Message from the Chairman of the SS United States Foundation

[rhwest...@yahoo.com]

Dear SSUS Supporters: Let me start by saying that I am angry. I am
furious. But not at those who have had the best interests of the Big U
at heart. I do, however, vehemently disagree with and fault the
approach of other organizations who over the past six years
misguidedly worked with NCL in the hopes that they would restore the
Big U. I feel their energy was wasted on gatherings and documentaries.
Their motives were noble but they have failed. So now the Foundation
is back with a vengeance—but a positive vengeance to be sure. Yes,
these six years have cost us enormously and the setback can’t be so
easily undone. Face it: those of us who bought into NCL’s vision for
the Big U have been taken. Get angry. Get real mad. Maybe that anger
can be turned into what needs to happen now and it’s not continuing to
“work” with NCL in anyway other then forcing them, demanding that they
go to Congress and work for a proper restoration for the SS United
States. We are talking about a foreign owned corporation that has
been given an exemption from the Jones Act to cruise the Hawaiian
waters from port-to-port affording NCL a privilege accorded only to
American owned maritime companies under the Jones Act.

It is my strong belief, and that of many others, that working out a
deal in Congress to save the SS United States is the least NCL can do
after floating the hopes of so many for so long. The good people of
the SSUS Conservancy, the one organization of Big U supporters who has
worked closely with NCL over the past six years, needs to demand that
NCL do something in Congress. They have the contacts, they have the
phone numbers and email address. NCL needs to be the organization
doing SOMETHING to Save the United States!

Robert Hudson Westover
Chairman,
SS United States Foundation
Washington, DC

BTW: Keep your eyes and ears open. Many feel that when the lowest tide
of the year approaches this is when the United States will be towed
away because her height keeps her from going under the Walt Whitman
Bridge.

New Press!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Check out the latest media being generated for the cause (it’s not much
—considering the urgency—but we’re building momentum):

http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/?inc=article&id=1140&x=ship-overboard&_c=news
(Oh, and for the record, in the PW article, I never called NCL “evil”
that was a misquote.)

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/queen-atlantic-ocean-2308100-mary-crossing

http://www.charleston.net/news/2009/feb/18/ship_lovers_fear_fabled_liner_lost72017

http://www.origin.popularmechanics.com/technology/transportation/4263478.html