Milan Native Earns Basic Historian Qualification Aboard Oldest Commissioned Warship Afloat: USS Constitution

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joshua Samoluk, USS Constitution Public Affairs

BOSTON - U.S. Navy Builder 1st Class Hillary Lemelin, a native of Milan, New Hampshire, earned her basic interpretive historian qualification aboard USS Constitution, Dec 28. 

Duty aboard USS Constitution is one of the Navy’s special programs, and all prospective crew members must meet a high standard of sustained excellence and interview to be selected for the assignment.

“I am honored to be a part of such an amazing crew and to be an official crew member of America’s ship of state,” said Lemelin. 

The active-duty sailors stationed aboard USS Constitution normally provide free tours and offer public visitation to more than 600,000 people each year as they support the ship’s mission of promoting the Navy’s history, maritime heritage, and raising awareness of the importance of a sustained naval presence.

 

Lemelin, a 2009 graduate of Berlin High School, has served in the Navy for six years and her previous duty station was the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 11 in Gulfport, Mississippi.

USS Constitution, is the world’s oldest commissioned warship afloat, and played a crucial role in the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812, actively defending sea lanes from 1797 to 1855.

The ship earned the nickname of Old Ironsides during the war of 1812 after British cannonballs were seen bouncing off the ship’s wooden hull.

USS Constitution was undefeated in battle and captured or destroyed 33 enemy vessels.