[Thread] In 2019, we began the official celebration of our #AmericanMaritimeHeroes! This is our way of honoring the men and women who have made extraordinary contributions to the rich history of the U.S. as a maritime nation.
We first honored Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, who is acknowledged as the best Transportation Secretary ever for American maritime. Thank you @SecElaineChao! #AmericanMaritimeHeroes americanmaritimeheroes.com/secretary-elai… 
@SecElaineChao We also celebrated the World War II Merchant Mariners, who transported tens of millions of tons of war supplies and over 7 million servicemen during the war. Sadly, 1 in 26 mariners lost their lives during WW2. #AmericanMaritimeHeroes americanmaritimeheroes.com/the-world-war-…
@SecElaineChao Rep. James Oberstar was honored as one of our #AmericanMaritimeHeroes and has been referred to as “Great Lakes shipping greatest friend and staunchest supporter” having championed policies to make waterborne commerce on the Lakes safer and more efficient. americanmaritimeheroes.com/rep-oberstar/
@SecElaineChao Shipbuilder Andrew Higgins, known for developing the Higgins Boat used to land American troops on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day, was also celebrated as one of our #AmericanMaritimeHeroes. americanmaritimeheroes.com/andrew-higgins…
@SecElaineChao The brave men and women of the @USCG have also been recognized as #AmericanMaritimeHeroes. The dedicated guardians of our nation's waters safeguard our inland waterways and protect our borders. Thank you! americanmaritimeheroes.com/men-women-uscg/
@SecElaineChao @USCG Former Commandant Admiral Paul. F. Zukunf was recognized as one of our 2019 #AmericanMaritimeHeroes for working to ensure the safe and efficient shipment of more than $5.4 trillion of commerce by our nation's waterways while advocating for the #JonesAct. americanmaritimeheroes.com/admiral-paul-z…
@SecElaineChao @USCG The 9/11 Boatlift First Responders are #AmericanMaritimeHeroes. This civilian fleet of ferries and tug boats went into the face of catastrophe and evacuated more than 500,000 people from Lower Manhattan. It was the largest rescue boatlift in world history. americanmaritimeheroes.com/911-boatlift-f…
@SecElaineChao @USCG Malcolm McLean, the "Father of Containerization," was recognized as one of the 2019 #AmericanMaritimeHeroes for developing the use of intermodal shipping containers to transport cargo in the American coastwise trades. americanmaritimeheroes.com/malcolm-mclean/
@SecElaineChao @USCG The crew of the @CrowleyMaritime American Pride rescued three fisherman from their sinking boat 50 miles off the coast of Florida after having been adrift for over a day. #AmericanMaritimeHeroes americanmaritimeheroes.com/the-crew-of-th…
@SecElaineChao @USCG @CrowleyMaritime Economist Adam Smith was honored as one of our #AmericanMaritimeHeroes for recognizing the importance of a country's domestic maritime industry for national security. americanmaritimeheroes.com/adam-smith/
@SecElaineChao @USCG @CrowleyMaritime Pearl Harbor civilian maritime worker, George Walters, is one of the #AmericanMaritimeHeroes because he took heroic actions that risked his own life to defend US maritime assets - such as the USS Pennsylvania – and fought back against the Japanese air raid americanmaritimeheroes.com/george-walters…
@SecElaineChao @USCG @CrowleyMaritime Deborah Doane Dempsey was the first woman to graduate from a US maritime or military academy and the first to hold a master mariner license. She was also first female captain of a vessel in wartime. She clearly was one of our 2019 #AmericanMaritimeHeroes americanmaritimeheroes.com/deborah-doane-…
@SecElaineChao @USCG @CrowleyMaritime Who are we missing? Who else should be recognized as one of our #AmericanMaritimeHeroes? Whose courage, outstanding achievements, or notable qualities should be celebrated? Nominate them today! americanmaritimeheroes.com/#nominate
