Senator Chuck Schumer has secured $7.5 million in the just announced Senate appropriations bill to fund repairs to a Navy ship at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval Park.
WW II ship took on water and partially sank in April
The USS The Sullivans took on water and began sinking in April. The ship, a Fletcher-class Destroyer, is named after five brothers from Iowa who were killed when the ship was sunk by a Japanese submarine during the World War II battle of Guadalcanal. In 1977, The Sullivans and sister ship the USS Little Rock were processed for donation to the naval park on the Buffalo waterfront.
“In April I put out an SOS to the feds – Save Our Sullivans- and promised it would be all hands on deck until we got the funding needed to restore this pride and joy of Buffalo. Now I am proud to announce that hope is on the horizon to fully restore the USS The Sullivans and ensure she remains at Canalside as a beacon on Buffalo’s beautiful waterfront,” said Senator Schumer. “This funding is the lifeboat this historic vessel needs to complete its repairs, and I will keep fighting to guide us through these rocky waters and steer this ship through the repair and restoration process to keep her safe and seaworthy for generations to come.”
“This investment will mean the restoration of the USS The Sullivans and secure its place in Buffalo’s Naval and Military Park for generations to come,” said Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown. “I was proud to stand with Senator Schumer almost immediately after the ship began to sink and once again he has delivered for an iconic Buffalo institution.”
“When Senator Schumer visited the naval park after the ship’s hull was breached, I knew we were in good hands,” said Paul Marzello, Director of the Buffalo Naval and Military Park. “The USS The Sullivans is stable, and in good hands, but the long-term restoration work has not yet begun. With this funding, we will be able to make sure all the needed repairs and improvements can be done and the USS The Sullivans will remain a centerpiece of our facility for all coming time as a fitting tribute to the brave men and women who have served their country. This is exactly what we needed and Senator Schumer delivered just like he said he would.”
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Money will allow workers to make permanent repairs
The ship has been stabilized and no longer represents an environmental hazard. The Senate appropriation will enable workers to make permanent repairs.
DD-537
Length: 376 feet
Beam: 39 feet
Draft: 19 feet
Displacement: 2,100 tons
Armament: Four 5-inch/38 caliber guns; one 3-inch/50 caliber gun; two twin-40 mm guns; depth charges
Complement: 310 Sailors
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