LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Western Union needs local support

From the Schooner Western Union Preservation Society

 

A letter to the citizens of Key West and Florida concerning the official City of Key West and the State of Florida Flagship, the Schooner Western Union.

For 75 years, the Western Union has been a vital part of Key West’s and Florida’s history; from its days as a communications provider and protector of American shipping to today’s role as the graceful old lady that takes students, locals and tourists on inspiring and educational sailings

Constructed in Key West in 1939, she was the last tall ship built in the Keys and just in time to serve the picket fleet protecting commerce from Nazi U-boats during WWII.

Later she developed Florida’s economy laying communication cables from Florida to South/Central America, the Gulf States and the Caribbean island nations.

In 2007, the schooner was donated to the volunteer Schooner Western Union Preservation Society (SWUPS) debt free so $2-million of restoration funds could be raised.

Individual and company donors, the Historic Florida Keys Foundation and the Monroe County TDC, raised half of the first phase of the major $2-million restoration.

The first restoration since the schooner’s 1939 launch was completed in 2011. Following 2-years of successful operations, Western Union must now enter the second phase of the restoration to meet Coast Guard requirements before she can sail again.

The Western Union Preservation Society can no longer generate revenue from sailings and needs $60,412 to maintain the schooner for the next 12 months while securing restoration grants. If the $60,412 cannot be raised, the Key West & State Flagship may be lost to a salvager or foreign owner.

To successfully request State and other grants, we must show local support.

We have established a secure on-line funding site so you can help aid this historic vessel, please visit: http://schoonerwesternunion.causevox.com/.

With your support the Schooner Western Union will remain in Key West to serve and educate future generations of our historic maritime heritage as our City and State Flagship.

Please visit the website or call 305-292-1208 to keep our Flagship in Key West.

Thank you for your support.

 

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