From President Brennan:
Wherever your career path takes you
It is my pleasure to welcome you
"
al to Maine Maritime Academy on this,
around the world, remember you
"
our 75th Anniversary, to help us celebrate
the Class of 2016. Congratulations. You
now are keepers of our heritage; a
have worked hard to earn your degrees,
and al of us here today are proud of your
heritage that began 75 years ago.
accomplishments. I want to thank you
for helping with my ongoing education
and to provide graduates with the skil s, ethics and
as president and I want to join you in acknowledging
knowledge needed to succeed in a global economy.
and thanking those who have helped you reach this
This has been a year of much success; success I see
milestone in your lives: your parents, families, friends,
arrayed before me and I have a great sense of pride
teachers and professors, and others who have supported
in your accomplishments. To be sure, along with the
you along this journey. It is a great day for al of us.
extreme highs of success this past year, we have also
(After introducing distinguished guests, Brennan
experienced the depths of sorrow that touched al of us
continued:)
who are part of this Maine Maritime Academy family.
In 1941, the legislature of the State of Maine estab-
We grieved together the sudden loss of five of our
lished the Maine Maritime Academy on the site of what
alumni in the tragic incident involving the El Faro and
had previously been a teacher's college here in Castine,
we have struggled with the loss of one of our immediate
Maine. This decision was largely in response to the war
family (student David Breunig).
effort and the desperate need for trained mariners to
Your training has given you the confidence needed
supply our troops and defend our shores. World War II
to lead and follow, and to know while the sea is to be
required a rapid build-up of the US Merchant Marine
respected, it is not be feared. In fact, it was this class that
with a critical need for trained deck and engineering
heroical y rescued a shipwrecked sailor 520 miles off the
officers. Maine Maritime Academy ramped up to meet
coast of Nova Scotia; a poignant reminder that amongst
that challenge, producing close to 300 officers in its first
the things we dealt with this past year, our words and
commencement year, many of whom went on to serve at
our actions are testament to who we are: We are Mar-
sea during the war.
iners, and we are responsible for each other, in good
Those of you in the Class of 2016 have heard me
times and in bad. You demonstrated that at sea, just as in
say the credentials you receive from the Academy, your
life, we look out for each other and help one another.
diploma and licenses, have value because of those who
As you've heard me say often, we are a family, one
came before you--namely our alumni--and it is now
community, and these ties wil bind you to us al of your
your turn to continue the tradition and to help maintain
lives. We look out for each other and support one anoth-
the stel ar reputation that is Maine Maritime Academy.
er. Our bonds are strong and over time, they wil become
As we celebrate the 75th anniversary of our found-
even stronger.
ing, our mission remains the same: to provide a quality
Wherever your career path takes you around the
education, focused on marine and related programs, to
world, remember you now are keepers of our heritage; a
encourage rigorous self-discipline, promote curiosity,
heritage that began 75 years ago.
9

---