USS Saratoga bell gets refurbished
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. >> An iconic piece of U.S. military history is getting cleaned up in preparation for a reunion of USS Saratoga shipmates this fall.
Saratoga Springs will host 400 officers and sailors who served aboard the last two vessels named Saratoga, both aircraft carriers.
Veterans from World War II to Desert Storm will be on hand for the Sept. 27-30 event, scheduled near the 240th anniversary of the 1777 Battles of Saratoga, which the ships were named for.
“We’ve got guys coming from Seattle, Texas and Florida, all around the country,” said navy Lt. (ret.) Bill Phelps, of Halfmoon, the event’s chairman. He served on the last USS Saratoga (CVA-60) from 196466. It was launched in 1955 and decommissioned in 1994.
Six vessels in U.S. Navy history have been named Saratoga.
The fifth one (CV-3), the navy’s firstever fast carrier, was launched in 1925 and earned eight battle stars during World War II. At Iwo Jima, on Feb. 21, 1945, five Japanese suicide planes struck the ship, killing 123 men, wounding 192 and causing extensive structural damage.
The bell from this ship has been displayed outside, at Saratoga National Cemetery, since the last time a reunion of USS Saratoga shipmates was held locally in 1998. The event is moved around the country each year to places such as Norfolk, Jacksonville and Branson, Mo.
Recently, the 930-pound bell was brought
to Guyson Corp., located at Grande Industrial Park, for a little refurbishing, including fresh paint on its original mount, from the World War II-era ship, and six layers of clear coat to protect it from the elements.
Plans call for returning it to the national cemetery in the next several days.
The project holds special meaning for Guyson employee Matt Bush. Nineteen years ago, he helped repair a crack in the bell, which Guyson worked on prior to its 1998 placement at the cemetery. Several relatives of his have served in the military, including some who made the ultimate sacrifice.
“There’s a lot of history on both sides of the family,” Bush said. “You can’t do enough for our veterans.”
Shortly after World War II, in 1946, the fifth USS Saratoga was sunk as part of an atomic bomb best at Bikini Atoll in the South Pacific. However, divers recovered the ship’s bell, which was brought to Saratoga Springs and first hung in Congress Park.
From there it was moved to a former Veterans of Foreign Wars hall, at the present-day site of Saratoga Springs City Center, before being moved to the current VFW Hall on West Avenue. It stayed there for many years before going to its present home at the national cemetery.
“It’s only rung on Memorial Day, during a reunion of USS Saratoga shipmates or when a Medal of Honor recipient visits the cemetery,” said Larry Gordon of Wilton, the ship’s unofficial historian.
Silver officer’s service from the USS Saratoga is displayed at Adirondack Bank & Trust Co.
A collection of USS Saratoga memorabilia is displayed at each reunion.
The USS Saratoga Association, comprised of anyone who served on either of the last two ships named Saratoga, has more than 1,000 members.
During the reunion, veterans and their families will visit sites throughout the area including Cooperstown, Lake George, Saratoga National Cemetery and Saratoga National Historical Park.
Phelps said anyone who served aboard either of the last two USS Saratoga ships is encouraged to join the association and attend this year’s reunion. For more information, he can be contacted at (518) 664-8074 or by email: wwp1220@aol.com.