This is one of several testimonials that were written in late 2021 and early 2022 by US Brig Niagara volunteers in support of keeping Niagara sailing. They were sent to local state legislators and PHMCThe Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) is the state agency that stewards the U.S. Brig Niagara and Erie Maritime Museum. The PHMC is responsible for the collect... administrators.

October 9, 2021

To Whom It May Concern,

The purpose of my letter is to share my experiences with and my gratitude for the volunteer opportunities with the US Brig Niagara.  Those experiences have made a huge impact on my life and the the life of others around me.

In the summer of 2018 I retired from over 20 years of teaching outside of the Erie area.  I decided to return home to Erie, where I was raised, to help care for my aging mother.  That fall I was introduced to the volunteering opportunities with the US Brig Niagara during a day sail.  I was drawn to the professional, welcoming volunteer community, the opportunities to learn about sailing, and the chance to develop some new skills.

Since then, I have spent the winter months helping with ship maintenance, attending sail training classes, and sailing as volunteer crew/trainee on both Niagara and Lettie G. HowardThe Lettie G. Howard is a historic schooner currently operated by the Flagship Niagara League(FNL) in Erie and owned by the South Street Seaport Museum(SSSM) in New York City. Buil... (the fishing schooner operated by Flagship Niagara League).  I have developed wonderful friendships, enjoyed the camaraderie of volunteers and crew, and seen the support this community offers to each other.  

One such incident of support will be a lasting memory for me.  One of our museum volunteers experienced the loss of his wife close to Christmas 2020, in the midst of the COVID pandemic.  As a group we rallied around him (from a distance) and held a Christmas car parade complete with signs and flags on our cars, letting him know that we cared about his loss.  He was very touched by the show of support.  That is what the ship and museum volunteer community is about.  And that is why it is so noteworthy and valuable.

Many of the volunteers are retired people, like myself.  I see many with specific skills that are needed to maintain a wooden ship.  They spend countless volunteer hours giving of themselves.  There are others who are willing and happy to learn or refine some new skills.  The museum volunteers have immeasurable amounts of historical knowledge to share.  For some of us, there is great meaning added to our lives in feeling needed and appreciated as volunteers.  

Growing up in Erie, I remember the static Brig Niagara on State Street in downtown Erie.  For me, that was very one-dimensional – a partial ship on land.  Years later I took a tour of Niagara that was docked at the Erie Maritime MuseumThe Erie Maritime Museum (EMM) is a cultural institution located in Erie, Pennsylvania, dedicated to preserving and showcasing the region's maritime heritage. Established in 1997, ....  That became a two-dimensional experience – a real ship in water.  But not until I actually sailed on Niagara did I experience the full three-dimensional version – the sights, the sounds, the feelings of being out on the water in a replica of an 1812 tall ship. 

So now I express my gratitude for opportunities that have allowed me to learn new skills and try new things that I never thought I could do…for an environment that relies on teamwork and communication…for the chance to see and hear the excitement in others as they experience sailing on a tall ship for the first time…and for the constant show of appreciation for volunteers by the Flagship Niagara League.

I heartily encourage support for the continuation of the sail training program of US Brig Niagara, for involving volunteers and the community in meaningful ways that bring Erie and Pennsylvania history to life.  That is one of the things that makes Erie a unique historical and  tourist destination.

Ginny S