commentary on that future state of the union. Money will always be needed, consider giving a few bucks to preserve our history and the oldest steel ship on the planet.

 

https://flagshipolympia.org/today