For second day, crews work to save historic ship listing in Buffalo Naval Park
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WHEC/WGRZ) — Crews are working around the clock to try and save the historic U.S.S. The Sullivans after it began listing in the Buffalo Naval Park Thursday morning.
For those unfamiliar with naval terms, "listing" means a ship is taking on water and tilting to one side.
The Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park said crews were eventually able to begin pumping out more than The Sullivans was taking in Thursday.
The United States Coast Guard Sector Buffalo posted on Facebook that efforts to find the source of the flooding are underway.
BPD and BFD have closed off Memorial Walkway near USS The Sullivans as precaution with ship listing to the side. Street by Mariner Towers also now closed. @WGRZ pic.twitter.com/e1KY9wcMFh
— Ron Plants WGRZ (@RonWGRZ) April 14, 2022
The destroyer is a historic landmark and was named after five brothers from Iowa who died together on the U.S.S. Juneau in 1942.
The Sullivans saw battle in WWII and the Korean War before being decommissioned in 1965.
The USS The Sullivans is a tribute to our heroes — to a family that lost all five of its sons in the Pacific, and to the 400,000 Americans who died fighting in World War II.
— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) April 14, 2022
Our State agencies are on site and ready to help revive this treasure and symbol of perseverance. https://t.co/fNyH9yjlwp
On Friday, WGRZ spoke with Kelly Sullivan, the granddaughter of the ship’s youngest namesake, Albert Sullivan. She’s a teacher and shared what happened with her students.
[WGRZ]
"It was just a really tough day at school," Sullivan said. "I have some sweet, empathetic third graders and we pulled up the pictures of the ship on the screen so they could see and they just, they gasped. It was very emotional, especially to share that with my third graders and to see their response."
All 21 of her students came up and gave her a hug.
Park officials say they are confident that they will be able to get the ship to float again.
The Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park is taking donations. Click here for more information.