Zoom Call "COMING UP" 09 DEC 21 @ 1500
Zoom Call Summary - 09 DEC 21
The call commenced at 1500EST with former Ship’s Commanders Millward and Reilly in attendance.
Melanie Brewer of the Oliver Hazard Perry Shipyard (OHPS) started off with a status update on the Phase that we are currently in, which is Phase 2 of 3 total phases. Each phase has its own requirements that must be met in order to advance to the next. The current phase (Phase 2) is detail below in the Admiral’s Briefing and although it is “picking up momentum”, it is still in need of our assistance in getting to the final phase. We can help on the financial aspect by checking with our employers to see if they participate in sponsorship of the Veteran Community, Historical Preservation and Education of the General Public as well as our future military members. A solicitation letter (from OHPS) is available upon request to forward on to your employer. Please let us know if you would like a copy.
From Admiral Reilly:
Shipmates –
The Oliver Hazard Perry Shipyard (OHPS) efforts to bring FFG-40 to Erie is picking up momentum and they are now working on their Phase II ship donation request submission to the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Director for Surface Ship Maintenance and Modernization (SEA-21)’s Inactive Ships Office (SEA 21I).
This is a very complex and detailed phase of a three-phase application process which is covered in NAVSEA’s Ship Donation Program Manual. I have attached a copy of the manual for everyone’s information and as you can see in it, phase II includes the applicant’s need to provide NAVSEA with a market analysis, business/financial, museum ship staffing (both hires and volunteers), and environmental plans.
OHPS’s phase II submission is due to NAVSEA in September 2022 and if acceptable the next phase will include OHPS submitting their plans for taking custody, towing, mooring/berthing, etc. Phase III has a notional six month timeline so if OHPS is able to stay on schedule FFG-40 could conceivably arrive in Erie the spring of 2023.
(The above said, my experience with EDSON (DD-946)’s road to becoming a museum ship was that their organization persistently worked with NAVSEA for over a decade to finally meet all requirements needed to get that ship to its location in Bay City, Michigan.)
Bill Millward sent me the below link to a recent local Erie media article which gives a good summary of where the project stands right now. It also mentions that OHPS has hired a firm to assist them in doing market research, part of which is a survey to gauge public interest.
We as a group can make an important and timely impact to OHPS’s efforts by participating in the survey. The article includes a link to the survey (posted on the surveymonkey.com website). I have also included a separate link to the survey below the Erie story link for use as desired.
Why a floating warship museum in Erie could take years to arrive (goerie.com)
OHPS Community Survey (surveymonkey.com)
I believe that OHPS has the drive and determination to be successful and is steadfastly working towards gaining local support from Erie officials and the local public. The FFG40 association (as well as other FFG-7 associations) can play a big part in this effort, by not only supporting the market survey but also later on in the donation planning and execution timeline when OHPS begins to address subject of volunteer support.
More to follow, for sure!
Happy holidays and best wishes, Rob Reilly
Robert D. Reilly, Jr.
Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy (Retired)
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Along with previous donations there has recently been a donation pledge of $1 million dollars which does go a long way to helping us meet the $3 million dollar mark. But again, our assistance is needed to get them to that last mark. You can also help by forwarding the website donation page around to friends, colleagues, etc. That web address is: https://perryshipyard.com/donate
A new website (using WordPress for you digital junkies) is currently in the works that will assist in the fundraising efforts as well as keep you more informed. It will be a lot more interactive and give us all an opportunity to discuss the ship (and its planned movement) in a better forum than just the Facebook pages (there are six) that we are currently using.
On a related note, the new website is solely project based and the Halyburton will be representing the efforts of Commodore Perry, Frigate History (OHP and by association all other classes) as well as Naval History in general.
To that end we will maintain our website FFG40.com to keep our ship’s historical record alive and we encourage everyone to donate stories, pictures, etc., to the site so that we can achieve a complete history of the ship and her crews. All of the data, pictures, memorabilia, etc. will be made available to the museum crew that will eventually be working to get the ship ready for visitors once she has moved to Erie. So, scan you cruise books, find those old pictures from port visits (the cleans ones gentlemen), missions (Achille Lauro, Maersk Alabama, Constable’s Dues and many others), System/Ship upgrades (in the yards, Charleston, Mayport, etc.), UNREPs (with the Iowa in 85’) training exercises/requals (GITMO, RoseyRoads), Fleet Week (boat parades) and any events or times the ship was dressed to be seen. And get them to us at usshalyburton40@gmail.com so we can get them up on the current site as well as get them in order for the ship’s museum crew.
Finally, from a fundraising perspective, we are looking to separate the “ship’s store” from the website and revamp it to cater to a broader audience. Several of you have made the suggestion to open the store’s product line up to “all frigate crews” to help us facilitate the financial needs of the OHPS team to get the ship to Erie. So we have started the process of putting this together and welcome any and all suggestions to include in the store. If have any ideas, pictures of previously “ship swag” that you would like to see reproduced, please let us know. We are already working on personalized “embroidered” polos, hats, jackets, ¼ zip pullovers, etc., so let us know what you would like to see. And again, the profits will be donated to the OHPS team.
