[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 25 (Friday, February 8, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E155]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING HELLAS LIBERTY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GUS M. BILIRAKIS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, February 8, 2019

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 10th 
Anniversary of the Hellas Liberty Maritime Museum and the Hellenic 
Merchant Marines.
  Madam Speaker, we must recognize the Hellenic Merchant Marines and 
their heroic deeds during World War II, with over 2,000 Hellenic 
Merchant Marine lives lost and close to 70 percent of the Hellenic 
Shipping fleet being decimated by the Axis Powers. Hellenic merchant 
ships transported much needed supplies across the treacherous Atlantic 
Ocean for the Allies.
  The Arthur M. Huddell, built in 1943 in the great state of Florida, 
was commissioned in the PLUTO (Pipe Line under the Ocean) operation, 
which supplied oil to our allies in Europe during World War Two. It is 
one of the few remaining Liberty Ships, built for this purpose. In a 
post-war period, the vessel was continually used to create underwater 
infrastructure functioning largely as a cable ship, occasionally 
responding to the request of the U.S. Navy.
  After serving our country dutifully, first for the Navy, then for 
commercial uses, the Arthur M. Huddell was retired in 1984, laid up 
with the majority of the U.S. reserve fleet in the James River. This 
retirement was not permanent; the 21st century saw renewed attention at 
the retired fleet to be used for educational purposes.
  The Greek State was interested in acquiring the vessel, to be used as 
a floating museum. The reciprocal aspiration of the U.S. government, 
the result of action taken by many Greek-Americans who were following 
Rhode Island Senator Leonidas Raptakis and Connecticut representative 
Dimitrios Yiannaros, with much of the mobilization activated by ship 
owner Spyros M. Polemis as well.
  The U.S. and Greece reached and signed an agreement on June 30, 2008. 
After U.S. Maritime Administrator Sean Connaughton and Greek Minister 
of Merchant Marine Georgios Voulgarakis completed this transfer of 
ownership, The Arthur M. Huddell was officially renamed to the Hellas 
Liberty. Departing a month later, the ship arrived in Greece, for 
extended repairs before being recommissioned as a floating museum.
  On February 8, 2019, the museum will celebrate its 10th anniversary, 
honoring the close and fruitful relationship between Greece and the 
United States of America. Congratulations to all.

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