One hundred years ago, the world was a different place -- the Ford Motor Company sold 248,000 cars at $500 a piece, a gallon of gas cost 12 cents and the Cape Cod Canal opened to water traffic.
The Honorable Jo-Ellen Darcy, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, Brig. Gen. Kent Savre, North Atlantic Division Commander and Col. Charles Samaris, New England District Commander, joined Rear Adm. Richard Gurnon, President of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy and co-chairs of the Cape Cod Canal Centennial Committee, at a ceremony to celebrate the canal's 100th anniversary.
The ceremony took place at Buzzards Bay Park in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts on July 29. Col. Samaris, a Massachusetts native, served as Master of Ceremonies for the event. He welcomed the audience and introduced Ms. Darcy and Brig. Gen. Savre as the keynote speakers.
Col. Samaris thanked the Canal Centennial Committee, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the communities of Barnstable and Plymouth counties and the Cape Cod Canal Field Office for organizing the various activities that took place that week.
"The Cape Cod Canal is just one of many marvels the Corps of Engineers has constructed in the United States and around the world," said Col. Samaris. "For 239 years the Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Army have been supporting the needs of the nation during peace and during war."
Brig. Gen. Savre thanked the audience for making it possible for the Corps of Engineers to deliver on its missions. "It is with your help … and only your help … that we are able to maintain and operate this canal … as well as waterways throughout the nation … to support the movement of critical commodities to support economic vitality of this region and our nation, and to provide for national security," he said.
Savre also discussed the long and storied history of the making of the Cape Cod Canal -- from the time that Pilgrim Myles Standish conceived it, to its construction, to present day. He concluded by saying the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is, "committed to our waterways and to collaborate with you all to make smart, informed and shared decisions that support our waterways and strengthen our nation."
Darcy is a Fitchburg, Mass., native who "summered down" on the Cape in her youth. She said the best part of her job is getting out and celebrating the remarkable accomplishments of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. She described the challenges that builders had to overcome in order to get the Canal built and then the troubles that started to surface soon after. "As time went on, traffic steadily increased and with that, serious accidents, Canal closures and navigation delays," she said.
After a German submarine fired on the American tug PERTH AMBOY in the waters three miles off Nauset Beach sinking four barges and setting the tug on fire in 1918, President Woodrow Wilson ordered the Federal Railroad Administration and then eventually the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to operate and maintain the Canal. The Corps of Engineers improved the Canal by spending $21 million to increase the canal's width to 480 feet and its depth to 32 feet.
Darcy concluded by thanking the audience for inviting her to participate in the celebration, reciting the lyrics to the song, "Old Cape Cod," donning a Red Sox shirt and urging all of the positive energy under the tent to transfer to Boston's baseball team.
Gurnon read a letter from President Barack Obama. "I wish you the very best as you mark the Cape Cod Canal's centennial celebration," he read. "May this special anniversary offer a reminder of the obstacles we have overcome as a people and challenge us to shape the currents of history in our time."
The admiral pointed out two pieces of artwork -- a mural of the Cape Cod Canal and an American flag designed as a piece that had pictures of different aspects of the canal drawn in. Both pieces of work were done by local children and overseen by local artists.
Co-chair of the Canal Centennial Committee Marie Oliva talked about the local chamber of commerce and their dedication to the community. The life-long Cape Codder said that her grandfather, who was a mason, emigrated from Italy to the Cape to help construct the Cape Cod Canal.
"When people ask me what the Canal means to me, I tell them it's the history, perseverance, courage and leadership because projects don't happen by themselves -- they only happen if people are willing to take risks," she said.
As an example of leadership, Oliva talked about the challenges August Belmont had to endure to make the Cape Cod Canal a reality and never giving up on his dream. She talked about modern leadership shown by the local merchants around the Cape on Main Street and all the services they have to offer.
Gurnon introduced the Cape Festival Youth Orchestra that ended the ceremony with musical selections.
In addition, the Bourne High School Alumni Chorus sang the National Anthem. Park Rangers who served as the Color Guard for the event were Jason Robinson, Steven Patchkofsky, Matt Coleman, Brad Clark, Jenn Samela and Joe Faloretti (alternate).
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