Derek

OFFICIAL STATEMENT SS UNITED STATES PRESERVATION FOUNDATION FAIR WINDS AND FOLLOWING SEAS, SS UNITED STATES. 🇺🇸 At 10:00PM EST. on November 11, 2026, Veterans Day, an American flagship named UNITED STATES slipped beneath the waters of the Gulf of America, bringing to a close one of the most remarkable chapters in American maritime history. For nearly three-quarters of a century, she stood as a monument to American ingenuity, determination, and the extraordinary generation that built her. Born from the vision of brothers William Francis and Frederic Herbert Gibbs, and brought to life by the hands of World War II Veterans and American shipbuilders, she would become more than an ocean liner. She became a declaration of what America could achieve. Built with American steel, powered by American innovation, and carrying the name of our nation across the world's oceans, she represented the very best of a country that dared to accomplish the impossible. She was America's pride in PEACE and strength in WAR, had the Nation ever called apon her. She was and is the pride of our U.S. Merchant Marine. And she was, in every sense of the word, an American masterpiece. Today, our hearts are heavy. For more than a year, the SS United States Preservation Foundation fought to secure a different future for this extraordinary vessel. We believed then, as we believe now, that a nation should preserve the greatest achievements of those who came before us, not merely remember them after they are gone. We pursued every avenue available to us. We knocked on doors, appealed to our elected leaders, presented evidence, and stood our ground until the very end. We did so not for recognition, nor for reward, but because some things are worth fighting for, even when the odds seem insurmountable. Although we could not change the outcome, we remain profoundly proud of the people who refused to surrender her without a fight. To our supporters, advisors, volunteers, fellow preservationists, veterans, merchant mariners, and the countless Americans who stood beside us: thank you. You reminded us that the spirit which built this magnificent ship still lives within the American people. To the men and women of Newport News Shipbuilding, to the Gibbs brothers, to her officers and crews, and to the generations who walked her decks, we offer our deepest gratitude. You built something that transcended steel. You built a legacy that has endured for generations. And while the ocean may now claim her hull, it can never claim what she represents in the hearts of many who heard her call. The SS United States was never simply rivets and steel. She was a testament to a generation that endured the darkness of war and emerged determined to build a brighter world for the rest of us all. Before America reached for the stars, we crossed oceans aboard ships like her. She was their generation's moonshot, a triumph of imagination made real through courage, craftsmanship, and an unshakable belief in this nation. Her final voyage marks the end of her life above the water, but it must never mark the end of her story. Our mission to honor her builders, preserve her history, and ensure that future generations understand her significance will endure. For those who believe that our nation's heritage is worth protecting, our work is not finished. To our beloved SS UNITED STATES: You carried the colors of our nation with dignity. You crossed the Atlantic faster than any ocean liner before you. You inspired generations to believe in the boundless possibilities of American achievement. And in your final hours, you reminded the world once more of the extraordinary strength with which you were built. You deserved a different ending, and will never be forgotten. Rest now, great lady. Your final voyage is over, but your legacy sails on. Fair winds and following seas. Pride of a Nation, and Forever - UNITED STATES. 🇺🇸 SS United States Preservation Foundation, Inc.