NMHA to Honor Admiral Thad Allen and Marine Artist John M. Barber

Admiral Thad W. Allen, Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, will receive the National Maritime Historical Society’s NMHS Bravo Zulu Award, given in recognition of heroic and inspirational performance in the fine tradition of the sea services. In presenting this award, the Society salutes Admiral Allen’s exemplary and dynamic leadership of the United States Coast Guard as Commandant, and in particular his leadership during Hurricane Katrina, where the world watched the effective rescue operations under his command. Admiral Allen’s inspirational leadership brought to the forefront of American minds the work of this effective and important organization. In giving this award, the Society recognizes Admiral Allen’s leadership of 91,000 men and women – active duty Coast Guard personnel, civilians, Reservists and volunteer Coast Guard Auxiliarists, who save lives and property at sea, ensuring maritime safety, protecting our ports and maritime infrastructure from terrorism, securing our borders, maintaining navigational aids, protecting our maritime environment, maintaining shipping routes and responding to natural disasters. NMHS chairman emeritus and Coast Guard Foundation trustee Howard Slotnick said of Admiral Allen, “because of his leadership during hurricane Katrina, the whole world saw what the Coast Guard does on a daily basis, but usually 50 miles out at sea. His dynamic leadership brought to the forefront of American minds the work of this effective and important organization. Admiral Allen doesn’t have failure in his vocabulary.” The NMHS Bravo Zulu Award will be presented at the Washington Awards Dinner at the Army and Navy Club on Farragut Square, 901 Seventeenth Street, NW, Washington, DC on Thursday, 16 April 2009. The Society will also recognize renowned Chesapeake Bay marine artist John M. Barber, who will receive the Society’s Distinguished Service Award. John Barber has painted the Chesapeake Bay and the Eastern Seaboard for three decades. Although he has also become known for his cityscapes and architectural art, Barber is renowned for his maritime subjects, primarily the Chesapeake and its vanishing way of life. We often find in his oils and prints the Bay’s few remaining oyster dredging skipjacks and other traditional vessels. Calling Barber the “premier chronicler of Chesapeake Bay life,” J. Russell Jinishian, the nation’s leading authority on contemporary marine art, praised the artist’s technical skill and painstaking attention to detail. “Many artists paint skipjacks,” he explains, “but John’s emotive depth puts him on another level entirely.” Barber is a Fellow of the American Society of Marine Artists and author of John M. Barber’s Chesapeake. His love for the Chesapeake Bay is reflected not only in his art but also in his environmental and philanthropic endeavors. Through donations of his art and copyrights, nearly half a million dollars have been raised for non-profit conservation groups concerned with preserving the Chesapeake Bay. The Dinner will feature distinguished sailor, America’s Cup winner and yachting commentator (and past NMHS award recipient) Gary Jobson as Master of Ceremonies. The US Coast Guard Academy Cadet “Idlers” will travel from New London, CT, to perform under the direction of Dr. Robert Newton. Proceeds from the event support the work of the National Maritime Historical Society. As the national voice for our maritime heritage, NMHS has led the charge since 1963 to educate and inspire successive generations of Americans about our seafaring heritage and of the role the sea has played in the development of our nation. The National Maritime Historical Society is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit membership organization, with 20,000 members around the country, dedicated to preserving and promoting America’s maritime traditions. The Society’s quarterly magazine, Sea History, brings to life our seafaring history, from the ancient mariners of Greece and Rome to the heroic efforts of the seamen of WWII. It supports modern efforts to keep alive our maritime heritage and traditions, from ship restoration projects, to maritime museum programs, to tall ship events. The Society’s work covers a broad spectrum of activities from sea training for students to stepping in when an historic ship is endangered. The cost for the Dinner is $200 per person; various levels of sponsorship are available. Reservations can be made by calling NMHS at 914-737-7878, or emailing [email protected] . Seating is limited. Please visit www.seahistory.org for more information.