Regards, the Reunion Committee
Melanie Brewer of the Oliver Hazard Perry Shipyard (OHPS) started off with a status update on the Phase that we are currently in, which is Phase 2 of 3 total phases. Each phase has its own requirements that must be met in order to advance to the next. The current phase (Phase 2) is detail below in the Admiral’s Briefing and although it is “picking up momentum”, it is still in need of our assistance in getting to the final phase. We can help on the financial aspect by checking with our employers to see if they participate in sponsorship of the Veteran Community, Historical Preservation and Education of the General Public as well as our future military members. A solicitation letter (from OHPS) is available upon request to forward on to your employer. Please let us know if you would like a copy.
From Admiral Reilly:
Shipmates –
The Oliver Hazard Perry Shipyard (OHPS) efforts to bring FFG-40 to Erie is picking up momentum and they are now working on their Phase II ship donation request submission to the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Director for Surface Ship Maintenance and Modernization (SEA-21)’s Inactive Ships Office (SEA 21I).
This is a very complex and detailed phase of a three-phase application process which is covered in NAVSEA’s Ship Donation Program Manual. I have attached a copy of the manual for everyone’s information and as you can see in it, phase II includes the applicant’s need to provide NAVSEA with a market analysis, business/financial, museum ship staffing (both hires and volunteers), and environmental plans.
OHPS’s phase II submission is due to NAVSEA in September 2022 and if acceptable the next phase will include OHPS submitting their plans for taking custody, towing, mooring/berthing, etc. Phase III has a notional six month timeline so if OHPS is able to stay on schedule FFG-40 could conceivably arrive in Erie the spring of 2023.
(The above said, my experience with EDSON (DD-946)’s road to becoming a museum ship was that their organization persistently worked with NAVSEA for over a decade to finally meet all requirements needed to get that ship to its location in Bay City, Michigan.)
Bill Millward sent me the below link to a recent local Erie media article which gives a good summary of where the project stands right now. It also mentions that OHPS has hired a firm to assist them in doing market research, part of which is a survey to gauge public interest.
We as a group can make an important and timely impact to OHPS’s efforts by participating in the survey. The article includes a link to the survey (posted on the surveymonkey.com website). I have also included a separate link to the survey below the Erie story link for use as desired.
Why a floating warship museum in Erie could take years to arrive (goerie.com)
OHPS Community Survey (surveymonkey.com)
I believe that OHPS has the drive and determination to be successful and is steadfastly working towards gaining local support from Erie officials and the local public. The FFG40 association (as well as other FFG-7 associations) can play a big part in this effort, by not only supporting the market survey but also later on in the donation planning and execution timeline when OHPS begins to address subject of volunteer support.
More to follow, for sure!
Happy holidays and best wishes, Rob Reilly
Robert D. Reilly, Jr.
Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy (Retired)
--------------------------------------------------------------------- END ------------------------------------------------------------------
Along with previous donations there has recently been a donation pledge of $1 million dollars which does go a long way to helping us meet the $3 million dollar mark. But again, our assistance is needed to get them to that last mark. You can also help by forwarding the website donation page around to friends, colleagues, etc. That web address is: https://perryshipyard.com/donate
A new website (using WordPress for you digital junkies) is currently in the works that will assist in the fundraising efforts as well as keep you more informed. It will be a lot more interactive and give us all an opportunity to discuss the ship (and its planned movement) in a better forum than just the Facebook pages (there are six) that we are currently using.
On a related note, the new website is solely project based and the Halyburton will be representing the efforts of Commodore Perry, Frigate History (OHP and by association all other classes) as well as Naval History in general.
To that end we will maintain our website FFG40.com to keep our ship’s historical record alive and we encourage everyone to donate stories, pictures, etc., to the site so that we can achieve a complete history of the ship and her crews. All of the data, pictures, memorabilia, etc. will be made available to the museum crew that will eventually be working to get the ship ready for visitors once she has moved to Erie. So, scan you cruise books, find those old pictures from port visits (the cleans ones gentlemen), missions (Achille Lauro, Maersk Alabama, Constable’s Dues and many others), System/Ship upgrades (in the yards, Charleston, Mayport, etc.), UNREPs (with the Iowa in 85’) training exercises/requals (GITMO, RoseyRoads), Fleet Week (boat parades) and any events or times the ship was dressed to be seen. And get them to us at usshalyburton40@gmail.com so we can get them up on the current site as well as get them in order for the ship’s museum crew.
Finally, from a fundraising perspective, we are looking to separate the “ship’s store” from the website and revamp it to cater to a broader audience. Several of you have made the suggestion to open the store’s product line up to “all frigate crews” to help us facilitate the financial needs of the OHPS team to get the ship to Erie. So we have started the process of putting this together and welcome any and all suggestions to include in the store. If have any ideas, pictures of previously “ship swag” that you would like to see reproduced, please let us know. We are already working on personalized “embroidered” polos, hats, jackets, ¼ zip pullovers, etc., so let us know what you would like to see. And again, the profits will be donated to the OHPS team.
Regards, the Reunion Committee
