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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 23, 2004

SCHUMER: ARTIFACTS FROM THE U.S.S. SCHENECTADY HAVE BEEN SECURED

Schumer announces that artifacts from the U.S.S. Schenectady have been secured by the Navy prior to the ‘smart bomb’ demonstration which is scheduled to sink the decommissioned ship today

Schumer says pending Navy review, the U.S.S. Schenectady artifacts will be on loan to the Schenectady County Historical Society

US Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that after working with the Navy, several artifacts have been secured from the U.S.S. Schenectady. The ship, which was decommissioned in 1993 after 23 years of service, is scheduled to be sunk today as part of a ‘smart bomb’ demonstration. Schumer called on the Navy to preserve these artifacts as a legacy of the ship, when he heard that it was due to be sunk. The Navy, upon review of a display and maintenance plan, is willing to loan these artifacts to the Schenectady County Historical Society.

“It is one of the highest honors for a community to have a Naval ship named after their city,” said Schumer. “The U.S.S. Schenectady served this country with distinction. And though this means its demise, I am glad these artifacts have been saved so that the community can always take pride in the ship’s service.”

The Navy has saved from the U.S.S. Schenectady the bell, the builder’s plaque, the flag flown during the decommissioning ceremony, the Union Jack flown during the decommissioning ceremony, the quartermaster’s spy glass, and the ship’s helm wheel.

Parts of this 522-foot ship were built by two Schenectady based companies, General Electric and the American Locomotive Company. In 1968, Navy Secretary Paul R. Ignatius received a letter from Kimberly Duto, a fourth grade student from Franklin School, asking that a ship be named for her hometown, Schenectady. The U.S.S. Schenectady earned four battle stars during Vietnam, and since 1993 has been located at the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility in Pearl Harbor. The sinking of the ship today will be part of the fight against terrorism. The Air Force will test a new technology where guided missiles hit a moving target. Assemblyman James N. Tedisco contacted Schumer’s office for assistance in obtaining artifacts from the U.S.S. Schenectady for the Historical Society.

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