GHOST SHIP

By Roger Esty

"They look like World War II vets,"I said to John as he drove his car into the parking lot.
"Could be Korean War too,"he added.
The parking lot for the Maritime Museum in San Pedro was practically empty. Just a few cars .The museum opened at 10. It was 10 thirty. The old men were wearing caps with a insignia. They numbered around 10 to 15. About half of them looked like they were with their wives. A van was parked next to the group. Some people were unloading wheel chairs for the men who couldn't walk .

"John,where are you driving?"I asked.
"I want to find a space close by because of your hip."
"I'm fine. Park by those veterans. That's close enough for me."
At the intersection in front of the Maritime Museum there was yellow police tape closing off the area. Two policeman were leaning against their squad cars talking to each other. There was no traffic appraoching the intersection.

We walked inside and saw an old gal behind the counter. She was wearing a cap like the old men out front. I was close enough to see what was on the cap. "Merchant Marine Veterans Of Foreign Wars." The old gal smiled at us. She was short and very pretty.
"Hello boys. You're the first ones here today."
"What's going on outside?"I asked her.
"Today is the unveiling of the Merchant Marine Memorial Wall."
I looked across the street.I saw a long gray wall with about 100 folding chairs in front of it. In the back was a pole flying the U.S. flag.
"Boys the ceremony is going to start at 11 o'clock."
"Good, we'll walk around the museum first and then come back."

My friend John was in the Navy before becoming a school teacher. We both taught history and were intersted in seeing the museum. It was the first time for both of us.
"Rog,look. It's the USS Canberra."
John was very sharp with recognizing the different Navy ships.

I saw a mural of big fish on a wall.
"Didn't there used to be canneries here?"I asked the old gal.
"Absolutely. Six to be exact."
She was very pleased to answer our questions and give us backround on the area.
"I remember when I was a girl during the War,"she said. "All the soldiers would board the train for Ft. MacArthur. I just lived up the road."
"It must have been an exciting time,"said John.
"Oh yes. With the Army and the Navy. The Marines were here too to protect the Navy."
John scoffed a little.
"Rog,I'm going to walk inside."
"I'll be with you."

The old gal looked out the door at the ceremony being set up.
"It's all gone now. The servicemen. The canneries,"she lamented.
I followed John inside the hallways of the museum. The different model ships and paintings and photographs of the vessels with their histories were very interesting.We walked around reading and looking for an hour or so.

When we returned to the front desk,the old gal smiled and gave us a souvenir pin.
"We forgot to pay you,"I said.
"Oh there's no fee. If you wish to make a donation you can put it in the kitty."

I looked outside. The ceremony had started. Aside from the Merchant Marine Veterans,there were only a handfull of people sitting in the chairs.
"Did you boys know that over 6000 seamen lost their lives in Worl War II?"
"No,"I said."I didn't know that."
"All their names are on that wall."
The old gal was staring across the street. The two cops were still leaning against their squad cars talking to each other.