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Ironsides! The Ship, the Men and the Wars of the USS Constitution
Ironsides The Ship the Men and the Wars of the USS Constitution Author:Charles E. Brodine Jr., Michael J. Crawford, Christine F. Hughes On October 21, 1797, the 44-gun frigate Constitution slid down the ramp at Hartt's shipyard and into the chilly waters of Boston Harbor. While the workmen were proud of their efforts, no one - but NO one - thought she would still be serving her country over 200 years later. Yet the Constitution&nbs... more »p;remains afloat, having survived three wars, service on numerous distant stations, duty as a receiving ship, extended periods of neglect and decay, and occasional brushes with the breaker's yard. She has survived all those tribulations to become the oldest commissioned ship still afloat in the world, and a symbol of the heritage and pride of our country. Her story is told in a series of 34 short essays by three of the country's leading experts on the USS Constitution's history.« less