[Park] May 22

[J.J.Miller]

Greetings !

Today May 22 is National Maritime Day -

Why, you may ask , is this any concern to the Amateur Radio fraternity ?

As "Hams", it is important that we understand that we did not invent 
radio communications. Most of the art of communicating by radio, that we 
now employ, was borrowed or copied from those pioneers in radio 
telegraphy, the maritime radio operators, ashore or afloat, (And the 
earlier Land Line Telegraphers); all of the abbreviations, prosigns, 
message format, Q sigs and all of the other bits of "Radio Lingo" were 
in use before AR became popular; even the handling of distress/welfare 
traffic.

So, once a year, when you return to your comfortable homes after a days 
work, give a thought to those people at sea, working as American 
Merchant Seamen, in peace and war.

Especially deserving a thought; those guys & gals on the big tank ships 
carrying that very precious crude or refined product all over the world. 
(It's tough work but some one has to do it).

Been there-Done that.

Tks es 73

J.J.Miller  W3DHO                                ex(MV SEA ISLE CITY/WCYQ)