Oliver Hazard Perry Rhode Island

NEWPORT, R.I. (May 17, 2010) – Today, Oliver Hazard Perry Rhode Island (OHPRI) officially added its first civic group — the Newport Navy League of the United States — to the Oliver Hazard Perry’s growing list of supporters. Until now, the non-profit organization has relied mostly on trade groups, individuals in the private sector, corporations, charitable trusts and educational institutions to help it achieve critical mass in the development of Rhode Island’s Education at Sea tall ship, and it is hoping that other local chapters of national organizations will follow the Navy League’s lead.

“Having the Navy League on our team,” says OHPRI Vice-Chair Perry Lewis, “carries significant weight for a project that has such obvious connections to the sea and Rhode Island’s maritime heritage, which includes our being home to Naval Station Newport, which includes the Naval War College and the Naval Academy Prep School.

The Newport Navy League was formed in 1957 to provide active support to the Navy in Rhode Island.  Also working as a non-profit, the organization is dedicated to educating citizens about the importance of sea power to U.S. national security and supporting the men and women of the sea services and their families.

“Our Board voted to support the Oliver Hazard Perry in light of what potential the ship has as an experiential learning platform for students,” said Navy League President Mike Slein, “and as a possible training ship for cadets.  We support three Sea Cadet groups here, which consist of junior high and high school kids, and it’s a natural tie-in to get them involved when the ship is ready to sail.”

The steel hull of the Oliver Hazard Perry is currently at Promet Marine in Providence, R.I.  Over the next two years, with the help of OHPRI supporters and a multitude of marine trades programs, the deck, masts, rigging, sails and electronics will be added.  The ship, expected to be commissioned in 2012, will sail as a 207-foot three-masted, square rigger–the largest privately owned school ship in America.

For more information, visit www.OHPRI.org or contact Perry Lewis at OHPRI headquarters, 401-841-0080.

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