‘Walking into history,’ Dillard tours USS Constitution | The American Legion – The American Legion

It wasnt just an ordinary department visit for American Legion National Commander Paul E. Dillard April 1. The former petty officer and Vietnam War veteran toured the oldest commissioned ship in the U.S. Navy, the USS Constitution, during his visit to the Department of Massachusetts.

Its amazing, Dillard said. Ive read about the ship but going on board and seeing how the sailors lived back then, along with the gun power of the Constitution, is mindboggling.

Dillard and American Legion Auxiliary National President Kathy Daudistel led a delegation of prominent Massachusetts American Legion Family members during a morning visit to Old Ironsides, and the adjacent USS Constitution Museum, in Bostons Charlestown district.

Launched in 1797, the three-masted wooden-hulled frigate is the worlds oldest ship that is still afloat.

Shes still sea-worthy, said Lance Garrison, who guided the tour. Though the ship is towed when it makes about seven short trips each year to sea, the tugging is a cautionary measure to preserve the historical floating monument to early Navy history.

Navy Commander Billie J. Farrell added to the Constitutions illustrious history in January by becoming the first woman to captain the 225-year-old ship. Every sailor is interviewed and hand-selected to come here, she said of her 80-member crew. I can honestly say that I have the best sailors in the U.S. Navy today.

She was also recruited by Dillard as the newest member of American Legion J.W. Conway Bunker Hill Post 26 in Charlestown. She was complimented an additional American Legion Auxiliary membership courtesy of Daudistel.

Past National Commander Jake Comer pointed out that The American Legion supported an initiative for Massachusetts school children to donate their penny collections toward the refurbishment of the Constitution in the 1990s. The pennies added up to a significant amount, according to Comer.

If the national commander didnt visit the Constitution, it wouldnt have been worth having him to come to Massachusetts, Comer added. Were very proud of this ship. Hes a Navy veteran and to walk in to the Constitution is like walking in to history.

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'Walking into history,' Dillard tours USS Constitution | The American Legion - The American Legion