u/Gunfighter9

This is for anyone who was alive and has memories of the Bicentennial.

Do you find it so odd that there has been no buildup like the bicentennial in 1976? A year before there was bicentennial everything it seemed. Every product made in America seemed to be adorned with the logo. There was all kinds of merchandise (including cars) that was decked out in Red White and Blue.

Every night there was the bicentennial minute where news networks told the story of the American Revolution. The USPS issued a lot of new stamps and people would stand in lines to have the letters stamped “First Day of Issue”

Every large city had day long events. I can remember watching the huge flag on the Verrazano Narrows bridge get shredded by the winds. And the parade of sail.

It seems like this time no one cares. All I’ve heard announced is a UFC match at the White House. What a disappointment

This question is for all the sailors who joined within the last 20 years. When I was in, coming back to the ship blasted was common, especially in a foreign port. No one cared as long as you were up with a broom at 0615 (I was a BM1). We could always count on getting off at 12-1400 on a payday Friday, even if it meant we worked through lunch. One time I led a crew that cleaned and greased a boat davit in three hours, another time I had 18 guys paint the side of a FF in one morning, and that included the hull numbers, 1093.

The best job if you were a non-rate was compartment cleaner, because as long as the compartment passed messing and berthing you got a long lunch break. Yeah, you had to make up bunks sometimes, and store gear, plus sweep down any passageways that we owned but you were comfortable. Other than sweepers, that was the only cleaning that you had to do.

The CMAA used, to patrol the ship and pick up gear adrift. You had to work an extra 2 hours to get it back, if you didn't (Because you were UA for over 21 days they would cut your lock, and put all your personal gear in storage and all uniforms went to the CMAA). Who had lucky bag sales every 6 months, I bought a foul weather coat for $1.25

A lot of us had kids sheets on our racks while at sea. Some had Snoopy sheets, some had other cartoon sheets, before I made BM1 I had the old NFL sheets. No one cared

Finally, when I was a BM2 on the USS Canisteo, I got into a disagreement with the Bosun, and when I was leaving the deck office, the plunger on the door broke and the door slammed. The Bosun came flying out and yelled "Don't ever slam my door" and he ordered me to go change into tropical whites and stand at the door opening it for anyone coming in or leaving the deck office. This was from 1000-1600. On an AO there were 4 BMCs and 7 BM1's and for the entire day they made it a point to go into the deck office.

Just wondering how much this would fly today.

The Lackluster Semiquincentennial

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