1980s Graduate of the Merchant Marine Academy Thanks MRFF for its Effort and Explains “What We Teach Merchant Mariner Midshipmen”

From: (name and email address withheld)
Subject:  What We Teach Merchant Mariner Midshipmen
Date: April 22, 2025 at 2:07:22 PM MDT
To: Mikey Weinstein <[email protected]>

Dear Mr. Weinstein and Staff of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation,

First, thank you for supporting our members of the military. Time and again your willingness to defend the Constitution and put yourselves literally physically in between harm and members of the military has made all the difference. All enlisted personnel and officers need to understand that you and the MRFF staff believe they (Mr. Weinstein, MRFF staff and their families) must take the “blows” (the harassment, the threats, the vandalism and more) so that our military can be as effective as possible. All enlisted personnel and officers need to understand that the MRFF’s philosophy is to preserve your anonymity so //you can do your jobs.//

In mid-January of 2023 I first heard about the MRFF’s effort to stop what I believe was the government’s longstanding violation at the United States Merchant Marine Academy of the Constitution’s First Amendment. I graduated from the Academy in the 1980s. I was not among the initial 17 MRFF complainants. In mid-January of 2023, without hesitation I asked to be counted as a complainant. This is because I believe that what the Constitution says has value and demands my defense.

Midshipmen twice take an oath to defend the Constitution: Once early in their plebe year, and again just before they graduate and are commissioned as officers in the military (active or reserves). This is what I signed up for, decades ago when I applied to and was fortunate enough to be accepted to the Academy.

In September, 2024 with support of alumni (and especially once again the Class of 1979), a new painting “Serving the Nation from Sea to Stars” was unveiled in Wiley Hall. See https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=807436951277820. The new painting took the place of the “Christ on the Water” painting. Alumni have supported the installation of new paintings in years past as well. For example, see https://www.wearetheunitedstates.org/single-post/2019/09/24/painting-of-americas-flagship-unveiled-at-merchant-marine-academy/.

The new painting in Wiley Hall is ostensibly a-religious. But I would hope the theme that should unify all mariners counts for something in the religious department: Safety of life and property. Studying and practicing to be the most knowledgeable and capable ship’s officer possible is surely our common creed. The new painting captures this, in my opinion.

The “Christ on the Water” painting was moved to the Academy chapel. The room in Wiley Hall where the painting previously hung had been used as a chapel, but I understand this ceased many decades ago. The new location in the chapel seems apt. If the painting is re-hung once again to the museum, this also seems apt.

Secretary Duffy’s remarks are what they are. But I believe he is teaching the Midshipmen the wrong lesson. If anything I think Midshipmen should be taught that while they have a right to their own opinions about what the Constitution should say, and should embrace faith (or if they prefer, non-faith) to the extent they see fit, as members of the military they have //taken an oath// to support the Constitution and //serve//. “Service” — what does it mean? I wonder how today’s midshipmen would start to respond. Whatever their beliefs, I hope they look to the midshipman to their right or their left and realize one of the great lessons of the Bill of Rights (which of course includes the First Amendment) is that we can agree to disagree agreeably — and still work with great competence and dedication as a team to serve America’s Merchant Marine and so America.

1980s Graduate of the U. S. Merchant Marine Academy