"The Old Ironsides" Poem

In case you read the last two posts about the USS Constitution, "Old Ironsides" and were trying to remember that poem you had to memorize in days gone by, here is the first stanza.

I don't remember if we had to learn all three stanzas or just the one.    Either way, I really only just remembered the first two lines anyway.

Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.

Aye tear her tattered ensign down

Long has it waved on high,

And many an eye has danced to see 

That banner in the sky;

Beneath it hung that battle shout, 

And burst the cannon's roar;--

The meteor of the ocean air

Shall sweep the clouds no more.

Nor can I remember if we were forced to memorize it in fourth or fifth grade in North Carolina.

Glad this helped save the ship.  That is one magnificent sailing ship.

Rememberizing.  --Brocktution

Saving the USS Constitution-- Part 2: Thanks for the Poem, Mr. Oliver

The USS Constitution, "Old Ironsides" was once saved as well.

On September 16, 1830, a young doctor in Boston, Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.  read in his newspaper that the USS Constitution, that legendary frigate from the War of 1812 was going to be sold for scrap.  He immediately dashed off an indignant poem that many of us had to learn in elementary school and sent it to the paper.

I was one of those kids who had to memorize it, which I did in either 4th or 5th grade.  I can see you, if you are of a certain age (I don't think they make kids memorize anymore), mouthing the words right now.  You know:  "Aye, tear her tattered ensign down/Long has it waved on high."

In case you're wondering, Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. was the father of Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr..

That poem went viral.  Children all over the United States sent in their pennies.  Adults followed suit.  Enough money was collected to save her.  Today, she is berthed in honored glory at Pier One  of the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston, the world's oldest commissioned warship

After all, the Navy's official motto is "Don't Give Up the Ship."

Talk About a Great U.S. Navy Duty Station!!  --Brock-Perrry

The USS Constitution After the War of 1812

From History Link:  Frigate USS Constitution, on a tour of the Pacific ports, arrives in Seattle  on May 31, 1933"  by Daryl C. McClary.

After the War of 1812, the Constitution was refitted and served as the flagship of the Mediterranean Squadron.  In 1830, it was determined that the ship was unseaworthy and  Congress considered scrapping her.  But  public sentiment, and especially Oliver Wendell Holmes' memorable poem "Old Ironsides" (I had to memorize it while in fifth grade) saved it.

The Constitution was refitted and repaired, refitted and returned to commissioned status four times between 1832 and 1907.  From 1897 to 1925, she was on exhibition at Boston Naval Shipyard.

In 1924 it was found that she was again in dire need of repairs.  Congress authorized yet another rebuild, but by public subscription and a national voluntary  campaign to raise the necessary funds began.

--Brock-Perry

USS Constitution-- Part 8: "Ay, Tear Her Tattered Ensign Down"

OLD IRONSIDES

OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES

September 16, 1830

Ay, tear her tattered ensign down!
Long has it waved on high,
And many an eye has danced to see
That banner in the sky;

Beneath it rung the battle shout,
And burst the cannon's roar, --
The meteor of the ocean air
Shall sweep the clouds no more.

Only, I thought "Ay" was spelled "Aye."

Again, I only remembered the first two lines.  But, in my defense, I memorized this poem a real long, long, long time ago.

And, There Were Two More Stanzas.  --Brock-Perry

USS Constitution-- Part 7: The Poem "Old Ironsides"

I looked up the poem and found it was written by Oliver Wendell Holmes in 1830, not during the pennies campaign of the school children.  And, now, I am not sure if I had to memorize it in fifth grade.  It might have been third.

The more I think about it, the more I am thinking it perhaps was third grade and was a way for us to learn how to memorize.

But either way, it did help me learn to memorize, although I forget what I memorize more often than not.

What Was I Writing About?  --Brock-What

USS Constitution-- Part 6: How Many of You Had to Memorize the "Old Ironsides" Poem?

I can still remember the first two lines:

"Aye, tear her tattered ensign down,
Long has it flown on high.'

Beyond this, I can't remember.

Can you do better?

--Brock-Memorize

USS Constitution-- Part 10: Oliver Wendell Holmes

From Wikipedia.

Born August 29, 1809  died October 7, 1894.

American physician, poet, professor, lecturer and author.

Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts and educated at Harvard College.  After graduation from Harvard in 1829, he briefly studied law before turning his attention to medicine.

He wrote poetry from an early age and his "Old Ironsides" poem, published in 1830,  was influential in the eventual preservation of the USS Constitution.  This was probably the 1927-1931 restoration of the ship.

--Brock-Perry

USS Constitution-- Part 5: Saved By School Children's Pennies

The USS Constitution saw 57 years of active duty and during that time, captured 33 ships.  It sailed around the world and was used as a naval training ship during the Civil War and later was a floating office ship.

The most significant restoration on the ship was done 1927-1931.  At the time, the ship was in such bad condition that it was in danger of sinking at the pier.  U.S. school children raised $157,000 in a pennies campaign that funded nearly 85% of the ship.

I believe the poem that I had to memorize in fifth grade in North Carolina, "Old Ironsides" by Oliver Wendell Holmes, was part of the campaign to raise those pennies.

--Brock-Perry