BOSTON (April 14, 2021) Quartermaster 2nd Class Rachel Dill, from Elgin, Illinois, sweat lines to assist the rest of the crew with furling ‘Old Ironsides’ spanker sail.
Constitution, the world’s oldest commissioned warship afloat, played a crucial role in the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812, actively defending sea lanes from 1797 to 1855. Designated America’s Ship of State, Constitution and its crew engage in community outreach and education about the ship’s history and the importance of naval power to more than 500,000 visitors each year.
With more than 90 percent of all trade traveling by sea, and 95 percent of the world’s international phone and internet traffic carried through fiber optic cables lying on the ocean floor, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity and security of the United States is directly linked to a strong and ready Navy.
