Washington's Tall Ships Recognize First Anniversary of Japan Tsunami

San Francisco, CA - The tall ship Lady Washington, the Official Ship of the State of Washington, and her companion ship Hawaiian Chieftain, will recognize the first anniversary on Sunday, March 11, of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. At 2:46 p.m., passengers will be asked to observe a moment of silence as the crew dips the U.S. flag as a sign of respect for the people of Japan and the victims of last year's disaster. The ceremony will occur simultaneously with other observances planned in San Francisco.

The Lady Washington and Washington state have long-standing historical ties with Japan. In 1791, the original Lady Washington was the first U.S.-flagged vessel to visit the Japanese mainland. The original ship arrived in Kushimoto under the command of Capt. John Kendrick. A representative of the Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority, which owns and operates the modern Lady Washington, will attend an observance of the anniversary in Seattle.

Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain are scheduled to arrive Thursday at Pier 40 in San Francisco for a 12-day visit, which will include educational programs for K-12 students in the Bay Area.