In our current fervor to memorialize the World War II generation, "The Greatest Generation," there is an urgency to complete our concrete and marble memorials to them while these veterans are still alive to appreciate our efforts. But as these memorials are constructed and dedicated, one should ask, "How would they want to be remembered themselves?" What kind of memorials would they produce of it were up to them?" To this end, one group of World War II veterans has quietly spoken. The members of the Destroyer Escort Sailors Association want to be remembered through a ship. One of their ships. Starting in 1992, with their own money and their own sweat, the 15,000 members raised $290,000 to save the Slater from the scrap heap and bring her home from Greece, where she served as a training ship for naval officers after World War II. Following Slater's arrival in New York, these veterans and their wives continued to support the Slater both financially and with their sweat and time. They annually donated over 20,000 volunteer hours a year in their efforts to restore her.
From that small group of sailors was born the Destroyer Escort Historical Museum. It is the mission of the museum to meticulously restore, preserve and display the ship as a monument to all DE sailors. The Museum is a depository for Destroyer Escort artifacts, both Navy issue and personal along with written and oral histories of the many Destroyer Escorts and the men that served on them. The New York State Department of Education has granted the Slater a charter as a designated educational institution.
There is no big Politician behind SLATER's success. No big grant or Endowment. No large corporation that has adopted her. The road to Slater's success is thanks to the support of the men and their families who sailed destroyer escorts. Slater is their gift to future generations
From the beginning of our project we have been fortunate to have a large and extremely dedicated group of volunteers and donors. Unfortunately, our traditional support base is rapidly aging. The rate at which we are losing our volunteers is accelerating and we are hard pressed to find replacements for them. Until now the volunteers have eagerly taken on caring for the Slater. But with their aging and thinning numbers, these responsibilities will soon overwhelm them.
It is now up to you, all those who believe that preserving this ship is a worthwhile endeavor, to follow the example that our supporters have set and join the Destroyer Escort Historical Museum.
We ask your support in preserving this fine memorial so that the gift that the destroyer escort Sailors have given us will remain ours as far into the future as we can see.
We are open seven days a week to volunteer workers of all types. Electricians, mechanics, painters, historians, welders , plumbers, machinists and anyone who is willing to spend some time on the ship. Whether it's just a few hours on the weekend or five days week we would be happy to have you lend a hand. Hard work and no pay, what more could you want?
Please feel free to contact me at 518-431-1943 if you have any questions.
Tim Rizzuto,
Museum Director
