[Magdalen] SS United States

[Cantor03 at aol.com]

My daughter came upon a bunch of menus from the family sailing on 
the SS United States in October 1969.  These menus were in the  stuff
she cleared out of storage units this summer, and she was  unexpectedly
nostalgic at this discovery.
 
It was the penultimate crossing for the SS United States, and much of
her moored life has been at her pier in the Delaware River in  the
Port of Philadelphia.  Her berth is just next to the  Philadelphia
Airport, and she is frequently visible on arrival and departure  there.
The tell-tale red-white-and blue smokestacks are hard to miss.
 
Though there has been an organized attempt to salvage her, the costs
have been so far too great, and I've noticed a marked deterioration
in the past 15 or so years, with lots of peeling paint and rust  dominating
the exterior.
 
Though the vast majority of US troops in Europe returned in the late
1960's via military air transport, returning on the trans-Atlantic liner  
was
available to "field grade" (major and above) officers and their  families,
and we took advantage of the offer.  How many can now say they  have
crossed the Atlantic shipboard?
 
Anyway, it is interesting how these old menus have been able to trip
the memories for both of us.
 
 
 
David Strang.