Today is the fourth of July and we are spending the day celebrating the 175th anniversary of the first Cunard ship sailing out of Liverpool, and all the other Cunard ships that have sailed the seas. Samuel Cunard wanted a ship that could carry cargo to America and back in much less time than other ships so he commissioned the Brittania "a plain and simple boat," and he built the first steam ship for Cunard and bettered the previous 6 week crossing time from 6 weeks to 10 days! He was celebrated today in the Liverpool Cathedral along with the ships and men who sailed them. We were carried to the Cathedral on busses in very efficient fashion and we listened to an organ concert, chatting with new English friends while we waited for the Cathedral to fill. Some statistics and emotional details we learned today: Boston’s trade doubled in one year after the Britannia sailed so Boston gave Cunard the "Boston Cup." It was carried on with much ceremony. After singing the Battle Hymn of the Republic the history of Cunard ships at war was described. Cunard carried every horse of the light brigade and every soldier into the Crimea. During WWI, U boats plied the waters and Cunard lost 20 ships as she continued to ferry soldiers and supplies. Of course the Lusitania was the victim who finally brought the US into the war. But before that, the White Star Titanic sailed from England in 1912 on the same day as the Cunard Carpathia sailed from New York. Carpathia was a small slow ship but when she heard the distress call she shut down all essential services and poured on the steam to go to Titanic’s rescue. Carpathia rescued 705 survivors. 2000 perished. After that the Queen of England asked Cunard to buy White Star and Cunard claims to give Prime White Star Service and Cunard security and safety. The captain of the small Carpathia claimed that God guided him through the ice strewn waters to the rescue. We heard the story of the Lusitania who sailed and was sunk very quickly by a German U boat. After the remembrance of the losses of the wars, the ship’s bell tolled in the silent Cathedral for the 20 ships that were lost during the wars. During WWII Cunard carried whole divisions of Americans (15,000 in a division) on ships that were built to carry 3000. The men slept and ate on shifts. Over half the D Day troops and 5000 prisoners of war along with multitudes of wounded were transported by Cunard. Simon Weston, a Welsh Guardsman who was seriously wounded in the Falklands, and was carried home on the QE2, testified to the help he received to rebuild his life. The Welsh Guard marched, blew bagpipes and played fine music. Finally, to end the story, jet planes practically ended the need for fast ocean travel and Cunard settled in to a "gentle decline," but Mickey Arison had a dream, to build a new ocean liner, Carnival purchased Cunard and built the Queen Mary 2. She is luxury on a grand scale and Carnival is enabling Cunard to continue the grand tradition. The ceremony ended with a rousing and flag waving "Rule Britannia" along with a Welsh Guard Hymn. I admit I stood and waved the flag with the best of them! I’m a teary eyed girl and you know how I feel about our English cousins. Happy 4th of July. We are a better nation for our peace, for our love of God, for our laws, and for our hope in the American Dream. God bless us all.
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