Another sound of freedom — or is it?
November 9th, 2009 | Blogs Historical Life at Sea | Posted by Phil Ewing
Seaman Sarah Rickett, of the USS Constitution, demonstrated how to load one of its cannons. Neighbors of the ship have complained its gun salutes are too loud // Navy
In Hampton Roads, Va., the punches and counter-punches over the noise of fighter jets from Naval Air Station Oceana eventually reached the point that people began putting stickers on their cars that read “I ♥ jet noise.” The earsplitting roar of jet engines is the “sound of freedom,” supporters said, and if you don’t like it — you can giiit out.
An even stranger Navy noise situation is in play up in Boston, where, according to the local paper, some of the finer elements of society are complaining about the regular cannon salutes and other “noise” put out by the USS Constitution. One example: “Over the summer, we have entertained several times, and we have had guests sit up in shock when the cannon goes off.”
Heavens! One scarcely dares dream of it! It simply won’t do to startle Ambassador Carstairs and Lady Uppington-Smythe as they try to enjoy their vichyssoise! And yet the Navy apparently plans to accede to none of the requests quoted by the Herald:
- A reduction in the size of the battery charge would help.
- In the morning, a reduction in the National Anthem volume would help.
- On Sat and Sun, would you be open to eliminating or delaying the morning salute to say 9am?
Just as quickly as the complaints materialized, the Constitution’s other neighbors and advocates have come to its defense. Some of them are quoted here, but two others are names that will be familiar to frequent visitors on the Deck — Boston Maggie isn’t named that because she’s from Peoria, and as a hometown girl, she’s going to bat for the Constitution. And although Mike Burleson makes his home in graceful Charleston, S.C., he too is on the side of the world’s oldest floating commissioned warship.
What do you think? Should Old Ironsides scale back or stop its cannon salutes to be a good neighbor?
Comments
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Dan Smith Says:
November 9th, 2009 at 3:16 pmOh…to be able to hear those sounds! I live in San Diego, but wow I wish I could be there for that! Don’t scale back or drop the salutes!
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Mike Burleson Says:
November 9th, 2009 at 6:27 pmDan that would truly be wonderful.
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Maggie Says:
November 11th, 2009 at 6:43 pmThanks for posting about this story. You can go to our petition to express support for Old Ironsides and give a BZ to her crew.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/USSConstitution/ -
Yankee Fan Says:
November 12th, 2009 at 1:09 pmI think that the cannon salutes are appropriate and serve to remind the citizens of Boston of the Navy which guarantees their standard of living. They should also take the Hampton Roads Naval Air Station and relocate it to Boston. (And relocate anything else that would annoy Bostonians…)