So Spontaneous!
Television reports of a past American President being visibly moved by a British military band playing the American national anthem outside Buckingham Palace, just days after the 9/11 terror attack, didn't come as much of a surprise. To me, this ‘reception’ was just another example of a long and proud navy-based tradition.
I'll leave it to Lorryn Young, who posted the message below to the LinersList Group on Yahoo! in June 2002, to tell a similar story…
Lorryn recalled…
Thanks for the information on the ‘Green Goddess’. In fact I was invited on her for a party in New York
prior to her World Cruise sailing. It was interesting as she was berthed next to the aircraft carrier USS Independence
which had just docked.
This was at the time of tremendous protests going on about the Vietnam War. The poor sailors on the carrier were not allowed ashore, due to the potential problems that might ensue if they were to encounter the protestors. The ship, now in a home port, had been away at sea for some 9 months!
[Left:]
Caronia belching black smoke from her anchorage at Kingston, Jamaica 20 January 1966 whilst en-route to New York
Photo: Peter Stevens
What happened was that Caronia's Captain came down to the lounge where the party was in full swing with music and dancing, etc. He interrupted the ‘proceedings’ to inform us of what was about to happen.
At his suggestion, along with the ship's band, we all scrambled up to the port side of Boat Deck. Caronia's band then proceeded to play ‘God Bless America!’ in honour to the carrier.
The sailors aboard the Independence were all in tears, as were we!
The ship gave the Caronia a blast of her horns in appreciation. Shortly thereafter we heard the strains of ‘God Save the Queen’ floating softly through the air, coming from the Independence.
As Caronia sailed, she received extraordinary bell and horn salutes from the Independence. All my life I've never forgotten this incredible experience. Such a spontaneous show of solidarity, given and received so gratefully and graciously!
It was these sorts of things that made some of the lesser sized liners so special in the eyes of their passengers! That is why CARONIA was so fondly loved, not just for this one incident, but for her always gracious crew. My aunts, as screen stars, sailed on her many times.
