S.S. Lane Victory museum needs Merchant Marine material

Yesterday, I travelled aboard the S.S. Lane Victory, a World War II Liberty Ship and floating museum berthed at San Pedro, CA. It is owned and operated by the Merchant Marine Veterans of World War II.

Each year, thousands of visitors come aboard and take an exciting 6-hour cruise out to Catilina Island where a aerial dogfight is staged between vintage US and German aircraft. Berthed in San Pedro,CA. The ship has been used in countless movies and television shows and is open to the public throughout the year.

The S.S. Lane Victory was built in Los Angeles in 1944. It served with distinction and valor in the latter part of World War II, Korea, (Chosin Reservoir Operation), and Vietnam and returned home after 44 years.

It was named after Isaac Lane, a black man who rose from slavery to become a Bishop in the Methodist Episcopal Church and founded Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee in 1882. His granddaughter christened the ship in 1945.

But what's this all got to do with stamp collecting?

While aboard, I spoke to Larry Crawford, who runs the ship's museum. Not finding any stamps or covers commemorating the Merchant Marine, I asked, "Why, no stamps or covers?" Larry told me he doesn't know where to get them.

Well hello!

Folks here's a chance for us promote stamp collecting and patriotism all at the same time! For starters, I'm going to send Larry a blow up of the Merchant Marine stamp (Scott # 939) shown above, which was issued on Feb. 26, 1946 in the District of Columbia.

I'd love to find some first day covers to go along with it for display in the museum.

If you have any or other Merchant Marine philatelic material you would like to donate or sell, please let me know. You can contact me at donschilling@worldnet.att.net and I will pass the information on to Larry.

For more about the Merchant Marine on stamps, click here.

For more on the S.S. Lane Victory, click here.