It has become tradition for USS Lake Erie (CG 70) Sailors to be invited to Put-in-Bay, Ohio to participate in the city’s annual Historic Weekend, an event held to commemorate the American defeat of the British in the Battle of Lake Erie on September 10, 1813.
Accompanying LAKE ERIE’s Commanding Officer, CAPT Ron Boxall, were ENS Brittany Lynn, ENS Meagan Makarenko, GSCM (SW) Jason Wallis, FC2 James Brown, and five members of the ship’s Honor Guard - STG2 Daniel Miller, IC2(SW) Travis Jones, STG2(SW) Dustin Petty, OS2 Zachary Hayden, and ITSN Demarcus Wheat. Even though the Sailors were only in town for two short days, they were able to participate in many of the Historic Weekend activities and provide several community services.
On Friday morning, Honor Guard members lent a helping hand at the Put-in-Bay Senior Center by cleaning and tidying up the facility and making small repairs. “I enjoyed our service projects because it was a great way for us to give back to the community that treated us with so much respect and hospitality,” remarked OS2 Hayden. In the meantime, CAPT Boxall visited the Put-in-Bay School to talk to students in the 7th through 12th grade about LAKE ERIE’s famous “satellite shot” last February.
That afternoon, CAPT Boxall and his Sailors along with 70 Put-in-Bay residents went aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter BISCAYNE BAY (WTGB 104) and sailed out the site of the Battle of Lake Erie. After a short speech in honor of those who fell in the fight, CAPT Boxall tossed a commemorative wreath overboard as the Honor Guard saluted and Taps filled the air.
The voyage was followed by a “Meet the Navy” dinner at the local Crescent Tavern hosted by the Navy League. As the guest of honor, CAPT Boxall took the opportunity to not only speak about LAKE ERIE’s recent successful missions, current events, and upcoming activities, but also highlighted how proud he was of his crew, “everything our ship has achieved is due to the hard work and dedication these Sailors put forth everyday. I could not be more proud of what they have already accomplished, and what I know they will accomplish in the future.”
The next morning, Sailors stood by the USS Lake Erie exhibit and talked to over a thousand boy scouts as they made their way through the local museum. They answered questions about the ship, its mission, and the daily life of a sailor. Shortly after, the Honor Guard donned their dress uniforms and unfurled the National Ensign and Navy flag to march in the Historic Weekend Parade. At the conclusion of the parade, CAPT Boxall, as keynote speaker, addressed the Put-in-Bay community. He elaborated on the importance of Captain Oliver Hazard Perry’s victory 195 years ago in expanding our nation and building confidence in our navy. He commented that, “LAKE ERIE’s motto is ‘Don’t Give Up the Ship.’ Just as it was Perry’s battle cry two centuries ago, it is still ours today. We will persevere to make this Nation and its Navy stronger, and we will never give up the ship.”
When asked what the best part of the trip to Put-in-Bay was, ENS Brittany Lynn, Public Affairs Officer, commented that “without a doubt it was the warm reception that we were given by the residents of Put-in-Bay. We were greeted with hugs and thank you’s everywhere we went. You could tell that they genuinely appreciated our military service and are proud to be USS Lake Erie’s hometown sponsor.” In fact, one night as STG2 Miller walked into a local restaurant along with his parents where “God Bless America” just happened to be playing, the entire room stood up to cheer for him. He recalls, “I really didn’t know how to react except for smile, wave, and shake the hands that frequently began to reach out in my direction. As I made my way around the crowd I remembered my parents were right there. I could tell they were a little choked up so I had to try my best to maintain that military swagger without letting them know that inside it touched me too.”
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