Hi Mac,
As you know, we are in high security mode here in Sydney for the APEC conference.
It was mentioned a couple of days ago that President Bush is going to visit the Darling Harbour precinct tomorrow, but not why he was going there.
Now, in today's Daily Telegraph newspaper it is printed:
President Bush to visit Canberra Bell
Mr Bush has not allowed much time for sightseeing but he will take in a trip to the Australian National Maritime Museum on Darling Harbour to inspect a ship's bell he presented to Australia in 2001.
( here is the link to today's article: http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,22365589-5001021,00.html )
I suppose he will also be visiting the USA gallery:
http://www.anmm.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=379&c=522
My guess is that there will be a public statement along the lines of affirming the defence ties that bind our two countries. We shall see ...
Here's my blog entry about the President's visit tomorrow:
If you grant permission, I'd also like to reproduce the photograph of Denise, you, President Bush and PM Howard in that blog entry. I can lift the image from your website.
Cheers,
Bob.
Its 9.30 AM on Thursday the 6th. September 2007 here, and Denise tells me that the radio news has just reported that President George Bush is on his way to the National Maritime Museum at Darling Harbour by car. He is obviously going to view the Canberra Bell on display there in the American Gallery.
I bet he mentions its presentation to John Howard at the Washington Navy Yard on the day before 9/11, and its symbolism representing 50 years of the ANZUS Treaty between our two countries, and how that alliance is stronger than ever.
All exciting stuff, and to think that some persistence on my part was the touchstone to bring about its presentation almost 6 years ago.
If the press report the visit with any photos I will send that off to you in due course.
Best wishes,
Mac.
The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper gets it all wrong stating that President Bush visited the bell from HMAS Canberra at the National Maritime Museum.
My friend Bob Meade takes them to task here.
Regards,
Mac.
Error in your Sydney Morning Herald editorial piece today 7 September, 2007 titled "Giving Sydney the green light"
Dear Sir or Madam,
I write to correct an error in the Editorial Opinion piece which appears in today's Sydney Morning Herald on page 30, and online here:
http://www.smh.com.au/editorial/?page=2
The piece titled "Giving Sydney the green light" states,
So yesterday Mr Bush got from his city hotel to the National Maritime Museum to visit the bell from HMAS Canberra in less time than it takes to say, "G'Day, y'all".
Actually, the ship's bell which President Bush visited yesterday was that of the U.S.S. Canberra, and not from H.M.A.S. Canberra.
The facts are that H.M.A.S. Canberra was sunk in the Battle of Savo Island on the 9th of August, 1942 and her ship's bell can safely be assumed to sit in that watery grave.
I will now quote the words of President George W. Bush on the occasion of presenting the bell of U.S.S. Canberra to Prime Minister Howard on the 10th of September, 2001:
U.S.S. Canberra received her name at the request of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, at the height of World War II. The President had received word of an exceptional action in battle by the Australian Navy, which were steaming alongside American vessels at Guadalcanal. His Majesty's Australian ship Canberra did not survive the battle, disappearing into the depths where she rests today.
It was a great loss of life, and much heroism amongst the Australian sailors and marines on board. As a sign of gratitude to those men, and to their country, the U.S.S. Canberra was commissioned the very next year, serving my country and honoring yours, Mr. Prime Minister.
You may read more about the presentation of the ship's bell of U.S.S. Canberra at the weblog of my friend Mackenzie Gregory here:
http://www.ahoy.tk-jk.net/macslog/ShipsBellandvisitingWashi.html
I do not know where in your process the error occurred, however it indicates a saddening yet unsurprising lack of knowledge about our nation's World War II history, let alone accurately reporting the movements of President Bush whilst visiting our great city.
Yours faithfully,
Bob Meade
Raymond,
Here is what President George Bush said about USS Canberra's Bell in his opening speech at APEC.
Yesterday, I had the privilege of visiting the Australian National Maritime Museum, which houses the bell from a great American Naval vessel called the USS Canberra. This is the only American ship ever commissioned in tribute to an ally's warship lost in battle. It was named by President Franklin Roosevelt to honor the men who gave their lives aboard the Australian ship Canberra, which was lost during the second world war. The bell is a powerful symbol of the enduring ties that bind our two nations. And I was proud to present it to Prime Minister Howard when he came to Washington to mark the 50th anniversary of the ANZUS Treaty.
The ceremony took place on September the 10th, 2001. And as we stood together that morning I know that I could never have imagined, I suspect the Prime Minister never could have imagined that in less than 24 hours, the United States of America would come under attack, and that the ANZUS Treaty would be invoked for the first time, and in a matter of weeks, Australian and American troops would once again be fighting side by side in a global war to defend our freedom and our way of life.
Australia's response after 9/11 was swift and resolute -- and this comes as no surprise to the American people. Our two nations have fought together in every major conflict of the past century. Australian Diggers have served alongside American GIs throughout the world. American troops are honored to fight beside such dedicated and courageous allies, and the American people are proud to call Australia a partner in the cause of peace and freedom.
I did think he might use the symbolism of the Bell to reinforce the importance of ANZUS.
Best.
Mac.
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