National Maritime Day to be Commemorated on Galveston Island Friday

Galveston Island will host a commemoration for National Maritime Day on Friday, May 20 at the Texas Seaport Museum on Pier 22. The event begins at 2 p.m. and is free to the public.

Photo by Captain John Peterlin III

This year’s ceremony will include performances by Galveston’s Ball High School Band, a history of National Maritime Day, a wreath laying ceremony at the U.S. Merchant Marine Memorial Plaque located near the 1877 Barque ELISSA, a tug boat water cannon display, and more.

“The City of Galveston grew from its seaport and its maritime commerce and, in recognition of this connection to its maritime heritage, there is a sailing ship at the center of the Galveston City Seal.” says Capt. John G. Peterlin III, Senior Director of Marketing and Administration at the Port of Galveston. “The ceremony is open to the public and all are invited in recognizing and honoring Merchant Mariners, past and present, as well as recognizing and honoring our maritime industry and the contributions that the industry makes to our nation and our standard of living.”

Galveston harbor is home to the public Port of Galveston, many private terminals and marine-related facilities, as well as Texas Maritime Academy at Texas A&M University at Galveston. Texas Maritime Academy is one of seven federal and state maritime academies, which are located from Maine to California and the Gulf to the Great Lakes, training highly skilled and professional Merchant Marine officers and the future leaders of the maritime industry.

The National Maritime Day Commemoration Ceremony is presented by the Port of Galveston, Texas Maritime Academy at Texas A&M University at Galveston, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy-Kings Point Alumni Galveston Bay-Brazosport Chapter and the Propeller Club of the United States, Port of Galveston.

Galveston Historical Foundation / Texas Seaport Museum, Bay-Houston Towing Co. / G&H Towing Company, Galveston-Texas City Pilots, United States Coast Guard, American Maritime Officers – AMO, Galveston Seafarers Center and Galveston Ball High School Band have also cooperated in this year’s event.

For more information on National Maritime Day, please contact the Texas Seaport Museum at 409-763-1877.