President John Fitzgerald Kennedy grew up around the water, and with the knowledge that his grandfather had been instrumental in returning the USS Constitution, “Old Ironsides”, to her birthplace here.
He said “My earliest memories of the United States Navy go back to the days when, as a small boy, I used to be taken to the USS Constitution in Charlestown…The sight of that historic frigate, with its tall spars and black guns, stirred my imagination and made American history come alive for me….I am glad…my own family was privileged to play in [Constitution‘s] preservation.” [Old Ironsides, An Illustrated History of USS Constitution by Thomas P. Horgan, Foreword by President John F. Kennedy, 1963]
Today Old Ironsides’ commanding officer is Crystal L. Schaefer. She is the first woman, in history, to ever be the Captain of the USS Constitution, “Old Ironsides”, the oldest ship in the US Navy.
Prior to assuming her duties as the 78th Commanding Officer of USS Constitution on June 21, 2024, Commander Crystal Schaefer served at sea as Strike Officer onboard USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79), Reactor Propulsion Division Officer onboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), Operations Officer onboard USS Pinckney (DD 91), Chemistry and Radiological Controls Officer onboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), and Assistant Reactor Officer onboard USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77).
Ashore, Crystal served as Assistant Professor of Naval Science at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Naval Reserve Officer Training Corp, Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TIAM) Officer in Charge for U.S. Sixth Fleet in Naples, Italy, and Prospective Commanding Officer Course Coordinator at the Surface Warfare Schools Command in Newport, RI.
Her personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy, and Marine Corp Commendation Medal (three awards), Navy and Marine Corp Achievement Medal (four awards), and various unit campaign, and service awards.
Today, one more award. The Wellesley Celebrations Committee, a standing committee of the Select Board, Town of Wellesley honors Crystal L. Schaefer., as our Chief of Staff.
One of the things our town treasures most is the men and women of our military. Their courage, character and decency make us proud.
The USS Constitution is named after a genius document that has brought this nation stability.
Thank you, Commander Schaefer, for carrying on this noble tradition.