Back in February, it was revealed that the U.S.S. The Sullivans in the Buffalo and Erie County Naval Park was compromised due to damage to the ship's hull, which resulted in leaks and flooding that put the ship in danger of sinking. This was due to a combination of old age, deteriorating steel, harsh winters and fluctuating temperatures.
Shortly after, the "Save The Sullivans Campaign" was started to raise money to save the U.S.S. The Sullivans and help restore the ship. West Herr Auto Group made the initial donation of $50,000, with the campaign raising $535,000 by the month of August.
In October, the Naval Park received a $499,000 grant from Save America's Treasures to bring the campaign past their $1 million fundraising goal to $1.034 million.
"We have a national historic treasure and landmark here with the U.S.S. The Sullivans, and we're going to do our best to preserve it," said Chairman of the Buffalo and Erie County Naval Park, Terence McGuire during a press conference on Monday. "Our work continues. It's not the end, it's the start of the beginning of future fundraising to honor our mission - to educate, to honor, to inspire and to preserve. Our mission demands that we will preserve our incredible artifacts entrusted in our care, and we will."
Thanks to the efforts of "Save The Sullivans Campaign" co-captains Douglas Jemal and Kelly Sullivan - the granddaughter of Albert Sullivan - the group was able to raise the sufficient funds to help repair the damage to the U.S.S. The Sullivans, the money raised will also go to other efforts to preserve the artifacts in the possession of the Buffalo and Erie County Naval Park.
"Buffalo is a very special city for the Sullivan family," Sullivan said. "The first time I came here to see this beautiful ship was when I was five-years-old, and I can still remember coming to the Buffalo Naval Park with my dad, my mom and my brother. 45 years later, here we are working really hard to make sure we keep her afloat.
"There's a video of my great-grandmother [Alleta Sullivan] that I love where she says, 'My boys did not die in vain.' And I know my great-grandma is here today watching over us, and she's extremely proud of the Buffalonians, of all the people here who have made this happen."
The U.S.S. The Sullivans is a 78-year-old Fletcher-Class destroyer that saw action in World War II, the Korean War, as well as the Cold War. It was named in honor of the five Sullivan brothers who all perished together during the sinking of the U.S.S. Juneau on Nov. 13, 1942.
Kelly Sullivan is the daughter of Albert Sullivan, who happened to be the youngest of the Sullivan brothers who died in World War II. She also serves as a third grade teacher in her hometown of Waterloo, Iowa and says she speaks highly of the City of Buffalo to her students, and of the work that has gone in to preserving and saving the ship that bears her family's name.
Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown was also in attendance at Monday's event, and stressed the importance of preserving such history as the U.S.S. The Sullivans and other artifacts in places such as the Buffalo and Erie County Naval Park.
"In this season of Thanksgiving, this is a day of Thanksgiving, as we celebrate this community, this nation and people all across the world coming together to save the U.S.S. The Sullivans, to protect this amazing history that we are the guardians of here in the City of Buffalo."
Repair work of the U.S.S. The Sullivans' hull is being performed by BIDCO Marine Group, which is a locally owned specialty marine contractor. Work to repair the hull of the ship is roughly 25% completed, but has since postponed operations due to water temperatures dropping below the recommended temperature needed to adhere the epoxy to the steel.
Work on the ship's hull is expected to resume in April of 2022 when water temperatures rise to acceptable levels again.
While there is still plenty of work to be done to complete the repairs to the U.S.S. The Sullivans, Kelly Sullivan is grateful that the work being done will hopefully one day allow her to return to Buffalo with her grandchildren to see the family landmark.
"I can't believe we were here just seven months ago when Douglas Jemal said we were going to make this happen," Sullivan said. "I can't tell you how much it means to me. Like I said, I was here when I was five. I brought my kids here to Buffalo to see this amazing ship. Some day, God willing, I hope to be a grandmother and I'll have the opportunity to bring my grand-kids here to see the ship. Thank you for that."
You can listen to the entire press conference below:
