To all Saratoga supporters and friends:

On behalf of the Directors, the Board of Advisors and all the hard-working volunteers of the USS Saratoga Museum Foundation, I would like to take a moment to comment on the events of September 11. I know, we've all received a number of "open letters," but please bear with me for a few moments and you will understand the close link between our project and the treacherous terrorist attacks on our country.

No matter where you are in the world, chances are you've been touched by those tragic events in some way. In the midst of a welter of conflicting emotions -- shock, anger, and sorrow -- we offer our expressions of sympathy and compassion to all who have been affected by this tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with those who died, and perhaps even more so with those loved ones left behind.

While the most searing images of that tragic day will always be those of the twin towers, it is important for us to remember that the attack on the Pentagon struck at the very heart and soul of our military, especially our Navy and our Army. What many members of the extended Saratoga family do not know, however, is the tragic connection between our ship and that attack.

The pilot of American Airlines Flight 77 on September 11 was Charles F. Burlingame, a naval aviator and member of the US Naval Academy Class of 1971. Captain Charles "Chic" Burlingame, USNR (Ret) was also a Saratoga veteran, having flown Phantoms off Sara's decks from 1976 to 1979 with The Sluggers of VF-103.

(A special tribute to Captain Burlingame can be found here)

The link to our mission

One of the missions of the USS Saratoga Museum is to educate and inform future generations about the ships, aircraft and crews which defended our freedom. We must also educate the public about the cost of that freedom, and serve as a constant reminder to future generations of the sacrifices of those who have gone before.

Toward that end, we are evaluating the merits of developing a permanent exhibit within our project to keep alive the memory of all victims of terrorism, and to pay tribute to those (such as Captain Burlingame) who have fought to protect us from its dark shadow.

The appropriateness of the Saratoga Museum as the site of such a memorial can be found in the history of this proud warship. Much of her active career was spent countering the terrorist threat. Saratoga pilots responded to the hijacking of the cruise ship Achille Lauro in 1985, and also taught the Libyans a lesson in the Gulf of Sidra.

The challenge before us

Short term, however, that may be more difficult than it was on September 10.

In the wake of the tragedy fundraising resources have been mobilized as never before to provide aid to the victims of the Attack on America. Admirable as that effort has been, it has short term consequences for many other non-profit organizations all over the country, who see potential donations being diverted (as they should be) to help other Americans in need.

Consider the following recent expressions of concern:

***
Associated Press, dateline Los Angeles, September 27, 2001

Some Charities Hurting After Attack

The $500 million-plus outpouring of donations for victims of the terrorist attacks is undercutting other charities and prompting some organizations to postpone fund drives and scale back programs.

***
The Chronicle of Philanthropy, October 4, 2001

Charities Brace for Lean Fund-Raising Season in Tragedy's Wake

As millions of dollars in charitable gifts flow to organizations providing relief after the September 11 terrorist attacks, nonprofit groups around the country are bracing for what could be a disastrous end-of-year giving season. The worsening economy, coupled with the nation's preoccupation with the tragic loss of lives in the attacks and the possibility of war, is certain to present fund-raising challenges for tens of thousands of nonprofit organizations nationwide.

***
Providence Journal, September 30, 2001

Facing the double hurdle of an economic downturn and the need for extra money for terrorism victims, the United Way of Southeastern New England yesterday announced a modest goal for its new fundraising campaign.

What can we do about it?

As we have all seen, there is also a greater sense of unity in this country today than at any time since the years of the Greatest Generation during World War II. Americans have rallied around our flag, and one another.

Rush Loving Jr., a federal employee and former associate editor of Fortune magazine, wrote the following in an Op-Ed piece that appeared in a number of our nation's newspapers:

Just as in the 1940s, we have the ingredients to keep America united and determined...[However] we need to be reminded constantly that our freedom is indeed being threatened again by monsters of the same ilk as those Axis leaders.

Most important, we need to ensure that the memory of this attack does not drift away as many Americans begin to focus on other events and their much more alluring personal interests...the public's attention span is disappointingly transitive.

There is the link to our mission. As one fellow soldier once wrote, "The American public tends to focus on foreign problems only so long as Christiane Amanpour does, and then with far less fervor."

This time, we must make sure that no one forgets. Not now, nor in the future. Our children and our children's children must remember. This is not new information: in President George Washington's 1793 message to the Congress, he stated: "... if we desire to avoid insult we must be ready to repel it; if we desire to secure peace ... it must be known that we are at all times ready for war."

This is the challenge that faces us today, and we ask your help in rising to meet it.

We fully recognize that many of you are being pulled in different directions with respect to donations. Major national relief organizations have intensified their fundraising efforts to help the surviving families and our rescue and assistance personnel. We applaud the Saratoga family for whatever assistance they have provided to these worthy causes.

At the same time we must now ask you to dig deeper, to ensure that our own cause reaches its own goal -- to make sure that America never forgets. Please click on the link below to make a donation or pledge to help put Saratoga back to work for America.

Frank Lennon President USS Saratoga Museum Foundation, Inc.

Donation Form

Addendum:

Dear friends of the Saratoga project,

As a follow up to my recent e-mail describing Saratoga's connection to the September 11 Attack on America, we would like to remind you that the need to fund worthwhile projects such as ours does not go away just because we are also funding a war against terrorism.

According to Dennis Murphy, President and CEO of the United Way of Southeastern New England, Saratoga supporters can now direct all or a portion of their United Way contribution to our organization. In fact, if enough of you identify us as a "write-in" choice, that will make it easier for us to become a full-fledged Associate Member of United Way.

In a recent letter Murphy wrote, "Anyone participating in the United Way campaign this fall can designate funds to the USS Saratoga Museum Foundation, Inc. by so indicating in the space provided in the lower right hand corner of the pledge form."

United Way organizations across the country may have different ways of designating specific charities to receive funding, especially those not in your local area. If it is not clear on your own local pledge form, please call and ask how to direct your donation to the Saratoga project.

Should a local organization ask, we are an IRS-designated 501 (c) (3) non-profit, and our tax ID number is 59-3258175. Full details about our financials are available on the web at http://www.guidestar.org/.

We look forward to working with you all in the pursuit of common community goals.

Sincerely,

Frank Lennon
USS Saratoga Museum Foundation, Inc.
401-831-8696

SOLIDARITY

A group of Texas A&M University students organized a "Red, White and Blue Out" fundraiser, and sold t-shirts to support the victims of the September 11 tragedy. They sold more than 70,000 t-shirts and raised over $150,000 to donate to the families of the victims of terrorism. More importantly, the buyers all wore the shirts. As this picture shows, they put together a great patriotic display at A&M's next football game.

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Last Updated:
11/2/01